Where the Pâté Sets and Whither It Descends

The subject of pâté is fascinating — surely worthy of a treatise… That’s how it might begin. Imagine a cookbook penned by Czesław Miłosz. If “The Year of the Hunter” had a culinary appendix. What cuisine would he have described? Most likely Lithuanian, naturally — perhaps specifically the dishes from the manor in Šeteniai, where he grew up. A … Read more

Sweet Eggs — An Easter Dessert

A recipe from the Easter menu. Cakes and all kinds of sweets are well represented on Easter tables, just like eggs. So why not sweet eggs?Of course, 100% plant-based eggs. Coconut Milk & Tofu Eggs INGREDIENTS: 150 g soft/silken tofu 300 g coconut milk 1 tsp ground lemongrass 1/4 tsp cardamom 100 g agave syrup … Read more

Plant-Based Yolk Sauce

Appendix to the Tofu Egg Recipe: Chickpea-Based “Yolk” Sauce INGREDIENTS: 200 g cooked or canned chickpeas 1/3 tsp black salt (Kala Namak) 1 tbsp mustard (20 g) 50 g mayonnaise 1 tsp turmeric 2 tbsp vegetable broth 1 tsp agave syrup PREPARATION: Blend all the ingredients until smooth. Adjust the consistency by adding more or less … Read more

Smoked Easter Eggs

Have you already accepted into your heart our Lord and Savior, the Easter Bunny?**  Well, I had to. Even though I know not everyone shares my religious sense of humor. But the Easter Bunny is not so far removed from the Sacrifice of Christ—and that doesn’t diminish Christ; quite the opposite. But more on that … Read more

Polish Plant Easter

The Easter Menu is part of my project “The Ritual Year,” dedicated to food and culinary customs connected to the traditional ceremonial yearly cycle. Designing a Christmas Eve menu has been great fun for me for years. Christmas Eve is a fasting meal, and a properly strict one, at least in the most orthodox version—meaning … Read more

Easter Mezze

Easter breakfast — or Easter in general — in Polish tradition is a grand, fatty feast that clogs the arteries and makes the liver weep. This is somewhat understandable and rooted in historical context. Easter comes after Lent, winter, and the early spring hunger gap, when, even just a hundred years ago, there wasn’t much food to eat. Today, we no … Read more

Pears for Valentine’s Day

For six years, I have been living in a “monastery.” Before that, I had many adventures in life, including romantic ones. And not that I’m an expert—my specialty was toxic relationships and emotions—but there’s one piece of advice I can give you, gentlemen: Cooking and serving a good dinner for a woman is very sexy. … Read more

Advent Soup

This soup has a bit of an Advent feel — it’s something quick, made with what’s on hand and what you know you won’t use otherwise. For example, I didn’t end up using the sweet potato for a salad. I originally bought it with soup in mind, but I also had leftover kaffir lime leaves and yuba. … Read more

The Most Important Tool of a Chef

For the past few weeks, when the guests leave and I finish a thorough cleaning — together with, or rather first of all washing the extractor hood, something no one likes to do — I’ve been working on a collection of recipes, my interpretation of Christmas Eve cuisine, mainly Polish. Pro Tip: This is precisely the problem — since no one … Read more

How Eat It: Carob

For dessert, dumplings will make their way to the Christmas Eve menu in addition to almond soup, but they are also excellent as a dessert. Served with a carob sauce or cream. And it is this mysterious carob that I am here to talk about. Carob is a flour made from the carob tree’s fruit, commonly known … Read more