Around the world this week, it’s a celebration of all things Irish. Gallons of green beer will be consumed, pub songs will be sang, and of course there will be plenty of sick calls to work the next day. Irish food will be in full Celtic swing in every pub all over the world, and [...]

Since the early days of the Southern French US colonies, Mardi Gras has been a yearly tradition that even a hurricane could not stop. It’s the historic time of Carnival, the celebration of indulgence and what many might call “sin” before taking on the 40 day fasting from such things we know as Lent. The [...]

Here in Chicago, I look out my window right now and see the streets, sidewalks, and trees covered in a light dusting of snow. Not my favorite time of the year as my mind soars to visions of the warm sun, the smell of the Mediterranean, and the feeling that time has stopped…even for a [...]

Spanish cuisine has always fascinated me, mainly because of how much it differs from the many flavors of Mexican, Central, and South American cuisine one finds here in the US. While the languages are similar, the food certainly isn’t. Spanish cuisine has its own distinct flavor and culture that one can see relationships with its [...]

I always love how movies and television open us all up to new dishes and culinary cultures we might not have seen before.  French cuisine, while noted highly and raved about, has always been a hit-or-miss thing with me.  I’ve eaten twice in French restaurants, only to end up sick later.  However, I haven’t given [...]

That photo up above is enough to drive anyone stuck in Jack Frost’s grasp into lunacy.  Puerto Rico has been known as the Island of Enchantment with warm weather all year around and a distinctive cuisine that sets it apart from Mexico and other islands in the region.  A mix of Spain, Africa, the Caribbean, [...]