Carnitas Tacos
Years ago, a friend walked into my office at lunchtime and promised to take me to the world’s best carnitas. “The best? Really?” (Now who could argue with that offer?) Continue reading
Worcestershire (AKA The Shire) from the Malvern Hills
When I lived in England, my American friends often inquired about our home across the pond. My response was that “I live in the Shire” – J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical green land, bordered by rivers and fertile valleys. The statement, inspired by my mental image of the land of the Hobbits, was in fact remarkably close to the truth. I later discovered that Tolkien modeled his Shire after rural Worcestershire, where he spent his childhood and where I lived more than a century later.
Mr. Tolkien, you were so right – it was and still is a lovely green land. Continue reading
Sangrias at the Drinks Table
This summer party was a group effort – a beautiful backyard provided by our hosts, menu by A Global Garnish and food/drink contributions from all attendees. Don’t confuse this group effort with a potluck, which has the emphasis on luck. If you’re lucky, a potluck party will have a good distribution of appetizers, main dishes and desserts as well as a mix of ingredients/flavors. But why leave all this to chance?? If you give out menu assignments, you KNOW the final meal will all come together. Further, you save your guests the trouble of wondering: “what should I make?”. Continue reading
Israeli Couscous with Sweet Red Peppers and Asparagus
Summer solstice – time to enjoy the glorious evening daylight, the early summer climate, lush gardens and early seasonal produce. Could there be a better time for an outdoor party? My clever friends thought not. Continue reading
Chicken with Preserved Lemons, Olives and Artichokes
Memories can be tricky. My sister and I recently compared childhood memories only to find that, while some matched, many did not and a few were completely contradictory. So, when I returned to Morocco after a 40-year hiatus, I feared the food would not live up to my seemingly indelible memories of magical scents and flavors. I was wrong. It was better. Continue reading
Ybor City – Historic Cuban-American Neighborhood
Perhaps because it is so difficult for Americans to go there, I am fascinated by Cuba –with its rich history and culture. To gain access, Americans must get a license from the U.S. Treasury Department, and that license requires a specific purpose (e.g., journalism, charitable work, government business, etc). I haven’t applied for a license since I don’t think writing a food blog would qualify 🙂 Continue reading
Buzhenina
Growing up in a Belarusian family, we always had Russian-style “fresh ham”, or Buzhenina, for Easter. It didn’t look or taste like most Easter hams, because it was a “fresh ham”. In which case, was it really a ham??? Continue reading
The Burren, Ireland
Most people who visit Ireland go to see castles, explore pretty coastal villages and eat hearty Irish meals, all of which was exactly what I had in mind on my first trip to Ireland. But I made the colossal error of asking my husband to plan our trip. So, we flew into Dublin and drove straight across the island to climb on rocks at The Burren. I was not entirely sure about all this. Continue reading
Lancashire Hotpot
What I love most about England (and I love a lot of things about England) are the footpaths. If you like hiking (rambling in the UK vernacular), this is the country for you. Continue reading
Korean Stone Bowl (Dolsot)
Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN (the Twin Cities), one of my favorite Midwestern cities, has always intrigued me for its ethnic diversity. I can understand why the Swedes and Norwegians settled there — lots of ice, snow and long winters. You can see why they would enjoy the popular Minnesota winter sports: cross-country skiing (which I love), ice-fishing (which I find bewildering), and curling (which I find fascinating and will be the subject of a later post). Continue reading
A GLOBAL GARNISH 