Tapas are not typical Father’s Day fare; most dads seem to yearn for something a bit more hearty. Well, mis queridos amigos, pernil, Puerto Rican-style roast por shoulder, certainly fits the bill! This recipe is one that guarantees a fabulously fragrant, juicy, and tasty one! (Sorry veggie dads; this one… Read More →
Did you ever savor a sip of something that was so aromatic and tasty, that you closed your eyes to taste it better? (Please, mis queridos amigos, I can’t be the only one who shuts her eyes to taste better!) Okay, so yesterday I had the supreme pleasure of trying… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, it’s a ssssssteamy day here in New York, and here’s the big question for you: Is it too early to start sipping sangría? Here’s my answer: Of course as far as drinks, the sky’s the limit (I know, I use that a lot, but I mean it!).... Read More →
It’s not that I don’t enjoy a salad with just oil and vinegar, but sometimes I want a little bit more! First, my friends, a confession: I was a devoted Russian Dressing girl for years. In fact, I remember making a dinner party for a bunch of my roommate’s parent’s… Read More →
As soon as the weather gets warmish, it’s time to think of outdoor dining. Well, my friends, was Thursday a gorgeous afternoon or what? These days are magnificent for so many reasons. (Have you seen the azaleas? Wow!) The bold and brilliant colors outdoors inspire so many of my creations… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos—What would a Cinco de Mayo Celebration be without margaritas? Margaritas are fun, always, because they’re festive and refreshing—not to mention versatile! Actually, with this gorgeous weather we’re having in the Lower Hudson Valley, it’s hard NOT to think about barbecues and festive drinks al fresco. Well, since Sunday… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, on Friday, in my Tomatillo post, I wrote about how the spring is a great time to try new things—like new foods—and more. Well, my friends, in the spirit of trying something new, and of practicing what I preach, I have an announcement: as of May 1st,... Read More →
Tomatillos Roasted with Red Onions Mis amigos, as you well know, sometimes, in order to grow, you have to move out of your comfort zone and take some risks. Well, my friends, this applies to the area of preparing and enjoying food, too. Now please don’t get frightened; I’m not… Read More →
Photo by Ellie Miller, for Calypso Coolers, ©2006, Arlen Gargagliano “Sal de la vida es la amistad.” The salt of life is friendship. Juan Luis Vives Though Juan Luis Vives, the 16th century, Valencian-born humanist, said this close to 500 years ago, it speaks loud and clearly to me, and I’m… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, last Friday I wrote about my love affair with salads; this is a second part, and brings in another one of my favorite salads: tuna. Part nostalgia (wrote about egg salad here a few weeks ago!), part ease of preparation, all flavor and versatility, tuna salad—with a… Read More →
Finding a new variation to an old theme can be refreshing—and fun! This take on tuna is one I hope you’ll enjoy.Read more about it here! Print Latin Twist: Tuna Salad with Spark Serving Size: 4 My friends, you can always adjust the ingredients in this very versatile tuna salad… Read More →
Truth be told, on this…the almost-end-day of restaurant week (WEEKS!), I am so full that I don’t think I could go out for another meal. Well, at least not until dinner time. Thursday’s lunch at Harvest on Hudson was another special treat. My friend Lisa and I celebrated, seated in… Read More →
“Well, here in Santo Domingo it’s 85 and sunny!” That was one of the tropical-friend comments that I’ve received this week. Yes, mis amigos, it’s not 85 and sunny here in New York. Au contraire, I’m looking at a winterwonderland as I type. But hey, winter will end eventually. In… Read More →
There were many desserts I enjoyed when I lived in Peru—from my absolute favorite melt-in-your-mouth alfajores (shortbread sandwich cookies with a dulce de leche filling) to silky and flavorful cinnamon-spiced mazamorra (purple corn pudding). Another one I often crave, is crema volteada, also known as Peruvian flan. Here ’s the… Read More →
Yuca Fries with Peruvian Pepper Sauce from Acuario in Port Chester: the Inspiration for Today’s Recipe! Don’t get me wrong! I love pisco sours (posted here in July) and ceviche (posted here in October)! But, mis amigos, Peruvian cuisine has so much more…and we are so lucky to have access to the… Read More →
Let’s face it: snow, though it’s beautiful, gets old after a while. And I’m sure many of you are with me in the dreaming-of-sunny-warm-places mode. Well, mis amigos, if, like me, you can’t get to your dream destination at this moment, why not bring some of that tropical paradise to… Read More →
Don’t be fooled by its Spanish name; Sopa Paraguaya is not a soup! It is, however, a lovely and cheesy interpretation of cornbread. Cornbread, as many of you know, is made in different ways throughout the Americas. This one, the Paraguayan cornbread, was recently re-brought to my attention by… Read More →
Many of you have Super Bowl on your mind, and though this is not your typical football cocktail, maybe it can be. Or, it could be the perfect brunch drink served on Super Bowl Sunday, or, well, any Sunday! We made Bellinis last week in a cooking class, and once… Read More →
Con este tremendo frío—with this amazing cold—I can only think of warming dishes. This, my friends, is one that will warm you inside and out! It’s a stew chock full of delicious layers…including chick peas, Lima beans, hominy, roasted acorn squash, and more. (Yes, there’s meat in this version, but… Read More →
This summer I had the chance to visit Block Island (ah…so lovely, and here’s a picture of a Bloody Mary—and a fabulous one at that—from the ferry ride over) and it was there that my inspiration for talking about brunch, and all that it can be, was first kindled. THEN, as… Read More →
If you like tomato juice, you’re a bloody Mary fan—and you enjoy tequila from time to time—this drink is for you! I was introduced to this drink several years ago in Mexico (south of the city) at a lovely lunch in at the market in Coyoacán, home of the amazing… Read More →
Maybe it’s because wow, it is cooooooold (muy, muy frío!!!) out there, I’m still yearning for warm drinks! Actually I did write about one warm cocktail on December 7th (Peruvian Winter Wine) and, quite frankly, have been playing with my drinks since. And, well, does anyone else love Kahlúa the way… Read More →
Mis queridos amigos, first I have to tell you: despite the champagne title, these days I don’t make this cocktail with it (lately I prefer to use Prosecco!). But, well, since we do associate that amazing sparkling wine with festivities–those New Year’s Eve related and beyond–so I’m keeping the name!... Read More →
With so many sweets around—and not that I don’t enjoy sweets (love ‘em!)—lately I’ve been craving more green, more fish, more fruit (maybe it’s this boot camp that has had me working out every morning?!). Anyway, because of my personal craving, I’ve decided to share this tapa with my family… Read More →
Winters in Lima, Peru are, well, quite different from what we get up here in New York (or what we usually used to get!). But still this Peruvian-born wine drink is as perfect on a chilly and damp winter’s day in Lima, as it is here! Fragrant and warming, this… Read More →
And so, mis queridos amigos, it begins. Once the tree in Rockefeller Center has been lit, the pre-holiday and then holiday vortex descends. Though the fiestas may be a lot of fun, so many of us—and for good reasons—get totally stressed. Because of this, I’d like to share some entertaining… Read More →
What to do with leftover turkey? How about making some arepitas! Being in the kitchen the day after Thanksgiving is not something that lures many people (beyond cooking nerds like myself!). Still, well, we’ve got a lot of food—thankfully—and would like to consume it, or have it consumed! As I’ve mentioned… Read More →
OK, I admit it: I cheated! When I made this last Sunday, I used Trader Joe’s Cornbread mix (and added sour cream and apple cider in addition to the suggested milk, oil, and egg, and along with the chorizo, apples, cumin, and chives—but NO sugar!). The result was quite good!... Read More →
“Good!” my husband said in between bites of his dinner. This, my friends, is a huge compliment! If you haven’t been to Puerto Rico in a while — or ever — Sofrito, on Main Street in White Plains, may be a close second! The scene is quite tropical: earth-colored skirt-like… Read More →
“Couldn’t have been better…” remarked Susan after dinner, as we semi-waddled down the steps of Don Coqui. As we left—the salsa sounds of the 10-person plus live band Tipica 73 serenading us—we were discussing the wonderful food (though we all ate too much!), and fabulous evening we had just enjoyed…. Read More →
