The Omnivores' Diary

My turbo broiler is not working as well as it should. So...Yes you read it correctly! I did grill chicken on top of the stove. On the gas range to be exact. I just placed a grill on top of the flame and voila! my improvised griller... It did come out well although it has been a bit on the burned side on some parts. Lesson learned- do not put the item on top of the grill too long. You have to check it from time to time because the fire here is constant compared to charcoal grills. I wish I had one of these at home. What do you think boys and girls? Nice to put in Santa's wish list don't you think? ;) But nevertheless, let's make-do with what we have and so far, my kitchen did not burn down or anything like that so thank God... Just remember three things here: make sure your item has really really nice flavor so all the effort and the risk (of burning down your kitchen) will be worth it!! haha (just joking) But seriously, three things to remember-

I used to be contented with my life. I don't have too much 'wants' because I feel that I have everything I have ever needed. But lately, I don't know why- I feel inferior, lacking or not good enough. Have you ever felt the same way too? I'm sure at one point in life, you did. I am writing this blog just to release this awful feeling in me. Sometimes... to be honest with you, I feel like I am becoming the jealous type of person- and I don't want that. So as a counter-measure let me count my blessings. And let's focus on that instead of focusing on what I am missing. I will enumerate my top 10 blessings. Things I am really really grateful for in this life. Please note that the ones enumerated below are arranged in no order of importance! 1. Thankful that I have work. I am earning, saving and with that I have the ability to buy things that I need and want. With that I also have the ability to help out others in a way that other people can't. 2. Th

Sometimes we have the sudden urge to cook something out of the blue.. Sometimes we also have the urge to just eat something... anything... and fast! These are those times when you cannot afford to be picky so you just look around the cabinets, inside the refrigerator and voila! due to your growling appetite your brain and taste buds produce one brilliant idea... This is exactly what happened today... and from my raid of the pantry I've produced fresh out-of-the-oven mini chocolate chip brownies and piping hot chili con carne with a side of cream cheese served on a bed of nacho chips. Sounds delicious? Indeed! Sounds like a whole lot of cooking? Na-aaah! It does not sound as strenuous as you think my dear. I've cheated today. Using only a box of brownie cake mix and a whole can of chili con carne cooking has never been this easy. Just follow the instructions as directed behind the carton. For my whole box of Girardelli chocolate chip brownie mix I just added 3 pcs of eggs,

Yes. Cooking is more than following recipes. It is more on putting yourself into your food. Getting inspiration from what is around you, who you are cooking for, the time of year and the best way to put your dish into the table. With this, I hope you get the inspiration to be creative inside the kitchen. Get out of your comfort zone and experiment! Try things never been tried before or just experiment and have fun! You never know what the end results might be.. :) Trust me, I've been cooking for so many reasons. Because it is my job, because I like doing it, because I need to eat, because I feel sad and I need to do something that would take my mind off things... Try it too- cook for your very own reason and there you will find the inspiration to push yourself beyond what you think you can do.

Have you ever read a book that gave you genuine inspiration? A sort of guiding light as to where to go, what to do and how to start? Well... I did. And I am about to share the same inspiration to you through some excerpts I personally picked from Monsieur Bouloud's book. I do hope you get the same motivation from these words as much as I did. "Letters to a Young Chef" by Daniel Bouloud. "People often make that mistake: they confuse skill in the kitchen with being a chef. I've had some wonderful people work for me who can cook damn well. They have the talent. They've learned from the best. And yet I know they will fulfill their talents best by continuing to cook in a great restaurant rather than trying to run one as a chef or owner. To be sure, you need to know all the basics: cooking from savory to sweet, curing to baking, the almost mystical art of sauces, seasoning, spicing, texture and taste. Add to that are an up-to-date knowledge or at least acqua

       As colorful as the sarees, churidars and bangles worn by the women of Mauritius is their rich culture and heritage. Religion? A vibrant mix of Hindus, Tamils, Muslims and Christians.  Language? There is mainly Creole, Hindi, Bhojpurri, and English. Cuisine? A tantalizing combination of dishes from different nations- From fried noodles (Mauritian specialty), dumplings, curry, sachini, bouillon, pomme frite and gateaux branzelle it goes on and on and on... Cannot enumerate everything or else I will relive the taste and my mouth will start watering... my stomach will start grumbling.... and then... Okay stop it! Let's continue...  Everywhere you go, your eyes will be drawn into that something uniquely different in this island- and that is not just their colorful culture as I have described above or the untamed beauty of Mauritius' landscape .... I guess it is the feeling that despite of the visible differences in culture and ethnicity they all seem t