Move over olive oil, coconut oil has taken the front stage in our kitchen. That’s right, while I still use whole, natural oils like extra virgin olive oil, avocados, and tiny amounts of non-pasteurized butter from the campo (that’s right, they still sell that here in...
Sweet peas are a garden-fresh addition to juicy free-range chicken Sweet peas in the springtime are a delectable treat. Shucked fresh, they bring vibrancy to a dish. Chilean cooks inherited this traditional recipe from Galicia in the north of Spain, marrying a tender...
Wondering what the heck is a picada? It's simple. A joint. A simple eatery. In my humble opinion, if you want to know the soul of a cuisine, hit the joints. This is the people's food. The kind of comfort food your grandma would make for you in the countryside. And...
Mate. Or Yerba Mate to be technically correct. This herbal infusion is obsessively sipped in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and Southern Brazil. In fact, the beverage is one of the few native traditions that survived the Spanish conquest in South America. Argentines and...
I know, your first thought may be, “Uruguayan Wine Country? Seriously?” Yes, it’s true. This cattle-producing country may get more international buzz for its grass-fed steaks, stinky old world cheeses, and pristine beaches, but it is just a matter of time before...
Make this delicious ancestral soup part of your healthy recipe repertoire One of Peru’s most emblematic dishes, this homey chowder is a flavorful main course in any season. Its roots are steeped in the southern city of Arequipa, where fresh shrimp are gathered from...
In July, both Argentina and Uruguay have celebrated their respective birthdays on July 9 and July 18th, respectively. Feliz Cumple Vecinos Míos! So what do Argentines and Uruguayans do to celebrate? Why gather to eat, drink, and be merry, of course. Perhaps some...
Ok, I have to admit. After ten years here, this is the first winter where I am NOT cold. And it’s the coldest winter on record yet. Let me explain. The Central Valley of Chile, where Santiago is located, is part of a lovely Mediterranean climate. Most of the year, we...
As promised, here's the first recipe excerpt from our newly released cookbook. Darn, this picture is causing a major hankering for this sandwich. Fortunately, I am headed to Uruguay next week to meet with clients, taste wines, and explore Montevideo so I can indulge...
I am super excited to announce to you all that our first print cookbook is officially out in the US market. On South American cooking, of course! This project humbly came, unexpectedly, to me and my husband Francisco (the photographer) a little over a year ago. To be...
It cracks me up how different cultures crave different flavors and how those turn up in very pedestrian items like say soda pop. I am not a very big soda fan for obvious health reasons. I gave it up years ago and only succumb to the occasional diet coke when in no...
Recently arrived back in Chile after my two week soirée in the Colorado Rockies and beaches of St. Augustine, Florida, I am in serious need of returning to my normal, healthy diet before my next (meat and dulce de leche laden) trip to Uruguay in three weeks. In this...
Well, it's over. The Food & Wine Classic in Aspen that is. What an intense weekend. Literally about four days of work and schmoozing in my case. For those of you not familiar with the event, let me enlighten you. It all started 28 years ago when Food & Wine...
Drop Jean Paul Bondoux’s name in foodie circles in the Southern Cone and heads turn. No, he’s not a star on elgourmet.com, the South American version of the Food Network. Think more along the line of revered French chefs like Alain Ducasse. Chefs that take food from...
June is less than a week away and winter is officially here. It's like the mercury suddenly dropped as Mother Nature knew Fall was over. A second rainfall recently covered the Andes with snow and according to the folks at Portillo and Las Leñas, ski season is about to...
For decades, North Americans have been flocking to Mediterranean destinations like Italy, Spain, Greece, the French Riviera, Turkey for the culture—and let’s face it, seeking sunny holidays. Looking at the climate of the coastal fringes of the sea, it is not hard to...
There's no question that Chilean wines are starting to experience a sort of Boom Time in the US market. The price is right, you get a lot of great wine for your buck, and there is t-o-n-s of variety and depth. But with all this recent growth, is Chile really just...
As many of you know, in late April, I paid a visit to some dear friends in the Napa Valley for a second time. The mission? To hang out with them, obviously, and soak up that "Napa" vibe. The "good life" vibe is definitely happening there--and I am totally down with...
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