Only a handful of people in this world can understand what five queer men felt when their lives suddenly turned around. Whether it’s a costume makeover with Tan France or a hair arrangement with Netflix TV series guest Jonathan Van Ness. queer eye Get the VIP treatment they need and deserve. That treatment extends to the kitchen as well.
For Antoni Porowski, queer eye A food and wine expert, his mission is to develop easy recipes with simple ingredients that anyone can use with confidence. So it’s no surprise that he’s teamed up with his Lowe’s home improvement store to teach anyone how to start using the fresh produce in his box of home gardeners and window planters.
In this interview, Porowski took the time to talk about his partnership and tips for growing food inside and outside the home. He also talked about his favorite ways to store fresh herbs, garden tool upgrades that help keep him sane, and more. Needless to say, his latest recipe for a refreshing strawberry cocktail is waiting for you at the end.
eat well: Where should beginners start when growing their own food?
polovsky: Start simple. Don’t overcomplicate your life by buying 50 different things. Living in an apartment in New York City, I think I need to look at what I actually use every day and keep it simple. I love chives because I eat eggs every morning. Growing chives is thankfully very easy and available at Lowe’s. You can grow them and add them to soups and stews, drizzle them over fresh fish, add them to breakfasts and sandwiches, and more. Herbs are simple because they are very difficult to kill in a good way. Start with some nice, simple veggies like basil, oregano, and Thai basil, then move on to greens and different types of butter lettuce, arugula, lacinato kale, and more. If you have a garden, you can grow wonderful things like tomatoes and cherry tomatoes. If you have a balcony, grow it from herbs and gain confidence. I think the same rule applies to cooking. Look at your life, be realistic, start small and expand from there.
eat well: What’s the best way to keep herbs fresher longer after you harvest them yourself or buy them from the store?
Especially in the summer, when I have a lot of herbs growing, I like to take a tall glass, fill it with cold water, cut off the stems of the herbs I have, and store them there. It will last much longer than just tying it in other types of bags. And no matter what produce I buy, I like to pick up the thin bags from the grocery store, cover the herbs with the bags, and store them in the refrigerator. Then cut the ends and change the water every 2-3 days to keep it fresh. You can enjoy the taste as if it were freshly cut.
eat well: Why did you decide to partner with Lowe’s to help people get products from garden to fork?
polovsky: I’ve been spending all winter eating pumpkins, stews, and chili in all their different forms…but I love all the produce, herbs, and great colors that come out this time of year, and I love all the things that are easily available. I’m chasing the material. So we thought this was a great opportunity to introduce people to growing their own food and giving them control over what they put into their bodies. This is very important to me.
eat well: What is the most underrated garden tool that you think people should buy more often?
polovsky: It’s a simple thing, but I was hooked until my dad finally invested in something proper when I was little. Having a nice retractable hose that rolls up easily instead of manually cranking the hose has saved me a lot of time when getting ready to eat dinner with my family.
eat well: How do you keep track of when to water your garden plants?
polovsky: I would keep it old-fashioned, nice and visual. I spend most of my time in the kitchen, and keeping a calendar next to the fridge seems like the easiest way to do it.
Editor’s note: This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Antoni Porowski’s Spicy Strawberry Refresher
Photo provided
Active: 5 minutes
Total: 5 minutes
1 serving: 1 serving
material
- 2 medium strawberries (chopped)
- 1 slice of fresh jalapeno
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh coriander leaves
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 ounce tequila
- 1/2 cup ice
- prosecco
- fresh orange juice
direction
step 1
Add strawberries, jalapeños, sugar, cilantro, and salt to a 16-ounce glass. Mix at the bottom of the glass. (If you don’t have a traditional stirrer, you can use the handle of a wooden spoon.) Add the ice and tequila and stir vigorously. Top with prosecco and orange juice. enjoy!
To make it into a mocktail:
Replace tequila and prosecco with ginger beer.
