Beyond the Skyline: New York City’s Beautiful Beaches
Summer in New York is in a league of its own. A scoop of Ralph’s Italian ices walking on the boardwalk, walking through Central Park, and of course, the obligatory beach day. New York beaches have a bad rap because there are simply so many better beaches everywhere else. But that doesn’t mean that there’s anything so repugnant about beaches on the East Coast. This summer, after years of not making the time to go, I finally said “let’s go to the beach this weekend.” And so we did.
An Enemy of the People @Circle in the Square Theatre
Adapted and reconceptualized by couple Amy Herzog (playwright) and Sam Gold (theater director), Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen’s classic 1882 play is a visceral, emotional and honest look at how society deals with politically inconvenient truths and community pressure. The play concerns Dr. Thomas Stockmann (Jeremy Strong), a widowed physician who has moved back to his hometown with his daughter Petra (Victoria Pedretti) as appointed medical director of the new Baths which are set to open in warmer weather as a booming business for the town. After discovering through secretly carried out tests that the water supply for the baths is polluted by the runoff from local tanneries and is teaming with bacteria, he feels a duty to public safety and his hometown to inform before it’s too late.
Depeche Mode Memento Mori World Tour @Barclays Stadium
Depeche Mode’s legacy is a showcase of brilliant discography and lyricism, and getting to watch them play live is unlike anything else. My first concert at Barclays in years, my seat was in a considerably strange bend of the stadium which I only noticed when the man assigned to the seat next to mine arrived and sat only to be facing me instead of the stage.
Recipe: Ají (Colombian-Style Fresh Salsa)
Ají as it is called in Colombia, isn’t quite a hot sauce and not quite a salsa. Somewhere in between, it’s a traditional presence in practically every meal, so it was vital I learn how to make it at home and perfect it over time.
Recipe: Crème Brûlée, A Moment to Indulge
Créme brûlée is the kind of dessert that tastes like luxury. A truly impressive dessert worthy of making for any occasion, it’s much easier to make than it seems. I hadn’t found a recipe that didn’t need any tweaking or adjustments in terms of time or steps, so over time (and some trial and error) I wound up putting together the parts that worked to guide me when this dessert is requested - which is often since getting this recipe down. I did buy a small handheld torch online for the job but if you don’t have one for your créme brûlées yet, I’ve included instructions on how to use your double broiler to achieve the same glass-like caramelization you can’t wait to break through and indulge in.
Abuelita’s Empanadas de Navidad
As a child, the holidays and Christmas specifically meant time together with family. The majority of my family is still abroad, but when I was under 12, my grandmother on my father’s side was still here with us, and cooking for the family was a love language for my abuelita Lola. Sabajón (and a non-alcoholic version for the kids), empanadas, and squares of just dough because my sister loved the flavor. As an adult, I realize the labor of love that is preparing dough from scratch and hand making individual empanadas, as I’ve practiced enough to know how time consuming it can be and yet how incredible the reward is after.
Recipe: The Perfect Maracuyá Cocktail
Upon arriving late my first night in Boston, I I wasn’t sure what to expect from the only restaurant still open in the casino, but everything about that experience was bliss, including a new cocktail I was introduced to featuring my all time favorite fruit: maracuyá (also known as: chinola, parcha, passionfruit, etc.). An instant winner, I knew I had to work on recreating it.
Long Weekend in Boston, A Culinary Weekend Feast
Sometimes a last minute trip surprises you. I wasn’t sure what to expect from my first time visiting Boston, my city’s alleged rival (or does that only apply to sports?) but our trip was full of many pleasant surprises. We arrived so late at night I was certain dinner was going to be after-thought.