Sunday, February 26, 2012

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day
New York City
February 14, 2012

On Valentine's Day I happened to be preparing food for some visiting friends, Paulo Roberto, his wife Nonata and their children, to take with them on their trip from New York City to Washington D.C. 

Washed first with hot water and lemon to take off all the yellow fat and the small hairs; this makes a big difference in the smell and taste of the chicken, otherwise it will just smell like wet feathers. This is why American chicken is so disgusting because they don't know how to wash properly. Marinated overnight with garlic, black pepper, rosemary, olive oil, paprika, French Atlantic sea salt, and a little cardamom.

I put a glass in it's butt so that it could roast standing up.

Ursula asked if the glass was going to break but I assured her it wouldn't.

April and Lemoni helped me wrap it in tin-foil to seal in moisture.

After we put it in the oven we ate the chocolate covered heart of strawberries that Ursula made for us.

Then there was a loud explosion from the oven as the pyrex dish exploded, the glass remained intact.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Two Dinners at Home

Two Dinners at Home
W. 118th St., Harlem, New York
January 28th and February 5th, 2012

This is a pork roast prepared the same way as New Year's just a smaller version. 


These are baked potatoes that were rolled in black pepper and salt

Stir-fry in new wok!

With chicken and tofu


Sunday, February 5, 2012

One Night Vacation in Rye

THE MINKS RESIDENCE
Rye, New York
February 4, 2012


On Saturday morning our friend John called to invite us all to his family's house in Westchester. We went, happy to change things up a little and we had a nice time! We brought pork ribs to cook and made a pasta too.









Friday, February 3, 2012

Quiet Dinners at Home

VARIOUS DINNERS AT HOME
New York City
January, 2012


Home-made crust!

Simple and delicious! Fresh tomatoes and mozzarella from the Farmer's Market, with oil we brought back from Italy, salt and black pepper. With a side of risotto with garden herbs

Mushroom risotto



From the Archives

APRIL AND LEMONI'S 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY!
May 28, 2011
New York City


The table was on the upstairs balcony...





Watermelon Arc 

And the party was in the backyard!

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A LITTLE VIDEO FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT

PREPARING BACALHAO
January 25, 2012
New York City



SEAFOOD RISOTTO

SEAFOOD RISOTTO
January 22, 2012
New York City

The seafood ingredients are scallops, shrimp and miniature octopus

A little white wine
My friend Chris Gallo says the only thing good I know how to make is seafood pasta...

so I made seafood risotto instead!

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

European Encontro 2008

AMAZONIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
September-October, 2008
Assisi, Italy







I cooked two meals a day for the group on tour. They have been my friends and family for almost 20 years.
The pasta in Italy is a joy to work with, an honor!

The meat is fresh, unprocessed and you know it came from a good source. It does not come shrink-wrapped in plastic, on a styrofoam board.

Tomatoes fresh from the garden every day, and edible flowers too!

Mixed greens salad with radishes and olives

The table was set for 10 people at every meal, with extra plates and silverware for diners in the "Standing Room Only" section

My good friend about to try my famous lasagna

Morning coffee exploded

I also managed the floral arrangements for the music workshops



The final product





Cozidas

COZIDAS: BRAZILIAN COMFORT FOOD
"It raises the dead" -Amanda D.
New York City
Autumn-Winter Months, 2011


Similar to what Americans call "Stew"

Usually contains beef, carrots, corn (on the cob), potatoes, macacheira (cassava), okra, collard greens, garlic, onion, salt 



This dish was different from a traditional cozida, but a similar idea. It lacked the vegetables but was still hardy and very flavorful (flavor of butter, yum!)

2011-2012 Holiday Meats

THANKSGIVING THROUGH NEW YEAR'S
New York City 
2011-2012

Thanksgiving Ham with Sweet Potatoes


Thanksgiving Turkey with Pineapple


New Year's Pork, course salt, pepper and garlic