Leah Rodrigues
My passion is food. I have studied culinary arts for the past 10 years, and have remained dedicated to food studies while I pursued a degree at UCLA. I earned a Bachelors of Arts in Spanish and Portuguese and Anthropology. My self study has given me background in culinary regions, international cuisine, trends in the food industry, chefs and cookbooks, and best of all−how to eat well. I attended the Professional Culinary Program at Westlake Culinary Institute where I learned proper food preparation techniques, and got an insiders’ view on the gourmet food world. I was awarded a Fulbright scholarship and have spent the last 9 months living in Spain, researching the Mediterranean diet and European culinary traditions. This has given me the opportunity to freelance for In Madrid, an English monthly publication. Also, I have spent time traveling to different European countries, documenting the different tastes and food culture of each place. I hope that my passion for food and cooking will inspire you to get into the kitchen and create. Read more on my blog at http://www.appetitedelight.blogspot.com/
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Posts by Leah Rodrigues
May 24, 2012
Hibiscus punch with apple and lemon is a refreshing summertime drink. Hibiscus flowers have a fruity flavor that pair wonderfully with the sweet apples and bright lemons. You can find...
May 24, 2012
Inspired by beer tasting pub crawls, Bon Appetit magazine is launching a new way to explore a city's local food scene- the Grub Crawl. Participants will be taken to some of city's...
May 24, 2012
Celebrate Memorial Day with patriotic jello stars from Gimme Some Oven. The best thing about these Jello stars is that they only require a couple of ingredients and very little cooking. ...
May 24, 2012
Bake these buttered popcorn cupcakes from Little Ivy Cakes to take to the movies. A box of candy and a tub of popcorn are the customary foods bought at the movie theater concession. If...
May 23, 2012
The summer calls for light and refreshing meals that don't weight you down like this delicious grilled salmon salad. Salmon filets are grilled to perfection and then glazed with a honey...
May 23, 2012
These simple BBQ shrimp skewers with pineapple and bacon are an easy main dish for Memorial Day. If you are a fan of Hawaiian pizza, the same flavors appear in these skewers. The bacon...
May 23, 2012
These salted caramel cheesecake cups from Pink Parsley are a simply addicting treat. Salted caramel is delicious with just about anything- fruit, ice cream, chocolate- but it is especially good...
May 23, 2012
Memorial day is synonymous with grilling and especially grilling burgers. But what is a burger without a bun? Just a patty? For those of you adhering to a gluten-free diet, this recipe...
May 22, 2012
There is no better way to celebrate Memorial Day than with an all-American burger. These food bloggers share their recipes for their favorite burgers to cook over the long holiday weekend. Click...
May 22, 2012
This Memorial Day cake from Deerfield Bakery is a patriotic dessert. The bakery boasts of making cakes from scratch while "using the freshest quality ingredients." This 7"...
May 22, 2012
Basil pesto is a versatile Italian sauce that is delicious with just about anything. With summer almost here and with the abundance of fresh herbs, there is no reason why you cannot make pesto at...
May 22, 2012
These watermelon Jello shots from That's So Michelle are fun summertime shooters. Different flavored gelatins are mixed with tequila (you can omit the alcohol if you want to serve to...
May 21, 2012
This sand castle cake from Food Through the Pages brings the story of the Little Mermaid to life. This creative confection does not require any special ingredients or cake decorating tools...
May 21, 2012
Strawberry jam is a great way to prolong strawberry season in your kitchen. Besides being delicious for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, strawberry jam is great in a number of desserts. You can...
May 21, 2012
Grilling season has officially arrived so it's time to dust off the barbecue and break out the tongs. Brown rice and mushroom veggie burgers from Better with Butter are a tasty vegetarian...
May 21, 2012
Life size chocolate skulls are a cannibalistic confection. Marina Malvada, the creative mastermind behind these hand casted skulls, began pairing chocolate with the human anatomy in 2005. Her...
May 20, 2012
This refreshing Thai green papaya salad is a the perfect dish to enjoy on a hot summer day. Thin strips of green papaya are marinated with garlic, chili, fish sauce and palm sugar. It...
May 20, 2012
Strawberry season is in full swing so now is the time preserve this spring fruit for year round enjoyment. Besides making homemade strawberry jam, you can freeze these luscious berries to use...
May 20, 2012
Sloppy Joes was a popular recipe back in the 1950's. Ground beef is cooked in a sweet tomato based sauce (similar to barbecue sauce) and served in a bun. These days, sloppy Joes have...
May 20, 2012
Raspberry mascarpone stuffed French toast is an indulgent breakfast. Thick slices of bread (good Italian bread or challah) is filled with with rich and creamy mascarpone cheese and...
May 19, 2012
These Coca-Cola push pops from Gimme Some Oven are a handy sweet. Homemade coca-cola mini cupcakes cake are layered with freshly whipped cream and topped with a sweet maraschino cherry. ...
May 18, 2012
Seeing these gooey caramel butter bars from The Galley Gourmet will induce an immediate craving for them. Gooey, salty, sweet, and buttery, there is little else you could ask for in a dessert. ...
May 18, 2012
Rice is a staple in numerous countries around the world. Coconut rice is common in Asian countries and can be eaten as a sweet side dish to something spicy or combined with fruit to make a...
May 18, 2012
With craft breweries popping up all across the country, it's hard decide what beers to drink. Esquire magazine's beer correspondent, Evan S. Benn, has rounded up the best of...
May 18, 2012
This gluten-free breakfast spoon cake from Gluten-Free Canteen will give you a reason to wake up early. Brown rice flour, white rice flour, and tapioca starch are combined to create a all...
