Foodtravelinsider

Jimbaran Bay, Seafood, Bali

2011-07-02T14:38:00.000-07:00

Jimbaran Bay on Bali is known for its vast stretch of beach and its great assortment of fresh seafood restaurants on the sand. On a short recent trip to Bali we were escorted to the Teba Cafe by the owner and his wife who I have gotten to know quite well over the past few years. All of the seafood offered lay fresh out front either live or on ice. As we walked to our table we picked out of few of the offerings up front. Once selected all of the items get cleaned and grilled in a basket over a hot coconut husk fire. I was surprised how hot the fire was and the smoke of the coconut was a great addition to the seafood. All offerings are served along with Balinese staples such as vegetables and rice along with various curries and sambal. Jimbaran Bay is a perfect place to hit up right upon arrival in Bali or right before you leave. Be sure to arrive well before sunset. It is near to the airport and the views and ambiance are never a disappointment.

Panko Halibut with Coconut Curry Sauce

2011-06-07T01:13:00.000-07:00

This past weekend some close friends and I went by boat to one of the channel islands off LA, Catalina Island. We were diving a spearfishing tournament and we choked. We did however manage to land a few nice fish and here is what I did with them.
California Halibut filleted skin off
One Can Coconut Milk
2tbs red curry paste
juice of 4 limes
2 tsp fish sauce
pinch of saffron if you have it
these ingredients get cooked down and whisked together in a med sauce pan
Halibut fillets get a salt and pepper rubdown and a dip in an egg wash. Then a dip in Panko bread crumbs and then briefly dropped in a hot skillet with an inch of vegetable oil. Take out after one min and set aside. Drain oil from skillet and put the fish back into the skillet and into a 350degree oven for 20 min. When fish is firm and panko is golden remove from the oven. Drizzle with the warm Curry sauce and garnish with chopped cilantro and serve over Jasmin rice. Will work for Sea Bass Halibut Salmon or and mild firm ocean fish. Anyone can do this, fast and easy from and local grocery store. Get out and cook!!!!!!!

Eat more international flavors, Vietnamese Lunch

2011-05-27T00:53:00.000-07:00

Living in the melting pot we do, whatever state you live in there are international flavors right under your nose. You owe it to yourself and your stomach to quit driving by that market that you always wonder about, and check it out. What ever culture you have around you be it Persian, Indian, Mexican or Vietnamese ect. These hard working folks have really good meats, spices, and produce. There is generally a very good restaurant near by of the same culture, try it out! A lot of cultures have a rich broad French background in there cuisine. Vietnam for instance is famous for baked goods. To get a perfect crusty piping hot French Baguette I have to go to a near by Vietnamese market. Today I took my wife to a Vietnamese restaurant recommended to us by a friend (roundeyereview.com) We are always on the prowl for a new PHO (pronounced fuh)place. My wife had Pho with rare beef noodle soup and I had a killer Asian inspired beef stew on Bahn mi sandwich. It was clean, fresh and delicious food and we walked out for around $12.00.

Venice Italy

2011-05-25T10:48:00.000-07:00

Like the rest of this wonderful country, Venice is beautiful and inspiring. Spending a short afternoon wandering the canals left me wanting more.

Olbia, Sardinia

2011-05-20T21:10:00.000-07:00

Sardinia is an Italian island in the Med about 35min by airplane from Rome. Olbia is a city we come to often when over in this part of the world. Sardinia is Italian but they have blissfully chosen to to keep their Island a bit removed from the fast pace the world is currently in. The people are amazing and will help a perfect stranger anytime. This morning the only person running the hotel opened the restaurant for me just to pull an espresso. Compare that to the jackass at Starbucks who won't open the door 30seconds early so you can get on the freeway! The locally sourced food is top notch. Most of the local dishes are prepared very simply with land and seafood farmed nearby. The white sand, rock strewn beaches rival some I have seen in the South Pacific or The Caribbean I will post some pictures of the beaches later this week. Last night I was taken to a local spot for some local fare by my good friend Giorgio. We had a really nice mixed Bruschetta and mixed seafood salad to start. Giorgio talked me into trying a mixed grill of meat one of which was Cavallo(horse). Just to be clear I'm not a fan, although it is very popular here and very expensive. Sardinia is on the top of my list of favorite travel destinations. It's easy to get here from Rome and you may not want to leave.

Memorial Day BBQ

2010-05-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the perfect excuse to make my favorite comfort food, Barbecue. I prefer Texas style smoked with a dry rub. If I have time I will smoke Brisket however out here on the West Coast we have an abundance of Tri Tip. It has a nice layer of fat to keep the meat moist during the smoke and it is more tender than Brisket so the cooking time is significantly less. I rubbed the Beef with Kosher Salt,Cumin,Chili Powder,Black Pepper and Brown Sugar. The meat smoked in a kettle grill with indirect heat for 4 1/2 hours at around 275 degrees. My wife made an amazing potato salad dressed only with Mayo,Sour Cream, Green onion and Bacon. I brought out some Asian flavors to complement a Slaw without the mayo. Here is the recipe for my Green Mango Salad. You can substitute for what ever veggies you like. I used green unripe mango, carrot and cucumber. The combination worked very well and had a nice crunch after soaking up some of the dressing.

Green Mango Salad
2 Cups Carrots Shredded or Julianed
2 Cups Green "unripe"Mango Shredded or Julianed
2 Cups Cucumber Shredded or Julianed

Dressing
1/4 cup sugar
4Tbs Rice vinigar
2Tbs Fish Sauce (asian section of grocery, could substitute soy in a pinch)
2Tbs lime juice
1/2 Tbs Chili Garlic Sauce (asian section of any grocery)
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint

Mix dressing and toss with salad. Let sit in refrigerator at least half an hour. Add chopped mint and re toss just before serving.

Kona Green Sea Turtles

2010-05-17T01:44:00.000-07:00

On a recent trip to The Big Island of Hawaii I had the chance to spend some time filming and swimming with some of the most beautiful creatures on the planet. They are protected and many successful efforts are being made to aid in their recovery.

Chicos Paradise Restaurant Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

2010-03-02T09:26:00.000-08:00

On a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta Mexico, my wife and I wanted to return to Chico's Paradise. We discovered it 10 years ago and found it to be exactly the same. It is a 45 min drive from town in the mountains above Mismaloya. This trip we opted for a 14 passenger van with driver which cost $35.00 USD per hour. The restaurant sits on a cliff over looking a river covered in giant boulders cut and smoothed by the water over the years. Bring a towel and a swim suit for an after lunch swim. The food is good but you will pay for the view and the experience. We shared a Surf&Turf plate which had lobster, shrimp five types of fish and three kinds of meat. Rice and Beans include we could not finish the plate which cost around $50.00 USD. If you want to zip line while you are in PV they will come to your table and strike a deal with you. Chico's is very kid friendly and a really fun half day trip while you are in PV.

Burgers and Airplanes

2010-02-28T23:19:00.000-08:00

Today I got reacquainted with an old friend. She is from 1942 and was built to teach young men how to fly for the war effort. We had not been together for quite some time but flying her again was like coming home after a long trip. After my reconnection with the 1942 Boeing Stearman my dad and a long time airport friend went to the new airport cafe in Corona California, Bobby A's. The burgers were fantastic and the menu far surpassed any airport cafe I have ever been to. Sometimes an old friend and a good burger is all you need to get into rhythm.

Santiago Dominican Republic

2010-02-23T20:17:00.001-08:00

What a great trip into Santiago to meet up with my newly engaged buddy Mike. We were treated to an insiders tour through the world famous Matasa cigar factory by none other than Manuel Quesada and his two amazing daughters Raquel and Patricia, whose hospitality and charm resonated through the factory. After a wonderful lunch, several espressos and several more cigars it was time to let them get back to work. We then went up high in the hills to a great hotel and restaurant named Camp David. Owned by one of the others at the factory introduced to me only as Blondie it is a must visit for lunch, dinner or a quick overnight. We had a fantastic dinner on the porch overlooking Santiago and the tobacco fields. I am looking quite forward to my next visit as it felt like leaving family behind.

Ahi Tuna Three ways

2010-02-05T19:42:00.000-08:00

My wife came across a beautiful piece of Ahi Tuna and brought it home tonight. We steamed some rice and started to cut up some fish. I cut about 1/4 lb of the Tuna into small cubes and mixed with Avocado, Hawaiian Salt, Sesame oil, Soy Sauce, sliced Onion, chopped Cilantro and some Red Chili Flake to make a simple Hawaiian Poke. The rest of the fish was seasoned with a simple rub of Cajun seasonings and the other piece rubbed with Greek seasonings and seared quickly in a cast iron skillet. Real simple real good and real fast!

Mahi Mahi with Citrus-Shallot Jam and Saffron Rice

2010-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

Living in Southern California we tend to be spoiled with the abundance of fresh vegetables and seafood. Today after a nice long needed run I thought something healthy and light should be on the menu for dinner. I went to my local Asian seafood and farmers market for dinner ingredients. I found Mahi Mahi steaked up for $3.99lb and some baby bok choy for $1.39lb. The Mahi was trimmed into fillets and pan roasted with salt and pepper. My youngest daughter and I made an Orange/Shallot jam and Baby Bok Choy sauted with Garlic and Olive Oil. I also dug into the pantry for some Egyptian Saffron to get the rice happy. Total for the meal was $16.00 for the four of us, and cook plus prep time was 35 min. We can all do this type of meal once in a while to cut out the fat in our diet and the dent on our bank account. Cheers!

Warm Bahama Days

2010-01-20T09:55:00.000-08:00

As I write this I am sitting in my hotel room in Minneapolis feeling the freezing wind come through the window paine. Looking out the window at the 23 degree overcast day I am quickly reminded that all destinations are not created equal. For some reason thoughts of the Bahamas started running through my head. Attached are a few photos of a recent trip to the Bahamas that will hopfully inspire warm thoughts and get you out of these winter duldrums if not only but for a few minutes.

The Coffee Shack

2010-01-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

High up on a hillside in the middle of the Kona Coffee belt is a fantastic breakfast spot. Overlooking Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of Hawaii is The Coffee Shack. I was first taken there by some local friends and every time I pass through Kona, the Coffee Shack is a must. Depending on the local catch I always get the Ono or Mahi Eggs Benedict. This trip they had Ono, a delicious firm white meat fish caught right off Kona. Small Gekos come right up to you and beg like dogs for Guava and Mango jelly on your table. Fresh estate grown Kona Coffee is served from the 5 acre farm below the restaurant. It is a twenty minute drive from the Heart of Kona town and a must if you are visiting the Big Island. Call for directions 808-328-9555

Dubai Saffron Hunting

2009-11-17T06:40:00.000-08:00

Dubai is a city known for having available anything you can imagine. If you feel like Snow Skiing in the middle of the dessert you can go to the Mall of the Emirates, ski all day and bet on a Camel race later that afternoon. You can find any cuisine imaginable within a ten minute drive or stay at a 7 star hotel. I set out on a mission this morning to see Dubai from a different perspective, one past all the glitz, glamour and sixteen year olds driving Ferraris. What I found were truly friendly, working class people from all over the earth ready to befriend a stranger. I jumped in a cab in search of a spice souk (market) to find some Saffron for a friend back home who shares my passion for food. As my driver navigated the busy streets I drove with the windows down listening to religious chants over giant loud speakers located throughout the city. As I listened to the chanting I was reminded without a doubt that I was in the Middle East. We got to a Souk near the Harbor were small Freighters were loading and unloading everything from Spices to Refrigerators. As I walked through the endless shops full of sacks loaded with every spice imaginable, the culinary part of my brain went into sensory overload. What I would do with this. What could I do with that? Smelling and tasting several saffron’s I finally settled on one from Iran and after a quick haggling session I was on my way. As we made our way back to the hotel for a fantastic Middle Eastern lunch buffet, I watched two old men playing cards and smoking their hookah pipes. I watched kids in the street playing soccer and am reminded how very small this world is and how we can only benefit from tolerance.

The Great Wall of China

2009-11-13T22:26:00.001-08:00

I have never been so humbled in my life as I was yesterday. Arguably rivaling the imense efforts it took to construct the Temples and Pyramids of Egypt is The Great Wall of China. Spanning over 3000 miles of Mainland China it is the only man made object recognizable from space. The tenacious efforts of the Chinese people is obvious and astounding.

Tanzania Safari

2009-11-03T09:31:00.000-08:00

A few months back I was privileged with a brief stop in Tanzania. Around every corner we were greeted with warm hospitable smiles and helpful attitudes. Shortly after our arrival a colleague and I started our inquiry for a safari. We were put in touch with Sabastian Mallya owner and operator of SOK Travel Adventure Specialists. He put together a fantastic, last minute trip to visit Ngorongoro Crater. A relaxing evening was spent drinking Tusker Lagers and enjoying a family style meal at the hotel. Our guide came to my room the next morning and we were off for an hour and a half drive to the Park. On the way up the crater we came across some young Masai warriors on the road. Our guide Rama suggested they may invite us to visit their village if we stopped. He was right and soon we were off the beaten path and in the midst of a large Masai family. We spent an hour with this amazing family visiting their huts and asking questions about their life. To my surprise most of the young warriors spoke very good english. I left a few western gifts for the kids and we were off to the floor of the crater. The next three hours were spent in sheer awe, like the Lion King came to life. Rama hinted it was time to go and suggested lunch at a coffee plantation near by. Wanting very much to stay on the plains with animals I never thought I would see up close, my appetite got the best of me and I surrendered. After a really nice lunch of various grilled meats and salads we set out for our hotel in Arusha. Tanzania is a must do on the travel list. The people are fantastic and the scenery is indescribable. I would really like to thank Sebastian for providing us with first class service and a can do attitude. Check out his website at
www.sokadventures.com or +255(0)784694624

Tuscan Fall, Bistecca Florentina

2009-10-28T09:49:00.000-07:00

One of the many things I love about Italy is simplicity. Food to be specific for this discussion. I admire the way Italians construct amazing, fresh and simple flavors using what the season gifts them with. With the Fall season here to stay for a while I am reminded of an October trip to Florence two years ago. Walking lazily past the train station one afternoon I passed a small doorway with a familiar scent wafting from it. I turned around and peeked in the door to discover a century old indoor wood burning grill. Next to it a glass butcher case full of every cut imaginable "nirvana". Failing to notice any thing else, I was awakend from this trance by a subtle but firm "Prego". Not being terribly hungry, my arm was twisted just hard enough to stay for a late lunch of Pasta Fajoli and Beef Carpaccio. Vowing to come back for dinner I was off to my hotel for a nap and a haunting dream about Bistecca Florentina from that wood fired grill. Returning to La Lampara that night has changed the way I grill meat forever. I learned a nice cut of meat, good salt and pepper and some olive oil are very powerful tools. Last night my wife came home with a beautiful Top Round and some nice Brussel Sprouts. I am not sure what exactly triggered my memory, but Florence was on my mind. The grill was lit quickly and we had a simple yet beautiful dinner of salt and pepper rubbed Bistecca, Brussel Spouts sauteed in olive oil and garlic along with White beans in Olive Oil and Rosemary. Salute

Bringing Bali home with Sate

2009-10-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places to visit has been Bali. The people are so welcoming and they always wear a smile. The Balinese people embrace life in a celebratory manor and seem to truly enjoy sharing their culture through food. Sate or Satay is a favorite of mine to make for guests and to eat abroad. On a recent trip to Bali I had some sort of Sate every day and was lucky enough to get the recipe for the spice base and for a fantastic peanut dipping sauce. This recipe was given to me in metric measure and scaled for restaurant use. I converted it and scaled it down for home use.

Balinese Spice base for Chicken Sate
1oz bird's eye chilies finely sliced (small Thai red chilies are ok)
3oz ginger peeled and sliced
4.5oz turmeric peeled and sliced (ground is ok)
2oz palm sugar chopped (brown or raw sugar is ok)
2 stalks lemon grass bruised
1/4 cup coconut oil (peanut oil is ok) 2cups water
2 tsp salt
1. Combine all ingredients except lemon grass water and salt in a stone mortar or food processor and grind coarsely.
2. Place ground ingredients in a saucepan, add remaining ingredients and cook over medium heat for about 45 min or until all water has evaporated and paste takes on a golden color. Cool before using.
3. This paste is to be rubbed on chicken as a marinade and threaded on bamboo skewers. Grill over hot coals or a hot grill.

Balinese Peanut Sauce for Sate
2 bird's eye chilies (small Thai red chilies are ok)

3 cloves garlic peeled and slice

1oz ginger peeled and sliced

10oz Peanuts with skin

2oz Palm sugar (Brown or Raw sugar is ok)

2tbs sweet soy sauce (plain soy is ok, but up sugar abit)

2 kaffir lime leafs torn ( if you cant find, leave out)

2 cups water

1tbsp lime juice

salt pinch

1. Put chilies in a stone mortar and grind to a very fine paste. Add garlic. ginger and peanuts and grind again to a very fine paste. ( a food processor can be used but not recommended)

2. Add sugar, soy and lime leaves and gradually add water. Slowly work this base into a creamy dressing by adjusting with water. Season to taste with salt and lime juice.

3. Serve Sate skewered chicken with Peanut sauce and steamed white rice.

Welcome

2009-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

Culinary passion is inside me. I don't know where it came from, but it will not go away. Food and it's entirety is on my mind morning to night. I have had the guilty pleasure of traveling the globe over the past 15 years as an occupation. During these travels I have collected recipes, different ingredients and met some amazing people. Talking with a kitchen staff abroad and learning from them what small secrets they will share with me has been incredible. It has been a lot of fun tasting food abroad and trying to recreate at home. Over the years I have collected some great travel information and made some amazing contacts. Through these pages I will share with you my culinary travels, recipes and adventures in hopes it will enhance your life as it has mine.