Congee: Memories of Warmth

Author Ramon C. Sunico’s essay in the anthology Comfort Food is called Rainfood and talks about a dish that has been much maligned but at the same time held dear by its devotees: the humble rice porridge.
Throughout the Asian region, people know it by many names: congee in China and areas where many people of [...]

Sweet and Peppery is the Choc for Me!

This has to be one of the most unusual chocolate treats I’ve seen in ages: Sarotti Grand Chocolat in Mandel-Chili – milk chocolate with almonds candied over with a chili-infused caramel!  Interesting, ne?  The smooth creamy sweetness of the chocolate (and mind: it’s not too sweet) goes a treat with the peppery almonds.  The combination [...]

Starting One’s Day with Spinach

Lately, I’ve been in the habit of nibbling pastry for breakfast.  However, lest you think I’ve been chowing down on quiches, eclairs, and danishes, I have to prove you wrong.  It’s been the spinach pie at Starbucks for me for the past couple of weeks!

The Kitchen Maven’s Guide to Holiday Gift-giving

It’s that time of year again when I start browsing through supermarket shelves for the nicest ingredients to put into edible gifts for the people I hold very dear to me.  You see, I’m one of those kitchen-crazy girls who would rather make presents rather than buy them.    It’s my personal opinion that you show [...]

Nom-nom-NAMA!!!

I blame Vince for the recent spate of nama chocolate madness that swept the office last week.  Our great and mighty leader was in Bali for much of the previous week and returned with a small sky-blue box holding the most decadent white chocolate truffle cubes on the planet: Royce White Nama!

Nama chocolates are essentially [...]