What better time to write about my last sushi class than when stopping over in Tokyo on my way west? I've never been to Japan before, and I'm barely dipping my toes in the water (the airport hardly counts), but I'm more than happy to talk for 3 hours about how to carefully swirl … [Read more...] about Sushi Classes in Montreal, and Flying Through Tokyo
Archives for January 2014
“Out of the Freezer and into the Fire”: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam
Yes, I intentionally mis-quoted the saying. Whereas one usually leaves the frying pan and enters the fire (from a bad situation to a worse one), when one has as poor circulation as I do, the fire is an awfully attractive idea. Kind of like "The Cremation of Sam McGee": "Since I … [Read more...] about “Out of the Freezer and into the Fire”: Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam
Roasted Sustainable Arctic Char with Simple Risotto-Style Rice
If you have one large, beautiful fillet of fish you just have to roast it—skin-side up, of course, so the fat bastes the flesh as it cooks. Coat it in crushed almonds, salt, pepper, ground fennel, and seal the moisture in (and make the coating stick) with a thin layer of Dijon, … [Read more...] about Roasted Sustainable Arctic Char with Simple Risotto-Style Rice
British Marmalade Throwdown: Good Food Channel vs. The Guardian (Homemade Orange Marmalade and Caramelized Orange Syrup)
If you want to make syrup or a very sugary, caramelized jelly, make this recipe from Good Food Channel. If you want a really great, bright, citrus-y marmalade, use this recipe. After extensive marmalade research and the realization that I didn't have a cheesecloth or muslin bag … [Read more...] about British Marmalade Throwdown: Good Food Channel vs. The Guardian (Homemade Orange Marmalade and Caramelized Orange Syrup)
Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
What do you do with leftovers? You make a heck of a salad, that's what. With the chicken from the chicken Dijon (or any other of a million baked chicken recipes...), this is a quick meal. Skip the nut coating and cooking and just toss it with the greens and things. Or you can … [Read more...] about Roasted Chicken Salad with Toasted Almonds, Cranberries, and Balsamic
Politically Incorrect Moros y Cristianos: Cuban Rice and Beans
The hilarious thing about culinary traditions is that they can come from a time when people thought a little differently. Whether that means lard was akin to gold or the more sugar used in jam, the better (because it yields more jam, and you're going to need as much food as … [Read more...] about Politically Incorrect Moros y Cristianos: Cuban Rice and Beans
Chicken Dijon with Leeks Vinaigrette: Simple, Quick, Healthy
I hate writing that—"simple, quick, healthy." It feels as though I'm suddenly connecting myself with every mom-friendly cookbook thrown into the bargain bin at Chapters. But it's a meal that you put down in front of people and there's nothing scary involved. No blood sausage. No … [Read more...] about Chicken Dijon with Leeks Vinaigrette: Simple, Quick, Healthy
Risotto Cooking Class Montreal: Seafood Risotto and Wild Mushroom Risotto
Slowly. Stir. Breathe. Stir. Blending hot stock into wine, letting the starch create a thick sauce as you coax it from the grains, making sure the bottom doesn’t stick. This isn’t Korean bibimbap. This isn’t Indian biryani. This isn’t Chinese congee. There’s nothing like this, … [Read more...] about Risotto Cooking Class Montreal: Seafood Risotto and Wild Mushroom Risotto
“13 French Desserts”: A Cheater’s Guide to Tradition
What do you do when you find out that France has this crazy tradition of making 13 desserts for a single Christmas meal, you desperately want to add it to your "International Christmas traditions menu" but you really don't feel like making a buche de Noel in addition to 12 other, … [Read more...] about “13 French Desserts”: A Cheater’s Guide to Tradition
Top Travel Trends for Foodies for 2014
My most popular article on Fine Dining Lovers to date, "Food Travel Trends for 2014" is all about taking that exotic vacation you've always (or have never) dreamed of: Trujillo, Peru Amalfi, Italy Goa, India Flushing, NY Ningxia, Taiwan San Francisco, CA Helsinki, Finland Taguig … [Read more...] about Top Travel Trends for Foodies for 2014