CatChat

Over the past week on CORA-ntine Cuisine, I got to reunite with several friends that Nicole and I have made over the years. Our incredible guests included Maria Shriver, Sheila E, Debi Mazar, Chef Gabriele Corcos, Chef Karen Akunowicz and the Shirley Temple King! Many of the guests spoke of the importance of taking care of your health and eating foods that boost your immune system.

Hey y'all! This past week was one for the books. Not only did we celebrate Greek Easter, but it was also my son Caje's birthday! I got to chat with some incredible special guests including Cameron Mathis, David Burtka, Scott Evans, Chef Andrew Zimmern and superstar film director Tate Taylor! I'm going to share a few of my favorite recipes from last week and fill you in on some of the topics we discussed.

 I've had so much fun on CORA-ntine Cuisine this past week. I got to chat with several special guests including Chef Ingrid Hofffman, Chef Dominique Crenn, Cake Wars host Jonathan Bennet and my partners at the Little Kitchen Academy, Felicity and Brian Curin. There's been one common theme in all of my chats so far and that theme is positivity.

I know plenty of y'all are making pasta for dinner. If you've been making the classic spaghetti with red sauce for the past couple weeks, it might be time to try a new pasta recipe. This week, I'm sharing two of my favorite ones.

Since we're all staying at home, it's the perfect time for me to connect with y'all as much as possible. With the help of my kids and my wonderful wife, I started a new series on Instagram, called  CORA-ntine Cuisine. Everyday at 5 pm PST, I'll be cooking my favorite recipes. Be sure to tune in!

There's nothing more comforting than a nice, warm bowl of soup. I don't know about you, but I think we all could use a little comfort right now. Today, I'm sharing three of my favorite soup recipes.

When I first heard of the Coronavirus, I never thought things would get this far. I never thought it would spread worldwide or that cities would go into lockdown. I also never thought that it would be difficult to buy things like toilet paper and hand sanitizer. However, the best thing that we can do right now is to stay positive, stay healthy and be kind. 

Last week, I told y'all that we had a very special guest join our team in the kitchen at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. The time has come for me to reveal who that special guest was. Everyone, meet Lei! Lei reached out to me on social media a few months ago saying she's always dreamed of working with me. 

There are some pretty cool gigs that come with my profession and cooking at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival is definitely one of the best! Between three events, my team and I prepared food for approximately 1500 people! I even had a special guest join us in the kitchen. I'm going to share some behind the scenes details about how we got it all done.

I proudly champion eating healthy and living a well balanced life. Part of that balance is indulging in a tasty sweet treat every now and then. When I teamed up with WW to create recipes packed with nutrients and flavor, I knew I'd have to add recipes for those like myself who have a sweet tooth.

To celebrate the expansion of the Little Kitchen Academy, I'm going to share the Buffalo Cauliflower recipe I created for them. With a bake time of just 10 minutes, this is a quick recipe that your kids can help you make. I've swapped out the traditional chicken wings for cauliflower. Therefore you and your family will be eating a flavorful dish that's full of vitamins, fiber and antioxidants. Check out the recipe below!

I love organizing my fridge, pantry, closet, bookshelf and just about every single space in my home. There are few people who love organization as much as I do and my good friend, Kim Salisbury, is one of them. Owner of Home Method Co., Kim is a professional organizer and has guided us in creating systems to keep our home in order. Just last week, she helped us seamlessly move into our new LA home. This week, Kim and I are sharing our very best organization and moving tips!

If you're going to be cooking up some tasty food, why not serve it in nice dinnerware. Presentation is a major part of the culinary experience. Eating out of bowls and plates that are aesthetically pleasing will enhance your meal. I'm going to be sharing some of my favorite places to buy dinnerware and some sets that caught my eye.

One of the reasons why I've teamed up with WW is because I love the way they promote health and wellness.  Despite what you may have heard, you don't need to cut out an entire food group in your quest to eat cleaner. It's all about moderation!

2020 has arrived! This week I'm here to help you stick to your food and fitness New Year's Resolutions. Preparing meals at home is a huge part of maintaining a balanced diet. I know busy schedules and long work days can tempt you into eating out a lot. However, cooking your own food is better for your health and your wallet! I'm going to share three WW approved dishes that are perfect for mid day lunch breaks at work or school.

Happy New Year! 2020 is finally here and I couldn't be more excited! There's nothing like the start of a brand new year to make you focus on your health and wellness. While there are plenty of resolutions that will help you lead a more balanced lifestyle, I'm particularly fond of Dry January. I'm proud to announce that I've teamed up withSeedlip Drinks to create elegant and delicious cocktail recipes that have plenty of taste and no alcohol!

Sayonara 2019! We're less than 24 hrs away from 2020 and what better way to close out an entire decade than by having a NYE party! Since guests will be counting down to midnight with you, they'll most likely arrive past dinner time. The good news is that no one will be expecting a full course meal. However, your guests might still get hungry.

As 2020 draws closer, it's so much fun to look back and reflect upon the past year. Over the past 12 months, I've traveled to Israel with my family, judged the first season of ABC's Family Food Fight, launchedThe Little Kitchen Academy and createdmy own caviar line. I've also been able to use this website to share recipes with all of you. While we're still in 2019, I thought I'd highlight some of my favorite recipes that I've posted in the past year. 

Crab and Caviar make the ultimate pairing for any holiday dinner or party. Their respective textures and flavors compliment each other wonderfully!  Whether it's Christmas, Hanukkah or New Years, nothing says special occasion like a recipe filled with luxurious and decadent ingredients. On this week's post, I'm going to share some tips on preparing crabs, shopping for caviar and some recipes that include both foods!

You can technically have pie anytime of the year, but there's something about Thanksgiving that makes eating pie that much more delicious. It's the ultimate, comforting sweet treat. One of the great things about pies is that you can bake ahead of time and they'll still taste amazing! On Thanksgiving Day, you'll be busy cooking a bunch of other dishes. Bake these tasty pies the day before and lighten your load! 

I don't know about you, but I could not have a Thanksgiving Dinner without plenty of tasty sides. Even thought the turkey is  the largest dish on the table, the sides are the most fun to make. Sides are where you can express your creativity, experiment with new dishes or show off your favorite family recipes.

Thanksgiving is only a couple weeks away! As grocery stores start making room for all your favorite holiday ingredients, it's time for me to share some tips on how you can make your tastiest turkey yet!

November is here and you know what that means. It's officially holiday season! We have a little over 3 weeks to get ready for Thanksgiving. Turkeys are traditionally the star at the Thanksgiving table. However, if you want to replace it with a new dish this year, you've got to try my recipe for pomegranate-glazed cornish games hens with wild rice and chestnut stuffing.

As a proud Greek American, I'm going to share a recipe from my culture that tastes delicious and is fun to make. Tie your hair back and get ready to make some big flames, today we're making Saganaki.

This week, I'm featuring Abbey's Brown Butter Scallops served with a Strawberry Balsamic Sauce and topped with a Strawberry Mint Salsa. The combination of strawberry and scallops in one dish is super impressive. Way to go, Abbey!

As temperatures drop, there's no better way to spend a Friday night than breaking bread with your friends and family. Delicious food and great company are the back bone of a great dinner party.  However, I know throwing one can be intimidating if you've never done it before.  I'm here to give you tips on how to throw a dinner party with amazing food!

At 15 years old, I was unsure about many things. I was trying to figure out my sense of fashion, navigate high school and work on my self confidence. The only thing I was sure of was that I wanted to become a chef and open a restaurant.

In case you missed it, National Taco Day was last friday on Oct 4th. What better way to celebrate than to get in the kitchen and cook up some tasty tacos! Like many of you, I'm obsessed with tacos.  I could eat them every single day and live a very happy life. Soft tortilla, crunchy tortilla, fish taco, chicken taco...I love them all!

How beautiful does this dish look! While I wish I could claim this as my own creation, this Duck Confit Tortellini was conceived by Marco Bonilla, a current student at The Culinary Institute of America. He's pursuing his associate degree in culinary arts at CIA's New York campus.

It's the special time of year when Jewish families all over the world are gathering to celebrate the New Year. If you've ever hosted Rosh Hashanah, then you know how exciting it is to have your loved ones with you to celebrate. However, you also know that no Rosh Hashanah is complete without Challah Bread.

I've been cooking ever since I was a little girl. Sharing the kitchen with my parents and grandparents are some of my earliest memories. However, going to The Culinary Institute of America truly refined my knowledge of food, cooking and what it means to be a chef.

I love a good kitchen gadget. They're convenient and fun to use. It's so tempting to go out and buy kitchen tools that you've seen on instagram or on a late night infomercial. I'll let you in on a secret, you don't need all those gadgets.

 Even though I work in restaurants all day, I pay close attention to what kinds of food I bring into my home.  As a chef, I see food as art. A canvas to explore flavors and textures. However, many people don't know that I have a degree in exercise physiology with a minor in biology and nutrition. I know that food is fuel for our bodies. What we eat has a major impact on our energy levels and overall health. That's why I do my best to keep my fridge stocked with organic and natural foods.

Fall is coming! Even though it doesn't technically start until the 23rd of this month, it's time to get ready for the change in seasons. That means jean jackets, scarves, Halloween and Fall Produce.

Happy Labor Day! I teamed up with WW a few months ago to share tips and recipes on how to make healthy and delicious meals. It's important to remember that you don't have to sacrifice flavor for a healthy lifestyle. The recipes I'm sharing below are super tasty and packed with nutritious foods!

Between checking on my restaurants, doing nationwide promo for Family Food Fight and going on family vacations, I've racked up my fair share of frequent flier miles this summer. There's a certain rhythm to traveling and I want to share a few tips to help you find your groove!

We're in the last two weeks of August, which means your kids are going back to school very soon! Are they jumping for joy? Probably not, but that's okay. I'm here to help you get your kids excited.

Over the past two months, I’ve had the privilege to judge some of the greatest culinary families in the country on ABC’s Family Food Fight. Week after week, we’ve watched them make delicious recipes they have perfected over generations. From the Lee Family’s Sweet and Sour Prawns to the Livanos Family’s Pasta Con Le Sarde, getting to taste homemade cuisines from different cultures was one of my favorite parts of judging.

I love watching movies. On rainy days when I don’t feel like making the trek to the theatre, we pop a movie on our TV and recreate the theatre experience in our own home. Popcorn, a popcorn maker and a few cozy blankets will do wonders to transform your night in to an official movie night. If you have a popcorn bucket, like the striped one below, it’ll be just like you’re at an AMC.

 

Summer is not over yet! Which means there’s still time to invite some friends over, splash in the pool and fire up the grill! I grew up using a grill, but I know it can be intimidating if you’ve never used it before. I’m going to share one of my go-to grilling recipes and a few tips to make you feel like a pro!

The sun, the sand, the waves. Nothing beats the beauty of the beach. It will trick you into thinking you just need to show up and lay out. However, if you want to maximize your beach day there are some essentials we should go over. 

I am ecstatic that our first of its kind Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teens has launched. The Little Kitchen Academy has a concept and vision that holds true to my goals for our kids’ future with food and healthy living.

Don’t miss the Series Premier of Family Food Fight tomorrow, June 20^th, on the ABC Network at 9|8c. Join me, along with host and judge, Ayesha Curry and my fellow judge Graham Elliot to see who will be America’s #1 food family.

Early Summer is one of my favorite times to shop at the Farmers Market. Stone fruits and strawberries are in season and nothing screams summer more to me than those fruits. This week, I am sharing some of my #ProTips on what to look for at the Farmers Market and how to best enjoy these seasonable favorites at home…just like the Chefs do!

June is here and I am excited to celebrate my love, my life, everyone in the LGBTQ community and the milestones of change we celebrate during Pride Month. Over the years, I have seen the people in my life and across the globe become more inclusive and tolerant. No matter who you love, how you look or what you believe - we should all be able to live in a world full of love and without judgement or shame.

Spring is here all across the country and that means Farmers Markets will be popping up in everyone’s city and town. I am fortunate to live in California where farmers markets are accessible year-round but I never take for granted our access to fresh, a variety of in-season and local produce. Not only does it taste better when cooking and eating, it also has the fullest nutritional value. Did you also know you’re contributing to your local economy when you purchase from your local farmers markets? Farmers Markets return more than three times as much of their sales to the local economy compared to chain stores.