Recipe: Crème Brûlée, A Moment to Indulge

Creme Brûlée

COURSE // Dessert

Prep Time: 1 hour Servings: 4
Total Time: 6 hours - overnight

Créme brûlée is the kind of dessert that tastes like luxury. A truly impressive dessert worthy of making for any occasion, it’s much easier to make than it seems. I hadn’t found a recipe that didn’t need any tweaking or adjustments in terms of time or steps, so over time (and some trial and error) I wound up putting together the parts that worked to guide me when this dessert is requested - which is often since getting this recipe down. I did buy a small handheld torch online for the job but if you don’t have one for your créme brûlées yet, I’ve included instructions on how to use your double broiler to achieve the same glass-like caramelization you can’t wait to break through and indulge in.

Ingredients

• 5 egg yolks (6 for a more decadent custard)
  

• 2 cups heavy cream
  

• 1 vanilla bean split lengthwise, or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  

• 1/8th teaspoon of salt
  

• 1/2 cup of sugar, plus about 4 teaspoons of sugar set aside for brûlée topping
  

Instructions

1. Set the eggs and cream out so they warm up to room temperature.

2. Heat oven to 325 degrees. In saucepan, cream, vanilla bean and salt; cook over low heat until hot. Let sit for a few minutes, then remove the vanilla bean. If using vanilla extract, add it now.

3. In a bowl, beat yolks and sugar together until light. Stir about a quarter of the vanilla cream into this mixture, then pour sugar-egg mixture into cream and stir.

4. Pour mixture into four six-ounce ramekins and place in a large baking dish, filling It with boiling water halfway up the sides of the ramekins, creating a water bath or “bain-marie.”
Tip: I find it’s helpful to line the baking dish with a kitchen towel before adding the water to keep the ramekins from sliding around.

5. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until centers are just barely set. Cool completely.

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

6. Refrigerate for several hours at least, and up to a couple of days.

7. When it’s time to serve, top each custard with about a teaspoon of sugar in a thin layer, spreading the sugar evenly over the surface by gently moving the ramekin back and forth in your hand.

8. Holding a kitchen torch 3 to 4 inches from custard, caramelize the sugar on top of each ramekin maintaining a constant circular and side-to-side motion until sugar is melted and light golden brown (about 4 minutes).
Optional: You can also use a broiler to caramelize, placing the ramekins on a baking pan or cookie sheet. Broil with tops 4 to 6 inches from heat for 5 minutes or until sugar is melted and forms a glaze.

9. Serve immediately, or refrigerate up to 8 hours before serving.

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Photo Credit: Samantha M. Lopez

Abuelita’s Empanadas de Navidad

As a child, the holidays and Christmas specifically meant time together with family. The majority of my family is still abroad, but when I was under 12, my grandmother on my father’s side was still here with us, and cooking for the family was a love language for my abuelita Lola. Sabajón (and a non-alcoholic version for the kids), empanadas, and squares of just dough because my sister loved the flavor. As an adult, I realize the labor of love that is preparing dough from scratch and hand making individual empanadas, as I’ve practiced enough to know how time consuming it can be and yet how incredible the reward is after.

Perhaps it’s the nostalgia, but there is nothing more satisfying than an empanada or two with a café for a quick lunch or bite when hungry. But my abuelita wasn’t just making 10 or 20 empanadas, she must have spent the entire week before Christmas getting everything ready to make over 100 empanadas for all of her loved ones, from neighbors to her kids to her picky grandchildren.

We couldn’t get enough of the dough, it wasn’t like any of the corn empanadas we buy at the stores/bakeries here which are made with a thick, fried corn shell. My abuelita Lola’s dough was made of trigo (flour) and was sweeter in flavor and soft instead of crunchy. The recipe was coveted for years, and long after my abuelita passed, my family and I would continue to try to recreate the recipe as best we could. One year a cousin of mine reached out to my dad admitting she had gotten a copy of the recipe for my abuela’s empanadas and wanted to share it with everyone. We finally had a recipe!

Unfortunately, as recipes go, this wasn’t quite that. I have a list of ingredients with step by step directions on how to assemble, but not enough information regarding the dough (the most vital ingredient!) After a lot of trial and error, including giving the dough time to sit and not, maneuvering it cold vs hot, less and/or more baking powder, fried vs oven baked — nothing comes out just right. For now I hope that when I am making and sealing each empanadita, reminiscing about the days family would get together only for her, my abuelita, I can make them even a fraction as special as she would.

My attempt at making my grandma’s empanada dough.

Rolling the dough out.

Empanada discs.

My moms hands making emapandas.

Traditional filling made with meat and hard boiled egg filling.

Egg washed empanadas ready for the oven.

Empanadas al horno (oven baked empanadas).

Recipe: The Easiest Apple Tart You’ve Ever Made

Puff pastry is a spectacular work-around when you don’t have enough time to prepare your own dough, or maybe even come up with a dessert idea. It defrosts within minutes, and couldn’t be easier to work with. In my family, it is traditional to have a small coffee at the end of a big meal, often with something sweet like cookies or a pastry. I put together this apple tart in under 15 minutes and it was baked and staying warm in the oven while we ate our meal. In an attempt to make this healthier, I reduced the amount of sugar and didn’t include any toppings but you can top with caramel, whipped cream, or even ice cream for something really special. This recipe is enough for one sheets of puff pastry that will be cut down the middle, making 2 tarts total. You will have another sheet to use for another recipe, or for a repeat later on. I sometimes like to save ingredients for the next day so I can quickly put together and make fresh all over again.

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Puff Pastry Apple Tart

COURSE // Dessert

Prep Time: 5 minutes Servings: 8 (4 per tart)

Ingredients

• 1 package puff pastry sheets, thawed, each cut in half

• 3 apples (I used 2 honeycrisp and 1 braeburn) cored, halved, and sliced thin

• 1/2 cup of brown sugar

• 1 pinch of salt

• Optional: powdered sugar, caramel sauce, and/or whipped cream, for serving

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

2. Place the puff pastry rectangles onto 2 baking pans that have been sprayed with nonstick olive oil spray.

3. Add sugar and salt to the apples and stir to combine thoroughly. Allow to sit for a few minutes.

4. Arrange the apple slices on the pastry rectangles in a straight line, overlapping them as you move down.

5. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.

6. Remove from the oven and place on a serving platter.

7. Serve plain or with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, caramel topping and/or whipped cream

Recipe: The Perfect Maracuyá Cocktail

Upon arriving late my first night in Boston, I I wasn’t sure what to expect from the only restaurant still open in the casino, but everything about that experience was bliss, including a new cocktail I was introduced to featuring my all time favorite fruit: maracuyá (also known as: chinola, parcha, passionfruit, etc.). An instant winner, I knew I had to work on recreating it.

First on the list of signature cocktails, the Luna: Silver/Blanco Tequila, Aperol, Passionfruit and fresh lime juice. Basically, a passionfruit “margarita'“ except the usual triple sec is now replaced with Aperol. Although I tend to avoid sugary drinks, this cocktail is as refreshing as it is perfectly balanced.

Below is my take on the Luna, my favorite drink of 2023.

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Luna Passionfruit Cocktail

COURSE // Cocktail

Prep Time: 10 minutes Servings: 2

Ingredients

• 45 ml of passionfruit juice

• juice of 1 lime

• 110 ml Tequila

• 40 ml Aperol

• 2 tablespoons maple syrup/sugar syrup

• ice and lime wedges to serve

Instructions

• Fill a cocktail shaker with 1/2 cup ice cubes. Pour over passionfruit juice, lime juice, Tequila, Aperol and sugar syrup.

• Cover and shake for at least 30 seconds until the cocktail is well combined and chilled.

• Fill each glass with a few ice cubes.

• Strain and pour the cocktail equally over the ice cubes in the glass.

• Garnish with lime wedges and serve immediately.

Long Weekend in Boston, A Culinary Weekend Feast

Boston Encore

Sometimes a last minute trip surprises you. I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first time visiting Boston, my city’s alleged rival (or does that only apply to sports?) but our trip was full of many pleasant surprises. We arrived so late at night I was certain dinner was going to be after-thought. My husband and I unenthusiastically made our way downstairs to the hotel lobby when we realized there were actually several restaurants inside the casino. It was my first time actually walking through a casino, and though the brightly colored lights looked fun enough, I opted not to gamble and instead headed over to the very back where we found Fratelli.

Boston Encore Casino

Negroni and Luna cocktail

Braised beef short ribs in a red wine reduction over creamy parmigiano polenta with roasted chestnuts and a sweet Italian glaze. Warm rustic bread served beside extra virgin olive oil, roasted garlic cloves and marinated olives. A refreshing and insanely good passionfruit tequila cocktail. A brick oven pizza that tasted like heaven on earth.

Braised beef short ribs / creamy parmigiano polenta / roasted chestnuts / red wine reduction / sweet italian glaze

The next couple of days were spent exploring the city. Coffee shops, local parks, and of course good eats. We stopped by Yvonne's, a modern speakeasy hidden behind a faux hair salon. Dimly lit and surrounded by books and mahogany, jacquard wallpaper, antique couches, and chandeliers, there was a seductive secrecy that enveloped the room. There was an exciting and carefully crafted mixology menu, so of course I had to enjoy a couple of drinks at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready.

The small-plate menu ranges from Turkish Sujuk to Argentine asado to Korean street food. Dishes create interesting pairings with the wide ranging drinks list and we had a wonderful time indulging in both familiar flavors and the new. A Niman Ranch long bone ribeye steak with steak fries, black garlic butter, and marinated mushrooms. The “Autumn Mezze” which was beet whipped feta, habibi hummus, baby artichokes, red and gold beets, crispy pumpkin, spiced pepitas. A nostalgic Sujuk pita with Turkish spiced beef sausage, mozzarella, basil, marrow butter, onion and parsley.

Autumn Mezze

Niman Ranch Long Bone Ribeye Steak

Boston has a familiarity of every city I’ve visited in America. Cosmopolitan, hurried and unique because of its residents. We are so lucky to have such a range of international cuisine right at our fingertips, it’s so expansive too that it’s easy to take for granted.

Downtown Boston

I hope I am able to return again someday, hopefully with more time to enjoy what the city has to offer and less of a threat from a world-wide pandemic. Travel has changed so much for us since but I am optimistic that this will be temporary and we will eventually resume back to traveling the way we used to know.

Recipe: Creamy Venezuelan Guasacaca

I’m always willing to try out a sauce, especially one made with ingredients I love and am used to enjoying. Venezuelan Guasacaca is creamy, smooth, fresh, and incredibly delicious. Perfect for dipping, dressing, and spreading on anything — empanadas, veggies, on a sandwich. The possibilities are endless. I often like to make this sauce early in the week for lunch, and find different ways to enjoy it throughout the next few days. It only takes 5 minutes to put together with a blender or food processor so it’s an excellent addition at any time.

Venezuelan Guasacaca

Total time: 5 minutes Yield: 1 Quart

Ingredients

• 2 large ripe avocados (seed removed)

• 1/2 medium yellow onion, halved

• 2 cloves of garlic

• About 1 cup of cilantro

• About 1/2 cup of parsley

• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar

• 4 tablespoons lime juice

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon of sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon of fresh ground pepper

Instructions

• Chop the cilantro, parsley and onions into smaller chunks to make it easier to process and prevent over-blending.

• Combine all ingredients except the olive oil in the blender or food processor. Blend until all ingredients are nicely blended and the sauce has a smooth, homogeneous, and creamy consistency. 

• Transfer to a jar or bowl and add olive oil. Stir until oil is completely incorporated.

• Taste and adjust the salt and pepper to your preference.

• Enjoy on everything!

Halfway Across the Country, Family Adventures and Scenic Memories

My parents had been staying with my sister and brother-in-law in their home, helping keep each other safe during the very early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Unsure of what to do during such an unprecedented time, they opted to stay put as mandatory lockdowns and widespread travel restrictions were put in place.

Here in Queens, NY, things were looking even worse as our hospitals were extremely overwhelmed, and millions of people losing their jobs. Much of the early pandemic (and perhaps what remains still too) is marked by confusion, fear, and a desperation to understand the virus that had taken over so much of our daily lives.

However, mom and dad had only packed and prepared to be away from home for about a three-week stay, and after six months my dad was running out of insulin and it was time to return back home. Charles and I decided to drive to CO to bring them both back to NY as safely as possible, avoiding plane travel and crowded spaces.

The next morning, we got back on the road, eager to make up some miles. As we moved west, finally cruising through Kansas, the sky seemed to stretch on forever. Vast and unbroken, the sky unfolded in every direction. It felt like we were driving toward infinity, a golden horizon blending seamlessly with the open and clear road ahead.

After hours of driving, we finally reached Denver. The sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the mountains in the distance. We were only about 30 minutes from my sister’s house and it was such a relief to be able to see them again, especially after all the uncertainty of the past few months. There’s something distinctly special about arriving in a new place, especially when you’ve been on the road for so long. The sense of arrival, the promise of rest, and the joy of family all seemed to converge perfectly as we pulled into their driveway. We spent the next couple of days together, soaking up the rare opportunity to reconnect as a family. It had been too long since we had all been in the same place, and with the chaos of the pandemic still lingering, it felt even more precious.

But as with all good things, our time in Colorado was too short. We had to return to New York, to work and to the reality we’d left behind. As we pulled away from Denver, heading back east, we felt a deep sense of gratitude for the open road, the desolate and rich landscape of America, and for the family we had the privilege of spending time with along the way.

From the moment we crossed out of New York state, we were treated to an ongoing tapestry of American landscapes, rolling hills in Pennsylvania, unexpected weather in Ohio, endless anti-abortion and Trump billboards while we drove sandwiched between massive Amazon trucks.

Preparedness is key. We didn’t want to find ourselves scrambling for food or supplies, so we packed a cooler full of grab and go snacks, water and seltzer as well as simply but satisfying homemade sandwiches — turkey, avocado, and cheese, with just the right amount of spicy mayo on a Hawaiian roll. We’ve learned that a good sandwich and chips can be a game-changer on the road.This isn’t our first, second or third long road trip together. It has always been our favorite, and at this point I’d like to believe we’ve perfected it on our own terms. Thinking ahead, coordinating stops, and planning the route. It’s an art, really.

Just as we were driving through Ohio, we ran into a brief but dramatic hailstorm. The sky went dark, and within moments, ice pelted our car with surprising intensity. It was the kind of storm that feels like nature itself is giving you a nudge, reminding you how unpredictable the journey can be.

After a long day of driving, we decided to break up the trip with an overnight stay in Indianapolis. The space we rented was charming, a cozy duplex in a historic neighborhood. As we settled in for the night, we noticed we were almost directly behind a railroad track where trains loudly whooshed by, comforted by a familiar sound. As we closed our eyes to sleep, Charles mentioned he could still “see” the road ahead of him, his mind still racing hours after we’ve stopped moving.

David Byrne and Tune-Yards @Forest Hills Stadium

As David Byrne pointed out early into his show at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in Queens, it had been 35 years since he had been on that very stage performing with Talking Heads in August of 1983. And now he's back on tour, promoting his 2018 solo album American Utopia. It was a rare opportunity for me to be able to watch one of my favorite musicians play in the neighborhood I grew up in. It was "Once in a Lifetime," and there was no way I wouldn't relish every moment.

Dynamically choreographed and dressed in identical gray suits, Byrne led a marching band of 11, each with their instruments harnessed to their bodies and dancing barefoot across the stage. It was a remarkably unique show with contagious rhythm that looked as impressive from my seats in the upper bowl as it must have been from directly in front of the stage.

After getting down to a setlist including classics like "This Must Be the Place," "Burning Down the House" and "Born Under Punches," and the socially conscious "Bullet" from his latest album - Byrne closed the show with a cover of Janelle Monae's "Hell You Talmbout," as he and the band did for every show during the tour. The song implores that we remember the names of black lives lost to police brutality and racial violence: Trayvon Martin, Aiyana Jones, Walter Scott, Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Amadou Diallo, and more. "Say his name, say his name," the chorus repeats. These names echoed throughout the same stadium in which Arthur Ashe became the first black man to win a Grand Slam tournament. There aren't many artists 40 years into their career that continue making inspiring and politically relevant music, but even fewer those who use their (literal) stage to bring social justice into the spotlight. On Saturday night David Byrne proved he does both.

Interpol @Madison Square Garden

I cant remember if this was my fourth or fifth time seeing Interpol live, I just know it won’t be my last. One of my favorite New York bands to watch perform, this time I would be seeing them play at Madison Square Garden. I used to go to many shows at MSG as a teenager including Neil Young and Wilco, Justice, The Strokes and Devendra Banhart. The concerts were (often) perfectly timed so that I could go and still make curfew.

So it came as quite a surprise to me when it was almost 9:30pm and still, no Interpol. Luckily, once you make it past the airport-like security there are many options for overpriced drink and food, and I was in no position to turn down a snack and some beer after skipping dinner to make it to the city on time after work.

Snail Mail opened and played a 20-minute set that overall got a warm reception from the impatient crowd, followed by Car Seat Headrest that played a much shorter but animated set after.

Interpol played a 17-song set with a 3-song encore that spanned most of their discography (with the exception of “PDA” and “The Heinrich Maneuver”) ensuring fans got what we asked for. “C’mere,” “Public Pervert,” “Rest My Chemistry,” and of course, “NYC,” feel like a descriptive map of the city, it only makes sense to enjoy them played at home.

The stoic nature of the band expresses the vulnerability and abstraction of their lyrics, often detached . The light show was impressive as always, perfectly in tune with the ebb and flow of their performances, creating a combination of smoke, lasers and refraction from the many disco balls shining tiny glitter-like lights onto sports jerseys hung high up along the venue’s ceilings.

“Obstacle 1,” perhaps one of my all-time favorite songs was the last song played during the encore, and was the perfect way to end the show.

Long Distance Family, A Lot of History with Dessert

Summer lingered for longer than usual this year, the October air thick with heat and streets filled with people looking for something to do. It was the week before Halloween and while the Ghostbuster’s theme song became harder to escape in stores selling costumes and candy, my cousin Laura was visiting New York for the first time. We hadn’t seen each other since we were very young, so part of me was wondering if I could show her the city I loved in a way she would love it too. Without any plans for what she’d like to do during her weeklong stay, as an artist, she expressed interest in as much art as possible. A trip to The Metropolitan Museum seemed like the right way to begin. We agreed on getting an early start, so when my phone rang shortly after 8:00am I knew they were serious.

After purchasing tickets and walking through The Great Hall, we unfurled our maps and revealed the vast galleries and exhibitions that await us. My last visit to the Met, I entered the museum directly via the Egyptian wing, but hoping to save that experience for last, we made a sharp left and found ourselves among Greek and Roman sculpture, sunlight flooding through the windows revealing every beautiful detail crafted in stone, marble and bronze.

The Met has such a wide range of unbelievable art, both ancient and contemporary, but after every visit I’m increasingly appreciative of the museums’ architecture and it amplifies the viewing experience. It’s a similar feeling I experienced visiting the Cloisters in Washington Heights – but that’s a story for another time. We saw the arts of Africa, Oceana and the Americas, admired Medieval Art, and gazed at the Arms and Armors wings before taking a very necessary break at the museums Petrie Café. Enjoying a seasonal lunch with a floor to ceiling view of Central Park was exactly what we needed to recharge.

After lunch we took the elevator up to the fifth floor to see the Rooftop Garden Commission sculptures by Pakistani artist Huma Bhabha. Surrounded by the lush green of Central Park and huddled in by the Manhattan skyline, stood a tall and striking installation representing instability and displacement titled We Come in Peace. The almost post-apocolyptic structures were moving and I’m so grateful to have caught them on their final days of installation. We closed the trip at the Egyptian wing, filled with beautiful statues and gilded jewelry, and of course, The Temple of Dendur – an actual temple that Egypt gifted to America in the 1960’s. It stands beside yet another window with a spectacular view of the colorful leaves in the park.

Laura lives in Colombia where the climate doesn’t go through as drastic a change in seasons throughout the year, but I had to let her know she chose a perfect time to visit, there is no time more stunning than autumn to see New York City.

Once we were back in Queens, Laura and her friend were craving something sweet which meant I had to take them to my favorite local bakery and dessert shop. We capped the day with a decadent banana and strawberry crème brulee and cappuccinos. And just in case we forgot the season, our dessert came adorned with festive Halloween sprinkles as a subtle reminder.

I hope the next time Laura and I reunite there won’t be so many years in between. Growing up with family being so far away is not only isolating, but it makes the moments together seem even more fleeting. For now, I have these photos and memories but I look forward to maybe reminiscing on these moments together someday soon.

8 Dias En Miami

A room with a view

It’s been years since my last visit to Florida, and even longer since l’ve been back to Miami. Trading New York City’s uncomfortable humidity for Florida’s initially seemed questionable, but New York’s weather has been proverbially “going through it” this August and Miami was surprisingly refreshing in comparison. I stepped out of the gate at Ft. Lauderdale Airport looking forward to a week of kicking back and relaxing and excited for to try new food.

Miami’s tropical climate lends itself to many recreational activities but instead of spending all of my time at the beach, this time I thought to check out what can only be described as a tropical garden oasis, Homestead’s Fruit & Spice Park. A 37-acre botanical garden with over 500 varieties of both fruits and spices, the park was a beautiful journey of flavors and smells and felt like a side of Miami I never knew before. It was also the first place I finally spotted the lizards I remembered from childhood vacations to South Florida. It seems they’ve practically disappeared from South Beach, or maybe it was just where I was staying? It was a long drive away, maybe an hour. (Long enough for me to Google ‘what happened to the lizards in Miami?’ on my way over.)

Fruit & Spice Park

Fruit & Spice Park

A week of sunshine, swimming and strategic restaurant decisions – l’d call this little trip a great success.

Bomba Estero’s Psychedelic Folklore

Bomba Estereo
Photo Credit: Gerardo Mora

Since their first studio album in 2005, electro-cumbia band Bomba Estéreo have consistently released music representative of their culture and a strong desire to relate to a global audience. Heavily influenced by Colombian rhythm "cumbia," Bomba Estéreo combines folklore with psychedelic - Liliana Saumet's voice its own powerful instrument that doesn't compete with the pulsing high-energy of their music.

Their songwriting remains a sincere homage to their roots, their identities and their appreciation for all things love. It feels both soothing and vivacious to experience; an island dream and the city's grit.

Below is a video of Bomba Estéreo performing on the streets of Bogotá, Colombia in 2011.

Fiona Apple’s “Idler Wheel”

Fiona Apple
Photo Credit: Dan Monick

When Tidal was first released in 1996 the world was introduced to the "Sullen Girl," an eighteen-year-old Fiona Apple who would soon become a Grammy award winner with little patience for fame and expectations within pop culture. Her songs and music videos were likely misunderstood by those expecting a jovial sound from the pretty girl behind the piano, but, like any woman that has had enough, she remained unapologetically herself.

In 1999 she released her second album titled, When The Pawn..., proving herself a more assured and lyrically mature songwriter and musician. "If you wanna make sense, what you looking at me for?" she asks. It would be seven years before Apple would release another album, Extraordinary Machine, which due to a controversial last minute change in producers has two versions - both similar, but the original much more playful and explorative instrumentally than the official release.

Her most recent work, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than the Driver of the Screw and Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do, is entirely acoustic and finds Fiona Apple at her most bare lyrically, vocally and musically. The production is vastly different from her previous albums, and it's clear she was able to be more deliberate through its creation.

Like many folk musicians, Fiona Apple doesn't hide any tricks up her sleeve when it comes to performing. Her smooth mellow voice, the loud bellow of a piano, and vivid lyricism is all that's required for a solid record, and her discography follows the progression of a young artist with so much to say, to a self-aware musician finally able to exercise the power and force of raw emotion and intellect musically. This record is an echoing defiance from past musical styles, dissonant and electric - but still always lyrical.