Author: chefalice

As unusual as it sounds, the pairing of salt cod and eggplant is a traditional one in the Caribbean. It is a wonderful marriage, full of flavor and very much alive. Even if you think you’re a fan of neither, you may be won over by my take on the theme, featuring layers of well-seasoned salt cod sandwiched between thin slices of grilled (or panfried) Japanese eggplant.

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Tostones, fried slices of green plantains, are a staple of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. They are made like the best French fries by frying the plantains twice, once at a lower temperature to cook them through and a second time at a higher temperature to crisp them up. By using the same technique, thick slices of plantain, and a handy little gizmo called a tostonera, you can make little cups of fried plantain goodness that are the perfect vehicle for spiced-up fillings. Needless to say, they make perfect cocktail party fare easy to handle and satisfying enough to count as “real”…

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If you’ve ever wondered what to do with leftover chicken other than eating it cold straight out of the fridge here’s your answer. Georgia-based Hugh Acheson makes good use of every scrap in this exceptional chicken salad. Its mayonnaise-based dressing and celery crunch would satisfy even the most discriminating picnicker, but it’s the crunchy bits of skin serving as a textural counterpoint to the salad’s general creaminess that make this recipe extra special. Though Hugh’s delicious dark-meat fried chicken serves as the base of his salad, feel free to chop up any next-day chicken white or dark you’ve got.

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Atlanta’s El Taco is the place to go for Mexican street food with a twist and this taco, starring an herb-marinated chicken tender, lives up to the hype. The corn condiment is inspired by the charred, spice- and cheese-dusted corn on the cob you’ll find on virtually every street corner in Mexico. The combination of the crunchy chicken and the sweet, smoky salad all folded into a soft tortilla is addictive.

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