Challenging Elements

January 2, 2012 Like 0 Andra Coberly

In Spain, revelers eat 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve, hoping to inspire good luck throughout the next year.

Challenging Elements: Pumpkin Seeds

October 17, 2011 Like 0 Brandy Simmons

When a time mishap put 503 International Cafe on its toes, general manager Ado Salguero didn’t miss a beat—he snatched a little flavor from his Salvadoran roots and used pumpkin seeds as readily as salt.

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Challenging Elements: Ginger

August 19, 2011 Like 0 Andra Coberly

It doesn’t pop.” That’s what Drew Honness keeps saying as we walk out of his bright, friendly ice cream shop in downtown Louisville.

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Challenging Elements: Peas

June 15, 2011 Like 0 Andra Coberly

Pizzeria da Lupo chef Jim Cohen hands me a small cup of bright green, fresh English peas.

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Challenging Elements: Mead

May 20, 2011 Like 0 Brandy Simmons

Happy Noodle’s Executive Chef Sam Proia taught us this month that the mantra “save bees, drink mead” extends even to brining scallops in the age-old booze.

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Challenging Elements: Leeks

April 15, 2011 Like 0 Lacy Boggs

Owner David Fan told us Mok would have preferred to use Chinese leeks for their stronger flavor, but they aren’t in season; and chef Kiwai lamented that American leeks don’t have the same power or depth of flavor French leeks…

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Challenging Elements: Grapefruit

March 17, 2011 Like 0 Lacy Boggs

As a chef, there’s nothing you can eliminate from your repertoire,” said Edmund Vogel, chef at Zucca in Louisville.

Challenging Elements

Challenging Elements: Rice Krispies

January 6, 2011 Like 0 Lacy Boggs

An unsophisticated, mass-produced ingredient needs a sophisticated dish,” Connie Ruel, owner of eight-month-old Tutti in Lafayette told us as we settled down to taste her Challenge dish, and that just perfectly sums up what she and her chef did when…

Challenging Elements

Challenge: Apples

October 18, 2010 Like 2 Lacy Boggs

We’ve wanted to do a challenge with Flavor of India in Longmont for some time, but we had to wait until the head chef, Chacha Singh, and his son Daman, who runs the house, were back from a trip to…

Challenging Elements

Challenging Elements: Figs

September 20, 2010 Like 0 Lacy Boggs

While most people would know that a fig is a fruit, they might not be able to pick a fresh one out of a lineup. “My only exposure to them was through Fig Newtons,” said chef Linda Wiletto, owner of…