Global Table Adventure

Monday Meal Review: Georgia

April 25, 2011 By Sasha Martin 10 Comments

THE SCENE "This is gonna be good," I told myself, sliding the porcelain casserole into the refrigerator. Two pounds of chicken legs swimming in a bath of lemon juice, peanut oil, and Georgian five spice - they'd have the entire night to chill out and absorb Georgian goodness before hitting the grill. I tucked Ava into bed as quickly as I could, telling Keith to cue a movie, preferably a chick flick. I put on my favorite fuzzy pajamas and crawled under the covers. The opening credits … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Georgia, Monday Meal Review

Recipe: Garlic and Walnut Sauce (Garo)

April 24, 2011 By Sasha Martin Leave a Comment

Makes 4 cups This bold tasting spread/sauce from Georgia will have your mouth asking "What is in this!" I couldn't decide what it reminded me of, which I find exciting (trying new flavors is the purpose of eating the world, A-Z!). The bold flavor of cilantro and walnut are the main body of flavor, with an earthy, almost bitter note from the spices. You can knock the bitter profile back a bit if you use less fenugreek seeds. Adapted from The Silk Road Gourmet: Volume One: Western and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Georgia, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Sauces & Dressings, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Georgian Five Spice (Khmeli-Suneli)

April 24, 2011 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

Makes about 3 Tbsp Ever take a bite of food and know exactly what country the food is from? Ever wonder why? Usually it's because the food is loaded with typical, regional herbs and spices. The food of Georgia (the country) is no different. This Georgian five spice can be used in almost any dish thanks to it's agreeable combination of grassy herbs like coriander, savory, bay leaf and dill - along with a hit from subtly bitter fenugreek seeds (whose flavor you'll recognize from curry … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Georgia, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Seasoning Blends & Pickles, Vegan, Vegetarian

Recipe: Georgian Chicken

April 24, 2011 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

Serves 2-4 I'll be honest. I don't have great luck with grilled chicken. Usually it's bland, overdone and, as much as I hate to admit it, I'm usually to blame. Naturally, I was delighted when I found this foolproof Georgian recipe in Laura Kelley's The Silk Road Gourmet: Volume One: Western and Southern Asia - it's a giant bright bite of lemony goodness. The crazy strong flavor comes from an extra long marination - 24 hours. If you'd rather a milder flavor, try just a few hours … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Europe, Georgia, Gluten Free Adaptable, Grilling, International Recipes, Poultry, Sasha's Favorite Recipes

Interview with Laura Kelley

April 22, 2011 By Sasha Martin 1 Comment

Today I'd like to introduce you to author Laura Kelley. For the last year I've happily enjoyed her blog The Silk Road Gourmet, where she pens the most fascinating articles. Curious about the history and traditions associated with Valentine's Day? She'll tell you. Want to check out a cauldron of 2,400 year-old soup? Sure thing. Finally, what if a scientist went out to eat and realizes the food on their plate is a new species? She shares the story. This Harvard alumnus knows her stuff. When … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Fun Friday, Georgia, Interview

Recipe: Natural Grape & Walnut Candy (Churchkhela from the Caucasus)

April 21, 2011 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Makes 1 string, as pictured Meet our adaptation of Churchkhela, the dangly natural candy from the Caucasus. Audrey, from Uncornered Market, informs me that this typically sausage shaped treat is nicknamed the "Georgian Snickers." Nice! Unlike a Snickers bar, however, we use only three ingredients, none of which are sugar. Long strands of Churchkhela can be found all over the caucasus, generally with extra thick outer layers of dried grape syrup (they call this tatara). Our version is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Fruit, Georgia, Gluten Free Adaptable, International Recipes, Technique Thursday, Vegan, Vegetarian

Menu: Georgia

April 20, 2011 By Sasha Martin 5 Comments

Hello Georgia. I'm sick, but I feel better when I see your food. Three cheers to that! NOTE: The first three recipes are adapted from Laura Kelley's book The Silk Road Gourmet: Volume One: Western and Southern Asia. Her book is full of great history and an entire chapter of Georgian recipes for any who are interested. Georgian Grilled Chicken [Recipe] Bone-in chicken marinated in a combination of khemeli-suneli, peanut oil, and lemon juice. The secret? Extra long marination to make the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Georgia, Menu Wednesday

About the food of Georgia

April 19, 2011 By Sasha Martin 9 Comments

Georgia is literally my life raft at the moment. If I didn't have this post to write I'd surely be passed out on my bed, waiting for the fever to subside. I hope you'll understand if this post is extra short. And, quite possibly, delirious. Let's start off with a quote. That's always nice. According to Laura Kelley, Georgian cuisine is most closely related to Armenian cuisine - not only because of their shared border, but because Armenia (or its own rulers) ruled at least part of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Asia, Georgia, Travel Tuesday