Cataplana, a symbol of local Portuguese cuisine, is a seafood and/or meat stew originating in the Algarve, the southernmost region of Portugal. The stew is cooked in a hammered copper, clam-shaped pan also known as a cataplana, which is unique to the Algarve region. Historically, the cataplana has played a dual role, one, as a … Continue Reading
I love pasta. I love eating pasta. I love making pasta. I love rolling out pasta by hand; I find it therapeutic. In fact, a couple years back, I did a one-week pasta class with a former chef from Flour + Water while at the Dublin Cookery School in Ireland. It was such a fun week … Continue Reading
So, how does one continually find inspiration in the kitchen; in other words, what the heck should I make for dinner tonight? That age-old question. Personally, there’s typically an ingredient that is the catalyst; an ingredient that piques my interest. Sometimes it’s an unusual ingredient (e.g., a new found love for lovage) that I’m excited … Continue Reading
In my humble opinion, the calendar does not announce the official start of spring (for 2015, spring commences on March 20). Rather, the arrival of the first ramps (aka wild leeks) is the telltale sign, the harbinger, that spring is upon us. Ramps are the quintessential sign of spring; the sign that spring has … Continue Reading
Crisp autumn days call for comfort food. As the leaves begin to fall, thoughts turn to nourishing soups and stews. For me, comfort food is best enjoyed in the form of a big bowl of steaming hot seafood chowder. Dishes like this truly soothe the soul. This chowder was inspired by a trip to Ireland earlier … Continue Reading
