HE COOKS®
@hecooks.substack.com
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Chef-driven food stories and recipes. Grounded, cinematic, and modern, from Palate Passport® travel films to recipes you actually want to cook.
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This cocktail tastes like a pumpkin spice latte if it traded cinnamon for soul. No pumpkin, no spice. Just coffee, tequila, Fernet, orange, cocoa, and cream.
Fall cooking hits different. A smoky chili on the stove, pumpkin caramelizing in the oven, greens crisping up on pizza dough. It’s the season where the kitchen feels like the best place to be.
What's Cooking?
Fading light, warm bowls, and flavors that linger
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Slow-simmered beef chili meets Korean BBQ flavor in this fusion recipe built on gochujang, soy, and honey. Served over kimchi fried rice, it’s rich, bold, and balanced with heat and depth.
Korean BBQ-Inspired Beef Chili with Kimchi Fried Rice
A Fusion That Feels Right
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This week, we’re cooking through the in-between. Warm days, cool nights, and food that fits both. Plantain pancakes in the morning, almond blondies after dark, a frozen mule in between, and wings on the grill when the light hits right.
What’s Cooking?
Sweet mornings, sticky wings, and an ice cold mule
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Whole chicken wings soak in a bright citrus and honey marinade laced with jerk-inspired spices, then hit the grill and finish with a glossy reduction of their own sauce.
Cabbage rolls were a staple in my childhood. My mom made them without rice, just using beef, cabbage, and tomatoes that simmered for hours. This is my take: smoky, quick, and rooted in the same memory.
Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls
A Modern Twist on Eastern European Comfort Food
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A mule, but better. Frozen Thomcord grapes replace the ice so every sip stays bold, crisp, and clean.
Frozen Thomcord Grape Mule
A seasonal spin on the classic mule
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Thick rounds of Jarrahdale pumpkin are seared in cast iron and topped with miso brown butter, napa cabbage puree, and charred cabbage for a vegetarian main course that’s earthy, umami-rich, and substantial.
Seared Jarrahdale Pumpkin with Napa Miso Brown Butter and Charred Cabbage
A Modern Approach to Fall Pumpkin Recipes Most people think of pumpkin for soups, pies, or simple roasts, but thick rounds of pumpkin can be seared in
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Fall is here, and the kitchen feels different. Squash, roots, and hearty greens are back in play. I've pulled together my favorite fall recipes that bring comfort, warmth, and a touch of flair to the table.
Festive Fall Recipes That Bring Comfort to the Table
Fall carries its own rhythm in the kitchen. The air cools, the light shifts, and the markets fill with squash, roots, and sturdy greens. Cooking with the
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Broccoli when it gets the attention it deserves... Eat more vegetables!
Bold, smoky, tart, and just a little dangerous. The Cinnamon Hibiscus Mezcal Margarita is no ordinary cocktail.
Cinnamon Hibiscus Mezcal Margarita | Funky Purple Cocktail Recipe with Agave & Cinnamon
YouTube video by HE COOKS®
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Charred broccoli crowns, crisp bacon, caramelized shallots, and a glossy red wine sauce. A vegetable dish with main character energy.
Charred Broccoli with Red Wine–Shallot Bacon Sauce
A vegetable dish built with fire, depth, and intention
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It was 100% intentional.
Happy Fall y'all 🍂
Braised veal shank, citrus, and olives over capellini. The sauce is just the braising liquid reduced down, bright and savory with every bite. Simple food done slow always tastes the best.
Citrus Braised Veal Shank with Capellini and Olives
Braised veal shank is one of those dishes that rewards patience. This version leans into bright citrus, briny olives, and tender capellini noodles that
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This tostada layers tender, spice-braised lamb over creamy refried pinto beans for a rich foundation. A smoky charred jalapeño salsa adds heat and brightness, while toasted pepitas and onion bring crunch and freshness to every bite.
Yucatán-Inspired Braised Lamb Tostada with Refried Pinto Beans and Charred Jalapeño Salsa
Mexican-Style Slow-Cooked Lamb with Charred Salsa This recipe for Yucatán-Inspired Braised Lamb Tostadas is a bold and vibrant take on traditional Mexican
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John Stewart is the GOAT.
We keep being sold the dream of spotless streets, quiet suburbs, and lives free of friction. But what do we lose in the process? Culture. Community. Humanity. The city isn’t perfect, but it’s alive. And that’s the beauty.
A blackened crust, charred corn, and a bright kiwi salsa. This is how I like to plate fish when I want every bite to wake you up.