Super Chili

I made this chili for Super Bowl Sunday, and while I am a bit sad the 49ers aren’t playing today, this deliciously hearty bowl of chili has made my stomach very happy! I found two super easy chili recipes on AllRecipes.com that I decided to combine to make my chili: Debdoozie’s Blue Ribbon Chili and … Continue reading

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 … Continue reading

Fritas de Queso (Cheese Empanadas)

An empanada is a small, stuffed pastry that is either baked (al horno) or fried (frito).  The name comes from the verb empanar, meaning to wrap or coat in bread.  Empanadas derive their origins from Galicia, Spain and Portugal from way back in medieval Iberia times.  Today, these savory little morsels are ubiquitous in Latin … Continue reading

Christmas Eve Eve

While Jen absconded to her family’s home in sunny California, I decided to host a little holiday dinner for the friends who were still in New York. Most of the dishes had been featured in this blog before, some were new. I baked a cake for the first time in probably a decade. And a … Continue reading

Baked Camembert

It’s almost feels like cheating to put this as a separate recipe, but this little appetizer is such a crowd pleaser that I had to include it. Camembert is a soft, creamy, surface-ripened cow’s milk cheese that originated from Normandy in northern France.  Camembert is very similar to brie, which is also made from cow … Continue reading

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 … Continue reading

Mini Caprese

Insalata Caprese is a simple Italian salad made of mozzarella, tomatoes, and basil.  When you downsize all the ingredients to bite-size form, you get the perfect party appetizer that is both refreshing and, well, really cute.  I prefer to keep my Mini Caprese salad skewers very simple; I use the same olive oil + balsamic vinegar + … Continue reading

Portobello Pizza

My friend’s mom (Mama G!) whips up these tasty Portobello Pizzas in just 30 minutes, and they are so simple and flavorful.  Plus, the no-carb vegetarian pizza idea is quite ideal for those looking for a healthy appetizer or snack.  I didn’t list the actual ingredient measurements as they will vary based on the size … Continue reading

Sunday Brunch

Brunching is one of my favorite things to do in Manhattan, as the city is packed with a plethora of brunch spots that can suit any desire for a traditional (Bubby’s) or nouveau American brunch (Five Points), an Asian Fusion brunch with a DIY Bloody Mary Bar (Double Crown), a Chinese dim sum brunch (Ping’s … Continue reading

Gourmet Game Day

I am not much of a sports fan… I mean I enjoy playing sports but I am a fairly apathetic spectator.  Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that the only sports I did were pretty boring to watch, such as crew or swimming…  However, I am clearly a fan of food, so … Continue reading