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
September 4, 2015
You cannot have an authentic Mexican meal without a side of refried beans. When done right, refried beans should be creamy with a mild onion flavor spiked with oregano or the Mexican herb,...
September 2, 2015
Black eyed peas are a staple in American Southern cuisine. Referred to simply as "peas," this iconic food is usually cooked low and slow in a large pot with some form of pork and...
September 2, 2015
Parents spend a small fortune on brown bag lunches; everything from the sandwich to the juice box to the array of snacks are artfully chosen to be apart of "today's lunch special....
August 28, 2015
Cranberry, black, pinto, kidney, broad, speckled - at first glance you might think I am talking about horse breeds or types of flowers but beans are just as colorful and interesting. Many...
August 26, 2015
Peanut butter and jelly is the classic school lunch standby. Most parents keep bread and a jar of each on hand at all times. While there is certainly nothing wrong with sticking to tradition, it...
August 24, 2015
Parents, myself included, get stuck in the school lunch rut. We run on auto-pilot, churning out peanut butter and jelly and bologna and cheese sandwiches like a well-oiled machine. Before...
August 21, 2015
Every parent has their reasons for why they decide to send their kids with a packed lunch> For some, it is a way to stay connected with their children while they are away and for others...
August 19, 2015
The incredibly delicious sriracha peanut butter bacon burger is a new take on the classic barbecue bacon cheeseburger. The beef patties are flavored with Southeast Asian ingredients including...
August 18, 2015
Unlike chicken or steak, fish is a completely different animal on the grill (pun very much intended). Since fish is delicate, it has a tendency to fall apart on the grill which leaves you with...
August 17, 2015
If you are in the mood for sloppy Joes but want to stick to your meatless monday tradition, we've got the perfect recipe for you. Sloppy lentil casserole is a meat-free version of the...
August 15, 2015
In honor of Julia Child's 103rd birthday, we decided to keep things simple. While cake is customary, we felt it more appropriate to share her famed roasted chicken recipe. This simple...
August 14, 2015
Summer berry hand pies are another seasonal delight that you will want to bake before it is too late. The best part about these hand pies is that you do not have to bother with preparing the...
August 13, 2015
'Tis the season for gazpacho. Tomatoes are at their juciest this time of year which makes them perfect for this spectacular Spanish soup. Yellow tomatoes are blended with mango,...
August 12, 2015
Summer brings many culinary delights. For me, one of the highlights is the beautiful and bold tomato. A local, homegrown tomato is worlds away from what you find in big box grocery stores...
August 10, 2015
Last week we talked about the magical flavor that black garlic brings to a dish. If you missed our discussion on the topic, you can read the article here. Black garlic noodles are as...
August 8, 2015
The abundance of summer fruit begs to be turned into a myriad of seasonal desserts. The peaches are juicy, the berries are plump and the ice cream maker is patiently waiting to be used. You can...
August 7, 2015
Cooking with green tomatoes has always been apart of the Southern foodway for quite some time but really made its mark in the culinary world with the release of Fannie Flagg’s Southern...
August 6, 2015
Summer is rapidly coming to a close but take advantage of the last of the grilling season to make these dynamite bacon jalapeno popper brats. Inspired by the addicting appetizer, bratwurst...
August 5, 2015
Few ingredients in the culinary world have the flexibility of coconut milk. It spans across countries, dietary restrictions, and flavors. Whether you are prohibited from eating dairy, a...
August 4, 2015
Dark funky and fishy, fish sauce is the ubiquitous ingredient necessary for almost every Southeast Asian dish. At first, you might be taken aback by me even mentioning fish sauce but as any...
August 3, 2015
For better or worse, just like with fashion or technology, the food industry experiences fads. These trends could be categorized as a cooking method like sous-vide or a specific ingredient such...
July 29, 2015
Paleo avocado ice cream is the easiest way to satisfy your craving for a sweet frozen treat. Avocados are packed with over 20 vitamins and minerals and considered a superfood. When...
July 28, 2015
Summer is ideal for light and refreshing salads with a crunch. No vegetable gives quite a bite like the humble cucumber. This simple cucumber salad will be your go-to side dish for the...
July 27, 2015
Easy cheesy chipotle chicken is a crowd pleasing meal for a family that enjoys a little spice at dinner time. The heat from the chipotle peppers are balanced by the rich cream cheese to create...
July 27, 2015
Rosanna Pansino is a YouTube sensation. With over 4 million subscribers, her hit show, Nerdy Nummies, plays to the kid in each of us. Ro's ability to capture her audience with...
