Food, travel and photography

Category: World cuisine

Fish tartare with mango and vanilla oil

Fish tartare with mango and vanilla oil

In Belgium as in France, I choose the fish according to the fishermen’s catch of the day. Cod fish, sea bass, or sea bream are equally good for this recipe.

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana (Middle Eastern Mint Lemonade)

Limonana, also called Lemon & Mint Lemonade in the Middle-East, is very popular in Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Jordan. There are so many versions! It is sipped during lunch, at bars on the beach, and grabbed on the go on a hot day. I’m sharing 

New York cheese cake

New York cheese cake

I started appreciating this dessert when I was living in Philadelphia. This is now one of my favorite desserts. There are so many cheese cake recipes, all of them delicious, but more or less easy to digest… This cheese cake is absolutely delicious, but I 

Avocado Féroce

Avocado Féroce

This exotic dish from the French West Indies is essential to the traditional culinary experience when traveling around the Islands. It’s made of salted cod fish, avocado, and cassava flour.

Beef bo būn

Beef bo būn

This Asian dish is a rice vermicelli and stir-fried beef mixed salad with optional pork spring rolls. Be ready to provide chopsticks to your guests.

Sweet potato and red pepper thaï soup

Sweet potato and red pepper thaï soup

Teresa, who is a pharmacist as well as a nutritionist, has a fascinating and wonderful personality. She is the generous-type and I do thank her for sharing this recipe with us. I love the way she cooks: it is simple, tasty and always healthy. Teresa 

Roasted cabbage with olive tapenade

Roasted cabbage with olive tapenade

A delicious and crunchy recipe made in USA. The kind of simple dish that comes as a good surprise and that you can’t wait to replicate at home… many thanks to Chloé for sharing.

Alicante paella

Alicante paella

For a proper storage of your Paella pan between two paella dinner parties, I advise you to rub in some olive oil with a paper towel on the inner part of your pan. That way, your pan won’t rust.

Pickled carrots and whipped feta dip

Pickled carrots and whipped feta dip

This is a British recipe to which I made a few changes to suit my personal taste. Very easy to prepare, you just need a five-hour marinating time for the carrots. With a food processor, the dip will be ready in no time.

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Pine nut lamb keftas, dried barberry and chili

Sabrina Ghayour, a Persian chef, lives in the United Kingdom and is known for preparing easy, delicious and colorful recipes. Her books have become great references for Persian cooking in the past few years. I love her cooking and I was very touched by her extreme kindness 

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

Christmas Toffee Barbara’s way

This is Barbara’s very own special recipe for Christmas Toffee. Believe me: it’s a killer! This is perfect as a homemade treat. It was a nice and delicious experience to watch Barbara make this delicious candy.

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Forbidden Black rice with Gorgonzola and Speck

Brigitte is an outstanding cook as well as a great photographer. I took this picture myself, but I must admit that I am not as talented as she is! Do take a look at “Popote et Fleur de Sel”, her website, and check it up 

Prawn Indian Curry

Prawn Indian Curry

With red chilies, the sauce has a nice red color and the taste is spicier. With green chilies (as shown on the picture), the dish has more flavor and you can taste the coconut cream better. It’s a matter of personal touch … This recipe 

Chia pudding

Chia pudding

The more the chia seeds, the thicker your pudding will be. The proportions for this recipe here are for a smooth texture, neither too thick nor too runny. Red berries, mangoes, kiwis, any type of fruits works for decoration. 

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Persimmon goat cheese and roasted hazelnuts salad

Choose firm and crunchy fuyu persimmons for this recipe as their pulp will not be too juicy. This variety is crunch, sweet, and best for salads.Thank you, Hélène, for sharing this delicious starter. Hélène’s French recipe website is now running under the name “Minute Papillotte”. 

Caribbean coconut pudding

Caribbean coconut pudding

This is my mother-in-law’s Caribbean coconut pudding family recipe! I must say it is very sweet, but it is an absolute delight. When I make this pudding, I use small individual custard cups or small bowls.

Vegetable chutney

Vegetable chutney

Using chutney is common in Great Britain, but this condiment originates from India. I do love this sweet and sour dressing made of fruits, vegetables, sugar, vinegar, and spices.

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

Moroccan style eggplant wraps

I forget who gave me this delicious recipe a long time ago but after making some changes along the way, this is my own version of this irresistible recipe! Many thanks anyways to my unknown contributor! 

Makis

Makis

These Japanese rolls are made of sushi rice seasoned with rice vinegar and a variety of ingredients held together in nori seaweed. One of my family’s favorites!

Beef Fatayas

Beef Fatayas

This Senegalese recipe is also called “pastel” and originally comes from Lebanon. Lebanese people call them “sambousiks”, and Argentines also love these tiny savory beef pastries and call them “empanadas”.

Chinese fried rice

Chinese fried rice

Simple to make, this delicious and easy to make recipe is one of my teenage years-favorites … thanks, Chantal, for this and for your appetizers I shared on my site too!

Guacamole

Guacamole

The most difficult part in this recipe is to have a ripe avocado …then, it’s only a matter of putting your talent at work and enjoy the Guacamole!

Carrot Cake

Carrot Cake

This cake is famous and a classic in England and in the US. Thank you Raphaël for this precious recipe. It’s moist, perfectly spiced and the best part is the topping!

Lamb pear and prune tajine

Lamb pear and prune tajine

This recipe originating from Northern Africa is absolutely delicious and frankly easy to make. You may even give it a personal touch by adding almonds, pine nuts, or a little bit of honey, as the ingredients and spices differ from one region to another.

Cullen Skink

Cullen Skink

Cullen is a small town in Northeast Scotland and the home of one of Scotland’s most famous dishes, Cullen Skink. It is a hardy soup and traditionally made with Finnan haddock (smoked haddock), potatoes, and leeks. It may be served with nice and thick buttered 

Gary’s grilled ribs

Gary’s grilled ribs

We tasted the ribs in different sauces before finding the right recipe that comes directly from North Carolina. The ribs are tender on the inside and crispy on the outside…Mmmmm! Obviously, we eat them with our fingers and can eat them pretty much anywhere! Thanks 

Karin’s crab meat and brandy o’gratin

Karin’s crab meat and brandy o’gratin

If you use light cream the dish turns out perfectly too. Karin likes to use chunks of crab rather than crumbs… As a starter this quantity is for 6 to 7 guests. As a main dish it serves 4 to 6 people.

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

STEPHANIE’S FRENCH CHICKEN LIVER PÂTÉ

Stéphanie, who is a great cook and who is used to organising large dinner parties, managed to convince me to make this fantastic recipe. Use one of your nice terrine dishes as it will be served on the table.

Severine’s banana cake

Severine’s banana cake

Although this sweet cake is a classic, there is a large variety of banana cake recipes. Severine’s is just one of  the countless ways to make it. You may also try Karin’s recipe. I love it too!

Beef tataki my way

Beef tataki my way

I usually serve this beef tataki dish with grilled mushrooms and zucchini, Japanese rice or a green salad.

Asmaa’s smocked aubergine spread

Asmaa’s smocked aubergine spread

This is a Turkish dish turned into a versatile spread that can be used over  bread, blinis, or part of a mezze table. My friend Asmaa is a Natural Chef & Health Food coach. You’ll find her on Instagram. Look for Authentickspoon. We met in 

cheeseburger my way

cheeseburger my way

This dish is from California and its recipe was inspired by a small recipe book I love named: Jordan Feilders’ California Canteen. Special thanks to him and his team. This recipe served with my Quinoa almond and feta cheese salad is a best seller!

Courgette & blue cheese velouté

Courgette & blue cheese velouté

This is a very simple and light soup. You’ll need a blender and if you have a Thermomix it will be ready in 20 minutes!

vanilla cheesecake with blueberry compote

vanilla cheesecake with blueberry compote

Being individual make a great simple dessert for a dinner party. You can find mini cheesecake pans on the internet. You have nearly 24 mini cakes with this recipe.

Rosetta’s tuna paccheri

Rosetta’s tuna paccheri

You could save time by placing the cherry tomatoes under the grill in the oven instead of slow baking them for an hour. Just be extra careful not to burn them. And do not cook the tuna and the capers together more than 10 minutes: 

Tamarind Chutney

Tamarind Chutney

Use it with Indian food and Catherine’s Bhel Puri. You can buy tamarind in many forms. Here I use the pure block of pulp and seed.

Karin’s banana cake

Karin’s banana cake

The secret trick  if you may try : the bananas have to be very, very ripe, then frozen, the skin will go black and only then they are ready. Defrost them throw out the water  squeeze the flesh and sugary syrup out of the skins. You can also 

Christine’s lemon and olive chicken tajine

Christine’s lemon and olive chicken tajine

2 hours cooking in a tajine dish. Serve with fresh chopped coriander and accompany with couscous seeds.

thaï spiced squash soup

thaï spiced squash soup

You can swap the squash with pumpkin or butternut if you prefer. It works well, I tried! If you need a simple and safe way to peel and chop squash view all the videos on You Tube.

Accras from Martinique & Thomas’Ti punch

Accras from Martinique & Thomas’Ti punch

It’s really a lot easier than it seems but it involves frying so be careful. Good to know : cod accras are part of the traditional Caribbean cuisine. This dish is generally served  in Martinique as an appetizer with Ti Punch. Thomas’TI Punch is made of 5cl of white 

My tiramisu

My tiramisu

Did you know Tiramisu means “lift me up”? This dessert is my favorite. I have made it at home for years. But there are  many different Tiramisu recipes, each with their own process and ingredients. Don’t hesitate to try some others. It will  always be 

The Pimm’s Royale Cocktail

The Pimm’s Royale Cocktail

Emblematic symbol of the English summer “art de vivre”, the Pimm’s is inseparable from events such as Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, etc.

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

Creamy Sweet Potato Soup

This soup can be made days in advance if kept in the fridge. If you have a dinner party : You may add small unshelled prawns or shrimps or sauteed small scallops. It’s a bit more hearty and it’s very delicious as well! ​

Homemade gravlax style salmon

Homemade gravlax style salmon

✨It’s a Scandinavian classic dish, thank you Francine for the recipe.✨ You can try it with vodka instead of gin. Many recipes recommend freezing the fish before curing in order to kill any parasites. It makes a stunning party platter if you serve it up appetizer style. For a