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 5, 2011
Cinco de Mayo is here! And Mexican food is on everyone's mind. Instead of eating tacos or burritos (even though incredibly delicious) why not try and make some chile rellenos, chiles stuffed with...
May 4, 2011
During the wintertime we all love a steaming mug of hot chocolate, especially if it's Mexican hot chocolate. For those of you not familiar with Mexican hot chocolate it has a deep chocolaty...
May 4, 2011
Hummus is the easiest and most crowd pleasing dip around. You can bring it to a party, a picnic, or simply keep it at home for yourself. Delicious dippers include carrot sticks, endive leaves, pita...
May 4, 2011
Italy's gift to mankind may very well be pizza. The first known pizzeria, Antica Pizzeria, opened in Naples, Italy, in 1738. From then until now, I think we can safely say that the love for pizza...
May 4, 2011
Do not let the title put you off, this stuff is absolutely delicious. Okay, so maybe not the ideal application for your peanut butter and jelly sandwich but it's uses extend beyond PB & J. It...
May 3, 2011
London's Real Food Festival is celebrating their 4th year from the 5th-8th May 2011. This is not your average food festival, it extends well beyond food stalls. This is a time when people from all...
May 3, 2011
Mother's Day seems synonymous with brunch or breakfast in bed. Instead of making her the typical pancakes and orange juice, surprise her this year with huevos rancheros. Huevos Rancheros...
May 3, 2011
Author of The Amateur Gourmet, Adam Roberts, complies a list of 10 Things That You're Doing Wrong at Restaurants . Roberts says this list developed from a "lifetime of dining out" beginning in his...
May 3, 2011
We know and love the traditional lime Margarita but it's always nice to change it up a bit and try something different. If you want something unique, you may find the bright pink cactus pear...
May 2, 2011
Fusion food is risky business. Either it’s done right or not. In my opinion, there is no middle ground. But when you know how to blend two different cuisines in just the right ways, you get...
May 2, 2011
When celebrities feel that they are losing public interest, they begin finding other avenues for which they can get attention. Some will develop a perfume, while others will invest their time in...
May 2, 2011
We will be shortly leaping into summer. The last of the winter fruit has fallen and we can make good use of it by preserving them. Preserves have become a hot topic in the last couple of years and...
May 2, 2011
With the release of the film Julie and Julia in 2009, Julia Child once again enters the American sphere and we fall in love with her all over again. Only this time it's a mix of generations, young...
May 1, 2011
What makes this soup French is the use of the French lentils du Puy, which are smaller and dark green compared to the beige "generic" lentils we normally see. Lentils are high in protein...
May 1, 2011
Since 2002, San Pellegrino compiles a list of the best 50 restaurants in the world. This year Copenhagen's star restaurant, NOMA, hits top of the list for the second year in a row. France dominates...
May 1, 2011
El Cisne Azul (The Blue Swan) is a typical Spanish restaurant. Unimpressive on the outside with only a red awning with the restaurants name adorned on the front. There are a handful of table...
April 30, 2011
Membrillo (also known as Quince paste) comes mostly from Spain and is made from cooking down quince (pictured below; a member of the apple family), sugar, and lemon juice until it forms a thick...
April 30, 2011
Classic eggs Benedict is delicious but sometimes it's time to take out the spices and a put a twist on an old favorite. Bobby Flay has been making his version of eggs Benedict at his restaurant...
April 30, 2011
Yesterday, April 29th 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton (or Duchess Catherine of Cambridge as she is called now) tied the knot in London's Westminster Abbey. We knew this was coming, we...
April 29, 2011
These classic French desserts are a testimony to the centuries spent perfecting the art of making pastry. Indulge for a day and try one of these recipes. Crepes Suzette Can be served as dessert or...
April 29, 2011
The great thing about making Mexican food is that it gets you, the cook, out of that mid-week, don't know what to cook for dinner funk. These dinners are easy on the budget and some can be...
April 29, 2011
Brigadeiro (Brazilian chocolate truffles) is one of my favorite treats. Dare I say I like them better then the classic French truffles. You can make them big or small, roll them in chocolate...
April 28, 2011
Americans love to cook Italian food at home. Here is a list of their top 5 most used and trusted resources. Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan and Karin Kretschmann Marcella...
April 28, 2011
Planning on a trip to Texas anytime soon? Check out Taco Journalism, a blog written by 5 dedicated members to finding the best taco joints in town. Their blog is centralized in Austin but there...
