Shrimp & grits, a Southern classic

How are y’all doing today? Now you might be wondering why the heck I am calling you y’all. That’s fairly easy: I am writing to you from Charleston, South Carolina, one of my favorite spots on planet earth and a city in the deep South of the United States of America. The one thing that…

Summer quiche

  This summer I entered the world of gardening. Just a little bit. Not that I started growing greens & veggies on a large field. I have a small gardening bed where I grow herbs, onions and carrots. Grandpa has a much larger garden and more experience and kindly takes care of the salads, cabbages…

Czech camembert

This recipe comes from my dad and it’s not exactly a Czech camembert but a camembert that is prepared the Czech way. So what is it? It is a camembert prepared with garlic and walnuts, soaked in olive oil until the cheese is ripe and melting. Depending on how firm the cheese is when you…

Orange poppyseed cookies

On the Northern hemisphere, we are still caught in the winter time with cold and often grey afternoons that are very inviting for spending some time in a nice, oven-warm ed kitchen or cuddled up in a warm blanket in front of the TV or fire. I enjoy my afternoon tea or coffee a lot,…

Cuban garlic paste

Garlic is almighty. It is good for your health, might leave you with a stinky breath (no reason for not eating it!) and gives many dishes the final touch. Think about all those gorgeous Mediterranean dishes that would, at max, be only half as good without garlic. No spaghetti bolognese without garlic in the sauce,…

Couscous delight, your perfect dinner!

This is the ultimate dinner delight! If you like oriental flavors, then this one is for you. Basically, this couscous dish is an oven roast kind of meal which is great to prepare because you put it in the oven for 20-30min with a few preps beforehand and while you sip on your apero drink…

For a healthy 2017: Low carb bread

Uff, the time between Christmas and New Year’s day is the most intense time of the year in terms of food and drinks. It is wonderful to come together with the family and enjoy all the good food. We saw a nice variety of different flavors on our plates this year: From traditional Czech cuisine with…

On top of the mountain in the Czech Republic

Last weekend marked a friend reunion with Radek and Martin in Prague. Our friendship is a special one, we met 17 years ago during a summer vacation on the island of Korcula in Croatia and since then remained in touch. Every now and then (this time 10 years!) the three of us meet somewhere in Europe. What awaited us…

Cookie dough terrine

Oh my sweet tooth, sometimes it makes me create little recipes without having planned any of it. Last night after dinner was such a moment, I felt like I needed something chocolaty and quick. And voila, this nice and tasty cookie dough terrine came out. Ingredients: 1 stick butter or margarine 3/4 cups brown sugar…

Exotic summer salad

Summer is on and we are enjoying it at full throttle. Sitting on the terrace for a late dinner while there is still light out there feels so good. Because I want to enjoy the long days as much as I can, I tend to make quick meals in the summer. Last week, I ended…

Tartine breakfast

tar·tine (tär-tēn′) n. A French open-faced sandwich, especially one with a rich or fancy spread.   Rich or fancy spread, that is the question here. I tend to go with fancy and colorful. And most important of all: Tartine sounds nice (better than bread breakfast). You will find lots of varieties of tartine bread or sandwiches…

Mousse au chocolat

Who does not like desserts? As far as I know, almost nobody. I am sure that out of a group of 10, a maximum of 1-2 persons do not have a sweet tooth and do not get attracted by a sweet seduction after a good meal. For you as a hobby chef, that is good news. Offering a…

Seafood bolognese with sepia pasta

Living in Hamburg, I am getting used to eating good fish and on some occasions seafood. Little did I know for quite a long time that the fish shacks near Fischmarkt (on Grosse Elbstrasse) that do not look very inviting from the outside but make excellent fish rolls and traditional seafood dishes are an excellent…

Mini Franzis

Hamburg is my home base. A very lovely city that is not as hyped as other European cities (Berlin, London, Paris) and my hidden gem with loads of outside activities to do, secret spots to discover off the path, a varied culinary scene and the best about it: Some traditional Hamburgeois foods. Nothing too fancy. Simple…

Fruit & nut cake

What is a good alternative to a breakfast cereal or porridge? If you like sweet for breakfast then my answer is: Cake. Not that it has to be a large piece with whipped cream. I am looking for something healthy that gives me an energy boost for the day. Today I tried out a wholegrain…

Carrot cake: Moist and delicious

Somehow this month is coming along with plenty of cake occasions for me: Birthdays, weddings, a job change and sometimes simply a sweet tooth on a weekend afternoon made me look through my collection of cake recipes. I stumbled across a carrot cake recipe that I was given by my German friend Mareike about three years…

Simone’s home-made granola

Muesli and granola are my favorite breakfast meals. Paired with fruit they give you a powerful start into the day. For a while I have been looking for a simple and kind of healthy granola recipe. I got inspired by Simone, our Airbnb host in Copenhagen, last weekend. She was so kind to invite us…

Everybody loves…a pumpkin pie

Before the wonderful pumpkin season is over I want to share a very easy pumpkin pie recipe with you. In Germany, pumpkin pies are not very common to my surprise. Pumpkins are everywhere though! I have seen many recipes using a ton of cream. I prefer it a little simpler with just a sip of cream….

Liquid pleasures: Home-made smoothies

What’s healthier than ice cream? Smoothies. What’s better than juice? Smoothies. What makes you happy? Smoothies. Voilà, I officially declare the smoothie our remedy for the upcoming winter months. My sister Becci believes in her breakfast smoothie. It took me a while to become a fan myself but now I think she is right. Smoothies without sugar…

Heavenly dinner starter: Paté

Ulalaa, a paté recipe is a fine delicacy. Although liver is not the most favourite food of many of us French foie gras, made of duck or goose liver, reigns the tables of gourmets. In my opinion, home-made liver beef or chicken paté is just as delicious. The inspiration for this recipe came to me on a…