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 10, 2011
Tandoori chicken is a popular dish in India as well as in the United States. It is made by marinating the chicken in spices and yogurt. Traditionally, this dish would be baked in clay...
June 10, 2011
Ratatouille (not the Pixar movie) is a French Provencal dish. It is often made in the summer as a way to use up seasonal vegetables. Traditionally, you saute each vegetable seperately....
June 10, 2011
Comfort food can be described as our favorite foods. It could be the winning combination of grilled chesse and tomato soup or the taste of your mother's homemade brownies. Comfort...
June 9, 2011
Strawberry season is here and and the bounty is beautiful. Most people turn to strawberry shortcake, strawberry ice cream, and strawberry jam...all delicious and sweet. I also like to use...
June 9, 2011
Los Angeles' KCET network and award winning Chef Thomas Keller have joined forces for an event that raises money to support new KCET programming. KCET broadcasts a plethora of culinary...
June 9, 2011
Summer brings backyard babecues, parties, picnics, and potlucks. These cakes are easy to make and crowd pleasers. Bring one of these classic cakes to your next event to make it extra...
June 9, 2011
Are you adventurous? Do you like to play detective? Are you are lover of food? If the answer is yes to all of these questions, then you might consider joining The Amazing Food Truck Race on...
June 8, 2011
I don't know how the weather is in the rest of the country but June gloom has certainly got a strong hold in California. Lately, I have been finding myself craving soup to warm me up....
June 8, 2011
We have been conditioned to recognize condiments by the bottle. There is always the familiar red, white, and yellow trinity on the table. It is time that we had a little fun with our...
June 8, 2011
This salad sings summer, the refreshing cubes of watermelon pair beautifully with the salty feta. I love to make this on a nice warm day when I can eat it outside and soak up the sunshine....
June 8, 2011
I call quiche my catch-all dish because you can literally make it a thousand different ways. Whatever meat, cheeses, or veggies you have in the fridge can be made into a quiche (although I...
June 7, 2011
There is no denying that Coca-Cola is the world's leader in soft drinks. The drink was first made popular in 1886 by John Pemberton in Atlanta, Georgia. Pemberton created the drink as...
June 7, 2011
Larb (Laotian pork salad) is the national dish of Laos. I first had this pork salad when my friend prepared it for me upon her return from Southeast Asia. I fell in love at first bite....
June 7, 2011
Nutella, a chocolate-hazelnut spread, has captured the hearts of Americans. Dare I say that it holds a place in the pantry next to our beloved peanut butter. Nutella was first developed...
June 7, 2011
This recipe is incredibly easy, I am only talking about three ingredients that deliver intense flavor. Five spice powder is a common ingredient found in Chinese cooking and consists of star...
June 6, 2011
Duffins or monuts are a new baking hybrid, essentially a muffin that is flavored like a doughnut. I like to use a mini muffin tin to make these because they resemble doughnut holes. This...
June 6, 2011
Making Thai food at home is easy once you have all the staples in your pantry. Stock up on these essential ingredients and you will be able to whip up a Thai meal any day of the week. If...
June 6, 2011
I was inspired by Meatless Monday to make this recipe. For those of you who don't know, Meatless Monday is a movement that encourages people to consume less meat by eliminating it from your...
June 6, 2011
The wonderful thing about stir fries is that they can be made in a flash. You can use whatever vegetables and protein in your fridge to make a stir fry. The key is having a hot pan and to...
June 5, 2011
Chicken pot pie is a classic American comfort dish that can be made family style or individual portions. You can choose to top your pot pie with a homemade crust, a pre-made crust, or puff...
June 5, 2011
I can't think of a better combination then chocolate and caramel. These brownies are as decadent as they come. You can use store bought dulce de leche or make it yourself. You...
June 5, 2011
Bagels are not something you just buy at the bakery, you can actually make them at home. An intersting fact about bagels is that they are boiled before they are baked. This helps them...
June 4, 2011
Summer in the season for chili cook-off's. This is ironic because the temperature of the food is as hot as the weather. For those of you who do not have time to participate in your local...
June 4, 2011
Quick breads are exactly as the name denotes, bread that is leavened with other agents other than yeast (i.e. baking powder or baking soda). Quick breads can make any occasion special, whether...
June 4, 2011
Strolling through the farmer's market in Portland, I stumbled upon these gems. They were the perfect summer treat. As soon as I got back to California, I recreated them. I have...
