I found these fairytale pumpkins at Trader Joe’s and had to take a picture. I actually didn’t know these existed. Happy Halloween!
Archive for October, 2009
Fairy Tales
Published 31 October 2009 General Leave a CommentTags: Fairytale Pumpkins, Halloween, Trader Joe's
New Map
Published 30 October 2009 Brazil , Chile , Colombia , General , Mexico , Peru , Uruguay Leave a CommentTags: Lima, Mazatlan, Montevideo, New York Times, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Villa de Levya
I’ve been going through this week’s New York Times travel section featuring Latin America, specifically an awakened Chile, colonial Colombia, 36 Hours in Montevideo, Rio hot spots, Peruvian restaurants, and rejuvenated Mazatlán. Travel exhausts me but its a fun read.
Ñoquis del 29
Published 29 October 2009 Argentina , Light Lunch , Main Course , Vegetarian , Ñoquis del 29 2 CommentsTags: Ñoquis del 29, Brown Butter Sauce, Gnocchi, Gourmet Magazine, Noquis, Sage, Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage
A few weeks ago, I read about Argentina’s ñoquis del 29, the day of the month to prepare and eat gnocchi and wanted to try it. Unfortunately, I would invariably remember this on the 30th of each month. I was determined not to forget this time and with all the fall vegetables weighing down the markets, I was looking for something in a pumpkin-squash-sweet potato to start a new monthly tradition. I found a recipe for sweet potato gnocchi in October’s Gourmet (still can’t believe it’s gone) issue that was exactly what I wanted. I’d only made gnocchi once before and while they were okay, I had that nagging feeling when you first try a recipe that you just didn’t do it right. To avoid this, I read the recipe a few times, cross referenced similar ones for tips and techniques, gathered up the few necessary ingredients and got ready to make a mess. Continue reading ‘Ñoquis del 29′
Stuffed Chayotes
Published 26 October 2009 Light Lunch , Mexico , Miami 2 CommentsTags: Camotes, Chayotes, Chayotes Rellenos, Cocina de la Familia, Cocina de la Familia: mas de 200 recetas auténticas, Marilyn Tausend, Mexican Chorizo, Miguel Ravego, Stuffed Chayotes, Sunset Park, Virginia Dominguez
During my last Sunset Park crawl, I couldn’t resist buying some of the Mexican chorizo that’s sold in all the grocery stores and bodegas. Mixed into omelettes or covered in cheese, all the recipes I found for using it were pretty heavy. That’s when I came across this version using chayotes in Marilyn Tausend’s Cocina de la Familia, a collection of recipes she collected while traveling through the United States and Mexico. This one come from Miami by way of Mexico City. Light, fresh and slightly sweet, the chayotes were the perfect balance for the heavily spiced chorizo. Originally from Mexico but popular throughout Latin America, Tausend compares chayotes to the ideal 19th century woman, “somewhat exotic, always modest, very versatile, and capable of assuming any role necessary.” I didn’t know I was looking for a Victorian solution but I found one. Continue reading ‘Stuffed Chayotes’
Park Avenue Potluck
Published 24 October 2009 General , New York Leave a CommentTags: Florence Fabricant, Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations, Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
With this week’s release of Florence Fabricant’s Park Avenue Potluck Celebrations: Entertaining at Home with New York’s Savviest Hostesses, The Naptime Chef is hosting a virtual potluck dinner featuring a slate of great food blogs. With proceeds to benefit The Society of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, this new release feeds more than your cookbook addiction. I recently spent time with a friend whose son was being treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering and was awed by the love and care the nurses and doctors showed, not only their patients, but their parents and siblings, during countless hours of treatment. It’s wonderful to find another way to support their work.
Fiesta Latina
Published 23 October 2009 General , Washington DC Leave a CommentTags: Cooking at La Casa Blanca: Behind the Scenes wiht the Fiesta Latina Guest Chef, Hispanic Heritage Month, Maricel E. Presilla, Miami Herald, White House Fiesta Latina
I watched the coverage of last week’s Fiesta Latina celebrated at the White House with sincere but vague interest. Though I was happy that it went well and proud as always for the recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month, multi-cultural events at the White House have become frequent enough that you don’t expect any real surprises. That was before I came across on of my favorite food writer, Maricel Presilla’s account in “Cooking at La Casa Blanca: Behind the Scenes with the Fiesta Latina Guest Chef” in the Miami Herald.com. Click here for the for complete article.
The Running People
Published 22 October 2009 Breakfast/Brunch , Mexico , Recipes 1 CommentTags: Sunset Park, Born to Run, Christopher McDougall, Tarahumara, Running People, Pinole, Guadalupita Deli and Grocery, superathletes, Pinole powder
“They seemed to move with the ground,” said one awestruck spectator. “Kind of like a cloud, or a fog moving across the mountains.”
This time, the Tarahumara weren’t two lonely tribesmen adrift in a sea of Olympians…they were locked in formation they’d practiced since childhood, with wily old vets up front and eager young buck pushing from behind. They were sure-footed and sure of themselves. They were the Running People.
-Christopher McDougall, Born to Run
If anyone has read Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run, they know what it’s like to have images of Mexico’s Tarahumara racing through their minds. A story about “a hidden tribe, superathletes, and the greatest race the world has never seen,” it’s really about all of us and none of us. A story of our evolution as runners that may be largely lost, except to a few who never forgot how. Continue reading ‘The Running People’
Latest Scoop
Published 20 October 2009 Desserts , General , New York 5 CommentsTags: Candy Bars, Emily Wallendjack, Fall Conference, French Culinary Institute, Ice Cream, Kir Rodriguez, Pastryscoop.com, Sables, Truffles, Zak Miller
After last week’s break from posting, I was excited to get back in the kitchen. Fortunately, it was a giant kitchen at the French Culinary Institute for Pastryscoop.com’s Fall Conference this past Sunday where I volunteered for the day. I was assigned to a kitchen so I wasn’t able to see everything but demos that came to me were a great sample of the day. Here’s a brief overview for how it went: Continue reading ‘Latest Scoop’
Holiday Break
Published 11 October 2009 Food Breaks , General , Videos Leave a CommentTags: Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Roman Holiday
I’ll be taking a few days off to update my site, do some research, catch-up. I wish I were taking a few days off to get a haircut, ride a Vespa with Gregory Peck, eat gelato, and smash a prop guitar in a barge brawl. So while I’m away, I thought I’d leave you with these images. Arrivaderci!
Fantasy Island
Published 9 October 2009 Cuba , Main Course , Recipes 2 CommentsTags: Arroz con Pollo, Chicken with Saffron Rice, Cuban comfort food, Gourmet Magazine, Saffron, Saffron Rice
I’ve always known that if stranded on a desert island and forced to choose only one dish to eat for the rest of my life, it would be arroz con pollo. I understand that this is ridiculous. Obviously, with the plethora of fresh seafood available on a desert island, paella makes more sense. Nevertheless, the scenario itself is unlikely, so I allow myself to imagine an arroz con pollo eternity. With beer instead of wine, more chicken and less rice, a little burnt on the bottom, it’s always the perfect one-pot Cuban comfort meal. My choice is made. What would your desert island dish be? Continue reading ‘Fantasy Island’
