Melissa Aquino @melissaquino - Tumblr Blog

#FBF: food edition. This is a meal I won't soon forget: wontons filled with yam and swiss chard, plus another variety stuffed full with crumbled tempeh and kimchi. I served both variations in a simple miso broth, with plenty of kale and green onions to turn this dish into a meal.

#vegan #soup #wontons #swiss chard #yam #tempeh #what vegas eat #miso

A remnant left over from the extreme dieting fads of the 1990s? An alarming amount of people believe that rice cakes are only for those who count calories. I've undertaken a personal mission to change this, and recommend starting with these delicous Thin Stacker rice cakes (crackers?) from Lundberg Family Farms. They taste delicious on their own, but are the ultimate vehicle for party dips or spreads. Lundberg also sells the most incredible variety of Italian, arborio-like rice, Vialone Nano. Order it immedately.

#lundberg #vialone nano #rice cake love

This somewhat-unattractive paste is actually a delicious eggplant spread that would be great on rice or pasta, or simply served on a slab of toast. The Turkish name is paticlan soslu, though other Mediterranean regions have similar dishes. The recipe is simple, but takes about an hour: - Finely cube two medium eggplants and salt for 20 minutes to reduce any bitter flavor. Then, squeeze in handfuls to remove excess water. - Meanwhile, sautéed chopped bell peppers (one red, one green) in olive oil, and add about six cloves of rough chopped garlic when the peppers begin to soften. Sautée for five minutes. - Add the eggplant cubes and mix well. Pour in one cup of plain tomato sauce and simmer, covered, for about an hour. Everything should be thick and spreadable, with few discernible pieces. - Enjoy at room temperature.

#eggplant #paticlan soslu #Turkish food #mediterranean

Sad and toothy coconut in need of a home. Call Sprouts Farmers Market in Burbank with adoption inquiries.

Palm Springs, CA

#palm springs #desert #Coachella valley

The season of Coachella is once again upon us, so I spent this weekend at Ace Hotel Palm Springs to help dublab facilitate the annual Desert Gold event.

Located a mere 25 miles from the music festival, Desert Gold at the Ace Hotel provides Coachella-goers refuge from the desert sun (and overhwhelming concert crowds). The grounds of the hotel are stocked with activities at every corner, from record store popup shops to interactive brand lounges. My favorite collab this year, however, is the partnership with Brooklyn eatery Five Leaves.

The Ace Hotel’s on-site diner Kings Highway is already reknown for fresh and delicious menu options, but the Five Leaves takeover brings poolside snacks to a whole new level. Favorites include the vanilla bean gelato date shake and an avocado toast that makes other trendy toasts pale in comparison: this one is stacked high with shaved radish, sliced green onion, and the perfect sprinkling of red pepper.

The Five Leaves collaboration makes me salivate just as much as the Moon Juice popup that’s part of Desert Gold. The Carrot, Lime, and Coconut blend is an ideal tonic for a day in the sweltering heat - or even a nasty hangover, should your Coachella experience dictate such gluttony.

Stop by until 4/20/15 to join the fun. Visit AceHotel.com/PalmSprings or dublab.com for more info.