East Bay food
fromThe Mercury News
1 day agoMeet the soul-food chef singing the praises of Oakland, top food city
Michele McQueen is a pioneering chef promoting Oakland as a viable restaurant city while celebrating its rich culinary culture.
Griot is considered a national dish of Haiti and all it takes is a taste to understand why. Adored by José Andrés, this dish is a wonderful mix of cooking techniques; marinated pork shoulder is slowly braised and then fried, leaving the meat tender and flavorful.
The best seafood to include in an ultra-rich bouillabaisse is a medley of seafood, starting with 'a collection of rockfish.' Traditional bouillabaisse, from my experience in Marseille where it's from, is made from a combination of rockfish that are easily sourced in that region.
Pary Baban's journey to promote Kurdish cuisine began with her first London restaurant, where she faced skepticism about the recognition of Kurdish food. She believed that if she didn't advocate for it, no one would, emphasizing the need to put Kurdish food on the map.
Med Salleh, which has has one Malaysian restaurant in Bayswater and two Vietnamese ones in Westbourne Grove and Earl's Court, has just added a fourth branch in Kentish Town. The newest site is Malaysian-focused, like the original, serving a menu of street food inspired by Med's upbringing in Malaysia, including dishes from his hometown of Kampar as well as flavours from Ipoh and Penang.
The Islamic holiday began Feb. 17 and ends March 19, during which observers fast from dawn to sunset to foster discipline, self-control and gratitude. Observers break their daily fast with an iftar, a festive meal shared with loved ones after sunset. Many also rise before dawn for a suhoor meal.
Though they were only serving in town for one night, the chefs and staff behind the Mexico City supernova Masala y Maíz managed to cause what felt like a temporary ripple in L.A. dining during their pop-up last week. It reminded this diner that despite the era's current dedication to culinary and cultural boundaries - you should only cook what you know, write what you know - a spirit of mixture and melding can actually lead to something extraordinary, and not cringey, in practice.
You're familiar with all-you-can-eat sushi and bottomless hot-pot meals. Here's a new concept: How about all-you-can-eat mezes and kebabs, with servers roaming the dining room like the gauchos at steakhouses? The newly opened Palo Alto restaurant offers extensive table, counter and bar seating. (Photo courtesy of Meze & Kebab) Grill. Feast. Repeat. is the slogan that describes the action at restaurateur Koray Alinstoy and executive chef Omer Artun's new place in downtown Palo Alto.
Here's a healthy dinner idea that's so hearty and satisfying, it will please everyone around the table: this Moroccan Chickpea Stew! It's ultra flavorful: the sweet potatoes get tender and creamy, the chickpeas soak up all those gorgeous spices, and everything comes together in one pot. I love serving this stew with quinoa for a tasty plant based dinner that's also gluten free. If you like, a dollop of Greek yogurt: and most definitely a squeeze of lemon to brighten the flavors!
This recipe is fairly simple, but it does require you to use your judgment when adjusting the balance of flavors among the wine's acidity, the butter, and the salt you season with at the end. Not to mention the heat from the harissa, depending on the brand you use. Harissa adds a layer of nuance, offering added body and warmth from spices such as caraway and cumin.
Walk through Boston's neighborhoods today and you'll find Thai, Korean, Italian, Indian - the city's food scene has come a long way. But in the 1930s, if you wanted something beyond American fare, your options were sparse. That's what makes Deeb G. Salem's decision to open The Nile all the more remarkable. Right in the heart of the Depression, this Syrian immigrant and his wife Rose decided to open a restaurant on Hudson Street, transforming it into one of New England's most talked-about dining destinations.
These candied nuts have become one of the cornerstones. You can make them with whatever nuts you have on hand, they keep beautifully for over a week, and they're an easy win as part of a larger snack-y spread. They also bridge the sweet-savory gap wonderfully and I've been serving them with a range of spreads, flatbread, and other bite-sized sweet treats.
Coriander and cumin aren't direct substitutes. Cumin is more pungent and earthy, so if used in place of coriander, I recommend using about half the amount and adding a touch of citrus zest or fennel seed to restore brightness.
These Middle Eastern chickpea balls are so meaty and satisfying, I feel like I could eat them every day! One of my favorite ideas for how to eat them is this falafel salad. Make a batch of my baked falafel, then layer them with crunchy veggies and top with a creamy, zingy tahini dressing. You can also use purchased frozen falafel, or even repurpose takeout leftovers! This one is a massive hit with my family.