Once again this year I was a guest chef for the gala fundraiser for St. Vincent’s Health system of Jacksonville, FL. The annual event called “Delicious Destinations” is held annually the week following Labor Day weekend at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. Last weekend was the 11th year for the annual event and my … Read More
Grilled Summer Corn Salad
This past weekend in my “Fresh from the Market” class here in Savannah, I had a guest who said that “Blue Rhino” is one of his most commonly used ingredients when cooking (in other words he grills everything!). Nothing wrong with that…there are great meals to be had from the grill, not just this time of year but year round. … Read More
Refreshing Drinks for Hot Summer Days
Summer entertaining however typically calls for something a little more festive whether it’s alcoholic or non-alcoholic. For my basic sun tea I like to add an unexpected bit of flavor by including a couple of mint tea bags with the regular black tea. It doesn’t look any different but the first taste reveals a light fresh minty flavor that slowly … Read More
Tilapia Escovitch
I was first introduced to the concept of the “Escovitch” style of preparation by my friend and former colleague, Chef Mario Martinez. Mario was originally born in Spain and spent many years working aboard cruise ships in the Caribbean where he encountered this method of preparation. Chef Mario’s recipe below is for Red Snapper which is delicious but other thin … Read More
Chicken with Lemon & Garlic
This is a recipe I showcased this past weekend while doing a cooking presentation for Castey Cookware at the Americasmart wholesale market in Atlanta. This simple preparation is a traditional style of Spanish Tapa often served throughout Spain and shows how easily a few ingredients can produce a delicious dish. When I prepared this at the show I embellished it … Read More
Sauteed Calamari with Vinaigrette and Catalan Spinach
[print_this] Sauteed Calamari in Vinaigrette with Catalan Spinach The Spanish word for spinach, “Espinaca”, is one of the many Moorish influences that have left an imprint on the Spanish language and food ways. Spinach has been consumed in Spain since the Moorish occupation. It’s most likely the Moors or Spanish Jews that incorporated the use of sweet dried fruits … Read More
Cocido–Spanish Comfort Food
If you had your choice between cooking with anything you wanted or being presented a limited pantry, which would you choose? Which do you think would make you more creative? Just last week I was talking to someone about this very topic. We both agreed that cooking straight from the pantry without making a trip to the store usually resulted … Read More
Spanish Paella
While I don’t particularly care for the extreme heat this time of year, one thing I do love are the endless opportunities for creativity provided by the variety of seasonal ingredients. Appetite wise, I also find that this time of year my tastebuds tend to favor a more Mediterranean flavor. Perhaps it’s the fact that so many wonderful ingredients typical … Read More
Savannah Tomato Sandwiches
Plump, ripe tomatoes are one of the surest signs of summer. The Forsyth Farmers market here in Savannah has had vendors with all manner of multi-colored orbs ranging from small single-bite tomatoes to those the size of soft balls. Friends of mine recently visited a u-pick farm where they could pick 5 gallon buckets for just $8/bucket. Their offer to … Read More
It’s Fast, It’s Simple, It’s Focaccia!
After the last post on “Tips for Making Yeast Dough” I thought it might be helpful to share a recipe for homemade focaccia bread. What has become one of the most popular styles of breads in restaurants, is also easily made at home! Essentially a pizza-style dough, it is easily made at home in a fraction of the time of … Read More