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
June 23, 2011
I don't know what brilliant chef or home cook invented this salad, but I am sure glad they did. I love, love, love this salad (did I say love?). Beets get a bad rap because of their...
June 23, 2011
Since 1877, the Wimbledon tennis championship has been held in Wimbledon, England (a suburb of London). This tournament is considered to be the most prestigious and whoever wins will receive...
June 23, 2011
Chicken Chow Mein is an ubiquitous item on Chinese menus. Everyone loves it, but who doesn't like chicken and noodles? I have changed the classic recipe a little by omitting cabbage and bean...
June 22, 2011
Now that I have lured you in, you are probably wondering what makes this meatloaf better than all the rest. The answer is simple, its wrapped in BACON! These salty strips of pork lend a smoky flavor...
June 22, 2011
Lumpia or Lumpiang are Filipino egg rolls that are thinner and crispier compared to the Chinese version. When we describe a food as an "egg roll" we are referring to the way the...
June 22, 2011
I have really been getting into cheese making. Nothing too complicated, I mostly stick to the fresh cheeses. I enjoy my homemade ricotta the most. It is so versatile and can be used...
June 22, 2011
Chef Tony Yanow of Tony's Darts Away and vegan blogger Quarry Girl are launching the 2nd annual Los Angeles Vegan Beer Festival on June 25 at the Roxy in Hollywood. The festival will feature...
June 21, 2011
Sylvester had it wrong, you do not suffer making or eating succotash. Succotash may be one of the easiest side dishes you could ever make. All you need are some veggies, butter, and a...
June 21, 2011
A BLAT (bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato) sandwich is a step up from the classic BLT. However, I have taken the BLAT to a whole new level with this recipe. You are about to enter a...
June 21, 2011
Fresh homemade ricotta is nothing like the stuff you get at the supermarket. You can taste the difference; it's fresher, richer, and all around more delicious. The good news is...
June 21, 2011
The first tomatoes of the season are beginning to grace us with their presence. I love going to the farmer's market on Saturday mornings and seeing the stands filled with tomatoes of all...
June 20, 2011
You may have heard of the terms like holy trinity, mirepoix, or sofrito; all of which refer to three ingredients that represent the base of a national cuisine. Each “trinity” is...
June 20, 2011
For Meatless Monday, go Southeast to Thailand. Thailand is famous for their spicy curries. The base of each curry is coconut milk and red, yellow, or green curry paste. You can add...
June 20, 2011
Tom Kha Gai or Thai coconut soup is a dish I always order when I go out to eat Thai food. The soup's literal translation means "boiled galangal," a fragrant root related to ginger...
June 20, 2011
Every states, region, or city has their own special sub sandwich. In my opinion, theykey to a great sandwich starts with a fresh roll. Without a sturdy base, your building blocks (i.e....
June 19, 2011
Shepherd's pie or cottage pie is a classic English dish traditionally made with lamb. This version uses ground beef, like most recipes from the United States. This casserole style...
June 19, 2011
We love that chocolate hazelnut spread known as Nutella. This spread is so easy to make I sometimes wonder what took me so long to try it. All you need is a food processor and a hand full...
June 19, 2011
I admit it, baking your own rolls is more time consuming than buying them from the store. But trust me, there is no comparison to freshly baked rolls hot from the oven. The smell fills...
June 18, 2011
Cherry season is here and there are so many ways to use them. Honor this year's bounty by trying one of these savory or sweet recipes. Grilled Salmon with Cherry Pineapple Salsa The...
June 18, 2011
A backyard barbacue is the way to go this Father's Day. Keep the party food simple with these rockin' recipes. You'll keep the crowd coming back for more. Crudites with Crab...
June 18, 2011
This fruit tart is as stunning as it is delicious. This is my mother's favorite dessert. She loves the contrast between the tart fruit and the sweet pastry cream. You can use...
June 18, 2011
Muffins are a sweet or savory treat that can be eaten at any time of the day. Muffins are a type of quick bread which means they don't use yeast. They first showed up in American...
June 17, 2011
Tamale Pie was one of my mother's famous dishes growing up. How can a kid resist layers of cheese, tomato sauce, and ground meat topped with cornmeal. As casseroles go, this is still my favorite...
June 17, 2011
People often think orzo is rice but in fact, it is a pasta shaped to look like rice. Those Italians can be tricky. These fun slivers of pasta are great for kids and it cooks in only a few...
June 17, 2011
The summertime encourages us to eat light. Fish is flavorful, low in calories, and high in protein. Try one of these recipes and see how versatile fish can be. Portuguese Cod Fish Cakes...
