Kitchen Encounters News Today

Note to readers: Kitchen Encounters is an occasional spotlight on local chefs and other dining industry workers who give diversity and depth to the distinctive food culture of South Florida. The most attractive empanada in South Florida, its filling of meat, vegetables and spices baked inside a packet of slightly sweet pastry dough, has been flying off the shelf on Fort Lauderdale’s chic Las ...

In West Palm Beach, baker Caroline McGinley mixes sugar and spice, Spain and Uruguay in her remarkable confections.

One of a series of conversations with local chefs who add diversity and depth to the distinctive food culture of South Florida.

I have such fond childhood memories of this time of year, and the sweet smell of something baking in Mom’s oven

As I was looking for new inspiration for Thanksgiving leftovers, I lucked out by crossing paths with Lori Hirsch Stokoe,

A neighbor gave me a recipe for peach preserves. I followed it, and it was the best batch I had tasted.

Essential elements are required to create a perfect pulled-pork sandwich. None are difficult to master, making it possible to cook some in our backyard.

By Laura Kurella Being “old school,” I grew up believing iced tea was nothing more than plain-old hot black tea that was chilled, then served over ice.  I know, it sounds as boring as I thought it was throughout my youth. This is likely why people started adding lemon and sugar to it to jazz it up, but even those added elements weren’t enough to turn me into an iced-tea freak.  Things changed when the millennium hit, and marketing magicians started fiddling with ingredients to boost sal...

Laura Kurella June has arrived. Hallelujah! Lord knows we have plenty to celebrate this year, so it’s a good thing June is a notable month for celebrations. Graduations, weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and other happy events, like saying “farewell” to quarantine.  Many of us will spend a good chunk of this month hopping from one event to the next. However, there will be those who will have to spend time planning these lovely events. It might even be you! Given the trauma and anxiety t...

I try to plan dinner first thing in the morning, sometimes before getting out of bed.