Culinary Revelations

Over the last year I have learned lots and lots about cooking and even more about food. I've been thinking about some of the things I've learned and how my tastes have changed.

• Cilantro
  I used to HATE cilantro. I'd pick it out of everything, which made it fun having fresh salsa in Mexico ;-). I've discovered that used properly (including in salsa) it is really nice. I even buy it to use at home.


• Chicken Livers
  I ate chicken livers and liked them. Never in a million years did I think that would happen. Prepared in a tasty sauce, they actually aren't bad. I still won't be buying them for home or eating them in huge quantities but I know now that I can eat them and not be sick.


• Beets
  I've always hated beets. I'm still not a big fan but we have a beet salad at the restaurant that may change my mind. A little lemon vinaigrette and even the dreaded beet tastes nice. Add in the almond crusted honey goat's cheese and it's really good.


• Cloves
  I'm still dubious about widespread use of cloves but we use them at Vinoteca to simmer with the vegetables and it does add a nice flavour.


• Things I've added to my grocery list:
  
  
  • Whole garlic, no more of that powdered stuff. Slice it, dice it, mince it, roast it. Yum!
  
  
  • Fresh lemons. Zest them or juice them, fresh is so much better.
  
  
  • Lemongrass. I never knew what to do with it. It's great in soups or to flavour rice and sauce.
  
  
  • Thai Lime leaves (previously called Kaffir lime leaves but changed due to political correctness). See lemongrass above for revelation.
  
  
  • Yams, celery root, kohlrabi, and sweet potato. Nice alternatives to potatoes. Nice mashed or roasted. Just plain yummy.
  
  
  • Soy beans. Fatima lives on these things. They come frozen in their pods and you just boil them up and eat them. Tasty and nutritious.
  
  
  
  
• Things I've learned:
  
  
  
  • Soup is ridiculously easy to make and tastes incredible.
  
  
  • How to make a to die for pot roast.
    
    We use this at the restaurant for the beef sandwich. Get a pot, cover the bottom with oil, get it really hot, sear the roast on all sides, add small diced mirepois (onion, carrot, celery), turn down heat a smidge, caramelize the veg, add lots of wine (white or red), add water until level is about 1/2 way up beef, throw in a few bay leaves, simmer for a few hours. This is SO good!
  
  
  • Kale with peanut sauce is divine.
    
    I had this at Fatima's yesterday, she says it is very popular in Africa. Basically you chop up your kale, add water (do not cover the kale), start to simmer, add a few chopped tomatoes and a sliced onion. Cook for a few minutes, add a teaspoon or 2 of peanut butter, salt & pepper (taste it and see if you need more), simmer until the water is absorbed. We ate it over rice. She said to try it with some chopped chili peppers on top if you like it spicy, also in Africa they sometimes add shrimp and cashews, then serve it with rice and grilled fish.
    
    Funny thing is that I just bought kale before going to Fatima's, so now I know what to do with it.
  
  
  
  
• Not a culinary revelation but one regarding pronounciation. Fatima is Mozambican Portuguese and her name is pronounced Fah-TIM-ah, not Fa-TEEM-ah. You can always tell who doesn't know her when they phone because they always pronounce her name wrong. I didn't know until I met her that there was more than one way to pronounce Fatima.