Archive for the ‘Sweets’ Category

Christmas Time is Here

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

For me, that means making chocolate truffles, and this year I used all organic ingredients: chocolate, cream, and fresh lavender. Yes, lavender chocolate truffles. I absolutely adore lavender. For the smooth ganache centers, I used equal parts cream and chocolate (about 16 oz. on a dry scale). I brought the ...

Cats love ‘em too.

Friday, April 6th, 2007



Bakalar at Zagreb’s Bistro Lampion

Wednesday, January 10th, 2007

It was a tongue-twister of a lunch on a drizzly late-spring afternoon in Remiza, a working-class neighborhood of Zagreb with winding alleys and hidden back roads. Josip and I had originally planned to leave on that day for Kućište with his brother-in-law Anton to begin ...

A Recollection of Istria

Wednesday, December 27th, 2006

Heading from Zagreb to the Istrian peninsula is a bit like bidding farewell to a tipsy uncle at a boisterous family gathering as you retreat to the peace of a rustic cottage in a cool, quiet forest. I’d arrived in Croatia’s easygoing capital a few days earlier on my first ...

Almond Tahini and Mint Jelly Brûlée

Thursday, December 7th, 2006

My occasionally whimsical notions of what could be quite tasty have led me to invent some bizarre dishes with idiotic names. Vivid memories of the meek-then-monstrous Apple Faddle and the palate-punishing Orange Crüelly bear up the truth of this. Tonight, after a rather slow night at the restaurant, another wild ...

In Sickness And In Health

Friday, October 27th, 2006

I'm feeling a little better and celebrated with a bar of Kraš Novo Lješnjak chocolate and a jar of Nutella. Yeah, that's a milk chocolate bar filled with hazelnut creme, dipped into chocolate hazelnut spread. If you think that's redundant, you haven't tried it. With a combination like that in ...

Polish Danish

Thursday, October 5th, 2006

The Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY is teeming with Polish restaurants, meat markets, cafes... and even Polish people! Cafe Riviera (currently my favorite coffee shop on Manhattan Avenue) serves up this dandy of a danish adorned variously with fresh strawberries, blueberries, peaches and others. I think my time in Zagreb ...

Fife Rings Bell

Wednesday, September 20th, 2006

If you're standing in front of this Hajduk Split fan club mural on Split's Riva, turn 140 degrees to your right and walk about 75 meters. Ask any of the locals. Buffet Fife (boo-fay FEE-fay) is the place to eat in Split. Fresh, organic ingredients are prepared simply and traditionally, ...

The Best Ice Cream in Zagreb

Thursday, May 18th, 2006

My friends in Zagreb have been very good to me, treating me to the best of everything this incredible city has to offer. After the Festival Starih Zanata at Trg Bana Josipa Jelačića, I went for an ice cream with Kornelija - but not just any ice cream. We walked a ...

An American Donut in Zagreb

Saturday, April 15th, 2006

I've arrived in Zagreb and am quite relieved to know that I can get an American Donut. I am currently at Charlie's House of Internet on Nikola Tesla Ulica, contacting as many people as possible before shopping for groceries. It's Easter tomorrow, and Easter Monday is a national holiday in ...