Nirmala Narine, who has been called 'the Indiana Jones of Spices', was born in Guyana in the family kitchen on an empty flour sack, delivered by a marijuana-puffing midwife. Her grandfather was an Ayurvedic scholar and Hindu priest who introduced her to the importance of spices and cooking holistically.
Narine spent the first ten years of her life in this incredible Amazonian patchwork before the family moved to Queens, New York. There she was educated and introduced to a whole new crazy-quilt of ethnicities and cultures--and the flavors they brought with them.
Continue reading "Nirmala's Edible Diary Cookbook Giveaway!" »
Today I bring you a wonderful guest post from my friend Katie Alley, a fellow blogger who followed her Argentine sweetheart home to Necochea, Argentina, where she now works as a translator and authors Seashells & Sunflowers, the fabulous and often hilarious blog about her life as an expat. Find more of her photos, including her 365 series on flickr, katiealley.
Although the impact of Spanish and Italian immigration on Argentina’s customs, language and foods is often cited, German immigrants have also contributed in a significant way to Argentine culture. Armed with a strong baking tradition, new German arrivals introduced a number of cakes and pastries to the Argentine culinary repertoire, one of which is Torta de Ochenta Golpes.
Continue reading "Torta de Ochenta Golpes--'Eighty Punches' Cake" »
Pradel Chocolates is a traveler's treasure--a small store front in downtown Mendoza that sells handmade artesenal chocolates. It's on a side street off of the Peotonal--Mendoza's pedestrian mall.
Owner and chocolatier Miriam Beatriz Ahumada (pictured below) studied chocolate-making in Spain, returning to her native Argentina to share her delectable treats with all Mendoza. Her hand-decorated goodies send messages of love or felicitations.
Continue reading "Chocolates Pradel--Pradel Chocolates" »
