On Food & Culture
“Fricasé” is a Boricua dish and also a Plato Cubano. I first learned to make fricasé from a Chicano friend in college who learned it from a Puerto Rican classmate. There are various Cubano and Puertorriqueño versions, but they all have green olives, and the …
I like to serve fettucine in a huge platter, mixed all together with clams, shrimp and colorful tomato sauce. It looks delicious and everyone can just dig in and enjoy. Fra Diavolo is the name of a 19th century Italian opera. The name, meaning brother …
Braised leeks are an elegant accompaniment to roasts. The goal of braising is to allow time and very low heat to work their twofold magic of softening the leeks and intensifying their flavor. That rich glaze is not achieved with fats (this recipe has no …
We call cucumber, pepino. This cucumber chile martini draws upon two Mexican flavor traditions. The first is adding chile to pepino, a combination of freshness and piquant that is gorgeous. The second tradition is making sweets that combine chiles with various fruits. In this “Cucumber …
There is a Paris in Texas, but I visited that other one. I was delighted to learn new insights and techniques from Chef Frédéric Lesourd during his class, re-visiting French technique, and doing so while recalling Julia Child a graduate of this world-renowned Parisian school. …
This Cognac Shrimp is a recipe for company dinner. It says to guests, “unwind, mellow-out, welcome.” In the Beurre Blanc Cream, you taste a brightness, a tang, from the acidic white wine, but the major sensation results from the flavorful creaminess. I think Harold McGee …
For a Summer dinner serve this Watermelon Raspada with blueberries and lime, refreshing and visually beautiful. Watermelons were originally domesticated in central and southern Africa where they served not only as food but as an important water supply dating back 6,000 years. Through trade routes …
I make large batches of this zesty, hearty tomato sauce and freeze it in plastic bags. It’s really great for spaghetti, meatballs and especially in baked dishes like eggplant parmigiana and pizzas. Recipe Ingredients (makes 4 cups) 4 cups Roma tomatoes, canned or fresh 2 …
This morning I roasted pecans. Break them into pieces, add a little salt and into the oven they go. The aroma fills the home with delicious recollections. Food is memory and the pecan is a good example of this. Pecan is an iconic ingredient in …
“Ding-Dong The Witch Is Dead” is #1 on the British Music Charts. That’s a strong protest against the Thatcher policies regarding torture, immigration, union rights and health care. More interesting, though is that although #1 songs are played by the BBC radio, now the BBC …