Octopus with Olive Oil and Paprika

When Donatello and I worked for a cruise line, our favourite ports were in the Mediterranean. With a short walk from the ship, we’d arrive at our choice mom-and-pop restaurant, mouths watering in anticipation for some of the best food ever. These small places would serve us the most simple but delectable fare piled high on rustic platters drizzled with […]

Spinach Cheese Balls

Spinach Cheese Balls

Each year, Ryan and I go to our friends’ holiday Wine and Cheese party. Being cheese lovers, we are always looking forward to see and try the dozens of cheeses that all the guests bring. This year, the host made these warm and incredibly moreish spinach balls. I couldn’t get enough! These are a great finger […]

Rustic Puff Pastry Leek Galette

  This rustic puff pastry leek galette is delicious! It uses only a few ingredients but it is a show-stopper. The rustic construction is probably the most appealing part of this pie – just look at how flaky and golden it is!

Leek Frittata

Leek Frittata, Kiku Corner

I love leeks. They are cousins of the onions, but they are milder and almost sweet when lightly sauteed. I don’t buy them very often, so I was excited when Meinhilde brought them back from the market. This had to be a dish that would feature the leeks as the main star. I whipped up  this frittata after work on […]

Grilled Nectarines with Cheese

Grilled Nectarines with Cheese, Kiku Corner

I made these when I was kitchen staff at a summer camp in Algonquin Park. At the end of two months of camp, the kids and most of the staff left for home. I stayed to help the chef prepare food for ‘post-camp,’ where head staff would finish up work, maintenance would be done, and […]