Happy Deepavali...celebrate with paneer butter masala!

Deepavali, or Diwali as the North Indians say, is the "festival of lights" in India and is the most important occasion of the year for Hindus worldwide. The exact date of Deepavali varies according to the Hindu lunar calendar and the entire festival is celebrated over a span of five days, but the most important day which marks worship of the goddess Lakshmi this year falls today! Regardless of regional differences, Deepavali or Diwali symbolizes the victory of good over evil and is considered to be the start of the Hindu new year.

Guacamole taquero (taco shop guacamole)

Once again, the Gastronomic Nomad graced us with her presence here in Paris, and once again she came bearing gifts from the good old US of A! I had specifically requested a sack of tomatillos, and she came through as always! With the tomatillos and some nice avocadoes from our local market, I made this guacamole taquero or taco shop guacamole from Saveur magazine's August/September 2011 special on super-fresh salsas. I generally don't post recipes that I've found elsewhere and have made virtually no changes or adaptations to, but this was was so good that I just had to share! Tangy, creamy and delicious, this is great on tacos (which is how we had it) or as a dip for tortilla chips. And even better - it lasts for several days in the fridge, unlike your typical guacamole (the acidity in the tomatillos keeps it from oxidizing). If you're lucky enough to live somewhere where you can find tomatillos, make this as soon as you can!

Spinach, mint and chili soup

Being the warm weather lover that I am, there is not much to cheer about now that the temperatures are dropping and the days are getting shorter. However, one wonderful exception is the return of warm, hearty, comforting soups! I threw this one together with fresh spinach and mint from the market and it was delicious...especially since we are both spinach lovers! A couple of green chilies and the additional (and optional) red pepper flakes stirred in at the end provided just a note of heat, while the crème fraîche gave it just a bit of tang. We loved the beautiful green color and knowing that we were getting all those great vitamins and antioxidants from the spinach. In other words...warm, spicy, visually appealing and healthy...what's not to love?

The best tacos EVER...in London!?!?!?

You know...globalization is a funny thing. The exchange of people, culture and ideas across borders is nothing new but sometimes it has surprising manifestations. Globalization in food, involving the migration and exchange of ingredients, spices (of course!), dishes, ideas and chefs, has had its negative side, but has also changed the way that we eat in many positive ways. One of the curious things about the exchange of recipes and cooking techniques across borders is that sometimes, foods that are the traditional forte of one culture end up being prepared better somewhere else. I've seen this on several occasions - excellent Indonesian gado gado in Dakar, a decent Russian spread in Palestine and the best French onion soup I've experienced anywhere in Washington DC. But I don't think that anything can compare to my experience at Wahaca, which I recently visited during a business trip to London. I had the best tacos that I've EVER experienced. Seriously! Considering that I grew up in Texas, have travelled in Mexico and am forever on a quest to find the best Mexican restaurants, this is a big, big deal!

Thai red curry fried rice

After a hectic month of travels and houseguests, it's nice to have a bit of quiet and some cozy times at home. Very appropriately, fall has arrived alongside, definitively chasing away the crazy warm weather we had here in Paris just a little over a week ago. I always get a bit excited initially at the onset of cooler weather, relishing being able to wear my fall boots and scarves and gushing over the return of figs, apples, pumpkins and squash to the markets. My joy never lasts too long though, because I'm a warm weather girl at heart. I guarantee you that soon enough, I'll be daydreaming of sunshine, beaches, tropical fruits and being able to wear sundresses and sandals.

South Indian style green bean "stir fry"

Often when I'm daydreaming, my mind will wander back to memories of our beautiful wedding, which took place in February 2010. Held at a beach resort to the south of Chennai where I was born, we celebrated over three magical days. It was truly a fairytale Indian wedding - an extravaganza of colors, tastes, aromas and sounds. One of the most special things about it was that in addition to my wonderful family, we had Luis's family and over 40 friends from all corners of the world. People from all parts of our lives representing all continents (except Antartica!) flew in from everywhere - the States, France, Angola, China, Bermuda, the UAE, Portugal, England, Singapore, Germany and Burundi! I honestly don't think that Chennai had ever seen such an international extravaganza!