In my hometown of Barranquilla, Colombia, we call a good looking guy a mango. During my teenage years, I recall the many times I’d stop conversing with a girlfriend because a “mango” walked past us. I thought we were the only... more

I recently taught a Caribbean Cooking Class at Studio Mesa. The menu consisted of Enchilado de Camarón,( not be confused with the Mexican enchilada sauce,) a shrimp stew made with tomatoes, peppers, onions, and beer, accompan... more

Coconut water is a popular drink in Bozeman and everywhere else in the United States, but back in Barranquilla, Colombia, we have been drinking it for centuries. There are many theories as to the origin of this tropical frui... more

My driveway is packed with snow, and while I am excited to see the mountains painted white against the blue skies, I can’t help but wonder what the weather is like in my Caribbean hometown. It’s been almost 13 years since we ... more

Nothing completes a Thanksgiving feast like pumpkin pie. No matter how full we are, there is always room for warm, sweet, spicy, and delicious pie. Traditional recipes, however, call for ingredients containing gluten, which ad... more

My sister and mom visited at the height of our harvest season in August. They helped me experiment with natural methods of food preservation, which include fermenting, sugaring, salting, drying, pickling, packing under oil, and... more

American bison is usually referred to by its more common name, buffalo, although it is only distantly related to the two true buffalo species: the African Buffalo an... more

The only other green creamy food I like besides avocados is mint chocolate chip ice cream. Unlike the ice cream, avocados have many health benefits. Now that it is spring, avocados are in season. Avocados have gotten a bad r... more

In our home dinner, once a source of great pride and pleasure, became a rather lackluster affair after the birth of our son in 2008. Mostly it involved repurposing takeout leftovers or, on a more ambitious night, mixing chunks o... more

With spring nearly here, there is a whole new array of fruits and vegetables to fill your plate and excite your palate. Here is a list of the freshest of spring foods, along with some delicious recipes:
Greens and wild plants... more

Cooking has been one of my passions for as long as I can remember. I grew up with a father whose love for cooking came out in every meal. He emphasized the importance of colors, textures, fresh, organic ingredients and, most of a... more

Chianti — often found in straw-wrapped bottles that end up as candle holders hanging near the ceiling in Italian restaurants — is cheap, uncomplicated table wine. Named for a province in Tuscany, Chianti is primarily made fro... more

When I talk to people new to wine, I'll usually hear; "I don't like dry wines. I like them sweeter.” Chances are, many of these folks got smacked in the face with a big-ass cabernet when they first started drinking wine. Sinc... more

When the Sweet Partner in Crime read one of my columns, she came across a throwaway line where I disparaged white zinfandel. “Afraid of the pink, are we?” she said. I’m not afraid of the pink – pink wine, that is – I’m just j... more

I have a bone to pick with Lou Reed. This title comes from a liner note stipulation on Lou Reed’s…ahem…"experimental" 1975 Metal Machine Music. Sweet Jane's father and I have a major difference of opinion here. Sniffers are a... more

People eat some pretty crazy things, and it is amazing how delicious some of these things are — things that, in fact, nobody ever would have tried in the first place if they weren't flat broke. Just imagine that first dirt ... more

Tried and true recipe for a successful 80's metal band: Aqua Net? Check. Leather pants? Check. At least one power ballad? Check. And, of course, an umlaut somewhere in the band's name. For those of you unfamiliar with German... more

Spring may not be here yet, but the rain that turned my backyard into a bit of a mud pit this morning is at least hinting at, and giving me some hope of what is to come. That fresh smell in the air, flowers popping up all o... more

It’s that time of year again. We run around like crazy trying to accomplish far too much in far too little time, trying to make friends and family happy and — oh yes — trying to enjoy the season. In the few moments that I s... more

I am very fortunate to have had the extraordinary opportunity recently to tour the Gruet winery. It sounds strange, but they actually produce very high quality still and sparkling wines — in New Mexico, of all places. Touri... more

One of my favorite jobs at the restaurant is tasting new wines every week to consider for our ever-changing wine list. (It's a hard a hard job, but somebody has to do it). The truth is, though, anybody who reads this co... more

Everyone has their "Top Five" lists fivefavorite movies, songs, supermodels, etc. But can you really pick an absolute number one? How about food? I can hardly pick a top five. I can't imagine life without grapefruit juice. ... more