The Epicurious Diva: August 2008

Monday, August 4, 2008

Summer Nights

Paultato and I spent Saturday evening cooking a fabulous summer meal.

First Course: Spinach salad with goat cheese croquets drizzled in balsamic raspberry vinaigrette

Second Course: Butter chicken and veggie "pizza"

Third Course: Fresh cat sashimi
Just kidding! That's Madonna (the cat) doing her thang.

The Epicurious Diva: One Meal at a Time

Kitchen Credo

My kitchen, my rules!

I believe...

1) Food is not purely for a means of survival but rather God created it as a gift with flavour and abundance (for some of us) to be enjoyed.

2) Food should be created out of love and demands no less.

3) You are at the mercy of whoever's kitchen you are in. When you are in someone else's kitchen, you are no longer head chef but rather a sous chef unless told otherwise.

4) If you have the time, try to make things from scratch. It will taste as good as you feel. =)

5) Make it your own. Just as you would include your signature at the end of a document, you should include your culinary signature in your dish. Maybe your signature is in presentation, or preparation, or in food combinations. Personally, I cook everything without a recipe and without measurements. I cook like how I make music. I improvise with an expansive pallet but end up sticking to a few key ingredients so nothing becomes overshadowed.

6) Be resourceful. If you're short or missing out on an ingredient, think of what you can use to replace it that perhaps gives a similar taste or texture. This way will promote creativity and perhaps you will have created a whole new dish to tantalize the senses!

7) Take a chance on food. Never say no to something unless you've tasted it.

8) Not everything gourmet = good. As much I am a sucker for gourmet products, it's not always necessary to create good food. I'm just as happy with no name brands and from my experience, they're just as happy with me.

9) Listen to your gut. In other words, use your common culinary sense. If the recipe calls for 5 chilli peppers and you know that people cannot tolerate the hotness, don't follow the recipe! The recipe isn't always right.

10) If you don't like it, don't make it. If you don't love it, it won't turn out right.

AMEN.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Summer Nights

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