WTF!
No, not that - geez.
Have you ever seen a 3 or 6 word tab on a website? Of course not...so WTF! was much better than having a big, ugly tab called "Where's the Food and Where's the Flavor."
Where's the Food (WTF, Part 1) highlights some of my favorite Chef's, restaurants and markets in the U.S., Cuba, Mexico, Portugal and Spain.
Austin, Texas: El Naranjo. Chef Iliana De La Vega, James Beard Semifinalist for Best Chef Southwest (2019), Recipient of Ohtli Award, the Mexican government’s highest honor given to Mexicans living abroad (2014), and appointed Culinary Institute of America’s first Specialist for Mexican/Latin Cuisines (2007-2012).
Chef Douglas Rodriguez: Chef Douglas Rodriguez, the globally acclaimed Godfather of Nuevo Latino Cuisine, blazed the trail and has inspired Chefs around the world and his culinary creativity has changed the image of Latino food in America.
I used to take cooking lessons from Chef Rodriguez at Deseo, his restaurant in Phoenix. Below are two of his best places to visit and enjoy the flavors of Cuba and Latin America:
Philadelphia: Alma de Cuba. An award-winning collaboration with chef Douglas Rodriguez, Alma de Cuba embodies the soul of Cuban cuisine, bringing the unmistakable cooking of the island into the 21st century.
Miami: The Mojito Bar. At Mojitobar, the beats are caliente, the dishes are sizzling and the drinks take you straight to paradise. By fusing the freshest local ingredients with mouth-watering recipes, our Latin-inspired menu of muchies, shareables and platos tradicionales will leave you speechless.
Miami: Casa Juancho. My favorite Spanish restaurant in the USA - always amazing. Great food, service, wine list and ambiance. From Jamon and Tapas, to Paella and Grilled Octopus, enjoy great food and an award-winning wine list by Wine Spectator.
San Francisco: One Market Restaurant. Chef Mark Dommen is a unique talent who has spent more than 20 years in the kitchen. After years of classical training with some of the world’s most eminent culinary masters, Dommen’s move to head One Market® Restaurant in 2004 marked his exciting return to the San Francisco dining scene. His modern take on American cuisine earned the restaurant a Michelin star in 2008-2012.
One Market also has the best Chef's Table that I have ever experienced! I was spoiled with a nearly five-hour experience in their kitchen with amazing food and personal wine selections by their Sommelier. I can never do another Chef's Table in any restaurant because this was the best ever!
New Orleans: Antoines Restaurant. Opened in 1840, what else can you say? It's got great food and history.
Madrid, Spain: Restavrante Botin. Casa Botín, founded in 1725, is the oldest restaurant in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records and a benchmark of Madrid’s best traditional cuisine.
Forbes magazine gave the House third place in the list of the world’s top 10 classic restaurants, together with its two specialties, the delicious suckling pig and lamb roasted in the Castilian style.
Where's the Flavor (WTF, Part 2) provides links to some of my favorite specialty shops for things that are hard to find or really good - and even a few favorites right here in Tubac.
Santa Cruz Chili & Spice Company: In addition to all our signature chili products, we stock a large variety of spices, kitchen essentials and local history books including western cookbooks.
Tumacookery: Our mission is your kitchen.
Green Valley Pecan Company: With plenty of sunshine, quality water and rich, sandy loam soil, the conditions were ideal to grow pecans. In 1965, the Waldens began converting more than 7,000 acres from primarily cotton to the largest irrigated pecan orchard in the world.
The Spanish Table: We specialize in food, wine and cookware from Spain, Portugal and other exotic places around the world.
Usinger's: Usinger's is a one of a kind, nationally recognized family business devoted to the craft of sausage making. We are located along the banks of the Milwaukee River (and the Milwaukee Riverwalk) in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. I grew up in the Milwaukee area, so I ate this stuff every week.
Baumgartner's Cheese: Featuring some of Wisconsin's finest cheese, imported cheese, specialty foods, and much more, Baumgartner's Cheese Store & Tavern, opened in 1931, is Wisconsin's oldest cheese store! They typically only deliver to Arizona locations during our Winter months because it's too dang hot most of the year.
The Fresh Chile Company: Fresh Chile's and many other products from Hatch, New Mexico.
Cuban Food Market: More than 3000 traditional Cuban food items, spices, breads, recipes, clothing and much more.
Amigo Foods: They are the largest online grocery store offering a wide variety of hard to find and freshly imported foods and drinks from all over Latin America and Spain.
