Med-style artichoke dip

Med-style artichoke dip was a discovery for me. The only artichoke dip I knew before the age 40 was the warm kind that looked like this. Now as good and comforting as it may be, it’s pretty hefty and more of a Super Bowl recipe than a hot weather appetizer. So being in Dubai, I […]

Rustic smoked mackerel paté

I discovered this delicious little spread in the UK over the summer and couldn’t get enough of it. It’s one of these old recipes that’s made a comeback in recent years and is on a lot of restaurant menus there. So when I found smoked mackerel at Spinneys the other day, I jumped on the […]

The ultimate summer caviar

To me, tapenade screams of summer. It’s what I call the Provencal man’s caviar. Just the thought of this herbed olive paste reminds me of my first summer in the south of France, where I saw it served as an appetizer on every restaurant terrace alongside a glass of rose, perhaps a Pastis or a […]

Rillettes de thon

Rillettes de thon is a French tuna-based dip commonly served in summer on toast or with veggies as an appetizer. It traditionally calls for canned tuna blended with some cream cheese and chives but I find that the addition of capers and lemon zest bring your taste buds to a much higher place. And like […]