Author Archive: Lena
Xross Xulcture Xocolat
Do you remember the first time you discovered chocolate? No, not a Hershey bar, but real chocolate, dark, intense and with a billion notes tantalizing your tongue. Maybe not everyone experiences near euphoria when slowly letting a truffle dissolve in your mouth. Or absolutely gaping at the sweet sight of bricks of chocolate divided by [...]
Falafel Fa’Life
What’s the first thing you think of when I say Arabic food? Chances are, falafel and hummus are in the mix. Nowadays we can add shawarma, tabouleh and kebab to the list. The West is becoming more adventurous when trying Middle Eastern cuisine. But falafel remains an old standard as a savory, cheap, semi-healthy, vegetarian [...]
Go Fish: Iraq & the Gulf
Here, fishy fishy. Fish is an important part of life in the Arabian/Persian Gulf. The inhabitants have a long tradition of fishing and pearl diving amid the colorful corals. Savory dishes, interesting aromas, and fish markets are all aplenty in Gulf countries, like Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE. Since the Gulf is at the [...]
SweeTease Mupcakes: TidBit of the Day
For my birthday my husband called up every baker in Vancouver and thanks to SweeTease Cupcakes, I was ecstatically surprised to behold a dozen Mupcakes of my favourite critters (and without costing a fortune)! Yum yum yum! SweeTease was started by a self-taught, non-baker and a real find in Vancouver, BC!
Stone Age No More: Cookstoves are Cleaning Up
In the hall of a NASA mission briefing room, an older man tells a poignant story of a lady named Adelina Erazo who wakes up every morning at dawn to climb 12 miles to collect wood and return home in time to take care of her girls. The speaker is Salvadorian René Núñez Suárez, and [...]
Wake up with Zat
Harken the words once spoken by Julia Child, “how can a nation be great if its bread tastes like Kleenex?” She was likely comparing French bakeries to Wonder Bread, an unfair comparison. But tongue and cheek aside, bread is the brick of life and bakeries are integral to the well-being and culinary culture of a [...]
Allo! from Jordan
I adore this land. With all the complexities of a modern nation, Jordan stands out in the Levant as a center of history and a haven for many fleeing political uncertainty. But for me it holds the memories of family and summers, and most certainly of food! Jordan is a country rich in beauty. Petra [...]
Launch, Energy Innovators: Photo of the Day
I spent a stellar week at LAUNCH.ORG forum at NASA – a groundbreaking program to serve 7 billion people. As a collaboration among NASA, USAID, The U.S. Department of State, and NIKE, this year, it’s energy…more to come about the innovations in energy and cooking.
Stuffed with Pumpkin
AUTUMN, is my favorite culinary month. Farmers markets from late August through October abound in gourds of all varieties and colors, and that just makes me happy. Persimmons, pomegranates and figs are in season which is a delight for my Mediterranean kitchen. Baked apple and pear pastries abound. Stuffed peppers, squash and cabbage frequent my [...]
