Doug Hoffman
@chefmd62.bsky.social
Doctor, writer, chef. Owner/operator of the best restaurant in Bakersfield, which admittedly isn’t saying much.
Borani Banjan. Recipe from Maryam Jillani’s cookbook PAKISTAN. Best damn thing I’ve eaten in a long time. Fried eggplant, tomato sauce over yogurt. Which doesn’t even begin to convey what this tasted like.
December 26, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Borani Banjan. Recipe from Maryam Jillani’s cookbook PAKISTAN. Best damn thing I’ve eaten in a long time. Fried eggplant, tomato sauce over yogurt. Which doesn’t even begin to convey what this tasted like.
Smoked rack of pork
November 27, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Smoked rack of pork
Cranberry curd pie with mascarpone/maple/whipped cream topping
November 27, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Cranberry curd pie with mascarpone/maple/whipped cream topping
Pistachio cheesecake with a gingersnap crust topped with ketaifeh, powdered sugar, and more pistachios.
November 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Pistachio cheesecake with a gingersnap crust topped with ketaifeh, powdered sugar, and more pistachios.
Sourdough raisin cinnamon bread.
August 19, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Sourdough raisin cinnamon bread.
I’ve made my best sourdough yet, using starter from Captain Sourpants and the technique described in the Tartine recipe book. Look at that ear!
August 4, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I’ve made my best sourdough yet, using starter from Captain Sourpants and the technique described in the Tartine recipe book. Look at that ear!
Russian honey cake with pistachio cream topping
May 25, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Russian honey cake with pistachio cream topping
Lamb b’stila (bistiya)
May 25, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Lamb b’stila (bistiya)
Mango meringue pie with gulab jamon
May 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Mango meringue pie with gulab jamon
Homemade 14 inch pizza
May 5, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Homemade 14 inch pizza
Strained Greek yogurt , sour cream, chopped walnuts, garlic, salt, topped with dill, walnuts, and olive oil infused with chili marash, urfa biber, and cumin. Served with homemade pita.
April 6, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Strained Greek yogurt , sour cream, chopped walnuts, garlic, salt, topped with dill, walnuts, and olive oil infused with chili marash, urfa biber, and cumin. Served with homemade pita.
Comfort food: garlic cheese bread (a la Northwoods Inn) and eggplant parm.
February 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Comfort food: garlic cheese bread (a la Northwoods Inn) and eggplant parm.
Noodle kugel, old family recipe. The house smells shockingly good just from one little kugel.
January 26, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Noodle kugel, old family recipe. The house smells shockingly good just from one little kugel.
Challah, of course
January 14, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Challah, of course
Homemade Kaiser rolls; Moroccan carrot salad with harissa; Russian honey cake
January 13, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Homemade Kaiser rolls; Moroccan carrot salad with harissa; Russian honey cake
This was a standard chicken bistiya.
January 11, 2025 at 10:57 PM
This was a standard chicken bistiya.
Bistiya (there are a million spellings for this dish — I chose the phonetic) with braised lamb instead of the more traditional bird meat.
January 11, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Bistiya (there are a million spellings for this dish — I chose the phonetic) with braised lamb instead of the more traditional bird meat.
Lamb and pork meatballs (riffing on Marcella Hazan‘s classic recipe), grilled vegetable and grilled halloumi salad, homemade sourdough bread, focaccia.
January 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Lamb and pork meatballs (riffing on Marcella Hazan‘s classic recipe), grilled vegetable and grilled halloumi salad, homemade sourdough bread, focaccia.
Celebration rice (braised lamb shank, pomegranate pips, almonds, golden raisins over basmati rice). I think I made stewed eggplant here, too, around the perimeter.
January 11, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Celebration rice (braised lamb shank, pomegranate pips, almonds, golden raisins over basmati rice). I think I made stewed eggplant here, too, around the perimeter.
Lamb and mushroom shepherds pie.
January 11, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Lamb and mushroom shepherds pie.
Miso/honey-glazed salmon over sushi rice with pickled daikon, steamed broccoli, and avocado.
January 11, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Miso/honey-glazed salmon over sushi rice with pickled daikon, steamed broccoli, and avocado.