Oh...Okra

They are known internationally as Bhindi, ladies' fingers, or bamia among other names, but the mucilaginous nature of the okra plant is unmistakable. That slimy goo tells keen palettes that okra has permeated the premises.

It's not for everyone. In doing a bit of street research, it's a love/hate relationship with okra in this world. This finding is surprising considering it's a cultigen. That means people, over the course of time in Ethiopia and South Asia, chose to cultivate this plant for their own domestic and, in this case, digestive purposes.

We enjoyed this shared okra salad plate at The Bodhi Tree. Yonba dedi they call it. Burmese cuisine. Or is it Myanmar now? Whatever the case, this healthy dinner addition was divine. As a Texas family, we normally enjoy the more unhealthy potion: Southern Fried. Those are yum, y'all.

However you enjoy okra, please do. It's so good and good for you.

Note: History even recorded the slimy little delicacy dating back to the time of Moors. I suppose, one must be healthy to pillage and plunder.

Accidental Chocolate

In a fit of hunger I relied on the trusty middle console of my car to satiate my appetite. It's always a gamble with what you'll find in there and today I was extremely lucky. Fair Trade Dark Chocolate. Half eaten. It had been pushed upon me before several times actually but I was always dubious. The best chocolate I ever tasted was in the Swiss Alps and I've been chasing that dream ever since. That rich, fresh milk chocolate dream that's reminiscent of the opening scene in Willy Wonka. Today I awoke to another world of chocolate. This time down under with chocolate from Belgium. That part of the world very obviously has the chocolate market cornered and it got me decades later in a place I'd never thought it'd be. I've never been a fan of dark chocolate and truth be told I'm not a big fan of chocolate at all. This chance bar has changed things. It's Fair Trade so the makers of the chocolate not only use the finest ingredients but they receive a fair wage for doing so all the way down to the cocoa farmer. I munched away with a bit less guilt knowing that. 

Simple Soup Does The Job

It is getting cold. The chill you to the bones kind of cold. I have been finding smart ways to warm up but if your body needs a full-on jolt of heat, then soup is the easiest way to go. I enjoyed this delicious carrot and potato soup for brunch a few weeks back from The Beach Cafe. It was perfectly seasoned and portioned with just a bit of heat to wake up the palette as well as warm the soul. A smooth soup texture paired well with the crusty bread I used to dip and taste. No crumbly bits and no leftover soup either. This was absolutely the cure for my coldness.

 Soup is simple but it has to be good in order to do the job. This one did. 

Stay warm out there!

A Risotto Resurgence

We dined on this rich pea risotto at Strawberry Fare. Featuring baby peas, mint, lemon, roasted almonds, goat curd, and shaved parmigiano this gourmet risotto was filling enough to keep me satisfied the entire day. I'm very happy to see so many savory variations of risotto being offered on menus lately. I am partial to the classic mushroom offering but seafood and chorizo have been spotted on our last few dinners out. Risotto lends itself to so many pairings in the food world because of its versatility and richness. What type of risotto is your favorite?

Oscar Snacking: One Bite at a Time

Carmelized Onion and Shallot Dip
Photo by Romulo Yanes

Are you playing host or hostess at an Oscar celebration tonight? Have we got the hor d'oeuvres for you. The net is filled with the same old recipes you see featured this time of year but Bon Appetit is taking Oscar party snacking to the next level by implementing it's gourmet signature selection process and finding the best out of just one bite. Click here and sort through their amazing gallery of delicious finger foods that are sure to keep your guest coming back for nibble after nibble. We feature photos of our favorite choices below but see the full range here where you can scroll through over 20 selections. Once you find the one you like, click on the photo and your recipe pops right up. Simple. You still have time to try one out tonight and if your nominee choice doesn't end the night with a golden statue, at least you have something yummy to eat all thanks to Bon Appetit. Party on!

Bacon Deviled Eggs
Photo by Romulo Yanes

Mini Crab Cakes
Photo by John Kernick

Queso Fundido
Photo by Romulo Yanes

Seared Steak Lettuce Cups
Photo by Romulo Yanes

Are you on Pinterest? We are! Follow our food board and see some of our top choices as contributors to Food TV's favourite recipes board.

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