The first two weeks at our local farmer’s market have been a parade of the fattest asparagus. The bigger, the better for us when it comes to this vegetable, in sharp contrast to how we like most of our food. This composed salad celebrates spring. …
I went to the Emerald Isle fifteen years ago and had the time of my life. From tasty Irish salmon, lamb, and every kind of potato dish to stone circles, castles, and peat. We started in Dublin and spent a couple of weeks exploring seaside …
Each visit to New York has always included popping into a sweet shop for a little bit of chocolate, pastry or cookie. So much so that I’ve contemplated writing a little black book on sweets alone in NYC. Some desserts trend so much that there are legions of fans lined around the block of celebrated shops. Anyone else enjoys the cronut from Dominique Ansel? There’s a lovely version in the image above.
Other desserts are old classics like flaky croissants, palmiers or lemon tarts with delicious examples found in the most unlikely places. We’re here for it all.
Here are a few beauties from the last decade.
Last spring, I was honored to be an artist in residence in the Pullman neighborhood in our beautiful city of Chicago. I initially had made plans to map the many blocks around my space as I considered the ravages of the built environment in the …
Happy Valentine’s Day! This Onion Dip for Breakfast pair had an early start in celebrating Valentine’s Day by having afternoon tea at the Drake Hotel over the past weekend. In the Palm Court, the hotel’s strikingly opulent and beautiful restaurant, we sipped tea, champagne, ate …
Ăn Quả Nhớ Kẻ Trồng Cây (When eating a fruit, think of the person who planted the tree)
a Vietnamese proverb
Seeds of curiosity were vigorously planted by my parents. While their curiosities often take different forms, I grew up in a home filled with questions: Wonder where they’re going? How can we make tempura at home right now (pre-internet)? What are the effects on cultures based on proximity to the equator? What do you think that is on that woman’s plate? If we walk down this narrow street, where will it take us? What do you think we just ate?
This special sauce of adventure, curiosity, and enthusiasm was evident when we whisked off to DC two years ago because a show on Afro-Atlantic art of the Americas was closing that very weekend. Or flashback to yesterday when my mom decided at 2am to come to Chicago later that day so we could see the Faith Ringgold show before it closes next week. Did I mention that she was here for 24 hours? It was glorious.
We did many things that day. We saw art. We had tea. We dreamt.
We ate.
Dish after dish served family-style warmed our bodies and fed our memories. My mom shared what she ate during her trip in Vietnam and we responded with fond throwbacks of culinary adventures in Oakland where I worked for several years. Phở of all types redolent of lime, culantro, lemongrass, basil, and rich broth came up over and over. And talk of the heady combinations of sweet-and-sour eggplant, pork and seafood, and bánh mì energized the conversation.
What are you having? The Super Bowl is this Sunday and we’re getting our menu together. We can’t help but think of our family favorite, chicken wings, whenever we get together for the big game! Here’s a look back to a great day. ——— The …
[The second time around🎶🎶] We love Barcelona so much that we’re back drooling over these images. Shall we return to this vibrant city? Yes! “Ooooh, what’s over there?” That question has been my mom’s mantra for as long as I can remember. She’s the one …
We just returned from an eight day trip to El Salvador. There was so much to see and do in this Central American country which we’ve never visited before, but are already making plans to return. This post will concentrate on our time in San Salvador, the capital, where the majority of the country’s population resides. A future post will delve into our time at beach resorts 2 hours away, which was full of outdoor activities and nightlife.
San Salvador, like most of El Salvador, is mountainous, lush and green. The month of January is in their summer and called the dry season. It’s a photographer’s paradise.
We enjoyed our meals in the country. The national dish, the pupusa, is a stuffed thick griddle corn cake filled with cheese, peppers and endless other options. Being that I love cornbread and corn-related foods, I enjoyed pupusas wherever it was offered.
Other delectable dishes that graced our table were all types of ceviche, tostadas, nachos, burritos, delicious fruits and loads of desserts.
In taking a private tour of the central area of San Salvador, we were given a history of the country. It was once a colony of Spain in the 1500’s and gained its independence in the early 1800’s. The people of El Salvador and the surrounding countries are of Mayan descent. Because of the slave trade, there is an African connection with some of its inhabitants.
In walking through the parks, squares, business and entertainment areas where people and families seemed to gather endlessly, there was an air of relaxation and joy. Small musical bands played in the parks accompanied by young or older dancers. Music flowed throughout. I’m reminded of how New Orleans is called the Big Easy. Things seemed rather easy in San Salvador. It seemed almost like a holiday with the beautiful weather playing its part.
The National Palace of El Salvador
The National Library, a 55 million dollar structure funded by the Government of China.
While in San Salvador, we stayed at the Sheraton Presidente San Salvador Hotel, a place steeped in history. The accommodations were great, the meals lovely, and amenities were excellent. What stood out for me was the wall of photos of Heads of States who had stayed at the hotel. My favorite president of all time, President Barack Obama, was pictured several times. Presidents Clinton and Bush were also framed on the wall. Every time I passed the photographs, I smiled.
El Salvador, I’m planning a return!
We never miss an opportunity to enjoy art in the galleries and on the table. How wonderful was it to engage with both! First, there was a terrific retrospective of Faith Ringgold’s body of work. And then there was the art of the table. Chicago …
