INGREDIENTS: 2 cups tangerine or orange juice Juice of 3 limes 2 cups + 2 tablespoon soy sauce 2/3 cup + 4 tablespoon rice vinegar 3 tablespoons mirin (Japanese cooking wine) Handful of hana-katsuo (bonito fish flakes) 3 inch strip of konbu (kelp) METHOD: Mix together all ingredients and let stand 24 hours. Strain through...Read More

Amazu (Sunomono or Cucumber Salad Dressing) 1 cup rice vinegar 1 cup dashi (see Miso Soup recipe) 5 tablespoons sugar In a small bowl, whisk all ingredients vigorously until sugar goes into suspension. Use amazu as a base for any number of light salad dressings. Orange Dressing 3 tablespoons amazu 3 tablespoons orange juice Dash...Read More

INGREDIENTS: 4 slices day-old French bread, sliced 1 inch thick 1 vanilla bean, split 1 tablespoon orange zest 2 eggs 1 cup cream (or half and half) Butter, for cooking 2 cups strawberries, sliced or halved 2-4 tablespoons sugar (or honey) 2-4 tablespoons high-quality Balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons Meyer lemon juice 2 tablespoons mint leaves,...Read More

INGREDIENTS: Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette 2/3 extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup Meyer lemon juice 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 honey (if desired) Salt and pepper, to taste Salad 1/2 lb. frisee (or escarole, arugula, etc.) 6 oz. Corralitos bacon (apple wood-smoked bacon) 4 Fuyu persimmons, sliced 1/4” thick 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds and juice 1 oz....Read More

INGREDIENTS: 1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2 limes) 3 1/2 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons fish sauce 2 tablespoons water 1 or 2 Thai or serrano chiles, finely chopped (optional) 2 to 2 1/4 pounds pickling (Kirby) or English cucumbers 2 1/2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon sugar 1 carrot, peeled and finely shredded 1 boneless,...Read More

Fruit-based “cool waters” are sold throughout Mexico from giant glass jars, their vivid hues as inviting as their luscious flavors. Almost any ripe fruit—cantaloupe, pineapple, mango, watermelon, papaya, and more — is transformed into a refreshing cool drink by simply puréeing it with water and sugar. Feel free to combine fruits; one delicious blend is...Read More

INGREDIENTS: 1 pint basket blackberries 4 cups balsamic vinegar METHOD: Rinse blackberries well and combine with vinegar in a non-reactive saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat for about 15 minutes or so to reduce. You can leave this pot on the back of the stove while you are preparing other things but keep a watchful eye...Read More

INGREDIENTS: 1 small melon (very sweet variety such as Charentais or Sharlyn) 2 medium cucumbers 1/2 cup feta cheese 2 slices bacon 1 bunch opal basil Lemon basil vinaigrette (recipe below) METHOD: Peel the melon and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Peel cucumbers and slice lengthwise into strips about 1/4” thick. Cook bacon in a...Read More

INGREDIENTS: 4 cups mixed, unpitted olives (i.e., picholine, Nicoise, and kalamata) 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil Wide zest strips of peel from 1 lemon and 1 orange 4 dried bay leaves 3 tablespoons fresh rosemary leaves (removed from stems) 1 tablespoon fresh oregano leaves, chopped Garlic Confit (recipe below) 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar METHOD: Combine...Read More