- Documenting the journey through my kitchen, a pinch of salt at a time.
Posted in Appetizer, Dessert, Food Thoughts, Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Vegetables on Jun 6th, 2011
We are indeed much more than what we eat; but what we eat can nevertheless help us be much more than what we are. — Adele Davis Ah, Italy! Italia! Il Bel Paese! Even though a culinary journey through this land of food artists would outlast the most long-lived of men, we felt the need [...]
Godiamo, la tazza, la tazza e il cantico, la notte abbella e il riso; in questo paradiso ne scopra il nuovo dì – excerpt from ‘Libiamo ne’ Lieti Calici’, “La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi [In English] Be happy; The wine and singing beautify both the night and the laughter Let the new day find us [...]
Posted in Italian, Main Dish, Pasta, Recipe, Vegetarian on Apr 26th, 2011
If Italy had contributed nothing but pasta dishes to the world of cuisine, it would have been sufficient for immortality. — Craig Claiborne Spring has finally arrived in upstate New York! It’s about time. Today it was sunny, 70+ degrees Fahrenheit, just like the way it should be at this time of year. In any case, [...]
Buon cibo, buon vino, buoni amici – Unknown When there’s a blizzard outside, having warmth, good food, wine, and company is priceless. A fireplace adds a nice touch as well. There are many foods that comfort the soul, but today’s choice is heavily influenced by my favorite person in the world who happens to come [...]
Posted in Cantonese, Main Dish, Poultry, Recipe, Vegetables on Aug 12th, 2010
Feeding people graciously and lovingly is one of life’s simplest pleasures: a most basic way of making life better for someone at least for awhile. — Anna Thomas Black bean sauce reminds me of traditional Cantonese home-style cooking. I grew up having a variety of dishes made with black beans and black bean sauce, including [...]
Posted in Cantonese, Main Dish, Meat, Recipe, Vegetables on Feb 22nd, 2009
I promised one of my readers that I would create a post and recipe for a more Chinese version of beef broccoli, so here it is! The main difference in this version is the type of broccoli used. In my family, Chinese broccoli is as common as eating spinach or lettuce — a weekly staple, [...]
Posted in Cantonese, Main Dish, Meat, Recipe, Vegetables on Jul 20th, 2008
Beef broccoli is probably one of the most popular entrees at a typical Chinese restaurant. Oh yes, it’s right up there on the charts with fried rice, chow mein, sweet and sour [name your meat], and pot stickers. I often chuckle at these various dishes because of the Americanized stereotype associated with them, essentially portraying [...]
Posted in Cooking class, Main Dish, Recipe, Rice, Spanish on Jun 13th, 2008
For a good 10+ minutes, I had the opportunity to cook on ‘stage’ with Chef Tim Cottini at Cafe-Ba-Ba-Reeba, one of Chicago’s most popular spots for Spanish tapas and of course, paella, a crowd favorite (and one of my favorite Spanish classics, too). It’s actually quite funny how I ended up cooking with him… I [...]
Posted in Cantonese, Main Dish, Recipe, Rice on Jun 8th, 2008
Fried rice is a classic dish that many people around the world are familiar with and enjoy eating. Needless to say, it is one of my all-time favorites because it can be customized to one’s liking. Each Asian culture also has a variation of fried rice, using ingredients locally available in a region. There are [...]
