Salim Ben Mami is head chef and owner of Café Collage restaurant in Oregon House. Contact him at 692-2555 or ccollage@succeed.net. His Web site is www.cafecollage.net.
Culinary Odyssey
- Crème brulee: A sweet custard
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- Crème brulee is a custard made of a mixture of cream and eggs topped with caramelized sugar. Its origin is uncertain, mainly because the English, French and Spanish all claim to have invented crème brulee. The English call it... Full story
- You can make thick, creamy Greek yoghurt at home
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- Yoghurt derives from the Turkish word "yogurt," and according to several historians has been made and consumed for 4,000 to 5,000 years. It is produced by the bacterial fermentation of milk. It is made by using live microorganisms, which have the... Full story
- How to cure and marinate olives at home
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- The olive harvest begins late September and finishes as late as early March. Green olives are picked from late September to about the end of November. Blond olives are collected between October and December, and black olives are harvested between... Full story
- Upside-down apple tart one of France's most popular desserts
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- Tarte Tatin, also called "la tarte des demoiselle tatin," is one of the most popular desserts in France. It is an upside-down apple tart. The apples are carefully caramelized in sugar and butter until they get the flavor and texture of caramel. The... Full story
- Focaccia flat bread is widely popular
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- Focaccia is one of the most popular and ancient flat breads. It is considered an early version of pizza dough. The original recipe is essentially baked dough topped with olive oil, rosemary or sage and salted with coarse salt. However, focaccia... Full story
- Spinach quiche would be ideal for New Year's brunch
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- This recipe would be an ideal dish for New Year's day brunch. Although it is a French dish, quiche originates from Germany. The classic quiche Lorraine is a pie with eggs, cream, bacon and cheese (often Emmental or Gruyere). The crust is made of... Full story
- Moroccan flavors add savory twist to Cornish game hens
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- The story of how Apollo Olive Oil started in Oregon House is quite fascinating because it involves a complex and rich heritage. I realized while interviewing the miller owner, Gianni Stefanini, that it will require several weeks of research before I... Full story
- Tracing the amazing journey that brought olives to California
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- The story of how the olive came to California is truly an amazing epic. The journey began in Spain in the late 15th and early 16th centuries via the Caribbean settlements, then the mainland of South America, New Spain (Mexico) and finally to the... Full story
- Meyer Lemon Pecan Pie is a sweet reminder the holidays are near
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- Pecan pie is one of the desserts most frequently eaten during the holidays and is considered to be a delicacy of the southern U.S. The origin of the pie goes back to the first French settlers in New Orleans who were introduced to pecans by the... Full story
- Coq au Vin a rustic French chicken dish
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- Coq au Vin (literally, in French, rooster in red wine) is a traditional rustic French braise of chicken cooked with pinot noir or burgundy red wine, lardons, mushrooms, shallots or pearl onions and garlic. It is, by far, one of the most popular... Full story
