Briam is a traditional Greek vegetable dish that showcases the Mediterranean diet’s emphasis on simple, wholesome ingredients. It consists primarily of sliced summer vegetables – typically eggplant, zucchini, potatoes, and tomatoes – layered in a baking dish and generously drizzled with olive oil. Red onions, garlic, and fresh herbs like parsley and oregano are added…
Maafe has its origins in the Manding (Mande) people, who historically inhabited present-day Senegal, Mali, and Guinea. It is believed to have been created centuries ago, when groundnuts (peanuts) were introduced to Africa through Portuguese traders in the 16th century. Over time, peanuts became a staple crop in West Africa, leading to the development of…
Margherita Sbagliata is a pizza that turns tradition on its head while still honoring the essence of what makes a classic Margherita so beloved. In Italian, “sbagliata” means “mistaken” or “wrong,” a word that suggests a happy accident or an intentional twist on the original. Much like the Negroni Sbagliato, where prosecco replaces gin for…
This one was a bit more of a challenge than I originally anticipated. While I don’t frequent fast food places with any regularity I did hit them up a couple of times a month when I was in a hurry or was leaving work late and needed to grab something for myself on the way…
Billy Wilder’s “Sunset Boulevard” kicks off with possibly the most attention-grabbing opener in film history – our narrator is floating face-down in a swimming pool, and he’s, well, dead. Talk about starting with a bang! This deceased fellow is Joe Gillis, a down-on-his-luck screenwriter who then takes us back six months to explain how he…
OK. So I like pizza. I mean.. you say you like pizza sure.. but not like I do. I don’t think I’ve gone pizza-less for more than a week my entire life. When I was just starting my career and saving money I used to get 2 for 1 pizzas on Tuesdays from the local…
Chilean Cheese Empenadas Looking up what Chile was known for I saw a lot of possible options – but one really stuck out to me as it was something I hadn’t tried to make yet and that was empenadas. I did the research and found the correct cheeses you should use and how to make…
I’ve been to the Banya (Russian hot sauna) a few times in the past and every time I felt like it really helped my sore back/shoulders and gave me a really overall relaxed feeling. Every time I left I’d say to myself “Man, I can’t wait go back” then, for reasons unknown, I’d never go…
When Pop Music Reached Its Final Form Let’s address the elephant in the room: discussing Michael Jackson’s music in the modern era feels like trying to appreciate a da Vinci while the museum’s on fire. But we’re here to talk about “Thriller” – the 1982 album that didn’t just move the goalposts for pop music,…
Where Soul Music Found Its Queen and Never Looked Back Some albums capture lightning in a bottle. This one captured a whole damn thunderstorm. Aretha Franklin’s 1967 Atlantic Records debut isn’t just an album – it’s the moment soul music found its constitution, its declaration of independence, and its crown jewel all at once. And…