Cooking in a New World

I have fallen hard for the MAKE Projects Cafe in North Park. It has a quiet energy that comes from refugee and immigrant women focused on learning how to cook unfamiliar dishes, to work in restaurants or catering, and even how to apply for and interview for a job. Not to mention learn English. The cafe’s chef instructors have made a point of incorporating dishes that are part of their students’ culture into the menu—and mixing it all up a bit. So you have tacos that combine Mexican tortillas with an Afghan marinade for chicken, a Haitian pickle, and African hot sauce. And then there are the fabulous Somali Red Lentils served with focaccia. The recipes for all of these accompany my new story in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Food section.

Planning a Remodel Project? Maybe You Should Attend a Workshop.

Given how complex and expensive a home remodeling project is, maybe it’s a good idea to attend a free design workshop or seminar hosted by designers and design build organizations. These workshops and seminars can create the opportunity to learn some of the nitty-gritty as well as meet potential vendors before you start spending money. I talked with design experts about the workshops they offer and got plenty of tips for people considering a remodeling project. Take a read in my latest story in The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden section.

Find Your Airbnb Design Chops with These Tips

As a prime tourist destination, San Diego is, of course, home to thousands of Airbnbs. But what does it take to effectively design a short-term rental that will make it appealing, even Instagramable, to guests and cost effective for hosts? I spoke to a long-time Airbnb owner and an interior designer who specializes in designing these short-term rentals and they’ve offered tons of brilliant insights for my newly published story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden section.

Get Your Stone Fruit Cravings Met with These Three Dishes

Imagine you’re 5 years old again and it’s the middle of a hot and humid August. An adult you love gives you a ripe peach, still cold from the fridge, each bite dribbling juice down your chin. It’s sweet and it’s perfect.

All these decades later, it’s August again, and it’s stone fruit season. But there’s so much more we can do with these fruits as home cooks. Peaches, nectarines and other stone fruit are a dream to cook and bake. So I turned to pastry chef Adrian Mendoza for ideas because summer will soon be over, and we’ve got to get in as many as possible before they disappear for the year. The University Club’s executive pastry chef shared his recipes for a stunning Peach and Mascarpone Toast, Peach and Blueberry Scones, and Nectarine and Blackberry Hand Pies. You’ll love these, so head over to my latest story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Food section to learn how to make them.

Learn How to Make Your Own Spice Blend

Debbie Kornberg, owner of Spice + Leaf, has a magical touch with herbs and spices. While her focus is primarily on Middle Eastern flavors, her spice knowledge is global. She generously shared her method for creating blends, along with three stunning recipes that show off how to incorporate them in dishes. So, read my latest article for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Food section so you can start creating your own spice blends and elevate your long-time go-to recipes.

Seed Libraries Sprouting Across San Diego

Say the word “library,” and your word association is likely “books.” But across the country, including in San Diego, many libraries also lend other important items, including seeds for home gardens.

Many of these “seed libraries“ aren’t actually conventional libraries: They may be a service organized by neighborhoods, schools or other kinds of organizations. The common factor is that they are all a free community resource that offers locals the opportunity to grow everything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and native plants. All they ask is that patrons return the “borrowed” seeds by way of harvesting new seeds from the grown plants.

In my latest story for The San Diego Union-Tribune’s Home & Garden section, I explore the variety of seed libraries popping up across San Diego County—in public libraries, water districts, and Indian reservations. Kids and adults alike are learning how to grow plants and save seeds. It’s a community mission anyone can participate in.