Salmon Poke Bowl, Avocado and Scallions

 

This past semester, I read Haruki Murakami’s book “What I Talk About When I Talk About Running” while training for the Philadelphia half marathon. The book opens up in Hawaii, as the author reflects on his island summer runs. He describes his feelings, the weather, the landscapes, the routes… painting colorful pictures in his reader’s mind. I found Murakami’s writing to be incredibly motivating and inspiring. Surely, any reader will feel an urge to drop the book, go for a long long run, and never give up. While that thought certainly crossed my mind, his book also made me want to finally try my hands at Poke (though that could also be the influence of Anthony Bourdain’s “Parts Unknown”, which includes a great episode in Hawaii)!

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Wild Salmon Ceviche Salad, Meyer Lemon-Ginger Dressing

A few weeks ago, I visited my best friend in Montreal for my Fall break. For the second year in a row, I fell head over heels for this city (minus the cold). For the second year in a row, I was amazed by all that it has to offer (food included!).

For starters, I was conveniently there for Canadian thanksgiving. Since I had only ever celebrated the American one, it was exciting to compare the two. We got together and cooked ourselves a delicious Friendsgiving, and let me tell you it was one for the books! First difference was the bird: no turkey on our menu… Instead, we went for Peruvian-style chicken from rotisserie Romados, which is apparently a Montreal institution. We roasted potatoes on the side and served them with a maple vinaigrette salad (Montreal-style!). Finally we ended on a sweet note for dessert, with warm homemade apple crumble. Speak of my kind of holiday!

Late Summer Pasta with a Raw Heirloom Tomato Sauce

There’s something so good about late summer produce. A simple stroll down the stands of a Farmers’ Market is a feast for every shopper’s senses. Rows of colorful fruits and vegetables are arranged along the tables, showcasing a variety of options that will inevitably start to fade in the fall. Perhaps most notably, baskets upon baskets of heirloom tomatoes are displayed on the stands, catching the shoppers’ eyes like light attracts moths, and eventually forcing them to give in and purchase a diverse selection.

Tahini-Dressed Raw Beets, Carrot Ribbons and Chickpeas with Arugula

This is basically Spring in a plate. Nothing screams this season like a salad with vibrant colors!

When the weather gets warmer, I love to make salads with whatever veggies are left in my fridge. This one came together as I was thinking about what ingredients would go well with tahini. See, a few weeks ago I received a jar of fresh tahini from Soom Foods, a Philadelphia-based food startup specialized in sesame products.

Zucchini “Tagliatelle”, Tomato Dressing and Pangrattato

I’ve been on a “veggie noodles” kind of roll lately (and loving it!). Every now and then, I find them to be a wonderful alternative to regular pasta. They’re much quicker to make, low on carbs, high on plenty of great vitamins, and overall delicious coupled with a homemade sauce.