“Life isn’t about finding yourself, life is about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw

2015 was a year of adventure. I fulfilled one of my dreams (something I’ve been thinking and talking about ever since visiting Spain in 2010) — to walk the Camimo de Santiago. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about what an incredible experience it was and feel thankful to have had this opportunity.

I learned that if you focus only on the end point, the task can be very daunting. But, if you put one foot in front of the other, lots of little steps accumulate and add up to big feats. Perhaps more importantly, I learned to slow down, to enjoy and be aware of the moment and the journey, and to not focus solely on the destination.

This year, I traveled to Portugal, where I ate lots of sardines and fell in love with bacalhau (aka salt cod).  Moved to crazy, loud, bustling NYC (the antithesis of the Camino).

And, of course, did lots of cooking and eating…

My Year in Food 2014
A Year of Cooking 2013

Happy New Year! Cheers!! See you in 2016. A new adventure awaits…

Nori Tagliatelle with Sea Urchin (Uni)

Grapefruit Salad with Shrimp and Coconut Rice; Mushroom Curry Barley Soup; Shiso Furikake

Homemade Rice Noodles; Heirloom Bean and Poblano Enchiladas; Creamy Vadouvan Carrot Puree with Seared Scallops

Pasta con le Sarde (Pasta with Sardines); Greek Meze (Mezethes)

Homemade Vadouvan Spice Blend; Grapefruit Salad with Shrimp and Coconut Rice; Greek Meze (Mezethes)

A Cornucopia of Spring Vegetables

The Holiday Flavors of Rioja: Rosemary & Garlic Crusted Rib Eye Roast

Crispy Rice Salad; Lovage and Green Garlic Pesto; Homemade Vadouvan Spice Blend

Exploring Portugal….; Camino de Santiago 2015

Ramp Festival 2015, Hudson, NY; Camino de Santiago 2015

Mushrooms with Amaranth Polenta; Kedgeree: Curried Rice, Smoked Fish, & Boiled Eggs; Mussel Omelet with Sweet Potato Fries

Braised Oxtail Agnolotti; Chilled Corn Soup; Greek Meze (Mezethes)

Lablabi: Tunisian-Inspired Chickpea Stew; Chicken Curry with Lemongrass and Lime Leaves; A Salad for Summer

Smoked Trout ‘Brandade’; Roasted Bone Marrow with Parsley Salad

Hello Spring: Nettle, Ramp, and Leek Soup; Greek Meze (Mezethes); Saag Paneer

Braised (Baby) Octopus; Braised Oxtail Agnolotti; Chinese Style Spring Roast Chicken; A Blood Orange Gastrique + Save Heritage Pigs

Gigandes: Greek Giant Baked Beans; A Salad for Summer; Roasted Winter Squash and Pomegranate Salad

Salt Cod with Potatoes, Onions, Eggs, and Black Olive Crumbs;  Kedgeree: Curried Rice, Smoked Fish, & Boiled Eggs; Burdock Root (Gobo) Salad

Homemade Pasta: Cappelletti or ‘Little Hats’; Parmesan Brodo

A Salad for Summer; Chilled Strawberry Soup; Lovage and Green Garlic Pesto

Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup); Crispy Rice Salad; Smoked Salmon Onigiri

Chocolate Salami; Pasteli:Greek Honey Sesame Bar; Pumpkin, Walnut and Phyllo Pastry

Exploring Portugal….; Camino de Santiago 2015

Spelt Orecchiette with Spring Peas; Homemade Pasta: Cappelletti or ‘Little Hats’

Mushroom Curry Barley Soup; Parmesan Brodo; Thai Fish Curry with Coconut Milk

Homemade Rice Noodles; The Holiday Flavors of Rioja: Rosemary & Garlic Crusted Rib Eye Roast; Crispy Rice Salad

Pan con Tomate (y Anchoa); Creamy Vadouvan Carrot Puree with Seared Scallops; Pumpkin, Walnut and Phyllo Pastry

Nori Tagliatelle with Sea Urchin (Uni); Pan con Tomate (y Anchoa)

Vegetarian Beans with a Simple Red Mole; Salt Cod with Potatoes, Onions, Eggs, and Black Olive Crumbs; Lovage and Green Garlic Pesto

Exploring Portugal….

A Cornucopia of Spring Vegetables; A Salad for Spring; Vegetarian Beans with a Simple Red Mole

Hello Spring: Nettle, Ramp, and Leek Soup; Orange Gastrique + Save Heritage Pigs; Chicken Curry with Lemongrass and Lime Leaves

Ramp Pesto Pizza with Razor Clams; Roman-Style Pizza; Brooklyn Bound + Pizza

A Salad for Summer; Sopa de Ajo (Garlic Soup); Vegetarian Beans with a Simple Red Mole

Roasted Winter Squash and Pomegranate Salad

Vegetarian Beans with a Simple Red Mole; Homemade Vadouvan Spice Blend

Salt Cod, Chickpeas, and Egg Salad

Camino de Santiago 2015