Chef Swanky answers some mail

It’s mailbag time! Chef Swanky has some followers with a few questions, and he agreed to take time out from creating delicious food to respond to them.

We picked three for him. Here he is, enlightening us on the mysteries of the culinary world.

What is a disher? It looks like a scoop. Is it the same thing or are they two different utensils?

A disher is a half-spherical kitchen tool with a mechanical leveler inside the bowl in which you either squeeze the handle or push the thumb trigger to release evenly whatever product was contained inside.

It’s an essential tool for making sure the same and equal portions of food, cookies, etc. come out the same size.

An ice cream scoop has a half spherical bowl as well, but is designed specifically to carve and portion in to frozen desserts such as ice cream, gelato, or sorbet.

Yes, you can use a disher for scooping out ice cream, but the reverse of using an ice cream scoop to portion out equally shaped cookies may not be feasible.

You had a recipe (the coconut macaroons) that called for cane syrup. Can I use the same syrup that I put on my pancakes or is cane syrup something different?

Cane syrup comes from evaporated sugarcane juice. (Note: the image here is sugarcane juice.)

It’s sometimes used to replace maple syrup, and it has a rich, robust, almost caramel flavor.

Usually macaroons use corn syrup, which comes from cornstarch and which is used to hold moisture in the product or to prevent crystallization of sugar, but I wanted the macaroons to have a type of caramelized flavor.

What is your favorite dish to make?

My favorite dessert to make is the Banana Foster, hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana.

It is a dessert in which you brown butter and saute a banana with brown sugar and cinnamon, then flambé it using rum, turning the buttery brown sugar rum into a sauce.

It is then topped with Vanilla Ice Cream drizzles with the sauce.

It’s a nice, delightful warming and cooling treat.

Got a question for the great Chef? Drop us a comment below, and we’ll pester Chef Swanky to impart some more wisdom.

Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.

(All images from Dreamstime.com. Used with permission.)

26 in 26: May

[Note: I’m doing a 26-word post on the first day of each month of 2026. It’s an exercise in concision and precision, which every writer should attempt now and then. Also Note: This explanation is separate from the 26-word count. Also Note: I’ve posted a haiku. To make the word count, I’ve included a headline for the haiku.]

To Everything There Is A Season

Winter falls behind
Spring edges into summer
May makes time stand still

26 in 26: April

[Note: I’m doing a 26-word post on the first day of each month of 2026. It’s an exercise in concision and precision, which every writer should attempt now and then. Also Note: This explanation is separate from the 26-word count.]

Browning once said, “Oh, to be in England now that April’s there.” But he’d never been here; otherwise, he’d have edited to praise Charleston in April.

A Swanky reminder that the Ides of March goes well with the right Caesar

The Ides of March is almost here, which brings with it a history lesson about Julius Caesar, who was warned about going to the senate and who earlier in his career famously said, “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (meaning: “I came, I saw, I conquered”).

Today, Chef Swanky delves into the history of another Caesar, who takes us from “Veni, Vidi, Vici” to “Veni, Vidi, Edi” (“I came, I saw, I ate”) with this video:

And remember: Stay away from the Senate. No, not those of you in Congress. You congresspersons need to get your butts to work. The rest of us: Go find a restaurant that has a good caesar salad and enjoy!

Follow Chef Swanky here and on Instagram at chefswankyhw.

26 in 26: March

[Note: I’m doing a 26-word post on the first day of each month of 2026. It’s an exercise in concision and precision, which every writer should attempt now and then. Also Note: This explanation is separate from the 26-word count.]

March is here. Lion and lamb brace against buffeting winds: the luck of St. Patrick, knives out at the ides, spring arrives. Enjoy the ride, everyone.

Get a guided journal for your Lenten journey — free for a few days!

Hey, look everyone! I’ve written a guided journal for Lent 2026 — and it’s FREE for the couple of days before Ash Wednesday (2/13-2/17).

It’s called Where Is God In All This? and it’s designed to be a prompt to get you into the Word and into a conversation with God to explore your relationship with Him more deeply.

Here’s some more info on what it is and how you can use it:

On any given day, we can find ourselves preoccupied with financial or relational challenges, physical or emotional trials, or vocational or social issues – sometimes several at once. Such concerns can sidetrack us and keep us from enjoying a fulfilling relationship with God and with each other.

Each week in this guided journal, the focus is on a different area where we tend to encounter distractions: mental/emotional, relational, physical, financial, vocational, social, and spiritual.

On each day, only the Bible verse is given (rather than the entire passage) so you can get into the Word yourself, read the context, and see what God wants to tell you.

Lent is a time of introspection. Take your thoughts to your journal book and write your heart out. Draw if you’re so inclined. Tell God your story.

Click the link above to get it on Amazon/Kindle. It’s free for the next few days, and after that it’s $2.99. If you have Kindle Unlimited, you can get it free any time.