Soraya Rendón’s Shaman: The Superpower of Will
Shaman and Chilam Balam´s owner, Soraya Rendón. Photo courtesy of Soraya Rendón Underneath the supernatural halo that surrounds the concept “Shaman”, you will find the fascinating meaning of a cross-culturally relevant word that some say can be traced back to Sanskrit: survivor.
Fittingly, Soraya Rendón, the owner of Chicago’s “Shaman” and “Chilam Balam” is that and more. Just like the concept, she has crossed countries and cultures. Beyond surviving, she has thrived. She has conquered.
Leaving her native Mexico in her teens, Soraya remembers how she was passed up for a job as a receptionist because she did not speak English. Unfazed, she told the hiring manager she would learn the language and then come back. A few months later, and faithful to her promise, she returned to land the job. Actually, Soraya negotiated a higher-paying position with a better title because, as she explained, she “was now bilingual.”
Consistently fearless, Soraya soon opened Chilam Balam, a Mexican restaurant focused on sustainable cuisine. “It survived, so we decided to open Shaman,” Soraya said about her second “child” as she calls each one of her establishments. “The name made perfect sense to me.”
True to form, Soraya would continue to challenge convention and predictability. Her BYOB eatery treats patrons to a dynamic menu featuring Mexican-inspired small plates. The dishes are a creative take on traditional recipes, and are thoughtfully brought to life by none other than chef Natalie Oswald, an Ohio-born chef who brace yourself, happens to cook fluently “in Spanish”.
But what is absolutely certain is that when you visit Shaman, you will be charmed by a fascinating out-of-country atmosphere that you could very well find in a restaurant in Coyoacán. The food is a reflection of the story behind it: bold, creative, passionate… Delightful.
Glorious porkbelly tacos at Chicago´s “Shaman” What we loved: If you visit, try the porkbelly tacos. I was impressed by the balance of textures and flavors packed in a small bite. The tortillas, by the way, were perfect.
Shaman by Chilam Balam
1438 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60642
(312) 226-4175
BYOB
Hours: Tue-Thu: 5pm-10pm Fri-
Sat: 5pm-11pm. Laura Martínez, First Blind Chef to Open a Restaurant in the US
La Diosa’s chef and owner, Luisa Martínez. Photo: Brenda Storch I accidentally stumbled upon La Diosa (Spanish for “goddess”), a little café in Lincoln Park that I did not remember having seen before. I was first curious about the name, and since we had already had lunch, we decided to go in for dessert.
I had no idea that I was really in for a treat.
We were greeted by La Diosa‘s owner Laura Martínez, a young Mexican chef trained at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. We exchanged pleasantries in Spanish (the restaurant had just opened in January). The pictures on the wall prompted more questions. I learned that Martínez honed her cooking skills while interning, and later working for Charlie Trotter.
As if these accomplishments were not already impressive, Laura Martínez happens to be the first blind chef to open a restaurant in the US.
The entire concept behind La Diosa, from the menu to the name, are both her idea and her dream. Losing her eyesight as a baby, Martínez is convinced that her condition pushed her to succeed. “Being a chef was not the easiest path for anyone in my situation, and I did not want anybody to tell me that I was not able to do something. I am the only one in my family with a degree,” she said.
Her kitchen is completely open and pristine, and watching her prepare empanadas with great precision, is nothing short of amazing. Her husband, Maurilio, doubles as both Martínez’s eyes and her sous chef. “Sometimes it can get frustrating, you wish you could see when it gets busy so that you can move faster,” she added.
Why La Diosa? Martínez said the name is a nod to her faith. As she spoke, I could not help but be reminded of her strength and resolve. Plus, if I could ever imagine of anyone embodying supernatural powers, it is her: Martínez masterfully wields a knife without sight.
Tequila pie is to die for a La Diosa in Lincoln Park If you visit La Diosa, please say hi to chef Martínez from us. We recommend that you try her tequila-cheese pie or the flan. The hot chocolate is heavenly indeed.
La Diosa
2308 N. Clark St.
773-372-5559
Open hours:
8 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday
9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday
Nuestra Mesa: Receta para Hacer Flan de Queso (Video)
Con mucha emoción aquí les tenemos la receta del chef Aldo Saavedra para preparar un delicioso flan de queso. ¡Con todo y video!
INGREDIENTES
- 4 huevos
- 700 ml leche
- 300 ml crema de leche
- 250 gr requesón o queso doble crema
- 200 gr azúcar
- 1 vaina de vainilla o 2 cdas de extracto de vainilla
- caramelo líquido para el/los moldes.
PROCESO
- Pon a hervir la leche y la vaina de vainilla abierta por la mitad y con la semillas sumergidas para que suelten todo el sabor. Pon a fuego lento durante 15 min.
- Tapa la cacerola y deja enfriar.
- Una vez que la leche esté fría, licúala junto con los huevos, la crema, el requesón y el azúcar.
- Vierte la mezcla en un recipiente de plástico y deja que se disuelva la espuma que se formó.
- Pon el caramelo al molde o a los moldes donde se va a preparar el flan
- Ya con el caramelo en los moldes, y una vez que la espuma se ha desvanecido de la mezcla, tapa los moldes con aluminio y pónlos a baño María.
- Precalienta el horno a 150ºC y mételos ya en baño María al horno y dejar hornear por al menos una hora y media.
- Saca del horno y deja enfriar sobre una rejilla.
- Ya frío, meter al refrigerador durante al menos 3 horas.
- Pasar un cuchillo por la orilla del molde, voltea sobre un platón y sirve.
El chef Aldo Saavedra ha cocinado para huéspedes de establecimientos como el conocido Hotel Condesa D.F. y ha contribuído con sus recetas en proyectos con marcas de la talla de Larousse y Danone. En Nuestra Mesa, el chef Saavedra comparte con los lectores de La Vitamina T, su pasión por la cocina y por México. Encuentra más información sobre el chef Saavedra en México de mis Sabores.Nieve de Sabores (The Many Flavors of ‘Snow’ )
A few of the many flavors of nieve. Photo Credit: Manuel Rivera. Mercado 20 de Noviembre, Oaxaca México In Mexico, and especially in Oaxaca, the art of making nieve (Spanish for ‘snow’) is a tradition passed on from generation to generation. For centuries, nieve artisans or neveros have crafted this dessert by hand, using only fruit and no artificial coloring or flavoring. If you are in Oaxaca, you will easily be able to indulge in this festive edible art, which will lure you from wooden containers on streets and markets. A wide array of both usual and unexpected flavors is typically available wherever nieve is sold- chocolate, strawberry, corn, cheese, mezcal, rose, avocado and soursop, to name a few. There are also deliciously surprising combinations such as the popular beso de ángel, or ¨angel´s kiss¨, which typically combines cherries with almonds and other fruits, delivering a complex yet delicate texture and flavor. Although still widely available, today, artisan nieves face the overwhelming competiton of mass-produced ice cream.
The World Goes on a Culinary Journey and YOU are invited – Goût de France
France has invited the entire world to a savory journey: on March 19th, 2015, more than one thousand restaurants around the world will join in to celebrate France’s gastronomy.
Organized by world renowned Alain Ducasse and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Goût de France was inspired by the iconic Auguste Escoffier, who in 1912 launched “Dîners d’Épicure” (Epicurean Dinners) – featuring a menu which was aimed at being served the same day in as many cities as possible.
Eateries around the world, from haute-cuisine restaurants to bistros, were invited to apply to participate by proposing a menu that showcased France’s culinary traditions. Winners were selected by a committee lead by Ducass himself.
All winning menus render homage to a vibrant, open and innovative cuisine, while remaining true to its values of sharing, pleasure, respect for good food, and for the planet. There are 24 participating restaurants in the US, from LA to NY and 43 in Mexico.
Our dear José Bossuet is among these 43, with his Café Contento, being the only eatery participating in this event in San Miguel de Allende.
- Chef José Bossuet, Café Contento
Bossuet has appointed La Vitamina T´s very own Aldo Saavedra to be part of the event. Here is the menu he will be serving.
Foie Gras and Cactus Terrin, Hibiscus Royal Kir
- Zucchini Blossom and Roquefort Quesadilla
- Provençale-Style Red Snapper, Cilantro Green Rice
- Beef Medallions, Watermelon Au Jus
- Local “Corazón de Plata” goat cheese
- Chocolate, fennel and grilled mango tart with coconut foam
If you are in Guanajuato, you are in luck and we are very jealous (we will be at an event in Miami where NO restaurants have won their entry to this worldwide event. Ahhhhh!)
All participating restaurants are now present on www.good-france.com website. You may book directly at the restaurant of your choice.
Estampas de Mi Ciudad – Tejate, the Drink of Kings
Tejatera. Tlacolula, Mexico. Photo credit: Chef Aldo Saavedra With the precision of a natural event, spring after spring, dozens of tejateras (ladies who make tejate) descend upon the village of San Andrés Huayapán, a town about 15 miles away from the city of Oaxaca. The big colorful clay pots signal the beginning of La Feria del Tejate (Tejate Festival), one of Oaxaca’s many tributes to this ancestral drink.
Tejate is made with corn masa, cocoa beans, mamey fruit and the flower of the cocoa plant, also called “rosita de cacao” (little rose of cocoa). Expert tejate drinkers usually agree that the thicker the foam made by this flower, the better the tejate.
This cold drink is served in small handcrafted containers or jícaras. Each drink is as unique as the jícara that holds it, and as proud as the hands that make it. At first glance, tejate might seem a bit rough and perhaps even unappealing. One sip, and you will understand why this complex mix of flavors was the favorite of Zapotec kings.
Not in Oaxaca in April? Don´t worry. You can easily find this drink year round in any Oaxacan mercado, or around the city.
Food: How it Makes Words Delicious. From the Series #DíloconSabor (Say it with Flavor)
“A darle que es mole de olla” (Let’s get to work because we are making mole de olla). This expression is used to instill motivation to begin working on a complex task.
Post 1 of the series #DíloconSabor (Say it with Flavor)
Having been raised in Mexico City, Mexico, it was not until I moved to the US as a young professional, that I realized that sports jargon was prevalent in colloquial language. I might have not fully understood which sport the expressions had been borrowed from, but I very quickly became adept at seasoning my language with phrases such as “touch base”, “call an audible”, “drop the ball”, etc. Something that was very curious to me is that in contrast, Mexicans season their language with food. This series, “Dílo con Sabor” is a collection of food-centric sayings or allegories that are now part of popular wisdom or folklore.
Do you have a favorite food-related saying? Tweet it to @lavitaminat with the hashtag #díloconsabor (sayitwithflavor).
Rollo de Pechuga de Pollo – Receta Navideña del Chef José Bossuet
Photo: Café Contento ¿Te tocó hacer la cena este año? Sorprende a tus invitados con esta receta del Chef Bossuet para preparar un rollo de pechuga de pollo orgánico relleno de queso de cabra, mantequilla de flor de calabaza con cremoso de camote, quelite Obregón y jitomate cherry orgánicos.
Rinde: 8 porciones
Ingredientes:
- 8 pechugas de pollo orgánico rellenas de queso de cabra
- 4 tazas cremoso de camote, quelite Obregón y jitomate cherry orgánicos
- 2 tazas mantequilla de flor de calabaza
- ½ taza zanahoria rallada en listones y colocada en recipiente con hielos.
Para el rollo de pechuga
- 8 medias pechugas abiertas
- 2 pzas queso de cabra a las finas hierbas
- Sal y pimienta blanca al gusto
- Papel aluminio suficiente
Forma de hacerse:
- Sazona las pechugas con sal y pimienta por ambos lados
- Rellénalas con ¼ de queso de cabra cada una.
- Colócalas en el papel aluminio y enróllalas
- Cocina a la plancha o en una sartén hasta que estén bien cocidas, voltéalas varias veces para asegurar una cocción pareja.
- Reserva
Para la mantequilla de flor de calabaza
- 1 taza mantequilla clarificada
- 1 taza de vino blanco
- 1 taza de flor de calabaza limpia
- 1 cucharada de curry Madras
- Sal al gusto
Forma de hacerse:
Coloca todos los ingredientes y cocina por 30 minutos a fuego bajo, muele finamente.
Reserva
Para el cremoso de camote, quelite Obregón y jitomate cherry orgánicos:
- 1 lto crema para batir
- 2 tazas camote horneado molido
- 1 taza jitomate cherry orgánico
- 3 tazas quelite Obregón orgánico
- Sal al gusto
Forma de hacerse:
- Hierve la crema. Agrega el quelite y los jitomates. Una vez cocidos, agrega el camote y sazona.
- Reserva.
Preparación y Montaje:
- Corta los rollos en dos y colócalos encima del cremoso, baña con la mantequilla de flor de calabaza y decora con la zanahoria.
- Sirve caliente
Chef José Bossuet El chef José Bossuet Martinez, es miembro de la prestigiosa asociación gastronómica “Club de Chefs de Chefs”, mismo que admite exclusivamente a los chefs de cocina que sirven a reyes, reinas, príncipes, jefes de estado y de gobierno.
Bossuet fungió como Chef Ejecutivo de la Presidencia de la República al mando de la cocina del ex-presidente Vicente Fox, en donde tuvo a su cargo la comitiva del avión presidencial, viajando con el presidente en la giras internacionales.
Hoy, ya no es necesario ser funcionario o aristocracia para comer como si lo fueramos. ¿Estás en San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato? Pues estás de suerte. Visita al Chef Bossuet en su Café Contento y también en Valle de Guadalupe, Baja Californa en Lozhka Bistrot .
Art and Heart: A Culinary Showcase by Ron Aleman at Sophie’s
Sophie’s Ron Aleman. Art.
This is the first thought that came to mind when my dish was served – a beautiful combination of colors and textures that made me take notice. The impeccable service and a thoughtfully curated space overlooking Michigan Avenue added to the experience. Comfort meets class here, and you can´t help but feel charmed when you visit. I was hooked.
Chef Aleman’s cioppino at Sophie’s. And beyond beauty, substance. Heart. You are after all at Saks Fifth Avenue… a model walking by each table with the latest designer jacket can be a reminder of your targeted budget or caloric intake. Chef Ron Aleman’s food is so good though, that somehow you feel welcome, not intimidated.
As I kept coming back I realized that something resonated within me. Just like shorthand, food is a secret language that transports you to a particular time and place. I knew the author of my meal was undoubtedly an artist. But, why did I think that this American fare spoke Spanish to my soul?
Chef Ron Aleman grew up dreaming of pursuing a career in the arts, perhaps painting or drawing (when I heard this, the artistic plating made perfect sense). Instead, he took a detour and graduated with a degree in business. As a successful salesman, at the age of 30, (when many professionals have consecrated themselves to their craft) Aleman was starting over. In his new position, tending to the chores assigned to the most junior staff, he took over washing dishes and mopping with pride. “I knew this was the path I needed to follow, and there was nothing to be ashamed of”, he said.
If you have tried Chef Aleman’s food, you have looked at a snapshot of his heart: “Family is at the center of food. Food is love… cooking for others is an honor.” It is precisely his family where Chef draws a lot of his inspiration. Aleman found his Mexican mother-in-law’s asada salsa so irresistible, that he recreated her recipe in his kitchen. Growing up with tortillas as a staple of his family’s meals, his point of view is down-to-earth yet uniquely cosmopolitan. If you visit, try his coconut bread pudding, a dessert that in Mexico, we call capirotada.
You say bread pudding, I say capirotada. Either way, this dessert is amazing. Like CliffsNotes on Chicago, Chef Ron Aleman’s dishes are a synopsis of the character of the city- elevated yet approachable; informally sophisticated; worldy American with just the perfect touch of heat.
Follow Chef Aleman on Instagram: @Ronaleman27
(312) 525-3400
700 North Michigan Ave. 7th Floor
Nuestra Mesa: Quesadillas de Caracol
Foto: Manuel RiveraLos insectos son una de las tantas aportaciones de la época prehispánica a la gastronomía que actualmente conocemos como mexicana. Relegados durante siglos, (en gran parte debido a que los colonizadores españoles encontraban la costumbre de comer insectos algo repulsiva) hoy, este alimento ha recuperado su auge. Actualmente, más allá de ser el alimento cotidiano de una multitud de comunidades indígenas a lo largo y ancho del país, los insectos se han consolidado como un fascinante (e incluso elevado) ingrediente de la gastronomía mexicana. Desde hormigas hasta escarabajos y gusanos, la abundancia, la diversidad y el alto contenido proteínico, de esta fuente de sustento antes desdeñada como un alimento primitivo, quizás irónicamente sea la comida del futuro.
En esta ocasión, y únicamente gracias a la extraordinaria labor de antropología culinaria del chef Aldo Saavedra, es que nos es posible traerles esta receta del municipio de Acolman, en el Estado de México. Según Saavedra, gracias al clima y al cultivo del maguey propios de esta entidad, Acolman es un gran productor de caracol silvestre. Aquí, este insecto se consume en diversos y exquisitos guisos que van desde sopas, salteados con guajillo, en ensalada de nopales y con xoconostle para quesadillas.
Ingredientes:
- 150 gr caracol silvestre (puede ser en lata)
- 1/2 cebolla picada en cubos pequeños
- 3 xoconostles
- 1 ramita de epazote picado
- Tortillas
- Sal
- Aceite para freír
Proceso:
- Enjuaga y pon a escurrir los caracoles.
- Pela los xoconostles, quitales las semillas del centro y pícalos en cubos pequeños.
- Calienta el aceite en una sartén. Ya caliente pon la cebolla. Una vez que esté transparente, agrega los caracoles. Dos minutos después, incorpora el xoconostle.
- Dejar cocinar por 10 minutos, sazona con epazote y sal.
- Calienta las tortillas y rellénalas con el salteado de caracol.
El chef Aldo Saavedra ha cocinado para huéspedes de establecimientos como el conocido Hotel Condesa D.F. y ha contribuído con sus recetas en proyectos con marcas de la talla de Larousse y Danone. En Nuestra Mesa, el chef Saavedra comparte con los lectores de La Vitamina T, su pasión por la cocina y por México. Encuentra más información sobre el chef Saavedra en México de mis Sabores.
