Author: A. J. Forget

Check Out The New Merch!

Check Out The New Merch!

We have a lot of new things going on around here. One that we’re really excited about is all of the new merch in our shop! Check it out and pick up a shirt or a mug or whatever strikes your fancy. All branded with 

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake

Tres Leches Cake (pastel de tres leches) is an immensely popular dessert throughout Central and South America. The origin of the cake is a matter of debate, and while it definitely did not originate in Costa Rica (at least I haven’t heard anyone argue that), 

Casado with Cabbage Salad and Stewed Pork

Casado with Cabbage Salad and Stewed Pork

Casado is not so much a dish as it is a meal. In Costa Rica lunch is typically the largest meal of the day, and the casado plate is a popular option.

The origins are a bit cloudy, as they often are, but the word translates directly to “married,” or “married man.” Casado is a mixed plate, typically with rice and beans plus some sort of meat and vegetables or other starches. Continue reading Casado with Cabbage Salad and Stewed Pork

Olla de Carne

Olla de Carne

Olla de Carne, which translates to pot of beef, is Costa Rican comfort food at its finest. Slow-simmered beef and a wide variety of vegetables (traditionally whatever was abundant at the time) creates a stew which warms you to your core and feels so, so 

Gallo Pinto

Gallo Pinto

If you have ever set foot in Costa Rica, it is a safe bet that you have eaten gallo pinto. This dish of simply seasoned rice and beans was served at every Costa Rican breakfast table I ever sat at, and with good reason. Gallo 

Thai Tea Pudding

Thai Tea Pudding

Thai tea is one of those absolutely delicious things that few people realize is so easy to make at home. All you need to do is visit your local Asian grocer, or hop on the internet, and pick up a packet of Thai tea mix. Steep it, add a bit of sugar, and then top with half and half, and voila: homemade Thai tea just like your favorite restaurant. Continue reading Thai Tea Pudding

Khao Niew Ma Muang – Mango Sticky Rice

Khao Niew Ma Muang – Mango Sticky Rice

Quick, simple, and delicious, mango sticky rice (khao niew ma muang) is one of the finest desserts not only in Thailand, but the world over. It is as simple as cooking rice, whipping up a quick sauce of sugar and coconut cream, and topping it 

Pad Thai

Pad Thai

Pad Thai often serves as an introduction to Thai food for the wary eater. Those who fear to dive straight into a bowl of spicy curry can instead dip their toes daintily into the waters of a more familiar, less spicy, and still wonderfully delicious, 

Thai Panang Fish Curry

Thai Panang Fish Curry

 

Panang curry is my go-to whenever we order Thai food. It is spicy, rich, and slightly sweet, which really does it for me. For me, panang cannot be beat. But for years whenever I tried to make panang (or any other) Thai curry at home, which we often do, I was disappointed in the results. It was just never as flavorful as what I got from the restaurant. It took many rounds of pretty-good-but-not-great curry until I finally figured out the missing pieces. With a few simple additions, you can take your homemade Thai curry up to restaurant quality. But before we get into that secret flourish, let’s focus in a bit on panang curry. Continue reading Thai Panang Fish Curry

Thai Beef Salad

Thai Beef Salad

Thai beef salad is, in many ways, a perfect appetizer. It has thin slices of grilled beef resting on a bed of tomatoes, cucumbers, and fresh herbs, all rounded out with a spicy, tangy, salty, sweet, and explosively flavorful dressing. Padded out with a bit