Category Archives: IMMIGRANT CHEFS

Ta-eem Grill, Hummus Fava Beans

Ta-eem Grill in Los Angeles draws a crowd for It’s kosher Mediterranean dishes. Owner Sylvie Kraizberger shares the recipe for authentic Hummus Fava Beans (Ful).

DOSA AND MAYURA INDIAN RESTAURANT

Dr. Aniyan, or Padmini as her friends call her, greets guests at the door of her south Indian restaurant with a smile as brilliant as the gold trimmed sari that she explains is her “work” uniform. The Ph.D professor of business management and accounting and her restauranteur husband, Aniyan Puthanpurayil, immigrated to the United States […]

CAFE NOVA SPANAKOPITA

KATERINA SHESHI Cafe Nova St. Louis, Missouri Born and raised in communist Albania, Katerina Sheshi knows about oppression and hard work. She learned to cook from her mother and expanded her skills during her formative years by working in restaurants watching the “good cookers” who ran them. Katerina became such a proficient cook that the […]

YALANCHI SARMA by NANCY MEHAGIAN

Nancy Mehagian filled her life with an abundance of travel, sex, drugs and food. For a peek at her passion-filled, delicious life and a copy of her favorite recipe for Yalanchi Sarma (chilled Stuffed Grape leaves), read on:

PORTO’S BAKERY & CAFE AND ROPA VIEJA

California’s iconic Porto’s Bakery & Cafes are now selling frozen goodies nationwide. These Bake at Home treats delight and we are grateful to have them available when not able to get to the bakery in person. On the other hand, the favorite Cuban dish, Ropa Vieja is only available in the cafe, but you can also make it at home as Porto’s gave us the recipe.

LONA’S LIL EATS DUMPLINGS

Lona Lou owns and runs the popular St. Louis restaurant Lona’s Lil Eats. Dumplings are among her most popular dishes and she serves two kinds: steak and mushroom. Here is a recipe for Lona’s dumplings with a mushroom filling.

KOBEE FACTORY’S KOBEE THREE WAYS

Wafa Ghreir, owner of Kobee Factory & Syrian Kitchen in Los Angeles, CA, shares her recipe for kobee (aka Kibbee, kibbeh, jubba) made three ways.

YUCA’S HUT COCHINITA PIBIL

    IMMIGRANT CHEF: SOCORRO HERRERA Yuca’s Hut Los Angeles, California Socorro Herrera was born in Mérida, the capital of Mexico’s Yucatán State. Both ancient Mayas and Spanish conquistadors settled in Mérida leaving behind rich cultural characteristics that influenced Socorro as she grew up, married and started a family.  Seeking a “better education for her […]