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 …
[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 …
Now that we’ve (partially) caught our breath, we’re just starting to look at some of the photos from two weeks ago. For the second year, Onion Dip for Breakfast has attended the James Beard Awards and it has been thrilling!
As you can imagine, half of ODB has taken a keen interest in cooking since her teen years while the other one has entertained thousands with grace and glamor. She’s also been transfixed by the excitement and energy of cooking competition shows. Those two paths inevitably led to this.
Old hats at this, we were ready to take every bite and sip in. As beautifully-arranged trays of nibbles and glasses of rainbow-bright drinks passed by, we leaned in and tasted everything. As always, our favorite part was the community of people.
This year, we with even more people as we celebrated James Beard Leadership awardees with a golden libation at the South Chicago Farm of our partner, Urban Growers Collective.
Here’s a look.
We, of course, shared onion dip… .
I’m often amazed at the wondrous things one can discover without having to travel halfway around the world. That was the case this weekend when we found ourselves in Eatonton, GA . The town is located about 75 miles east of Atlanta via I-20. Looking …
Our family way of life is usually quite spontaneous. Our plans will have edges that keep us together but everything in between stays loose. Who knows what you’ll see, smell, hear or taste if everything isn’t charted out? Those who accompany us either love it …
Spring pasta? Why yes.
April in Chicago is the mixed-messenger. Warm one day, a cold snap the next. Spring rainbows of daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths grace every patch of dirt today only to be dusted with snow tomorrow. It’s less rainy and more hot-then-cold. So what do we eat? Pasta with a tomato sauce lightened by white wine, fresh fennel, squid ink, and delicious shellfish. Not quite a winter stew, not quite a summer seafood boil, but completely a spring delight.
Whether it’s shaped, string, or couscous, we have our fair share of pasta. This one’s a favorite because its sauce comes together in the time that this pasta cooks— 5-10 minutes.
The simple ingredients are elevated by the fresh fennel and wine. The shrimp and tender chunks of crab have that juicy crunch. Want to add another layer of the sea? Squid ink pasta is both stunning and nuanced. Who doesn’t love black food?
Recently, I was fortunate enough to be back in Istanbul after a twenty-five year absence. Some things had changed but, for the most part, it was as stunning as it had ever been. In addition to blue glass amulets to replace my original one broken …
You know my thoughts on markets. I’ve been lucky to visit some excellent ones here and there. The Old Biscuit Mill is far and away one of the best. See for yourself. Delicious food, check. Live music, check. A DJ, check. Heavenly aromas, check. A …
I recently had the incredibly good fortune to visit South Africa for a project and I was showered with love letters. At every turn, there was beauty, and I took it all in.
I learned, stretched, explored, and rested. And I joyfully tasted.
“There, all is order and beauty,Luxury, peace, and pleasure.” Baudelaire We entered the weekend leisurely. My parents were visiting to celebrate… major milestones, family, and life. Committed to resting and relaxing for a change, we were resolved to do only what we wanted to do: …
