Asian Baked Salmon

asian baked salmon

Salmon has become a staple in my kitchen these days. Not quite like chicken, but getting there! I try to incorporate more wild fish into our diet and wild salmon is the most readily available in my grocery store. I usually buy wild sockeye salmon because it’s very high in omega-3 fatty acids. Since our bodies cannot produce these fatty acids, it’s important that we eat food containing it. Omega-3 fatty acids promote heart health by lowering triglycerides which is essentially the fat in our blood.

I never fry fish in my apartment because it takes days to air out the fishy smell. Plus, it often leaves my stove very messy from the oil splattering everywhere. I love this salmon recipe because it works well in your oven, which means easier cleanup and no fishy smell in your house! I also love the soy sauce in the recipe because it adds such a nice Asian flavor to the dish. Serve with a side of rice and veggies and you’ll have a delicious healthy dinner in no time!   Continue reading

St. Martin

Michael and I decided to go on a post-Thanksgiving beach vacation this year. The Caribbean has many islands to choose from, but we decided on St. Martin because of its French influence, secluded hotels and availability of nonstop flights from New York. Although the Dutch side of the island caters more towards tourists (i.e. number of casinos, clubs, shops), we stayed on the French side because it’s much more secluded and the restaurants and shops seem to be a touch more upscale. In other words, the Dutch side simply reminded me too much of college students on spring break. Get my drift?!

The resort we stayed at was perfect. We had our own private beach and a beautiful infinity pool. Because we traveled during the low season, we practically had the entire resort to ourselves! Their beachfront restaurant, C Le Restaurant, couldn’t be more romantic. Imagine yourself sipping a glass of crisp white wine while taking in the beautiful sunset. Ahhhh, I wish I were there again :).

L1050425The Japanese inspired octopus and squid salad at C Le Restaurant was so good! They cooked the octopus and squid perfectly. The seaweed salad was such a nice complement because it added a crunchy texture to the dish. Most importantly, the dressings were the perfect balance of sweet, spicy and tart flavors. Everything you would typically find in an Asian dish ;).

A trip to St. Martin wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Grand Case, the Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean. We dined in Grand Case a few nights, but our ultimate favorite restaurant was Il Nettuno. OMG, hands down, they have the best pasta in town. I just might go there and say they are better than any Italian restaurant I’ve eaten at in New York. One thing is for sure, their view of the ocean and sunset is better than any restaurant in New York! All of their pasta is homemade, and their sauces L1050441are simply amazing. Even their basic marinara sauce was full of robust flavors – you could really taste the fresh tomatoes, herbs and spices. I had their Tagliatelle “Al Dente” fresca ai frutti di mare. They loaded the dish with fresh scallops, mussels, shrimp and squid. The sauce tasted like it had been simmering for hours, with just the right amount of spiciness. Continue reading

Steamed Clams with Garlic Wine Sauce


I love steamed clams with a nice garlic wine sauce. Add a few crostinis to dip in the sauce and you have perfection. What most people don’t realize is how easy it is to make. I’m talking about less than 25 minutes for preparation and cooking time! The most important part is cleaning and scrubbing the clams. You don’t want any sand or sediments left on the shells because this will result in a sandy garlic wine sauce.

You can use almost any type of clam, it really is a matter of preference.  I prefer littleneck, middleneck, cherrystone, and mahogany clams. Try my recipe for your next dinner and your steamed clams will taste like they came from a fancy restaurant :).  Continue reading

Fresh Seafood in Barcelona


It’s been six years since I last visited Barcelona with my friend, Ken. To be quite honest, I wasn’t sure what to expect given Spain’s recession. Has the city’s vibrant mood changed since then? Are the restaurants and shops I once visited still there? These questions ran through my mind as Michael and I sat on a red-eye flight to Barcelona.

We were extremely excited about our trip. Although we have both been to Barcelona, we have never gone together. Michael is very familiar with the city as he lived there for a period of time during his college years (we know that was back in 1965, just kidding lol). Since we’ve both visited all the “must-see”  historical sites, we were looking forward to just exploring the city with no itinerary. Michael was especially excited to visit his old neighborhood and favorite spots.

All of my concerns were put to rest as we strolled along the beach. Michael was in shock. The once known “city-beach” of Barcelona was now a major attraction. This beach was hardly visited by locals or tourists 20 years ago because it was somewhat dodgy and unattractive (similar to Coney Island). But there was literally no space left on the sand now to spread out your beach towel. It was clearly one of the main attractions of the city. The water was such a pretty clear blue and the waves were so calm. Waiters walked along the beach selling ice-cold mojitos and sangria. A new boardwalk was built and so many restaurants and shops were now open.  Continue reading

Seared Scallops

Scallops are little pieces of sweetness from the sea that melt in your mouth. It never ceases to amaze me, though, how much restaurants charge for just a few pieces. The good news is you can easily make them at home for half the price! It takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and cook, but looks so elegant on your plate. Make these scallops for your next dinner and you’ll be sure to impress your honey. 😉 Continue reading