Seasoned Fork

Love and spice are great bedfellows, but often these days I find that too much spice can snuff out the flavor.  There is nothing like  spice for a romantic dinner that lingers on the palate without smothering the flavors.  Smoked peppers, Saffron and chocolate finished with a splash of Patron Tequila will certainly inspire a love-filled night.  Smoked peppers are great during [...]

[Read more →]

We always wonder why the French are so thin. Remember the best selling book by Mireille Guiliano, French Women Don’t Get Fat?
They manage to eat cheese, Pâtés, bread, dessert, drink wine and still manage their weight. Her message is simple in that she encourages us to not deprive ourselves but just to have smaller portions. Yet [...]

[Read more →]

I would never refuse a crispy potato latke but always welcome a change to the Hanukkah table. Zucchini latkes are the Meditteranean cousins of potato latkes with less carbs. They’ll leave you satisified, especially when paired with a bit of spice from the horseradish aioli.  Please see our Hanukkah Cocktail Party Menu posting for all the [...]

[Read more →]

Serves 6
2 whole chicken breasts, boned and skinned
1/4 c. soy sauce
2 tbsp. oil
1 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. sugar
1 clove garlic, minced
Cut chicken into 1 x 1/4 inch strips. Place in shallow pan. Combine rest of ingredients and pour over chicken strips. Let stand 1 hour or longer. Weave marinated strips onto skewers.   You can make half [...]

[Read more →]

Apple-Honey Bourekas for Hanukkah

Puff pastry is any cook’s best friend.  Especially around the holidays.  You can make your own or you can buy it frozen.  There are several brands that make it without butter so it’s great for a dietary restriction if you are not eating diary.  You can wrap a beef tenderloin with it [...]

[Read more →]

If you live in New York or any other American city, you need to be ready for of all Holidays whether you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or both. There are less that two weeks until Hanukkah and it’s a great time to kick off the holiday season that will lead you up to New Year’s Eve. Who doesn’t [...]

[Read more →]

Thanksgiving starts the party season and you should always be ready for company. Hopefully you made the best of your Thanksgiving turkey and made some turkey stock.  You can freeze turkey stock and use in a variety of recipes in place of chicken stock for months to come.

One of my favorite recipes for Thanksgiving leftovers [...]

[Read more →]

Tea and honey is the perfect union. Hot tea on a chilly day reminds me of the “Hammans” or “bath houses” in Morroco where you get this tea in the cafe as part of your day of relaxation. You also find these bath houses and cafes in Paris where you have many Parisians of Morrocan [...]

[Read more →]

Mexico holds a special place in my heart having lived there for over two years.  I lived in the neighborhood of Polanco which is one of the most diverse areas of the city.  Filled with Mexicans of all backgrounds as well as expats and foreign service officers, it had some of the best restaurants.  Most [...]

[Read more →]

Even the most adventerous New Yorker can get caught in a neighborhood rut. I use the term “New Yorker” very loosely since I know very few people in Manhattan actually born here. I am referring to people from all parts of the U.S. and other countries who have made New York their home and inhabit a neighborhood [...]

[Read more →]