food, music & adventure in colombia

Hello again, this post is long overdue. We were lucky to spend about a month in Colombia this summer and we have so much to share with you. We experienced music & food in three very different cities: Medellín, Cartagena and Bogotá. .

We’ll begin by giving you a visual tasting:

Bakeries line the streets of downtown Bogotá. Shelves piled full with warm and delicious homemade empanadas and bread.

A light and blissful maracuja crepe.

Vibrant homes near Medellín.

Inside the Totumo mud volcano near Cartagena.

La bandeja paisa, a typical breakfast in Medellin. We ate the meat-free version.

A classic topped with fresh manchego cheese and pepper.

Cartagena is a beautiful city that has worked to preserve its architectural history.

Dinner on Cartagena’s historic Plaza San Diego.

Colombians know how to make a pizza: thin, crispy and topped with fresh basil.

Vegetarian restaurant in Cartagena served veggie stacks as an appetizer.

Fresh mango juice with coconut milk.

Mark enjoying his fresh mango juice.

Avocado, spinach, mushroom and pepper wrap in Bogotá.

Enjoying a cup of Colombian coffee 180 meters below sea level in Zipaquirá’s Cathedral of Salt.

One night while wandering through the streets of Cartagena’s Walled City, we heard Cuban music and were instantly drawn to La Vitrola. We enjoyed a few drinks, carpiriña (me), piña colada (Mark) and listened to some of the best live Cuban music on earth. La Vitrola is a food and music lover’s haven.

We even got to hang out with La Vitrola’s incredible band.

Like I said earlier, we have so much to share still from the trip. We will be posting a vegan ceviche recipe and a Colombia inspired  playlist in the next few days.

Thank you for reading,

Gloria & Mark

veggie delight matzo ball soup

It’s one of the most beautiful days of the year today. The sun is shining, the sky is clear & there is a perfect breeze that keeps the weather delightfully cool. Since spring is in full swing  & we’ve had our windows open all day, we decided to make a comforting & refreshing matzo ball soup. 

Recipe: 

What you’ll need-

• 6 cups of water
• 2 cubes of vegan bouillon
• 1 bunch of fresh cilantro
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• fresh chopped or dried dill to taste
• 2 yellow squashes, cut into small circles
• two cups of chopped cauliflower
• 1 cup of fresh shitake mushrooms (I recommend taking the stems off)
• 1 cup of chopped carrots
• 2 packs matzo meal (we used Streit’s Whole Wheat)
• 4 eggs or flax eggs (vegan)
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• salt & pepper to taste

How to cook it-

In a large bowl, beat four eggs or flax eggs, then add vegetable oil.  Mix eggs and oil together with a fork or a whisk then add matzo meal.  Mix in garlic & dill.  Stir well, then set the bowl aside uncovered for fifteen minutes.  Prepare the broth while the matzo meal is setting.  Bring water to a boil then add vegan bouillon, cilantro & carrots.  Continue to boil for 3-4 minutes then lower to a medium heat and add squash, mushrooms & cauliflower.  Once the fifteen minutes have passed, you’ll be ready to make matzo balls.  Bring soup to a boil again & keep it uncovered.  Lightly wet your hands then take a spoonful of the matzo meal mixture and roll it into a small ball then gently drop the matzo ball into the vegetable soup, repeat for entire mixture.   Then reduce heat to a simmer & cover for 30 minutes.

Music:

Ah, Passover! Just when you’re getting rid of last years leftover Matzo boxes…the wonderful unleavened holiday comes right around again.

Here are 10 tracks, (one for each plague) that goes great with our Veggie Delight Matzo Ball Soup recipe. Dai Aynu!

(Due to legal issues, the mix will only play in this particular order the first time you listen to it, after that it will replay them randomly).

1. Announcement By Art Blakey

2. My Shining Hour – Lewis Nash

3. A Voz No Morro – Stefano Bollani

4. Broadway – Dexter Gordon

5. I’ll Remember Apri – Dinah Washington

6. Little Things Run The World – Ben Allison

7. Three Little Words – Carmen McRae

8. Che Che Cole – Willie Colón

9. A Sleepin ‘ Bee – Ray Brown And Jimmy Rowles

10. I Got Rhythm – Paul Chambers

taking hummus to a new level

While looking for pumpkin recipes(procrastinating), earlier this evening, I came across what looks to be the most amazing hummus recipe ever. This chili garlic pumpkin hummus is made with three of my absolute favorite ingredients: chili, garlic & pumpkin. I will definitely be making this for fall year round dinner parties. Click here for the recipe.