Her second book, Taverna, is dedicated to the Cypriot kitchen, with traditional recipes evoking memories of sun-kissed Mediterranean holidays, including cinnamon-infused stews and orange-blossom scented pastries.

“I grew up in a very food-driven household,” she shared in an interview with National Geographic. “Both sets of grandparents had emigrated from Cyprus in the late 1950s, and my mum’s parents opened one of the first Greek Cypriot delis in London, importing traditional ingredients. My dad’s parents opened a Cypriot tavern, which they ran for almost 30 years, and I was born above the restaurant, so most of my early memories revolve around it.”

Having grown up, she went on to study Fine Art at university, after which her passion for food landed her a job as a food writer and stylist on various food magazines. Hayden then went on to join Jamie Oliver’s food team, where she worked for 12 years. While there she wrote, developed, and styled for magazine features, books, television projects and campaigns. She also wrote her first book, Stirring Slowly, which was published in 2016.

“For a long time, I didn’t realize how much my family influenced my life,” she admits, “I assumed all families were food-driven. Since then I’ve learned it was a pretty special childhood. Cooking was, and still is, instinctive—there are no written recipes, and my mum and yiayias would cook whatever was in season. We have a bit of land in Cyprus, and even into his 70s, my grandad grew and pressed his own extra virgin olive oil. We had an endless supply. In Greek Cypriot families, there’s always soulful, nourishing food, and always enough to feed at least 20 people. I still make far too much today.”

Apart from her books, Hayden documents her recipes and food travels on her blog and Instagram page, which we recommend you follow.

The post Georgina Hayden Welcomes You into the Cypriot Kitchen appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Her website, Gather and Feast, brings together people and food in a welcoming, all-encompassing, and delicious way. Full of beautiful food and delicious recipes, her platform leaves no cook behind.

A self-taught cook herself, Alexander knows what it takes to turn basic ingredients into a feast. Having spent a lot of her formative years in the kitchen cooking up a storm with her mum, tasting, learning, and experimenting—by the time Alexander was 12, she was already preparing three-course meals for dinner parties.

“I believe enjoying beautiful food with the people I love is one of life’s simple pleasures,” she writes on her website. “Many of my fondest memories are from around the kitchen table; meaningful moments spent while sharing a meal with others. Whether it’s a quiet night in with friends or an extravagant Christmas lunch celebrating with extended family, these moments are treasured and are almost always centered around food.”

According to Alexander, her love for food has inspired her to try new things and push her cooking skills. But when it comes to her signature dishes, it is ironically one of the easiest to prepare.

“It is simply a large platter of fresh and dried fruit, nuts, dark chocolate and any other fun food items I can find in the pantry, all piled high on a beautiful rustic board,” she notes.

Sounds (and looks) delightful!

The post Ashley Alexander Will Teach You How to Turn a Simple Meal Into a Feast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

“I always make it a point to inquire everything about the restaurant,” explained Lau in an interview with HungryGoWhere, “from its chef, to its dishes, to the philosophy behind the cooking and its operating hours.”

But his reviews cut to the chase. Accompanied by short viral snippets on Instagram, Lau provides quality content that aims to please. “There are only so many words you can use to describe certain foods, so I write based on my emotions,” he says. “I try not to be too factual, as I want the people who have not tasted the food before to be able to relate to the descriptions.”

“I always encourage my readers to try things with an open mind,” notes Lau. “‘Food’ is definitely the most important criterion—I will eat at a place as long as it serves good food.” His Instagram is well worth following for some good ol’ comfort food (minus the narrative).

The post This Food Blogger Would Rather Show—Not Tell appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

The journey to the perfect meal begins with grocery shopping. It is advisable to choose a supermarket that offers fresh and local merchandise—or visit the local farmers market. Purchase local produce like cheeses, pastries and bread, and vegetables.

Do online research and see what kind of raw materials characterize the area. If you are in Madrid, you will probably want to buy fresh octopus. If you are in France, you will surely buy a baguette and excellent cheese. If you are in Germany, you can enjoy a selection of fresh potatoes and asparagus in the spring season.

Ask your local friends where they recommend to go for food shopping, and whether certain raw materials are especially recommended this season. For example, some countries offer charming and fresh pumpkins in the fall season.

If you are sensitive to a particular food or have allergies and the components of the product are unfamiliar to you, do not take any risks.

Try to buy organic and unprocessed products, and of course—take lots of photos for Instagram!

The post A Basic Guide To Shopping At A Supermarket Abroad appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Now with almost 600k fans on Instagram, Prescott is one of the stars of the Netflix series Restaurants On The Edge, and is also a cookbook author himself.

“I have always been one hundred percent,” he observed in an interview with [EDIT] Magazine. “It goes even beyond passionate. It’s whatever the positive word is for being obsessive. If you are not going to shoot for the best and fully immerse yourself in what you are doing and strive to be your best version of your creative self, you will never be fully satisfied.”

But for Prescott, cooking is first and foremost a way of connecting with others. “I fell in love with food and cooking for people,” he says. “It was that idea of ‘the collision of food and community at the table.’ A friend said, ‘Have you heard of this new social media app called Instagram? You should try it!’ I think my first post was a selfie, but on my phone, I started documenting the process of cooking and taking photographs of the dishes, because I genuinely wanted to remember what I had cooked the day before. There was no decision on my part to say, ‘Hey, I am going to be a food guy.’ It just worked out that the content I posted was what I was passionate about.”

According to Prescott, what turned his Instagram page into a success, was the passion that drove it. “Even if you are able to make a living, you won’t be creatively satisfied,” he says. “It is because you are not embracing your desire to strive for excellence and get better at something every day.”

Words of wisdom to accompany his tasty account.

The post Foodie? You Have to Follow Dennis Prescott appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

In fact, according to Roman, when it comes to cooking, she quite literally follows her gut. “I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel every time,” she admitted in a recent interview with The New Consumer. “I just want to make people happy, honestly, and give them a reason to feel good about making food.”

Her recipes include anything from a simple sandwich to crispy buttered turmeric rice with almonds and herbs (and if your mouth isn’t watering yet, you’re a lost cause!). Describes herself as an unwavering champion of small, oily, tinned fishes everywhere, at least two of Roman’s recipes turned into a viral phenomenon (a Cookies recipe and a Stew one).

But According to Roman, she’s not in it for the likes and shares. “If I had maxed out [Instagram followers] today, that would be fine,” she relayed. “If I maxed out last year, that would have been fine, too. That’s never been my objective. It’s never been my goal. I have never done anything to try to amass followers. It’s happening organically.”

You should follow her just the same.

The post Alison Roman’s Instagram is a Savory Treat appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Now with her own cookbook and over 125,000 devoted fans on Instagram, Lee’s blog has outgrown it’s humble beginnings. Born in Taiwan, raised in Vancouver, and slow-aged in New York, and now based in Hong Kong, her recipes include a healthy dose of humor. “For those who are in their mid-30’s sliding towards the big 4, spoiler alert, it’s all downhill from there,” she writes in a recent post, where she shares a photo of spinach pasta. “Nowadays pasta is just a Trojan horse for daily vegetable intake, the ratio of which has gone from 7:3 to 5:5, and something tells me that eventually a plate of spinach garnished with a couple strands of spaghetti is all but inevitable in the very near future. Don’t worry, it won’t be long now.”

Another post includes a tasty looking chicken burger. “Too long has this noble bird been ignored in the race to find an alternative for ground beef in the wake of its impact on global warming,” Lee notes. “And I would just like to say that before you turn to meats grown in a petri-dish, this bird has a secret weapon to be unleashed.”

According to Lee, her recipes are written intuitively, just like the way she cooks. She also admits that before her blog she never used to measure anything during cooking, nor has she ever precisely followed a recipe successfully. But she trusts that you follow her instructions!

Purchase her cookbook here and follow her buzzing Instagram page for more.

The post The Wonderfully Intuitive Cooking of Mandy Lee appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

This, however, wasn’t always the case.

Emmy Cho, a food blogger and YouTuber, has a video series called Hard Times which focuses on recipes that were born from times of struggle and food shortage throughout history. From Depression-era desserts to meals that were born in Cuba during economic shortages, Cho makes all kinds of meals that are hard to even imagine consuming for most of us.

Surprisingly, however, Cho often finds that these off-the-wall and strange-sounding recipes turn out to be better than she would have imagined. For example, would you have ever thought that a faux “steak” made from grapefruit peel would ever be edible, much less good?

The Hard Times video series is a fascinating look at culinary innovation in times of struggle. Sometimes, adversity brings innovation like nothing else, and the interesting recipes that Cho prepares in this series are a perfect example of how.

The post The “Hard Times” Recipe Series on YouTube is a Fascinating Look at the Past appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Biscuithead

Located in the West Asheville neighborhood, this local joint serves up the best and biggest biscuits you will find in the city. With your choice of an array of fillings and toppings, there is something for everyone here. Alongside their bar of homemade jams and local kinds of honey, you can’t go wrong here.

Tod’s Tasties

Located in the Montford neighborhood just before downtown is this restaurant known for killer dishes like their hummus toast and tater tots. But whatever you get from Tod’s, it will be casually delicious.

Cucina24

If you are looking for a more upscale restaurant that still prioritizes customer service and the culinary experience, this is the place for you. With one permanent menu and one that is rotated depending on what ingredients are available, the options at Cucina24 are limitless. This downtown establishment is not one to be missed.

The post You Can’t Go To Asheville, NC Without Eating Here appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are the perfect vehicle for delicious food. They are portable and can be super customizable. To upgrade them to something a bit more elegant, try something new like mashed chickpeas and avocado with sprout, tomato, and some spicy mayo.

Fruit and Veggies

Instead of going for the free airline pretzels once you’re in flight, munch on something healthy instead. If you want to go for something unusual, try getting some coconut or pomegranate seeds for fruit, and kohlrabi and rainbow carrots for veggies.

Sweets

Everyone wants to have a sweet to enjoy with a coffee, whether that’s in the airport or in flight, so instead of paying big bucks at a cafe, go to the grocery store and buy your own! Or you can just bring some dark chocolate which is good for your heart.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmAu-09lHhp/?tagged=croissant

The post Bring These to the Airport and Never be Hungry Again appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Her second book, Taverna, is dedicated to the Cypriot kitchen, with traditional recipes evoking memories of sun-kissed Mediterranean holidays, including cinnamon-infused stews and orange-blossom scented pastries.

“I grew up in a very food-driven household,” she shared in an interview with National Geographic. “Both sets of grandparents had emigrated from Cyprus in the late 1950s, and my mum’s parents opened one of the first Greek Cypriot delis in London, importing traditional ingredients. My dad’s parents opened a Cypriot tavern, which they ran for almost 30 years, and I was born above the restaurant, so most of my early memories revolve around it.”

Having grown up, she went on to study Fine Art at university, after which her passion for food landed her a job as a food writer and stylist on various food magazines. Hayden then went on to join Jamie Oliver’s food team, where she worked for 12 years. While there she wrote, developed, and styled for magazine features, books, television projects and campaigns. She also wrote her first book, Stirring Slowly, which was published in 2016.

“For a long time, I didn’t realize how much my family influenced my life,” she admits, “I assumed all families were food-driven. Since then I’ve learned it was a pretty special childhood. Cooking was, and still is, instinctive—there are no written recipes, and my mum and yiayias would cook whatever was in season. We have a bit of land in Cyprus, and even into his 70s, my grandad grew and pressed his own extra virgin olive oil. We had an endless supply. In Greek Cypriot families, there’s always soulful, nourishing food, and always enough to feed at least 20 people. I still make far too much today.”

Apart from her books, Hayden documents her recipes and food travels on her blog and Instagram page, which we recommend you follow.

The post Georgina Hayden Welcomes You into the Cypriot Kitchen appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Her website, Gather and Feast, brings together people and food in a welcoming, all-encompassing, and delicious way. Full of beautiful food and delicious recipes, her platform leaves no cook behind.

A self-taught cook herself, Alexander knows what it takes to turn basic ingredients into a feast. Having spent a lot of her formative years in the kitchen cooking up a storm with her mum, tasting, learning, and experimenting—by the time Alexander was 12, she was already preparing three-course meals for dinner parties.

“I believe enjoying beautiful food with the people I love is one of life’s simple pleasures,” she writes on her website. “Many of my fondest memories are from around the kitchen table; meaningful moments spent while sharing a meal with others. Whether it’s a quiet night in with friends or an extravagant Christmas lunch celebrating with extended family, these moments are treasured and are almost always centered around food.”

According to Alexander, her love for food has inspired her to try new things and push her cooking skills. But when it comes to her signature dishes, it is ironically one of the easiest to prepare.

“It is simply a large platter of fresh and dried fruit, nuts, dark chocolate and any other fun food items I can find in the pantry, all piled high on a beautiful rustic board,” she notes.

Sounds (and looks) delightful!

The post Ashley Alexander Will Teach You How to Turn a Simple Meal Into a Feast appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

“I always make it a point to inquire everything about the restaurant,” explained Lau in an interview with HungryGoWhere, “from its chef, to its dishes, to the philosophy behind the cooking and its operating hours.”

But his reviews cut to the chase. Accompanied by short viral snippets on Instagram, Lau provides quality content that aims to please. “There are only so many words you can use to describe certain foods, so I write based on my emotions,” he says. “I try not to be too factual, as I want the people who have not tasted the food before to be able to relate to the descriptions.”

“I always encourage my readers to try things with an open mind,” notes Lau. “‘Food’ is definitely the most important criterion—I will eat at a place as long as it serves good food.” His Instagram is well worth following for some good ol’ comfort food (minus the narrative).

The post This Food Blogger Would Rather Show—Not Tell appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

The journey to the perfect meal begins with grocery shopping. It is advisable to choose a supermarket that offers fresh and local merchandise—or visit the local farmers market. Purchase local produce like cheeses, pastries and bread, and vegetables.

Do online research and see what kind of raw materials characterize the area. If you are in Madrid, you will probably want to buy fresh octopus. If you are in France, you will surely buy a baguette and excellent cheese. If you are in Germany, you can enjoy a selection of fresh potatoes and asparagus in the spring season.

Ask your local friends where they recommend to go for food shopping, and whether certain raw materials are especially recommended this season. For example, some countries offer charming and fresh pumpkins in the fall season.

If you are sensitive to a particular food or have allergies and the components of the product are unfamiliar to you, do not take any risks.

Try to buy organic and unprocessed products, and of course—take lots of photos for Instagram!

The post A Basic Guide To Shopping At A Supermarket Abroad appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Now with almost 600k fans on Instagram, Prescott is one of the stars of the Netflix series Restaurants On The Edge, and is also a cookbook author himself.

“I have always been one hundred percent,” he observed in an interview with [EDIT] Magazine. “It goes even beyond passionate. It’s whatever the positive word is for being obsessive. If you are not going to shoot for the best and fully immerse yourself in what you are doing and strive to be your best version of your creative self, you will never be fully satisfied.”

But for Prescott, cooking is first and foremost a way of connecting with others. “I fell in love with food and cooking for people,” he says. “It was that idea of ‘the collision of food and community at the table.’ A friend said, ‘Have you heard of this new social media app called Instagram? You should try it!’ I think my first post was a selfie, but on my phone, I started documenting the process of cooking and taking photographs of the dishes, because I genuinely wanted to remember what I had cooked the day before. There was no decision on my part to say, ‘Hey, I am going to be a food guy.’ It just worked out that the content I posted was what I was passionate about.”

According to Prescott, what turned his Instagram page into a success, was the passion that drove it. “Even if you are able to make a living, you won’t be creatively satisfied,” he says. “It is because you are not embracing your desire to strive for excellence and get better at something every day.”

Words of wisdom to accompany his tasty account.

The post Foodie? You Have to Follow Dennis Prescott appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

In fact, according to Roman, when it comes to cooking, she quite literally follows her gut. “I’m not looking to reinvent the wheel every time,” she admitted in a recent interview with The New Consumer. “I just want to make people happy, honestly, and give them a reason to feel good about making food.”

Her recipes include anything from a simple sandwich to crispy buttered turmeric rice with almonds and herbs (and if your mouth isn’t watering yet, you’re a lost cause!). Describes herself as an unwavering champion of small, oily, tinned fishes everywhere, at least two of Roman’s recipes turned into a viral phenomenon (a Cookies recipe and a Stew one).

But According to Roman, she’s not in it for the likes and shares. “If I had maxed out [Instagram followers] today, that would be fine,” she relayed. “If I maxed out last year, that would have been fine, too. That’s never been my objective. It’s never been my goal. I have never done anything to try to amass followers. It’s happening organically.”

You should follow her just the same.

The post Alison Roman’s Instagram is a Savory Treat appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Now with her own cookbook and over 125,000 devoted fans on Instagram, Lee’s blog has outgrown it’s humble beginnings. Born in Taiwan, raised in Vancouver, and slow-aged in New York, and now based in Hong Kong, her recipes include a healthy dose of humor. “For those who are in their mid-30’s sliding towards the big 4, spoiler alert, it’s all downhill from there,” she writes in a recent post, where she shares a photo of spinach pasta. “Nowadays pasta is just a Trojan horse for daily vegetable intake, the ratio of which has gone from 7:3 to 5:5, and something tells me that eventually a plate of spinach garnished with a couple strands of spaghetti is all but inevitable in the very near future. Don’t worry, it won’t be long now.”

Another post includes a tasty looking chicken burger. “Too long has this noble bird been ignored in the race to find an alternative for ground beef in the wake of its impact on global warming,” Lee notes. “And I would just like to say that before you turn to meats grown in a petri-dish, this bird has a secret weapon to be unleashed.”

According to Lee, her recipes are written intuitively, just like the way she cooks. She also admits that before her blog she never used to measure anything during cooking, nor has she ever precisely followed a recipe successfully. But she trusts that you follow her instructions!

Purchase her cookbook here and follow her buzzing Instagram page for more.

The post The Wonderfully Intuitive Cooking of Mandy Lee appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

This, however, wasn’t always the case.

Emmy Cho, a food blogger and YouTuber, has a video series called Hard Times which focuses on recipes that were born from times of struggle and food shortage throughout history. From Depression-era desserts to meals that were born in Cuba during economic shortages, Cho makes all kinds of meals that are hard to even imagine consuming for most of us.

Surprisingly, however, Cho often finds that these off-the-wall and strange-sounding recipes turn out to be better than she would have imagined. For example, would you have ever thought that a faux “steak” made from grapefruit peel would ever be edible, much less good?

The Hard Times video series is a fascinating look at culinary innovation in times of struggle. Sometimes, adversity brings innovation like nothing else, and the interesting recipes that Cho prepares in this series are a perfect example of how.

The post The “Hard Times” Recipe Series on YouTube is a Fascinating Look at the Past appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Biscuithead

Located in the West Asheville neighborhood, this local joint serves up the best and biggest biscuits you will find in the city. With your choice of an array of fillings and toppings, there is something for everyone here. Alongside their bar of homemade jams and local kinds of honey, you can’t go wrong here.

Tod’s Tasties

Located in the Montford neighborhood just before downtown is this restaurant known for killer dishes like their hummus toast and tater tots. But whatever you get from Tod’s, it will be casually delicious.

Cucina24

If you are looking for a more upscale restaurant that still prioritizes customer service and the culinary experience, this is the place for you. With one permanent menu and one that is rotated depending on what ingredients are available, the options at Cucina24 are limitless. This downtown establishment is not one to be missed.

The post You Can’t Go To Asheville, NC Without Eating Here appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.

Sandwiches

Sandwiches are the perfect vehicle for delicious food. They are portable and can be super customizable. To upgrade them to something a bit more elegant, try something new like mashed chickpeas and avocado with sprout, tomato, and some spicy mayo.

Fruit and Veggies

Instead of going for the free airline pretzels once you’re in flight, munch on something healthy instead. If you want to go for something unusual, try getting some coconut or pomegranate seeds for fruit, and kohlrabi and rainbow carrots for veggies.

Sweets

Everyone wants to have a sweet to enjoy with a coffee, whether that’s in the airport or in flight, so instead of paying big bucks at a cafe, go to the grocery store and buy your own! Or you can just bring some dark chocolate which is good for your heart.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmAu-09lHhp/?tagged=croissant

The post Bring These to the Airport and Never be Hungry Again appeared first on thedancingcucumber.com.