Story and Photos by Sharon Hudgins Balkan food is some of the most complex in Europe. Although firmly rooted in simple peasant cooking, the foods eaten in the Balkans reflect a wide variety of influences over a long period of time: geography and history, ethnicity and religion, wars and invasions, and new ingredients brought from other parts of the world, …
Hungry for Horseradish
Story and Photos by Sharon Hudgins Humble horseradish has become a hot seasoning among trendy cooks in America. But in the Old World it’s old hat—an ingredient that’s traditionally been used to spike up bland dishes long before Columbus brought the first chile pepper seeds back to Europe. Horseradish, both wild and cultivated, grows in many parts of the world. …
Baltic Bites
Story and photos by Sharon Hudgins Recipes: Solyanka Spicy Beet Borscht Goulash The nine countries that border on the Baltic Sea aren’t known for spicy cooking. Fish, pork, potatoes, and beets, along with mushrooms, sour cream, and dill, have been the flavors of the Baltic for centuries. Horseradish was the only thing that spiked up a cuisine where …
The Mongols are Coming!
Story and Photos by Sharon Hudgins Actually they’re already here. Mongol cuisine—or dishes dubbed “Mongolian”—has taken the world by storm, like a horde of horse-mounted warriors galloping out of Central Asia on a global raiding party. Mongolian barbecue. Mongolian hot pot. Jingisukan (I’ll bet you can figure that one out). From hole-in-the-wall mom-and-pop joints to look-alike chain restaurants to elegant …