Mexico, Lat & South America
Spicy Is Better: Bolitas de Carne Picantes
Sometimes, what makes a dish so delicious, so decadent, and so amazing is its simplicity. Just a few ingredients, thrown together, creating the perfect melody of flavors and textures that just explode in your mouth. My grandmother’s quesillo, that is always thick, creamy and smooth with the perfect deep caramel flavor, my mother’s arepas that [...]
Crisp and Crunchy Empanadas Fritas
Every one knows what an empanada is. It is a half moon fried pocket that may be filled with queso blanco, ground beef, sautéed shredded chicken, really anything savory, that is fried to a golden crisp. Many people remember their first time having an empanada. I don’t remember my first, as I grew up eating [...]
Low-Salt Diet = Hypertension?: Olive and Thyme Farinata
Recently, the Nytimes published an article about the ongoing debate surrounding the health benefits of a low-salt diet, particularly as it relates to reducing the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Contrary to popular belief, this op-ed piece argues that there is little strong evidence to support the long (and steadfast) belief that a that [...]
Smooth and Sweet Helado de Coco
Check out my food blog with more personal musings, First Generation Funk! When fruit is perfectly ripe, sunshine is bountiful and warm breezes define the day, I know that summer is around the corner. I think of the summers I spent in Venezuela, knocking sweet and juicy mangoes from the trees in our backyard and [...]
The Almost Magic Beans
Legumes have been cultivated throughout the world for thousands of years. There’s evidence that they were some of the first cultivated crops in human history. This makes them an essential part of the evolution of early civilizations. When hunter-gatherer groups started to develop agricultural systems they were able to establish into more stable communities that [...]
Mama’s Famous Quesillo
As I mature, I can’t help but think of all of the delicious things I have eaten thanks to my parents, and all of the flavorful dishes of my heritage that have yet to make it to my plate. That is why for some time now, I have been speaking to my grandmother, whom I [...]
The Xochimilco Chinampas: Floating Farms in Mexico City
In a previous article, I wrote about Xochimilco and the chinampa system that was developed by the civilizations living around the lakes in the Anahuac Valley, where modern Mexico City sits now. This system consisted on creating floating islands for agriculture using mud from the bottom of the lake and decaying vegetation. The system is [...]
Arepa, Arepa My Heart
Everyone knows the proverb that says the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Valentine’s Day has come and gone, and I am sure that a lot of people put in a little extra effort doing something a little extra special for the loves in their lives. I am a proponent of celebrating [...]
The Anatomy of Taco
What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word taco? That might well depend on the part of the world you’re from. If you’re from the US, you might think of a hard folded corn shell filled with meat cooked with “taco seasoning”, lettuce, cheese, and sour cream. Even worse, you [...]
Heat, Without the Meat: Vegetarian Enchiladas
After almost a decade of marriage and two beautiful kids, it goes without saying: romance in a long-term relationship can get a little stale. A little tired. A little dried up. A little…well, non-existent. Prior to marriage, there was always a constant and steady flow of sentimental moments, tender embraces, romantic interludes, stolen glances and [...]
