I always wondered what I’d do if traveling was stripped away from me. Or if I simply lost the joy that bouncing around to 17 consecutive countries can bring (miss you 25). What I found is that you don’t stop loving those things, just because you discover other facets of yourself. Happiness is a state of mind, not this place or mystical destination. Sometimes it really is cooking a Korean bulgogi from the comfort of your kitchen. This Lions Mane Bulgogi captures the magic of Korean flavors with a plant-based twist. The meat texture of lion’s mane mushrooms creates a…
vegan recipes
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Continue ReadingLomo Saltado: A Vegan Peruvian Stir Fry Adventure After traveling to over 30 countries, I can confidently say that I’m a little obsessed with the world—its cultures, its stories, and, of course, its food. But what I’ve learned is that you don’t need to board a plane to experience adventure. Sometimes, the magic starts right in your kitchen. Today’s recipe takes us to Peru, a place widely known as Latin America’s culinary capital. One dish that caught my eye (and heart) is Lomo Saltado, a Peruvian-Chinese skirt steak stir fry that brings together bold flavors from two continents. Traditionally made…
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Continue ReadingTuscan Celery Balls aka Polpette di Sedano: A Star is Born Celery is often overlooked, relegated to a supporting role in soups and salads. But today, we’re giving it the spotlight it deserves. These Tuscan Celery Balls (Polpette di Sedano) are a true showstopper—crisp, flavorful, and versatile. Pair them with a classic marinara sauce as an elegant appetizer, or toss them with angel hair pasta for a complete Tuscan-inspired meal. This recipe is a creative way to make use of all that extra celery you have just sitting around. Why You’ll Love This Recipe • Simple Ingredients, Bold Flavors: This…
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Continue ReadingA Quintessential Vegan Delight Tofu often gets a bad rap for being intimidating to cook with, but this recipe will completely change the way you see it. These Chinese Tofu Lettuce Wraps are a game-changer—light, flavorful, and utterly satisfying. The tofu crumbles, crisped to perfection in the air fryer, are the perfect base for the bold, savory sauce that makes this dish unforgettable. This is exactly why I started Faraway Kitchen—to show that you can still enjoy iconic dishes from around the globe without compromising your values. With recipes like this, the world opens up in delicious, plant-based ways, proving…
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Continue ReadingThis recipe has been one of my most highly requested recipes in recent months. I guarantee this one-pot Indian Butter Chickpea recipe will have you sold on garbanzo beans in 30 minutes. It has been one of my go to favorite for a nutritious plant-based meal prep ready in 30 minutes and only 377 calories (and that includes with a serving of basmati rice!) Plant-Based Indian My favorite way to cook is by spinning the globe and seeing where I end up. It’s that wanderlust engrained on my heart that can take me anywhere around the world from my tiny…
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Continue ReadingChicago holds a special type of magic for me. I moved to this city about 2 years ago and found a profound amount of peace while skipping through these city alleyways. To many this may just be another American metropolis, but to me this city has opened up a creative portal deep inside of myself. I think that’s how you know you are exactly where you are supposed to be. When you wake up, coffee in hand into the same alleyway over and over again and can’t help but say to yourself “I am so lucky to be here”… I…
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Continue ReadingMy love language every single time is sitting in an alleyway with a cheap bowl of spicy noodles. It takes me back in time, to the months spent backpacking through Asia. For a moment, those countries felt like home. With a motorbike to call my own and alleyways begging me to get lost in their winding labyrinth. The biggest problem I had was deciding which local vendor to buy from. And guess what? I never missed. Because you are simply never going to miss ever while sitting on a stoop and slurping down a bowl of noodles topped in a…
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Continue ReadingThis plant-based soup only take 30 minutes and it so refreshing. A classic Greek avgolemono soup contains egg and chicken, so I have made a few changes. We have replaced the chicken with some shredded jackfruit and the egg with some unsweetened cashew yogurt. My avgolemono turned better than I could have imagined! I’m not even a huge lemon fan, but something about the lemony orzo just sent me straight to the Greek Islands. Make a big pot of this one as meal prep for the week! The Best Vegan Avgolemono Soup is… More Plant-Based Greek Recipes You Might Enjoy…
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Continue ReadingI am a firm believer that you are what you eat. You put trash in your body and you will feel like trash. That’s why whatever it is that I’m cooking, from a messy Sloppy Joe to an elegant blini caviar… I remember that how I treat my food is how I treat myself. Taking the time to present and gather proper ingredients is an act of self love that we all deserve. So in 2024, lets slow down and make our food beautiful. Plant-Based Roma Tomato Sashimi I have tested and consumed countless methods of plant-based sushi in my…
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Continue ReadingAs Veganuary begins in full force, I have been getting many requests for quick and easy vegan recipes. January is the month of rebirth. Resolutions run rampant as everyone plots how they will become the best versions of themselves this year. So whatever that version of you is, I hope you embrace it and find the peace and happiness you deserve this year. What is Veganuary? Veganuary was started in 2014 by a couple in the UK to promote an animal consumption free lifestyle during the month of January. I have never quite looked at the term vegan as endearing,…
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Continue ReadingEvery so often I get a dish that takes me far away. The feeling becomes real, that I am right back wandering around the streets of Hanoi in search of a vegan banh mi. Vietnam is where I was taught how to stop eating animals. By wandering through the Asian alleyways, while almost being run over by motorbikes carrying entire families. Endlessly popping into random restaurants while hopefully inquiring “chay?!” (or vegetarian). Vietnam is where everything started changing for me, the beginning of my soul waking up and being really ready to live. Traditional Banh Mi Sandwich When I imagine…
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Continue ReadingThe constant echo of a posh French dialogue is always chiming in the back of my mind. It’s daring me to get the infamous one-way ticket to a cottage in the village, while I pace the flickering cobblestone in search of a hideaway. Preferably one serving a steamy bisque and toasted baguette on a winter evening. You see, I get these ideas in my mind of how the experience would be in a place. It’s that I just see it all in my head. Mostly they are simple things, like a steamy bisque off a quiet street surrounded by French…
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Continue ReadingGetting creative in the kitchen in one of the joys of cooking and that is exactly where these Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos derived from. It’s great to have the same familiar dishes over and over again… it takes you back in time and wraps a warm fuzzy blanket around you. But often I am craving the unknown, some recipe that is simply concocted by scanning the kitchen in a game of Russian roulette and landing my gaze on a sweet potato. How to Cut Your Sweet Potatoes For these Loaded Sweet Potato Nachos, we need to cut our sweet potatoes…
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Continue ReadingWith the holidays quickly approaching, nothing makes more sense than the aroma of toasted nuts and garlic. This creamy walnut sauce takes all of 5 minutes and is so versatile. For this recipe, I pour the creamy sauce over a fresh pasta and top with toasted pine nuts and crispy garlic. Other Uses For Walnut Sauce While my first instinct for this sauce was to pour over a steamy linguini, it didn’t take long for me to devour the diversity of this sauce. This sauce allows for so much creativity. Add over your favorite roasted vegetables and top with freshly…
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Continue ReadingWith fall in full force, this is the perfect time to play with energy balls. I am a huge fan of energy balls as a quick prepped breakfast. These are little rolled oat balls packed full of all your favorite fall flavors while including some energy boosting ingredients as well. What to Add to Energy Balls Energy balls are a great way to add in extra ingredients that contain nutritionally value to start your day off right. This is where I add ingredients like chai seeds, protein powder, or flaxmeal. You can add almost anything from your pantry into these…
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Continue ReadingThis dip is hands down one of the easiest and most impressive dishes on my site. It also just so happens that one bite of this classic Greek dip and you’re sure to be transported to the Greek islands. As a vegan, I love showing how stunning plant-based creations really are. This is the perfect appetizer to serve to your friends at your next dinner party. Vegan Feta Cheese If you’re one of those people that cannot get on board the vegan cheese train, I ask you to try their feta. It tastes virtually identical. There are several brands out…
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Continue ReadingI wouldn’t ever categorize myself as a cook. The first 3 times I made these somewhat simple and traditional pancakes, they came out sub-par. I paced the floors looking at the beautiful photos, ready to trash the entire post- and honestly the website. Leave the cooking to the professionals my brain rationed. I have never really been good at anything, it’s my passion that saves me. The persisting nature to try try try. Once the overbearing sense of self-doubt cowers away, my delusional sense of optimism is sure to return (it always does). So I decide to keep cooking, keep…
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Continue ReadingLately I have found myself fixating on Scandinavia. Dreams of getting lost in an IKEA somewhere while eating a bowl of Swedish meatballs. What?! It’s true… ask any Swed where they recommend getting your meatball fix, and they will promptly send you in the direction of the iconic furniture store. I refuse to be ashamed of that daydream. Alas, the calling was inevitably too strong to ignore so in true Faraway fashion, I purchased a ticket back to the Scandinavian wonderland. Ahhh, it has been 8 years since my last time in this part of the world and I cannot…
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Continue ReadingMy love for street food knows no limits. It’s where everything in the world makes perfect sense and the only thing that matters is smoke filled alleyways. These little potato croquettes are popular all over Latin America and the Caribbean. Out of all the countries you’ll find papas rellenas frying on a street corner in, Puerto Rico is without a doubt the most popular (at least in my mind). What is a Papas Rellenas? Anything that includes mashed potatoes and I am all in. These little fried potato croquettes are traditionally stuffed with a minced meat mixture. Since I use…
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Continue ReadingJapanese cuisine could never be just one thing. It’s a mixture of sitting in an alleyway eating street pancakes at 2am. It’s drowning yourself in the bizarre dessert of kakigori shaved ice. And it’s enjoying the posh and decadent ingredients like a maitake mushroom. Maybe that’s why I have been completely captivated by Japanese food for as long as I can remember. She’s different each and everyday… you never know what you’re going to get. The “Dancing” Mushroom Maitake mushrooms mean “dancing” mushroom in Japanese. How fitting, considering you are what you eat and as a self declared dancing queen……
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Continue ReadingIt is no secret that I did not give up animal products because I hated the taste of them. Nope, I often crave a fresh calamari along European seaside while watching the ships roll in, as I drown my starter in some lemon juice. It’s the rituals of food that bring me so much peace and happiness into my life. That is why I have taken my favorite dishes from around the world and created vegan versions. Because I can love a calamari and also not want to hurt animals, both can be true. What is Hearts of Palm? Hearts…
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Continue ReadingI admit I got actual tears in my eyes when I was filming videos for this Argentinian Lions Mane. My soul completely wakes up from these innovative dishes. I am completely elated for you to explore this dish. There is an art that comes with grilling and smoking, and somehow it’s just elevated when it’s beautiful plant ingredients. There is something about putting ingredients you are proud of into your body… it speaks to me. Take your taste buds on a culinary journey to Argentina with this vegan twist on a classic steak dish. This recipe transforms the hearty Lion’s…
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Continue ReadingAhhhh, my first Caribbean post! It’s been a long time coming. Excuse me… because I have been on island time since cooking these Conch Fritters. If you are contemplating making anything off my blog but don’t know where to start… start with these. They are creative, stunning, and super easy. Did I mention that they have the best crunch known to mankind? You are going to be feeling the salted ocean breeze from your kitchen window while you serve these. This recipe makes 12-15 fritters and makes a FANTASTIC appetizer to impressive your friends. What is a Conch Fritter? Conch…
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Continue ReadingI finally recreated the TikTok viral Baked Salmon Sushi Cups- AS VEGAN. When I chose to go vegan, I opened up the creative portal in myself. I decided there was nothing I could not make vegan. These baked sushi cups made me dance around the kitchen in triumph. I am a self proclaimed sushi lover girl, so when a dish like this comes together… you better believe I am sharing it with everyone! If you like this recipe then check out my Vegan Spicy Tuna Bowl! Vegan Sushi Using Tomato Let us end the anticipation. I know the first thing…
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Continue ReadingIt is no secret by now that I am absolutely obsessed with all things Asia. It’s the dark allure of smoking alleyways and street side food cart grills. It’s the heaping bowls of noodles for 100 baht or 3 American dollars. It’s the motorbikes wizzing by while you’re skipping around in your summer dress that nearly knock you off your feet. Yes, Asia and I have had quite the love story. So I lunge at any chance I get to turn my Faraway Kitchen into a portal to take me to the motherland. Asia is where you go when you…
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Continue ReadingMost of my friends will tell you that when they come to visit Chicago, I pack our days with self-guided food tours around my self-proclaimed sitcom city. There is nothing quite like having my omnivorous friends get seated at a poshy plant-based restaurant and watching their eyes light up as they discover the wonderful world of vegan food. “I can’t believe this is all vegan,” is the matter-of-fact statement most of them mumble between bites. Ah, yes, being served vegan donuts out an alley window is my love language. Recently a restaurant called Planta Queen has made its way to…
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Continue ReadingOne of my favorite hobbies is grabbing ingredients I don’t usually cook with and making them the star of the dish. That’s right, golden beets, it’s your moment to shine. In the words of Harry Styles… you’re so goldennnnn. If you have never been a fan of red beets, then I urge you to dive into wonderful world of golden beets. They have a noticeably less earthy taste and are sweeter than a red beet. Roasting Golden Beets There is something wholesome about a roasted root vegetable with some simple seasoning that makes you feel connected to the earth. For…
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Continue ReadingIt is no surprise by now that I use my kitchen as a means to transport myself around the world. I started Faraway Kitchen in the very beginning of Covid, when traveling was stripped away. I became captivated by the idea of cooking my favorite dishes from around the world. How whimsical to step into my kitchen dreaming of a German Schnitzel only to step through a portal to the wonderland through the magic of food. I was in the beginning of my veganism, and wondering if I would be able to cope with the idea of never eating some…
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Continue ReadingIt is no surprise by now that I use my kitchen as a means to transport myself around the world. I started Faraway Kitchen in the very beginning of Covid, when traveling was stripped away. I became captivated by the idea of cooking my favorite dishes from around the world. How whimsical to step into my kitchen dreaming of a German Schnitzel only to step through a portal to the wonderland through the magic of food. I was in the beginning of my veganism, and wondering if I would be able to cope with the idea of never eating some…
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Continue ReadingPerhaps one of my deepest rabbit holes online is Japan. The obsession to fall into this playground of an adult jungle gym is all too familiar. Japan is another dimension, I am convinced. Nothing about Japan makes sense, and that must be why I am innately drawn to its confusing wonder and glimmer. It’s the aroma of cherry blossoms singing from the tops of tea tree houses, mixed with the flashing neon lights over the smoking street market. What is Okonomiyaki? Okonomiyaki is a savory Japanese street pancake. The beautiful part of a okonomiyaki is that no two need to…
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Continue ReadingThis Greek comfort dish is essentially a fancy potato eggplant lasagna. It’s a cinnamon infused labor of love, and honestly it is completely worth it. When I think of Greece, I’m usually dreaming of feta cheese while lounging seaside, but this dish has opened up my vision of Greek food. It’s everything that a European comfort dish should be. I will admit that I starred at my screen for a solid 30 minutes before deciding to post this recipe. I get caught in this tangled web, the notion of making something perfect. However, just in time I heard the echo…
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Continue ReadingCooking has always been the thing that can bring peace into my life when I am in need of a reset. Sometimes I simply don’t want to commit to an extravagant meal that is going to take several hours, but I need to cook. My mind is often wandering, dancing around a cliff edge in a Portuguese wonderland and cooking is the roadmap to bring my head out of the clouds and back down to earth. It’s as simple as this… cooking is one of the purest things you can do for your soul. At least for me. 10 Minute…
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Continue ReadingThe food you put into your body has a big hand in creating the energy around you. So be proud of what you are eating and lets make it fun. That’s why for this recipe I have injected as much color as I can into this super simple vegan beet pesto recipe. The hot pink color and fresh green basil is enough to get me out of my chair and skipping around the city. Yes, I am dramatic about most things and that includes my pasta game. There are only TWO STEPS in creating this show stopping pasta dish. 8…
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Continue ReadingIf you’ve ever met me in person, you’ll quickly learn that I’m a walking contradiction between all things fancy candlelit rooftops vs grungy alleyway eats. Both sides of food and dining are fascinating to me. That’s why I’m enamored with this quirky Date Kebab dish so much- she is a walking contradiction. I fell in love with a version of this dish at a swanky rooftop restaurant in downtown Chicago, and I knew I had to recreate it. If you are looking to make a whole cooking experience out of this meal, consider adding on my sweet corn hummus as…
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Continue ReadingEvery so often I get an idea for a dish that drives me to the point of going out to buy new presentation plates. That’s how you know it’s going to make it on the blog. I have filled this dish with humble ingredients and as all the cooking reality show hosts say “elevated’ them. That’s half the fun of cooking! Turning simple ingredients into beautiful little works of art. Ever Heard of a Sunchoke? Hang around me too long and I am sure to start asking you about food. I won’t tell you how many people I have interrogated…
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Continue ReadingCooking dishes that are traditionally popular in street food markets is a great way to spice up your cooking routine. I cannot tell you how often I get lost in the art of street food. One quick search on the Philippines and you are sure to discover this traditional Filipino snack/dessert. What is a Turon? A turon is the traditional sweet egg roll snack stuffed with banana, fresh jackfruit, and fried in brown sugar oil. I have made these with and without jackfruit, but if you can get your hands on some then I highly recommend it. Plus, that is…
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Continue ReadingVietnam is my own definition of asian wonderland. Imagine being thrown onto the side of a bustling street while motorbikes spend their entire existence avoiding crashing into one another. Every alleyway (you know how I feel about alleys) stocked with cute old ladies throwing anise star and fresh cilantro into the air as they whip up their latest concoction. Traditional Pho Cuon First I think we need to define a Pho Cuon. This is rice noodle roll packed with the same flavors and ingredients from a traditional Vietnamese pho soup. It is rolled similarly to a spring or egg roll…
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Continue ReadingOccasionally I pop out of bed at 7am with an insane desire to cook a certain dish. I have an agreement with Dream Courtney… if she wants to cook a vegan risotto at 7am… then who am I to stop her? Besides, I am forever a believer in doing the things that make you happy. Even if they means I am uncorking a bottle of white wine while the sun rises for the maitake mushrooms. The “Dancing” Mushroom Speaking of maitake mushrooms. If you have never heard of these gems, have no shame. I urge you to add these to…
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Continue ReadingFresh bread baking in the oven while summer fades to fall… the thing dreams are made of. When I was a kid, my mom used to make this beer bread with this exact dip. At thirty-three years old, I still lounge in my Chicago kitchen daydreaming about those fresh loaves. I think we call those our nostalgia foods. The ones that take us back in time. If you’re anything like me, you’ll try to ration how often you make them, afraid that they will lose their time traveling powers if you bring them back too often. 3 Minute Beer Bread…
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Continue ReadingI wish I had some fascinating story to tell about China that would explain my love and connection to it. In reality, the closest I ever got was laying half delusional from a 42 hour flight in the grass outside a Beijing airport. However, I still find myself bargaining with real-estate agents for even a possibility that they can find me a place in the city above a Chinese noodle shop. The heart wants what it wants. And I’m absolutely not to proud to say that while I love authentic Chinese dishes, I am also a big fan of the…
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Continue ReadingMaking your own hummus is one of the simple pleasures in life. The inspiration for this dish came after I hit downtown Chicago with rooftop reservations at the posh Mediterranean tapa’s restaurant- Aba. It was love at first bite with their sweet corn hummus and I knew I had to attempt a recreation. That’s one of my favorite parts of hummus, there is so much room to be creative with it. I have made everything from pink beet hummus to a chocolate hummus. There are just no rules… at least not in my kitchen. What is Hummus? Hummus is a…
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Continue ReadingWhen I was a kid, my dad used to always make us his famous grilled cheese with a can of peaches on top. To this day, I can’t imagine eating grilled cheese without peaches. But back then I remember all my friends being completely baffled by the idea of peaches on a grilled cheese. “That’s what poor people do,” I recall one child critically saying… clearly that kid didn’t end up following the wild adventures of anything Anthony Bourdain. Have fun in your boring existence, kid. I decided to take one of my favorite childhood meals and turn it into…
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Continue ReadingSomeone once told me that what is meant for me will come for me. Next thing I know, this German schnitzel showed up over and over again in my dreams and here we are. I think that’s how ideas work. They come for you like little messenger fairies from the sky, and you can grab them or you can let them float on by. More often than not, we let them float on by… but if they are truly meant for us then they will come again and again until you have no choice but to grab them. Places, ideas,…
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Continue ReadingFried Oyster Mushrooms: A Southern Comfort Twist Fried oyster mushrooms are a rare ingredient that can transport me anywhere in the world. They’re so simple, yet so full of possibilities. One minute, I’m imagining them in a New Orleans-style Po’ Boy, the next, I’m envisioning them alongside Southern-style chicken and waffles. That’s the beauty of these mushrooms—they’re not bound by just one identity. Who wants to be confined, anyway? I have always been fascinated about mealtime. Perhaps it’s the forever explorer in me. Once a day you can put something on a plate that allows you to think about somewhere…
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Continue ReadingTartare takes me back to France, and lets be honest… I’m always trying to go back to France. Anyone that tells you France is overrated has a cynical view on the world- a superiority complex that you should run fast and far from. I can’t get enough of the broken down alleyways (yes, I’m talking about alleys again) contrasted with posh arched doorways hanging open. France is one of those places that I don’t have to do anything in, I just need to be there. It’s like a drug, simply being in its presence gives me enough life to keep…
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Continue ReadingPeruvian cuisine is quite possibly my favorite part of South America to fall into. There is a clear European influence along with Incan indigenous roots. For that reason, it collides two of my favorite worlds together. The posh and polished land of European plating, balanced by the rural and rustic bones of indigenous recipes. I have this constant polar pull in my life, where I’m attracted the the fancy chic parts of life, but then there’s this other side of me that needs to be lost on a dirt road driving a motorbike looking for $2 street dishes. There’s a…
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Continue ReadingEvery so often you get a dish that picks you up and takes you away from where you are. For me, it probably happens more often than it should. One minute I’m casually watching what kind of nonsense Jerry and George are getting into on the tv, and suddenly I’m transported seaside to a nordic fishing village overwhelmed by the sound of delicate waves. That is the magic of eating a spread of carrot lox over a fatty open-faced danish sandwich sprinkled in fresh dill. It’s not just eating a sandwich, it’s getting lost on a rickety pier starring out…
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Continue ReadingVegan Spicy Tuna, youuuu say? I do indeed say so. I have a complete adoration for Japanese culture and sushi life. When I decided to life a vegan lifestyle a few years ago, I panicked at the thought of never tasting a spicy tuna again. That all changed as I’m now a frequent regular at the local vegan sushi restaurant (I love this city). The first time I brought my best friend there and fed him a tomato spicy tuna roll- I watched the look on his face shift to complete mystification and glee. That is when I knew I…
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Continue ReadingMaybe food means something different for everyone. For some of us, it’s simply the means to survive and for others the pleasure to life. It’s this beautiful method of communication, to express to people what they mean to me. There’s love in the act of creating something beautiful for someone. Each little dip of chocolate feels like a poem you spend all night pacing the floors about. Honestly… nothing says love like a dang Churro Cheesecake. Serve it Steamy Hot I am over the top excited to share this Mexican Churro Cheesecake recipe with you. One thing I’ve observed about…
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Continue ReadingNorth America is filled with so many amazing sandwiches. Choosing to eliminate or reduce animal products does not mean that you need to miss out on these amazing dishes. I’m a believer that we are consuming the story when we eat things like a Philly Cheesesteak. It’s about waiting in a line wrapped around the building to try one of Jims famous Cheesesteaks while everyone in line debates who has the best in the city. It’s about Jim serving you out of a tiny street side window, the messiest hoagie bun sandwich while you eat it on the street stoop…