ELEXIS RUIZ
Recent Blog Posts
Come along with me as I cook and bake some of my favorite things.
Sign up to learn how to make everything from sushi to pasta to artisan bread at The Chopping Block in Chicago's Lincoln Square where the Chef Instructors call on their restaurant experience to teach the home cooks how to cook.
Reinvent Your Leftovers, A Holiday Pie Worth Celebrating
The morning after a holiday, I open my fridge and am immediately overwhelmed by the abundance of Tupperware stuffed with leftovers stacked three to four high on each shelf. So one year, I started a tradition that is typical of our British friends: making a Boxing Day pie.
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This tradition usually happens on the day after Christmas. British families will throw together a savory pie of dinner leftovers such as roasted turkey, glazed ham, seasonal veggies and savory stuffing, baked in a golden pastry crust for a slice of holiday goodness.
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I thought to myself, why just Christmas? For the most part, when we celebrate a holiday, we pair dishes together that we feel will go well, flavors that will have their ‘Ratatouille’ moment, so theoretically they should all play well in a golden brown pie.
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Breakfast in Rome Norte, Mexico City
Roma Norte's history began as a 19th-century residential development for Mexico City's finest, named after the old town of "Romita" which was connected to Chapultepec by a tree-lined road similar to one in Rome.
After these elite residents started to move on, coupled with a devastating earthquake, the area started to see some economic decline. By the early 2000’s, however, artists and entrepreneurs began to populate and breathe life into the space, creating a thriving art and food scene that has kept the area bustling today.
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Move Over Banana Bread, Plantain Bread Has Arrived!
I recently came home with a few extra plantains from my Tasting Table demonstration that I hosted at The Chopping Block a few weeks ago, which I admittedly left on the counter too long. The peels turned brown and black, so take a wild guess at what I decided to make.
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A Sneak Peek Into a Dominican Childhood: Yuca Three Ways
I grew up eating Dominican food, and I am excited to share some of those dishes - in an elevated version - during my upcoming Tasting Table on Tuesday, August 26. They are inspired by my late grandmother, who didn’t write down any of her recipes but let us grandkids watch, listen, and learn.
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Experience a Multi-Course Filipino-Cuban Tasting
Bayan Ko, featuring a Filipino-Cuban fusion tasting menu, sits just outside of the Montrose brown line stop, a bright neon pink sign inviting you in. The restaurant neighbors its original, more casual concept - Bayan Ko Diner - where you can walk in, carry out, or dine in. It was date night, and my partner and I decided to splurge on the reservation-only seven-course tasting menu, which features an incredible array of Asian and Latin American flavors.
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Keep Cool in the Summer with Shrimp Tostadas With Jicama Slaw
Summer approaches, and I am immediately in “keep cool” mode. For me, this means citrusy, refreshing, crisp, palate-cleansing food.
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