Chef’s Corner

This Sino-Japanese dish is a quick and easy way of tossing your favorite ingredients into a pillow of soft noodles and slather with a flavorful sauce. Ingredients for 4 to 6 portions 500 grams of Yakisoba noodles ( or any Asian wheat noodles such as ramen, soba, or chop suey)

Let your slow cooker do the work by simmering affordable cuts into rich and flavorful stews. Bold and exotic flavors come together in this beloved Indonesian curry. For 6 to 8 large portions 2 kilos of beef chuck or lomo de res, cut into 2 inch cubes 2 tablespoons of

Quick time saving methods produce a symphony of flavors with deep green herbaceous tones. For 4 to 6 portions 2 14 oz cans of coconut milk 1 6.8 oz jar of green curry paste 1 lb or 500 grams of sliced boneless chicken, or peeled shrimp, or cubed tofu or

These tacos are taking the world by storm and are a genius way of enjoying fork tender stewed beef encased in corn tortillas and eaten like a French dip. One pot of beef stew can make 20 tacos or more. Ingredients For the birria stew 6 dried Mexican guajillo chilies

Bring some island vibes to your holiday spread with this easy, mochi-like sweet treat that requires only 5 ingredients. These vegan and gluten free rice cakes are wonderfully chewy when served at room temperature. Ingredients 2 cups of sweet rice or glutinous rice* (see note) 1 (425g) can of Coco

Let’s showcase the humble potato with this cold dish that is a soul satisfying starter, lunch, or snack. From the Quechuan word “kausaq” = “to give life”, spicy mashed potatoes are layered with either cooked chicken, avocado, tuna, shrimp, mayo or no mayo, hard boiled eggs, olives, or any combination

This slightly unusual preparation will give rice and potatoes center stage at your next cookout. Here are some easy to follow steps for fluffy and crunchy results. Ingredients 2 cups of basmati rice 1 medium size potato (optional) 1/2 teaspoon of saffron threads* 3 tablespoons of olive oil 3 tablespoons

A flavorsome combo of crispy fried fish topped with a sweet and spicy pickle. For the Escovitch pickle 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 large white onion, thinly sliced 1/2 small chayote, thinly sliced 1 small carrot, thinly sliced 5 cloves of garlic, minced 1 to 2 scotch bonnet

Cool down on a hot day with some aguachile and a pitcher of Margaritas. Here is a refreshing and flavorful dish where the hot peppers are tempered by a splash of coconut milk. Ingredients for 4 portions 1/2 kilo or 1 lb of raw medium sized shrimp, peeled, deveined and

Thai Tom Kha Soup – Desiree Brassert This creamy, fragrant, soul-warming soup is hard to beat. Let the red curry paste work its magic even if some aromatics are unavailable. Here is the chicken version. A few easy changes can make it vegan. Ingredients for 8 to 10 servings 2

Indian Butter Chicken – Desiree Brassert Treat yourself to a quick and tasty journey to India with this simplified version of an all-time favorite. The bold flavors are optimized by marinating the chicken overnight and by making your own Garam Masala spice blend in these few easy steps. Ingredients for

Croque Monsieur / Croque Madame – Desiree Brassert Leave it to the French to make a ham and cheese sandwich so sinfully rich. These bistro classics have funny names that literally mean “crunch mister” and “crunch Mrs.” Just remember that the mister has no egg and both are meant to be

If you are a fan of mushrooms, dried shiitakes should be a staple in your pantry. Fresh ones are always a delightful treat when available, but you can still unlock that earthy and meaty magic by reconstituting a handful of dried shiitakes in water overnight. Fry thick slices in 1 tablespoon of

This is a perfect no-brainer for holiday entertaining. This scoopable creamy, cheesy, and much easier to eat version will be your next party’s favorite. Provide plenty of fun and crunchy dippers such as raw veggies, chips, pretzels, or pita wedges. Let the slow cooker do all of the work, or

This tasty meatball dish was featured in Anthony Bourdain’s 2016 episode with president Obama in Hanoi. For very good reason—super delicious when paired with cold beer. Ingredients for 4 to 6 generous servings Meatballs 1 kilo of ground pork  1 stalk of lemongrass 4 cloves of garlic 1 small red