Elusive Spicy Mexican Orange Sauce Adventure

April 07, 2024 by Alyssa D in sides

One of our favorite taco trucks in the South Bay didn’t invent spicy, creamy, addictive orange-colored sauce, but theirs was the first we ever remember wanting to eat again as soon as humanly possible.

While enjoying a leftover loaded quesadilla the next day for a solo lunch, I shotgunned the extra sauce directly from the container. No regrets.

After following the truck to its new location, though, we noticed a sad handwritten note in the window: “No orange sauce today.” The sign stayed up.

My First Thanksgiving Adventure

November 19, 2020 by Alyssa D in sides

In the Thanksgiving photo from 2005, I’m flanked by friends old and new as I tentatively slice into a gigantic roast turkey. We’re standing at the counter in a tiny New York City studio apartment. I’m sweaty and focused. It’s the moment of truth.

The kind man working at the grocery store in Harlem, where I bought ingredients for the dinner, had given me precise instructions. He said his wife roasted a turkey for church nearly every Sunday. Buoyed by that thought, I wrote down what he said on a piece of paper. Put melted butter over the skin, cover tightly, let it rest, don’t panic...

Greek Breakfast Pitas Adventure

November 17, 2019 by Alyssa D in breakfast, sides

Eating the Greek breakfast wrap at the farmers market required sitting down — and both hands.

It was the perfect flavor combination and surprisingly affordable, too. Lemony potatoes spread on a giant warm pita piled with seasoned scrambled eggs, chicken gyro strips, fresh spinach, crumbled feta, tomatoes, and a dollop of tzatziki sauce.

Then one year the Mediterranean food stand failed to return. I was on my own.

Vegetables Wellington Adventure Part One: “Fake Bacon”

October 22, 2018 by Alyssa D in sides

Me: “This might be the most insane thing I’ve ever attempted in the kitchen.” Pause. “I foresee crying.” Guillaume: “I do, too.”

Let’s rewind slightly. For the better part of four years I’ve wanted to make J. Kenji López-Alt’s highly involved vegetables Wellington recipe every time autumn rolls around. With an ingredient list longer than my arm, an optimistic total active time of four hours, and a caution about the high difficulty level, this recipe is not messing around.

But when I initially polled friends about their interest in the plant-based holiday roast, responses ranged from “no thanks” to “meh.” So I put it on the backburner. Until now.

Yiayia’s Spanakopita Adventure

April 09, 2018 by Alyssa D in baking, sides

Mom sent me on a mission as a kid. I was to watch Yiayia as she made spanakopita and find out how she did it. I’d like to say that I took detailed notes that afternoon and the experience launched my journalism career. That was not the case.

Yiayia worked deftly. The whole thing was a blur.

Springtime Asparagus Soup Adventure

March 22, 2018 by Alyssa D in main course, sides

You know the feeling from traveling of being tired, smelly, and so hungry that you’re not sure what to do about any of it? That was the situation my dear friend Laurel and I found ourselves in after driving across the country from east to west back in the day.

Her Grampa Phil welcomed us in Moraga, California, and helped us decide by offering lunch right away. He fed us bread and homemade asparagus soup that was so creamy and lemony, I couldn’t believe it had so few ingredients when he shared the recipe.

Olympic Scallion Pancake Adventure

February 17, 2018 by Alyssa D in appetizers, sides

The savory scallion pancake rabbit hole online is one I’m so glad to have stumbled down. It has just about everything: big flavors, public park ingredient foraging, derring do, and sparkly hats, all against a backdrop of Olympic glory. Best of all, these pancakes are incredibly forgiving.

Dangerously Delicious Seafood Salad Adventure

January 24, 2018 by Alyssa D in sides

Marie couldn’t have known that she created a monster on New Year’s Eve. Four of us gathered in Estes Park, Colorado, to ring in the new year at a cozy rental cabin — Marie, Daniel, Guillaume, and me. Marie and Dan took charge of the food and drinks. After a course of assorted cheeses and charcuterie on hearty bread squares, Marie presented us with a shrimp, mango, and avocado salad tossed in a lemony dressing. It was delicious. Dangerously so.