• Recipes,  Something Savory

    Grilled Tandoori Chicken

    This past weekend I set out to make one of my favorite Indian dishes, the hugely popular Tandoori chicken. There are many different variations on tandoori chicken, but I wanted to recreate the most authentic one possible based on some great dinners I have had at top Indian restaurants. It was a scorching hot Sunday here in London, so we grilled the chicken on skewers along with some summer vegetables. The chicken is marinated in a thick sauce made of yogurt and spices, which creates

  • Recipes,  Something Savory

    Chermoula Eggplant With Bulgur and Yogurt

    Yesterday I made Chermoula Eggplant With Bulgur and Yogurt for dinner, a North-African-inspired vegetarian main. I made a similar dish about a year ago in NY and loved it, so I decided to try it again here in London with a few modifications. The original recipe comes from Yotam Ottolenghi, a well-known Israeli chef and cookbook writer. I immediately recognized the name because I am totally obsessed with his charming Notting Hill gourmet take-away shop named appropriately, Ottolenghi. Anyway, if you love spices and

  • Travel

    A Belgium Waffle in Brussels

    Last weekend I visited Brussels, Belgium, for the first time and was very excited to try out one of the city’s world renowned specialities ~ none other than the Belgium Waffle. I couldn’t wait to share this mouth-watering photo of a

  • Recipes,  Something Savory

    Pork Kebabs with Peach Melba Sauce

    After a short break which involved getting married (!) and moving across the pond (Hello, London!), the chic brûlée is back and better than ever. I will be transitioning the blog to be London-based, reporting on the latest and greatest London food and style scene, while still of course posting every type of sweet and savory recipe I make in my kitchen.

    Last night I made a great summer dish ~ Grilled Pork Kebabs with Peach Melba Sauce. We have a terrace in our new London flat, so we have already been grilling up a storm since we arrived. I started with a

  • Recipes,  Something Savory

    Almond Butter Rice Cakes

    I am so excited to share with you all my latest food obsession: almond butter. Luckily, almond butter is not only delicious and satisfying, but it is good for you too. I hate to admit it, but I learned about this snack from a recent episode of Dr. Oz where Snooki (yes, Jersey Shore Snooki), was on the show to share the diet she used to drop 42 pounds

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding

    Today I am thrilled to share a simple yet delicious recipe for stove-top Creamy Vanilla Rice Pudding. To make the pudding, I used a vanilla bean, which infused a rich and intense vanilla flavor into the creamy rice pudding, and truly sets this recipe apart from all of the others. You can find vanilla beans at gourmet stores and larger grocery stores like Whole Foods (where I got mine). I chose a Nielsen-Massey Madagascar vanilla bean, which is one of the most popular varieties, known for its buttery, sweet aroma. There is really no comparison to regular vanilla extract and the beans are essential for recipes like this that feature vanilla as the main attraction. I also chose to use medium-grain rice, which provides the most thick and creamy texture. I hope you enjoy this simple and decadent vanilla treat! 

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Fudgy Brownie Bites With Ganache

    For the ultimate Valentine’s Day indulge this year, I made fudgy brownie bites with dark chocolate ganache.  I decorated them in plenty of shades of pink and red, but this recipe can of course be used any time of year for many different occasions that require a fun, bite-sized dessert. I was inspired to make the bites after I came across a box of Duncan Hines Brownie Mix in the form of bites. It’s one of those mini boxes that doesn’t make a full batch, so it’s perfect if you are not serving them for a big group. I decided to dress them up a bit by adding a frosting of shiny, rich ganache. Ganache, made simply of semi-sweet chocolate, whipping cream and butter, is one of those things that sounds scary to make, but is actually quite easy!

    The brownie bites came out rich, moist and fudgy, and the extra kick of ganache on top elevated them from a regular brownie into a gourmet dessert. Check out all of the steps below. This recipe is a guaranteed hit for all of the chocolate lovers in your life. Enjoy and Happy Valentine’s Day!! xoxo

  • Recipes,  Something Sweet

    Scallops Wrapped in Bacon

    For a simple and classic hot hors d’oeuvre, what’s better than a sizzling scallop wrapped in bacon? I made these crowd favorites around the holidays for an elegant appetizer and decided to serve them recently as a light dinner alongside a salad. The recipe has been around forever, but I wanted to post about it today to bring them back in style! 

  • NYC

    Balthazar Granola

    This morning I popped into Balthazar Bakery to pick up a bag of their handmade granola. Good granola is hard to find and I have to say Balthazar’s is one of the best I have ever tried. The bakery, on 80 Spring Street in Soho, is adjacent to the famed and timeless Balthazar Restaurant, and offers a selection of pastries, breads, cookies, cakes and tarts that allow you to take a little taste of the restaurant–and its Parisian-inspired style– home.