Apple Cider from Scratch
Jen and I typically make Hot Apple Cider for our traditional Thanksgiving Eve dinners using store-bought cider. This year, sadly, we didn’t host one but I decided to keep the traditions alive and cook many of the dishes we typically make for our friends for my family dinner. So Hank the Roasted Chicken is now … Read more
Chilean Cuisine Cooking Class
In December 2011, Natalya and I were fortunate to have the opportunity to travel to South America for a holiday. In Argentina, we were able to fulfill all our foodie dreams of Argentine steak, chimichurri, and bold red wines. By the time we had crossed the Andean Lakes into Chile, we were completely beef-ed out and the cow population had probably … Read more
Chilean Pisco Sour
There has been a fierce battle raging for over a century in the southern hemisphere. That’s right, I am talking about the highly debated national origin of the Pisco Sour. Chile and Peru both claim this frothy cocktail as their national drink with a National Pisco Sour Day to legitimize their claims: Peru’s is celebrated the first Saturday in … Read more
Our Third Annual Thanksgiving Eve Dinner
Last Wednesday, Natalya and I hosted Thanksgiving Eve dinner for a bunch of our friends who, like us, have no choice but to stick around the city during this foodie holiday because of work Friday. Our first year, we made the mistake of not making it clear to our guests we were preparing legitimate food … Read more
Pimm’s Cup
Pimm’s Cup, a favorite thirst quencher at Wimbledon, polo matches, and other sporting events has been on my radar for a few years. I’ve tried it for the first time in Hong Kong at the Rugby Sevens (admittedly in a vastly less sophisticated manner than implied by the other sports at which it is served). … Read more
Hot Apple Cider with Rum
To accompany all the delicacies on our “Gourmet Game Day“, I wanted to serve a beverage slightly more exciting than beer. Pimm’s Cup came to mind, but it’s more of a summer drink. So after a little brainstorming, I realized that we had just imbibed on some delectable Apple Ciders at the Fairmont in Banff … Read more
Sangria with Pineapple and Guava
Thirsty for some sangria? This light and delicious drink is a big hit when hosting parties. Original recipe calls for rosé wine, but I found that an inexpensive bottle of Carlo Rossi Sangria works just fine. This is not a strong drink, so if you prefer something with a little more kick try adding some … Read more










