If ever there was a universal coffee maker, I think the moka pot fits the bill. It is also known as caffettiera ”coffee maker” or macchinetta del caffè ”small coffee machine”, or “Italian coffee pot.” For such a relatively simple devise it provokes a passionate response. I mean really, it is a stove. top. coffee maker. Thats...
In Valencia, along with the Flamenco, paella is king, all things citrus, fish and sea food galore. You get the idea, this is a land with plentiful options, and the resulting combinations increase exponentially. Given the bounty that exists due to its location, Valencian cuisine can be said to focus on vegetables and the...
When in Spain, nibble as the Spanish do – that’s my motto. I figure the locals are in the know and I’ve never been proven wrong, my theory has only been validated. Turrón (Spanish), torró (if you are in Barcelona), or torrone (Italian), also know is nougat is a candy mostly made of honey,...
Chocolate and churros. Churros and chocolate. I have to say I was a bit ambivalent about the combination, All that changed when I lanted in Madrid, and was told to visit a tiny shop (San Gines) that focused only on chocolate and churros. That ambivalence went out the window, as San Gines is an institution,...
Until recently, if you said “horchata” I would have responded with “Mexico!” Now, I am not so sure, having sampled the horchata of Spain, which country’s name I’d blurt out. While there are some similarites, sweet frothy drink, the differences are readily apparent. Besides, these two countries do not have the monopoly on this...
Asking for food recommendations for a trip to Spain, I knew would open up a can of worms. Everyone has an opinion that seems to counter the prevailing idea of the previous ‘expert” on topics such as favorite tapas joints or paella experiences. However, I was surprised to see one universal thread through everyone’s...
Adding saffron to a dish is like having cashmere in a blended wool sweater, it immediately ups the desirability factor and puts it in the favorite rotation. There is something about this herb that elevates a dish to something special. I have friends from various saffron producing regions who claim that theirs is the...
Its Christmas time, and the gift season is upon us. While our family is not crazy with exchanging gifts, it is always a struggle to try to keep track of everyone’s taste and interests. Thankfully, I hail from a family of food lovers who like nothing more than to try new culinary experiences. While...
Have you ever eating at a Hmong restaurant? Me neither, at least not until recently when I stumbled across not just a restaurant, but a mall targeting the Hmong of the Twin Cities. I’ve been curious about the Hmong people for a while, having suffered through war and hardships and to relocate halfway round...
My husband recently took me for a weekend trip to Calaveras County. What does that have to do with Grains of Paradise? Very little, except that I found this interesting spice while in Murphys, which along with Angels Camp reside in Calaveras County, California. Grains of Paradise Grains of Paradise, formally known as Aframomum...
