comfort food and beet aesthetics

A yummy recipe for borscht to please my Russian genes, and a review of a Ukrainian restaurant in New York. Check out my friend Amanda's blog coring the apple.

An Ode to Okra

An Ode to Okra

I've spoken before about my love of quinoa, but never about my obsession with okra.  Unless you are from the south or the tropics, you have probably never heard of okra.  Okra is a long green pod that looks like witches fingers, yum appetizing! It is a summer vegetable meaning it should be available in [...]

10 Things Foreigners get Right about Americans

10 Things Foreigners get Right about Americans

1. Everything is bigger in Amurica. Buildings, coffee, plates, cars, houses, freeways, lines... 2. Americans LOVE freedom whatever that means. "And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free!" 3. Americans have different accents. Californian, Bostonian, Southern 4. Americans eat hamburgers and hotdogs. On the 4th of July, at the [...]

Saffron Quinoa Risotto

Saffron Quinoa Risotto

Did you know that saffron is more costly than gold? Saffron, a spice derived from the saffron crocus flower, gives dishes a rich warm flavor and a yellow color.  Why is it so expensive?  When it takes over 75,000 flowers to produce and single pound of spice, well you can get the picture.  Although costly, [...]

A Conversation with the Cheese Man

A Conversation with the Cheese Man

 My friends and I have talked a lot about our dreams of opening a cafe or a bakery.  Of course it's always been just that, a far-off dream, but if it didn't seem like such an unattainable goal, what are the obstacles we would face? I’ve always imagined that the main obstacle to small-scale producers [...]

Catania: Where to Eat

Catania: Where to Eat

Catania, a city famous for its fresh sea food, pasta alla norma, and the glorious cannoli! Instead of wandering the streets hungry for a reliable restaurant, check out the restaurants that have impressed me. FOR DINNER Biscari  Expensive http://www.ristorantebiscari.it/ Though quite expensive, I may have had the best meal of my life at this restaurant. My [...]