Flavorful Journeys Best of 2014 – By Popularity

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Rosanna

I love New Year’s Day. It’s a chance to reflect on the past year and celebrate experiences to come. In that spirit, here are the 10 most popular posts on Flavorful Journeys from 2014:

1. Homemade Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs

You can’t go wrong with spaghetti and meatballs, especially when everything—from the pasta to the sauce—is made from scratch! This dish takes some time to make, but it’s totally worth it!

2. Chocolate Truffle Tart

This chocolate truffle tart was my first recipe post of 2014. I wanted to bake something that would set the mood for the year, and this indulgent treat proved the perfect choice! read more

Urban Farm Fermentory, Portland, Maine

Posted on October 25, 2014 by Rosanna

Urban Farm Fermentory Taproom

While traveling in Portland, Maine, with Corey and his family, I visited Urban Farm Fermentory, which is a brewery that specializes in kombucha and cider. You may be wondering what kombucha is exactly. If you had asked me a few weeks ago, I wouldn’t have known either.

Urban Farm Fermentory’s Description of the Kombucha Process

What Is Kombucha?

Kombucha is a fermented tea made with a SCOBY (Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast). Once the kombucha has finished fermenting, this SCOBY is removed, then the kombucha is strained—though some is sold unfiltered—and bottled. Kombucha can be flavored when bottled by adding chopped fruit, fruit juice, flowers, herbs, or a combination thereof. read more

Dumpling King – North Miami Beach, FL

Posted on August 27, 2014 by Rosanna

Green Onion Cake with a Sweet and Spicy Sauce at Dumpling King

Dumpling King was our last restaurant adventure in Miami before returning to Chicago. It came highly recommended by one of Corey’s colleagues and fellow foodies, so we were eager to squeeze it in before we left. We’re so glad that we did! We’d been craving some authentic Chinese food (which there isn’t much of in Miami), and this sure hit the spot.

From the outside, Dumpling King didn’t look too impressive; it’s located in a strip mall in which building repairs were underway. But we didn’t let that stop us, and neither should you! After all, one of my favorite restaurants, Raku in Las Vegas, is located in a strip mall. I still dream of their homemade tofu and crispy shrimp, and I can’t wait to go back to Las Vegas to eat at Raku (among other things). read more

Khong River House Miami Beach, FL

Posted on June 6, 2014 by Rosanna

Interior of Khong River House Restaurant in Miami Beach, FL

When dining out I prefer authentic establishments that highlight regional flavors and fresh ingredients. I love Raku in Las Vegas which features authentic Japanese cuisine and I’m a huge fan of Tony Hu’s Chinese restaurants in Chicago widely known for their regional authenticity. I love that food has the power to transport you to other places—moules marinières always takes me to France where Corey and I spent our honeymoon and whenever I eat kimchi-bokkeumbap I always imagine eating in a snack-food restaurant in Korea. read more

DrunkSkull Bloody Mary + A Giveaway

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Rosanna

DrunkSkull Bloody Marys with Celery and Jalapeño Garnish

I discovered these bloody marys after talking with Hosho McCreesh, author of A Deep and Gorgeous Thirst—a magnum opus of “drunken poetry” from Artistically Declined Press. I was lucky enough to receive a copy of this book on The Next Best Book Club, an online book club that frequently features author-reader discussions. It’s a very cool way to light upon new works and authors.

A Deep and Gorgeous Thirst by Hosho McCreesh read more

FLAVORFUL JOURNEYS

TASTE THE WORLD & EXPERIENCE LIFE & CULTURE THROUGH FOOD

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