appetizer

My vegetarian appetizer board

grandmother's serving dish for appetizers

I love this mid-century serving dish that belonged to my late grandmother. I wish I could say that I recall her using it as a serving plate for appetizers at dazzling cocktail parties, where her sharp-dressed friends drank Sidecars and listened to jazzy music coming from huge loud-speakers. But I can’t. Although my grandmother was […] Read more…

Gorgeous Gougères

These gougères are ideal for cocktail parties, if you ask me. I once had gougères served alongside a cocktail at the elegant No.9 Park in Boston. Since then I have been baking these sophisticated appetizers at home often. People adore them, especially when they are homemade. We are slowly getting into the Holiday spirit. Last […] Read more…

Samosas with Sweet Potato, Apple and Mint Raita

December! The time of year when I long for food with lots of spices to keep me warm, like these vegetarian Indian Samosas. I created this recipe for the Dutch culinary magazine Elle Eten (Elle Food) a while ago and it has been one of my favorite dishes ever since. Serve it with some panfried spinach […] Read more…

Día de los Muertos: Three Mexican Salsas

Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), wish we had this tradition in my country! I think it’s fascinating and beautiful. Is there a better way to remember and honor your deceased loved ones than by celebrating, drinking, eating, and telling stories? And how special it is that families congregate in graveyards at night, Read more…

Zwiebelkuchen (Onion Cake)

Treasure hunting at the local food market: I came home with a bag of dark red onions. They were very fresh, small and not as tasteless as some of the larger ones you often find at the supermarket. Red onions, I love ’em, and the smaller the better. Here in Berlin we love to eat […] Read more…