There’s a love for all things Scandinavian these days. We aren’t sure whether it’s our current political situation that has some longing for utopian socialist democracy or simply the timeless appeal of concepts like hygge, especially as the winter sets in (hello, first snowfall of the season!), but it is all around us. One of… Continue reading Swedish Meatballs & Ginger Snaps
Remember when Sarah Palin claimed she could see Russia from Alaska? Turns out she may have been right…well, kind of. Russia and Alaska are divided by the Bering Strait, which is about 55 miles across at its narrowest point, and some say on a clear day you can see the Russian mainland from the tip… Continue reading Salmon Tartare with Homemade Potato Chips
Among big immigrant groups who contributed the most to the making of modern America, Italians stand out. Escaping first from war and then from desperate rural poverty, Italians flocked to the United States in astonishing numbers. The years between 1880 and 1920 alone saw more than four million Italians becoming new Americans, the majority coming… Continue reading Nonna’s Meatballs
Don’t be fooled: Hungary’s St. Stephen’s Day on August 20 is not the winter holiday celebrated (and caroled about) as “The Feast of Steven.” Instead, it commemorates King Stephen, who founded Hungary and was canonized in 1083 by Pope Gregory VII. Unlike some holidays, where pomp or religion come first and food is secondary,… Continue reading Grill-Roasted Paprika Chicken
Many Italian towns celebrate a “Gnoccata,” which translates—delightfully—into “Dumpling Festival.” The Gnoccata of Liguria, a northwestern province of Italy famous for its picturesque coastline and the five coastal villages known as the Cinque Terre, falls on the second Sunday in August. Gnocchi, the festival’s namesake dumplings, come in many forms, including a pillowy potato variety… Continue reading Ricotta Gnocchi with Guanciale, Peas and Leeks
Hawaii, for mainlanders and especially us East Coasters, is a conundrum: a place about which we think we know a lot–based mostly on TV and movies–and which we are sometimes inclined to dismiss as a hokey tourist trap; but that, when we visit, is a revelation of unfamiliar treasures and treats. In some ways, Hawaii… Continue reading Tuna Poke Bowls
Most religious practices incorporate fasts of one kind or another, but surely the most demanding must be Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. Observant Muslims abstain from food and water every day until sunset for 30 days, to commemorate the revelation of the first book of the Quran to the Prophet Mohammed in 610… Continue reading Semolina Cake with Roasted Strawberries
Spring brings not only the welcome arrival of fragrant blossoms and tender green leaves, but an annual flowering of festivals. The Seville Fair in Spain, or Feria de abril de Sevilla, has to be one of the most fun. Just two weeks after the parades of Holy Week and the somber reflections of Lent, the… Continue reading Tapas Party
Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean, after Cyprus, and one of the most ancient pieces of land in the world. Occupied by people since prehistoric times, it’s a gorgeous island with dramatic cliffs, beautiful rocky beaches, crystal waters and impressive ruins. Like many European locales, it has been occupied over the centuries by… Continue reading Fregola with Clams
You know how when you’re single on Valentine’s Day, you hate the whole world? Maybe you joke about dressing in black and sending yourself a bunch of dead roses, or maybe you actually do…but either way, commiserating with your fellow single friends is the only thing that pulls you through. Wouldn’t it be great if there… Continue reading Jajangmyeon
Festive Food Project 