To my mind and palate, one of the great cuisines of the world is Mexican. Not the cheese-laden standards topped with canned sauces and accompanied by runny, tasteless refried beans and white rice found at many “Mexican” restaurants outside the country. Rather, the incredible, regional dishes found throughout Mexico which incorporate local ingredients combined to produce […]
Making Paella At Home
June 21, 2015 by 1 Comment
Not long ago, I spent a glorious week at a friend’s house in Alicante, Spain. The area is beautiful. Limestone mountains, winding (and sometimes hair-raising) roads through hillside vineyards, ocean views and weekly local markets. Our days were spent lounging poolside reading, swimming in the Mediterranean, drinking cocktails at one of the may ocean-view bars […]
Sancocho
May 9, 2015 by 1 Comment
My introduction to the Latin American stew-like soup, Sancocho, began on a miserably cold day many winters ago when I worked in the kitchen of a gourmet shop and caterer. The assistant chef was from Columbia. As freezing rain pelted down outside, the chef, hankering for a taste of home, whipped up a batch of […]
Mole Rojo (Red Oaxacan Sauce)
May 4, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Travels around Mexico over the years introduced us to the wonderful world of mole. Moles are typically slightly thick, dried chili-based sauces. The term is also used for different dishes featuring the sauce. Regional varieties abound, as do individual recipes. Almost 2 years ago, I shared a recipe for Mole Poblano (also known as Mole Negro). It is a […]
Korean Bibimbap
November 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Understanding the food of a culture is an essential ingredient to begin to understand the culture itself. Food reflects the history and geography of a region, group or nation. Our first stop on any trip is usually a local market or a grocery store. Wandering around the incredible markets in Morocco, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, […]
Pumpkin Seed, Chicken, Pork and Hominy Pozole
July 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Living in Switzerland has made finding authentic Mexican food a bit of a challenge. When cravings hit, I make my own. Two weeks ago, we purchased a home in Northern California surrounded by both large and small Mexican restaurants. We are in Mexican cuisine heaven. That said, I still plan to make an effort to […]
Images of the Souk in Fez, Morocco
July 8, 2013 by 4 Comments
Visiting traditional Berber and Arabic markets, known as souq (or souk), when in Morocco is usually a must for most travelers. We spent hours and days exploring as many as possible, including the walled, maze-like labyrinth medina (old town) markets in Marrakech and Fez as well as venturing to an incredible weekly Berber market held […]
Reuben’s Bacon Recipe
March 11, 2013 by 2 Comments
Whether you are a strict vegan or a devout omnivore, everyone should know where their food comes from. Five year old Reuben Burgess from Arnaudville, Louisiana certainly demonstrates that he does and allowed me to share his recipe for bacon. His mom, musician and violin maker extraordinaire, Anya Burgess, also gave her permission. Needless to say, there will […]
Mom’s Sauerbraten
November 11, 2012 by 2 Comments
The great passion in both my professional and personal life is exploring and preserving family and regional food traditions. One of the many family food legacies I treasure is Sauerbraten (sometimes called Suure Mocke in Switzerland), meat marinated in vinegar and spices and then roasted. This dish has always held a soft spot in my heart because it was […]
Cooking A Wild Boar
September 26, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Wild boar are native throughout Northern and Central Europe. These impressive creatures can be quite destructive. While hiking with a friend who lives in Alsace, France, I was shown small huts set on stilts so hunters could see and shoot boar foraging in the middle of the tall crop fields. Several months ago, I was […]
