Chris Nordquist
In Morocco, most meals begin with a selection of “kemia,” or small bites, and salads. A simple meal will begin with, say, three salads, while an elaborate meal may start with an impressive platter of more than a dozen. We ate lots of wonderful food during our recent trip to Marrakech, but I think these […]
Our friend Ellen isn’t responsible for the recipe for this delicious, deceptively simple cake. (We can thank Sister Angela at the Convento de la Purisma Concepcion in Penaranda, Spain for that.) Indirectly, though, she is responsible for introducing us to this delicious dessert. Ellen has an allergy to wheat gluten. Of course, she’s too gracious […]
For me, this is perfect food. With just four humble ingredients (ok, six, if you count salt and pepper), it’s about as simple as it gets, but its flavor and texture are subtle, beautifully balanced and, to me at least, deeply satisfying. It’s also inexpensive, easy to make (with just a bit of practice) and […]
Ok, I’m back. The blog, and my life in general, was derailed last week by an illness that landed me in the hospital for a few days. It was a bit of an ordeal, but I’m getting back into action now, and I’m expected to recover completely. I’m very grateful to my family, friends and […]
This is one of my favorite dishes. In my humble opinion, it’s got everything going for it. First, it’s delicious, marrying light flaky Halibut with the rich and complex flavor of Catalan Romesco sauce. (See my post about Romesco here.) Second, the beautiful bright orange color of Romesco makes for an dramatic and appetizing presentation. […]
The flavor of Romesco sauce is difficult to describe –sweet, smoky, spicy, rich, a bit like a Catalan version of a Mexican mole. Like a mole, it transforms simple food into extraordinarily flavorful dishes. Unlike a good mole, though, which takes hours to make properly, you can whip up an excellent Romesco in a few […]
This upgrade to the childhood classic chocolate sundae was actually the result of a total dessert failure. About a year ago I offered to bring dessert to a dinner party in San Francisco hosted by my friend Marta. She had requested a lemon tart with a chocolate-lined shell. Overconfidently, as it turned out, I tackled […]
A month or so ago my good college friend Paul was in New York investigating a new job opportunity and considering a move from his home in Los Angeles. Of course, my advice was completely objective and selfless, but I did take him to the beautiful bar at MOMA’s Modern restaurant to discuss the matter […]
This delicious Turkish-inspired dip is a little strange, but it’s wonderful. It looks like the familiar red pepper hummus (and there’s nothing wrong with that), but the flavor is completely different: sweet and tangy, almost sour, with moderate heat. It’s great with pita chips, crackers or celery sticks as a cocktail snack, and it transforms […]
I keep waiting for our daughter Julia, now 19 months old, to adopt the infamous “white diet” of toddlers, but so far she’s still an adventurous and enthusiastic eater, and this dish is one of her all-time favorites. It’s one of mine too. I first ate it when my friend Dan served it at a […]
