Boyikos in their natural habitat
Savory, crispy, flaky, cheesy. Boyikos are little cheese biscuits or crackers that every good Sephardic grandmother makes. You should learn how too, because they are quick and easy, and I don’t think a Martini ever had a better companion. Bring these to a potluck and I bet you come home with …
This is my skillet. Sure, I have lots of others pots – small saute pans, sauciers, stock pots, paella pans, a beloved Dutch oven, griddles, you name it. But this big cast-iron skillet is the absolute workhorse in my kitchen. I’ve had it for at least 20 years, and I’d say it has been the …
This is one of the dishes I’m working on for my next “underground” dinner party. Cafe Flora (where I previously interned) has graciously agreed to host this time. The menu I’m working on will be Spanish, with both traditional and modern elements. (If you are interested in attending the dinner on Tue. 1/27, there might …
Paella Cakes with Manchego and Candied Seville Orange Peel
I made these paella cakes as the vegetarian entree for our big family Thanksgiving, and they were… fine. They didn’t hold up so well to reheating, and I didn’t have all of the flavor components in place. I had some of the rice left at home and …
Chanterelle and Brie Bruschetta
My last few forays with chanterelle mushrooms have combined them with other big flavors. For this appetizer, I wanted to highlight the delicious, earthy, sweet, complex fungii themselves, adding mainly just some melted brie for richness. This would make a rather decadent appetizer to pass at a holiday party, preferably with an …
Grapefruit crudo, avocado, chervil and capers – this isn’t tuna!
I was goofing around with cutting citrus fruits into cubes the other day, and the red grapefruit looked so much like tuna. Not that I eat tuna, but of course I see other people eat it at sushi restaurants. I tried slicing it vertically into slabs …
Batter-fried maitake mushrooms with a cross-cultural tartar sauce
Maitake mushrooms are very common and much-loved in Japan. In the US they are often known as Hen of the Woods mushrooms (not to be confused with Chicken of the Woods, which is completely different – or Chicken of the Sea, for that matter). They are an easy …
