…if what they want is GOOD food.

I love vinegar. In fact, it is the one pantry staple I would have the hardest time living without. Much to my girlfriend’s chagrin, I do my best to sneak it into every dish I can get away with, even those that might not call for the addition. Tangy and lively, vinegar, like lemon, has the ability to brighten up almost any flat-tasting dish. Though it must be used sparingly, I personally think a splash or two of vinegar to complete a dish goes a long way in enhancing flavors. Recently I had a friend over for dinner; while digging through my cupboards, I was able to unearth ten different varieties of vinegar. I have a reputation among my friends as being a bit food obsessed, and my vinegar collection only served to confirm this belief, or so said my friend’s baffled expression.

“Do you actually use all of those?” He asked

Yes, yes in fact I do. From the Spanish sherry variety and asian rice wine to Italy’s famed balsamic, all these vinegars play very specific roles in helping to make the dishes I cook that much more authentic to their place of origin. Today I’m featuring a very simple recipe for the southern table staple, Pepper Vinegar. While it’s a great condiment for almost anything, it’s especially good splashed on pulled pork sandwiches, tacos, eggs, and anything else that needs a little pick-me-up.

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