American food writer Alison Roman opens her fridge to reveal a mix of order, good prep, and a sense of fun. From fillet of arctic char to frozen chicken broth, each item tells a story of her cooking philosophy and family life.
Fillet of Arctic Char
Roman bought this at the fish market the day before for her son, Charlie. She dresses it with soy sauce and lemon juice, and Charlie loves it, including the crispy skin.
Kimchi
Always in her fridge for snacking, eating with steak or rice, or adding to soups and stews. She has a recipe for tomato-kimchi soup with rice in her book Something from Nothing. She prefers classic napa cabbage kimchi and drinks the liquid after finishing the jar, reusing the jar as a leftovers container.
Eggs
Roman and her family go through many eggs, mostly sunny-side up or turned into a thick, sliceable omelette with kale and rice. Charlie eats at least two eggs a day. They buy them from the farmers' market every Sunday.
Frozen Chicken Broth, Defrosting
If Roman doesn't have chicken broth in the fridge, she has some in the freezer. She makes broth from roast chicken leftovers, a cut-up whole bird, or saved backs from a spatchcocked chicken. She takes her chicken broth seriously and uses it for drinking straight with spring onion and lemon juice, or as a shortcut to classic chicken noodle soup.
Cooked Orzo
Before leaving town for a work trip, Roman cooked an entire box of orzo so her family could easily add it to meals. It can be sauteed in butter with greens or broccoli, tossed in leftover roast chicken juices, or added to broth for soup.
Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
During her pregnancy, Roman became addicted to a drink of unsweetened cranberry juice, sparkling water, and lemon. Her son is 15 months old, and she still drinks it every day.
Tomato Paste
Roman prefers using a whole can of tomato paste for recipes like her shallot pasta, but keeps a tube in the fridge for small amounts.
Anchovies
She has anchovies in both the pantry and fridge (from opened jars). She advises storing opened jars in the fridge, covered in oil.
Crème Fraîche
Someone brought it for a dinner party to top crispy chocolate cake, but it was forgotten. Roman plans to use it.
Iced Coffee
Roman's husband prefers coffee brewed hot and then chilled, rather than cold brew. They always have a large container ready for him.
