MarlenaSpieler.com

Food Writer and Broadcaster Marlena Spieler

December 19, 2004 Roving Feast Quadruple Threat

So, this site might not have recorded these at the appropriate times, but rest assured that Marlena's been keeping busy with her column, covering the British seaside experience, autumnal produce, Indian celebrations (and foods), and (of course) Thanksgiving:
A funny thing happened on the way to the seashore on October 13
Don't let a little chill get you down on October 27
Diwali ushers in Hindu New Year on November 10
Naked turkey's on my mind on November 24

December 5, 2004 Marlena wins Gourmand World Cookbook Award

...for a series of books for Williams Sonoma — she wrote Paris: Authentic Recipes Celebrating the Foods of the World.

December 5, 2004 Marlena on NPR: All Things Considered

In a segment entitled Gooey-Good Sandwiches to Melt in Your Mouth, Marlena tells America the secrets of making the perfect grilled cheese sandwich.

October 2, 2004 Roving Feast: A passion for pesto

I know a funny story involving Marlena, a Radio Merseyside trivia question, and a bunny named Basil.

September 15, 2004 Roving Feast: Sniff-as-you-go meal can alter a girl's idea of eating

Marlena visits Alain Passard's new Paris restaurant. Wherein she meets a huge beet— she doesn't say how big, but I'm imagining a bowling ball. Don't crush my illusions, Marlena!

September 3, 2004 Roving Feast: A visit to Versailles is no walk in the park and new Recipe of the Month

The leeks in vinaigrette is so unusual and tasty! And RotM: Eggplant Wrapped Around Cheese, Simmered in Tomato, Garlic and Parsley looks to be some serious cheesy egglpanty goodness.

August 8, 2004 Roving Feast: Greek culinary traditions thrive on Ionian island

Olives, feta, souvlaki, maybe a little glass of retsina... you know what I'm talkin' 'bout.

August 2, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

With a name like Austin Powers's Shag-a-delic 1970s Grilled Ham, Cheese and Pineapple, this tasty looking sandwich is quite light on the double entendre. And the velvet.

July 28, 2004 Roving Feast: How I learned to love eggplant

How much more popular would this nightshade be if it had a better name? And does the title of this article present anybody else with the mental image of Marlena riding a giant eggplant bronco-style?

July 12, 2004 Roving Feast: Turkish delights could include a camel

Tales of Turkish Camels (and Turkish food). But I ask Marlena: were the camels bactrians or dromedaries?

July 4, 2004 Roving Feast: It's a (berry) wonderful life and New Recipe of the Month

Marlena returns (original article here) to the humble and tasty blackberry. And this month's recipe is an acutely refreshing classic: the New York Egg Cream. Happy Fourth of July American Independence Day!

June 10, 2004 Roving Feast: American in Paris learns to shop a la française and New Recipe of the Month

French do food markets better than just about anybody. The American equivalents are nice, but they're always so yuppified, full of strollers and lattes. After you read her column, come back here for a somewhat different flavor: Marlena's recipe for She-Devil Barbecue Sauce.

May 27, 2004 Roving Feast: Born to barbecue... in Britain / The English get a taste of good ol' American know-how

"Unfortunately, despite the plastic bags I had so carefully used for wrapping, the juices began to run. They ran out and puddled around the suitcase. They trickled down the subway floor of the Central Line. The other passengers moved as far away from me as possible."

May 19, 2004 Roving Feast: You say moth, I say moat / Little Indian beans are worth seeking out

Marlena's column is entriely accurate — not only regarding the tastiness of said legumes, but also re her tendency to burst into song at every opportunity.

May 8, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

Fromage Blanc with Indian Spices and Green Chutney. I know a cat named Chutney with a perpetually surprised expression.

April 30, 2004 Roving Feast: Happiness is a warm potato/Low-carb craze can drive a girl to distraction

I can't even imagine having brunch without potatoes, much less live without them at all.

April 22, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

Beets and leeks are two things that are very underappreciated here in the USA. Hopefully this recipe for Poireaux en Vinaigrette aux Betteraves will capture a few Yankee hearts.

April 16, 2004 Roving Feast: Asparagus grows in the spring, tra-la

Here are some interesting facts about that infamous asparagus side-effect. Happy Birthday, Marlena!

April 5, 2004 Roving Feast: Passover celebration brings families together

The foods of Pesach — particularly the matzo, a particularly versatile food slab.

March 18, 2004 Roving Feast: Tiptoeing through Westminster's gardens

You might think the herb rosemary is named after somebody, but its name actually comes from "rosmarinus", which means "dew of the sea".

March 10, 2004 Roving Feast: When passion becomes an obsession

Now, I always thought endive (the delightful salad vegetable) and chicory (the occasional coffee additive) were one and the same.

March 2, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

Escalivada has a good many capers, and "caper" is a fun word to say in a French accent — like the snotty chef in Invasion of the Body Snatchers, which is a movie Marlena was almost in!

February 20, 2004 Marlena takes over an eGullet foodblog for a week

Contains a surpising number of dark confessions!

February 20, 2004 Roving Feast: How one baby learned to love soy

Babies and soy: A Hidden Menace? Or a Delightful Combination? Marlena investigates.

February 15, 2004 Marlena Teaches at Copia

Those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area will have the opportunity to learn about Passover traditions from Marlena herself, when she teaches A Global Seder with Marlena Spieler (April 4) at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts. Her Roving Feast classes have sold out, so it's likely this will too.

February 2, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

It's still very cold, so we crave those spicy and starchy foods, Like, say, the Parsee-influenced Papeta Pur Eeda.

January 28, 2004 Roving Feast: Shakespeare never ate in cafeterias

I can verify that Marlena does actually usually carry a head of garlic around with her, to be used in case of culinary emergency.

January 18, 2004 Roving Feast: One bowl of pho can lead to another

January 6, 2004 New Recipe of the Month

Happy New Year! It's sweet, it's savory, it's French, and it's chock-full of beta carotene: Carottes Fondantes au Cumin.

December 31, 2003 Roving Feast: Under the influence

One of the best things about cooking with wine is figuring out what to do with the rest of the bottle once you've added the half cup the recipe calls for.

December 11, 2003 Roving Feast: One good bite deserves another

So, what's the relationship between macaroons and macaroni? I was hoping this article would clear it up, but I'm still confused.

December 7, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

I served Queso Fresco with Chipotle Romesco at my party just last night! I admit I guarded the bowl jealously.

November 28, 2003 Roving Feast: A leg, a leg, my kingdom for a leg

If you're viewing this page from the U.S., I'm sorry: right now, an article on turkey is probably the last thing you want to read. Hope you had a tasty Thanksgiving.

November 15, 2003 Roving Feasts: Halloween, American-style and A French bicycle built for one

Another twofer.

November 1, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

Don't eat the limooni, don't eat the limooni, she says. I'm definitely going to make some Marak al Dal just because now I really want to eat some of these limoonis.

October 9, 2003 Marlena Says:

"October 20^th is the annual festival of Brie, in the city of Meaux in the Isle de France near Paris (the Meaux is of Brie de Meaux fame). I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if anyone was nearby and didn't know about it."

October 9, 2003 Roving Feasts: In defense of blackberries and Lions and tigers and bears — oh, my!

I'd describe this as a two-for-one situation, but the truth is I missed the blackberry column in September. D'oh!

October 6, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

One thing I learned while adding Picadillo and Jack Quesadillas on Pumpkin Tortillas to the site: "Sherry" is a proper noun. Huh!

September 15, 2003 Marlena presents Eating like a child

"This is the text (though it really acted as notes since you can imagine that there was quite a bit of improvisations on behalf of both me and my 'children') of the paper Eating Like a Child that I presented at the Oxford Symposium of Food and Eating last weekend."

September 15, 2003 Roving Feast: Powerless in New York City

Yeah, a lot of people came together and got all neighbory. Then again, some people just sat on their balconies and drank warm cocktails.

September 3, 2003 Roving Feast: The heat's on in England; bring on the eggs

We're beginning to edge into fall; it's hard to believe just a few short weeks ago the United Kingdom of Great Britain (as well as most of Europe) was suffering from the highest temeratures since, like, ever.

September 3, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

A recipe whose deliciousness is proportional to the unwieldiness of its name: Sephardic Roasted Chicken With Two Kinds Of Ginger And As Many Kinds Of Grapes As You Can Find

August 16, 2003 Powerless in New York

Marlena flies into the Big Apple in time to catch the last few hours of The Great Blackout of 2003. This is her story.

August 15, 2003 Roving Feast: Tale of a sheep named Charlotte

Wherein Marlena confesses her obsssion with ovines. No lamb recipes, to my surprise.

August 14, 2003 Marlena on 97.3 LBC Radio Tonight

8:15 PM GMT on Dr. Pam. They'll be talking about the importance of enjoying one's food. No radio? Try here.

August 5, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

Yeah, so we're a few days late. It's 'cause it's so darn hot. Here, eat a Quesadilla of Goat Cheese with Cilantro-Mint Ginger Chutney.

July 30, 2003 Roving Feast: Mother knows best when it comes to tomato plants

With a very tempting recipe for gazpacho. If you have some left over, whirl it in the blender with some diamond juice for an extremely funky Bloody Mary.

July 25, 2003 Marlena's in Heat

What? What's so funny? Her new book is reviewed in Heat magazine. Why all the snickering? Anyway, here's our reprint. You're so immature.

July 25, 2003 Channel 4 Teletext reviews Pasta

If you're in the U.K., you should be able to read a glowing review of Marlena's new book on C4 Teletext, that funky WWW precursor.

July 16, 2003 Roving Feast: La dolce vita — with saffron

In medieval Germany, any vendor caught selling adulterated saffron was burned at the stake.

July 12, 2003 A trip to Verona

Marlena's taking a quick excursion to Verona next week, to visit the pasta artisans at Rana Pasta. She says that in Italy, Rana is more well-known than Coca-Cola; clearly, those Italians know what's important. She plans on smuggling back a special pasta recipe on Wednesday, so check back!

July 3, 2003 Roving Feast: Star-spangled Fourth comes to Britain

A chilling Independence Day tale of barbecuing and doppelgängers. Did I say chilling? I meant "cheery".

July 1, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

It's a Greek Stew of Eggplant, Chickpeas and Onions. When was the last time you saw "stew" on the menu at a restaurant? It's rare, right? Why is that?

June 26, 2003 Marlena Says:

"Yesterday I made udon noodles with Japanese food writer Emi Kazuko and we kneaded them with our feet (we put the dough in plastic bags first). Emi says this is traditional and she looked very dainty doing it. I did not look dainty — but she pointed out that since my feet were much bigger, I could knead more dough!"

June 25, 2003 Family Circle Appearance

Check out the July Issue of the UK edition. I believe the article is on one of Marlena's specialties; namely, Californian cuisine. And it has some nice pictures of our heroine, in addition to the ones of yummy food.

June 22, 2003 BBC Radio 4: Woman's Hour

Marlena will be on Woman's Hour on Radio 4 on June 25^th between 10 and 11 GMT. If you miss it, don't freak out; you'll be able to listen to it on the BBC's website.

June 21, 2003 Roving Feast: Learning to love Marmite

Novelist Anne Lamott calls Marmite "the devil's toothpaste". If you want to appear really indie, tell your friends that you prefer Vegemite.

June 16, 2003 A New Book: Pasta: Over 100 Tempting Recipes

Press Release

June 12, 2003 Roving Feast: Visions of eggplant.

I dropped the ball on that one; this column's already been out a week. Hey: "Eggplant". Eggplant eggplant eggplant. That's a weird word.

June 4, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

A few days late, we've got a classic: Alan's Pureed Carrot Soup with Mediterranean Flavors.

May 23, 2003 Roving Feast: One person's Jell-O is another's gelee.

Jell-O™: mysterious, tasty, possibly a little frightening.

May 1, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

You know that spring has finally arrived when you get the urge to eat lots of tasty salads. For instance, a Potato and Springtime Vegetable Salad with Greens in Saffron Vinaigrette.

April 23, 2003 Roving Feast: Fingers were made for tandoori paste.

Eating condiments straight from the container. Don't be coy; everyone does it.

April 9, 2003 Roving Feast: On the trail of Israeli falafel.

In Israel felafel is eaten by everyone; Jew, Moslem and Christian alike all eat felafel. Rich and poor, European and Middle-Eastern, old and young and inbetween; everyone eats felafel, and everyone has their own opinion about where to find the best. In Israel, you have an endless array of felafel eating, but if you're in NYC, stop at Murray's Falafel on 1^st Avenue. Very nice, and the zchug is divine.

April 9, 2003 A Whole Lot O' French Cooking

Marlena has been very busy in the kitchen. Note the recipe for a delcious cabbage salad.

April 1, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

We're keeping with the asparagus theme, with a recipe for a Sformato. This is not a hoax.

March 23, 2003 Comfort Food For Uncomfortable Days

Time to hunker down with a big bowl o' pasta and watch the Academy Awards.

March 19, 2003 New Roving Feast Column

Keen on the olives of Kalamata

March 11, 2003 A Visit To Copia

Wherein our heroine visits Napa (via New York). Now with recipes! Three of 'em!

March 5, 2003 Award Received

Many congratulations to Marlena, who has received the Special Career Award by the Eco-Museum of Truffles of Perigord in Sorges-Dordogne, at the Gourmand Cookbook Awards for 2002! See all awards here.

March 4, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

Just a few days late, but it's a good one. Here you go.

March 2, 2003 New Roving Feast Column

Paris' real passion is in the potage Soups celebrate spring produce. Mmmm. Soup.

February 5, 2003 New Roving Feast Column

A Heady Reacquaintance is its name, and lettuce is its game. Some amazing self-control: nowhere does Marlena use the phrase "just the tip of the iceberg".

February 2, 2003 A postcard from Scotland

Happy Groundhog Day!

February 1, 2003 New Recipe of the Month

We've put up a new Recipe of the Month. (This dish is a personal favorite of the webmaster's.)

January 19, 2003 Marlena sends a postcard from New York

January 17, 2003 MarlenaSpieler.com now online

Marlena goes into the kitchen and cooks some Hispanic-style cheeses to celebrate the publishing of her website. Earlier, a basset hound told her that tonight would be the coldest night of the year in New York City.

January 15, 2003 New Roving Feast Column

Waste not, want not is the latest Roving Feast column on SFGate.com. Take a look!