Spicy Squid & Kale Stew I love the way a steaming bowl of stew warms you up from the inside out. Our recent bout of rainy weather was the perfect time to make something super spicy, steamy and flavorful. I drew inspiration from the Zuni Cafe Cookbook – which I am totally LOVING by the […]
Merguez Sausage Pita Sandwich While studying abroad in Lyon, I discovered the wonders of bistro and bouchon dining, opening my eyes to the many nuances of French food. I tasted beyond the stereotypes of cream and butter and discovered a gastronomic world deeply influenced by the Algerian culture. To a girl raised on oyster sauce, […]
Turkey Day Thanksgiving just happened to coincide with my birthday this year. How happy was I to be able to cook on my birthday??? While most people might label themselves exempt from chores on their birthday, nothing pleases me more than to cook for my loved ones. I especially love dreaming up crazy, extravagant menus […]
Dungeness Crab People who love food love people who love food, so it should come as no surprise that all my girls love to eat just as much as me. What started out as a dinner of lobster fried rice (made with leftovers from Newport Seafood), turned into a tour of Asia/seafood feast mixed with […]
If I were to be granted three wishes, right after world peace, I would without a doubt ask for some sushi chef/samurai knife skills – both precision and swiftness. Hi-ya! You just never know when you might happen upon a magical genie, right? These butterflied trout, compliments of Whole Foods, got me thinking about how […]
Banilla Rum Panna Cotta with Kumquat Compote & Fresh Bananas Poor B had two weeks in a row of dental work. That meant tons of mashed potatoes and smoothies going on in Julie's Kitchen. Only soft foods on tender, puffy gums. So sad… though chipmunk cheeks are undeniably adorable. In my efforts to find new […]
It's long been ingrained in my head that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. My morning cubicle routine involves a bowl of oatmeal with raisins and black coffee served in my cheesy mug that reads, "30 and still losing my grip". Ha. Terrible, isn't it? I was craving eggs this morning but […]
Inspired by Marvin from Burnt Lumpia's recent ode to dried shrimp and my love for Thai food, I present you with "shells" steamed in a broth of dried shrimp, coconut milk and lemongrass. Like Marvin, I also had my own little stash of dried shrimp forgotten and abandoned. I keep them on hand for the […]
Branzino with Tatsoi & Roasted Peanuts I had the most inspiring meal last weekend. There was no nine course meal or wine pairings or molecular gastro-anything, but all the same, this meal revitalized my taste buds in a way that redefined "hitting the spot". It's these simple, unadorned meals that leave me and my appetite […]
Soup Dumplings In order to get to the root of "Los Angeles Cuisine", I recently attended a foodie discussion moderated by the one and only, Pulitzer Prize-winning, food writer Jonathan Gold. An impressive panel was comprised of Michael Cimarusti, Evan Kleinmen and Octavio Bercerra. Perhaps these acclaimed chefs and restaurateurs would be able to enlighten […]
