Paris By Way Of Austria Since it’s a long flight across the Atlantic, I often try to combine multiple visits on one trip. This time on my way to Paris, I stop off in Austria for several days of meetings. The weather when I land in Vienna is cold, dark and rainy. This city is like […]
ARTICLES
It Puts the Lotion in the (Digital) Basket
My Journey from Gourmet Into Growth Hacking Begins Fear the coming plague that will cleanse the planet, fear the coming war that will bake the world, fear the coming meteor that will crack the globe. But know by then hackers have already sold it to the meek. I land late on a Tuesday at L.A.X. […]
The Art of Cheesemaking or “If you did that to people you’d go to jail”
The Hierarchy of Cheese Since the dark ages the vast majority of great cheese has traditionally been made in Europe. For countries that started young and poor like the States, our palate was geared towards what we could afford. If it was tough, bland and cheap, we’d boil the crap out of it anyway just […]
President Obama leaves Bribesville (with $2.5 million)
The New York City of Italy Once upon a time there was a city called “The Capital of the Miracle.” And it liked the name so much it kept having them. Even though miracles only occur once in a lifetime. Even though the city was only a tiny capital. In its obsession, this bygone village became […]
Why I Work in Food
My father was a wise man in the way that a predator is wise (when weighing its hunger vs. your size). Damir Drezga (my Dad) played soccer for the Yugoslavian national team in the 1960’s. He was a strikingly handsome man, already grey by his 20’s. Damir stood 6’2” tall, and was very quick for […]
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ – Greek Reply to E. U. Demand for Payment**
It’s All Greek to Me Definition of GREEK Ελληνικά / ɡriːk / adjective relating to an unihibited, cultural timelessness referring to a proto Indo European mentality that before history changes the Greeks, the Greeks will change history. noun the Americans of the Hellenic world 2,000 years ago. the D.N.A. of modern European culture and […]
Dubai – Traffic Makes the Real Voyage of Discovery Stationary
Dubai دبي, in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) is a city of the living book—the Koran. It is surrounded by a desert where nothing is alive.
30 Tons of Fancy French Shit
The Red Carpet of Livestock Imagine yourself jetting over to Paris for the biggest gala of the year. No doubt you picture red carpets and movie stars galore. In my case, we’re talking 4,000 live farm animals, French President François Hollande and a cadre of baby (cow) kissing politicians. Parisians take an immense amount of […]
Book Review: The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook
One of the most common ways marketers describe a vegetarian cookbook is by saying “you won’t miss the meat!”. That’s not often true, except in the case of The Middle Eastern Vegetarian Cookbook(Phaidon Press, 2016) written by noted Lebanese-British author Salma Hage. In my opinion, the best vegetarian recipes expand upon cuisines with an already-strong […]
TOP 5 RECIPES FOR YELLING (IN SAMUEL L. JACKSON MOVIES)
5. Toasted Peanut Butter, Banana & Honey Sandwich When you yell as often as a Samuel L. Jackson character does, you’ve got to have the vocal chords of a violent opera singer. In this recipe from Go Dairy Free, you have three key ingredients. Peanut butter is for the protein and energy, honey in place […]
TOP 10 “BATMAN” MEALS ALFRED WOULD COOK
10. Tuna, Avocado & Quinoa Salad If you’re a high performance athlete like Batman (c’mon, if anyone is fighting outside of his weight class it is the guy who takes on Superman), diet is important. From the B.B.C. comes this high protein salad loaded with healthy fats from tuna and avocado. Click here for the […]
FOOD FIGHT!! MUSTARD – Canada vs. France
Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the category of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, we have weighing in at 300,000 tons from the southern prairies of Canada, please welcome Canadian mustard! His opponent, weighing in 1,250 tons from Dijon, please welcome French mustard! LET’S GET READY TO RRRRR…….HAVE A SPIRITED […]
TOP 7 “GOODFELLAS” PRISON RECIPES
7. Whore Sauce Puttanesca is a blend of tomatoes, garlic, capers and anchovies. This sauce is traditionally served over spaghetti. Invented in Naples around World War II, the name comes from the Italian word “puttanna” or prostitute. After wrapping up with their last customer late a night, these ladies would get a bite to eat […]
BOOK REVIEW: The Immigrant Cookbook
Making America Great—One Recipe at A Time The Immigrant Cookbook, collected and edited by cookbook editor Leyla Moushabek is a triumph of a book that explores America’s immigrant heritage using the common denominator of food. The book featuring a wide variety of cooks from well-known chefs like James Beard-award winning pastry chef Dominique Ansel and […]
FOOD FIGHT!! FISH SAUCE – Italy vs. Korea
Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the category of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, we have weighing in at 16.4 oz from beautiful Napoli, Italy, please welcome Colatura di Alici! His opponent, weighing in at 8.5 lbs from exotic Korea, please welcome Mulch Aecjeot fish sauce! LET’S GET READY […]
TOP 8 “SEINFELD” MUSTARD REMEDIES
8. Burn Relief Cut back to George attempting to explain his cowardly actoins to Robin, her mother, Eric and a fireman from the back of the ambulance at the party. George Costanza (voice is hoarse from screaming): “I…was trying to lead the way. We needed a leader! Someone to lead the way to safety. Robin: […]
FOOD FIGHT!! CUTTING BOARDS – Bamboo vs. Wood
Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the welterweight cutting board division of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, weighing in at 53 pounds 7 oz from the jungles of southeast Asia, please welcome Bamboo! His opponent, weighing in at 20,000 lbs from North America, please welcome all other hard woods! […]
TOP 7 “INGLORIOUS BASTERDS” RECIPES (NON-KOSHER)
7. Lieutenant Aldo “The Apache” Raine’s Ramp Salad This soldier from Maynardsville, Tennessee has switched over to a new line of business, “and cousin, business is a-boomin’.” Before becoming the leader of the Basterds, Aldo ran moonshine in the mountains. Back there ramps (also known as hillbilly truffles) are a popular staple of local cuisine. In […]
FOOD FIGHT!! SCARIEST – Blood Soup vs. Broccoli
Welcome ladies and gentleman to the main event of the week! In the category of Culinary Boxing here at Chef’s Mandala, we have weighing in at 8 oz from the slaughterhouses all over the world, please welcome Blood Soup! His opponent, weighing in at exactly 9.2 oz from Italy, please welcome Broccoli! LET’S GET READY TO […]
TOP 7 “30 ROCK” JACK DONAGHY CORPORATE TITAN RECIPES
7. Sex Pheromone Truffles Donaghy: “When you’re handsome nobody ever tells you the truth. For years I thought I spoke excellent French.” (30 Rock Season 3 Episode 15) Fresh black or white truffles (less than 7 days old) emit a powerful odor that can include the molecule androstenol. This is a sex pheromone in pigs […]