Global Table Adventure

Recipe: Moroccan Lamb Tagine with Sweet Honey Figs

May 17, 2012 By Sasha Martin 2 Comments

Today I'm taking you to a special place where family and friends gather around the dinner table with happy hearts. Silverware is optional, but bread is not. Settle into this sacred space, where tagine of lamb meets chestnuts, figs, cinnamon, honey, and orange blossom water. Pause for a moment to celebrate this crazy wonderful combination, to feel the hot air blow through your hair, then dig in and scoop up the glory with a handful of bread. When you're done, cozy up to an evening of conversation … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Meat, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Morocco, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday

Menu: Morocco

May 16, 2012 By Sasha Martin 17 Comments

This week we're trying three completely different recipes which all use one magical Moroccan ingredient: orange blossom water. Have you ever used it? The perfume-like water lends a dreamy flavor to ordinary ingredients. While almost impossible to describe, I'd say that each splash of orange blossom water makes the food taste "prettier" which, of course, inspired me to splash a little behind my ears. Whether or not this is normal, I was happy as can be, walking around, smelling like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Menu Wednesday, Morocco

About the food of Morocco

May 15, 2012 By Sasha Martin 8 Comments

Ziz River, Morocco. Photo by Jerzy Strzelecki.

Ohh, ok. Here we are. This is Morocco week at the Global Table (and the crowd goes wild!). To be honest I was pretty nervous about this week. As far as I'm concerned, Morocco is a culinary giant. This comes from growing up in France, where delectable Moroccan dishes make regular appearances on Parisian menus. As I got to reading, however, I quickly realized that the food - although filled with intensely fragrant, glorious spices like cinnamon, cumin, saffron, and ginger - can be wonderfully … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Morocco, Travel Tuesday

Monday Meal Review: Mauritius

April 2, 2012 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

THE SCENE: Photography Teaches I step up onto the soft seat cushion and bend my head under the low ceiling. Time to snap some pictures. I hold my breath, teetering over the banana tart, willing myself not to fall. That's when Keith pops in the room (he's home to help care for our sick, feverish daughter) and snaps a picture of me (see above). As I swivel my head to see what he's doing I almost fall over, right onto the lattice work grid. But before I can turn my head, he's … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Mauritius, Monday Meal Review

Recipe: Ginger n’ Spice Tomato Sauce (Rougaille)

April 1, 2012 By Sasha Martin 3 Comments

If there is one recipe that reflects the Mauritian potluck of global flavors, this is it. Rougaille. Let's take a walk through the flavors of this unusual sauce - I have a feeling you just might make friends. First, imagine a simple, homemade tomato sauce. The deep red goodness smells sweet and fresh. This sauce can be found in homes all across the world. Tomatoes, onion, garlic. Standard fare. Until you take a bite. Then you realize, this is more complex than you could have ever known. This … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Gluten Free Adaptable, Mauritius, Meat, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Seafood, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Mauritian Chili Poppers (Gateaux Piments) (w/ poll)

March 30, 2012 By Sasha Martin 6 Comments

If you have a hankering for a munchin', come with me via "stove top travel" to Mauritius. While there, we'll cozy up, picnic-style, with a basket of Gateaux Piments. These crisp, crunchy poppers are quite a bit like falafel and I got to try them thanks to you, dear readers, since they won your vote on our Facebook Fan Page as the split pea recipe you'd most like me to try. (Thank you!) What I find most exciting about these chili poppers is their intense, fresh flavor. Each bite reveals … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Finger Food, Gluten Free Adaptable, Mauritius, Mr. Picky's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Random Carbs & Grains, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Vegan, Vegetables/Pulses, Vegetarian

Recipe: Mauritian Banana Tart

March 29, 2012 By Sasha Martin 21 Comments

Don't let the startling geometry fool you. Today's Banana Tart is for those who like mellow desserts. Big bites of health. An entire banana tree in the belly, topped off with delicate lattice goodness. I know. It's craziness. You can thank the dreamy island of Mauritius, way out in the Indian Ocean, for teaching me this ingenious way to use up ripe bananas. The ingredient list is so simple and pure, I almost can't believe it. Bananas, barely a smattering of brown sugar, a pinch of salt, … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Fruit, Holidays, Mauritius, Miss Ava's Favorite Recipes, Potluck Friendly, Recipes, Sasha's Favorite Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegetarian

Menu: Mauritius

March 28, 2012 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

"When you visit a town and have not visited the market, you have not really visited the town" So goes the saying in Mauritius, according to local Renee. This old saying means that by immersing ourselves in the food culture of a place, we arrive at the heart and soul of the town. I totally agree and I would add that when we visit a country via stove top travel, we get glimpses of that soul, even from half a world away. Although we cannot fly to Mauritius today to visit the market, we are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Africa, Mauritius, Menu Wednesday