Category Archives: Culinary Writing

.. And the Food Polka Award for the Best Green Design Goes to…

February 29, 2016 by Food Polka

Because this is award season in Hollywood where an actress wearing a designer dress gets major kudos, I decided to take a moment and give a Food Polka Award. The Food Polka Award for the Best Green Design goes to… Kaffir Lime Vase designed by Mother Nature. One sunny morning as I was walking my dog Jack in my neighbor’s back alley, this all-natural, organic vessel rolled to my feet. I picked it up and sniffed it. Where did it […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Culinary Writing, Editorial, Food Art, Food Photography, Food Styling, groceries, Lime, Marta Fowlie, Mint, organic, Prints Sale, produce, Published by Marta Fowlie, Sage • Tags: art prints, creative direction, creative food stylist los angeles, creative ideas, culinary photography, food art, food art for sale, food artist, food award, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food polka award, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, green design, green design award, interior architecture, interior design, kitchen design, midcentury modern food art, midcentury modern interior, organic design, printable art

Buckwheat Breaded Pork Schnitzel as Guiltless Pleasure 🐖

February 25, 2016 by Food Polka

The Pole’s relationship with pork chops is like the Americans’ relationship with steak. Although I love steak 🥩, I also love pork 🐖. After 25 years of Polish Pork Cuisine, pork has become an integral part of my diet. Sometimes when I get cravings for the old times and Slavic-Germanic culinary tradition, I make a simple pork schnitzel accompanied by potatoes and dill. When the spirit of California speaks to me, and I want a healthier version, I make a pork schnitzel… breaded in buckwheat flour. Here is a recipe for […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Black Pepper, Buckwheat Flour, Culinary Writing, Dinner, Eggs, Food Photography, Food Styling, German Cuisine, Lunch, Marta Fowlie, Marta Smolczewska, Polish Cuisine, Pork, Pork Loin, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Salt, Spices, Vegetables • Tags: breaded pork, buckwheat batter, buckwheat bredding, buckwheat pork, creative food stylist los angeles, dinner meal, dinner meat, egg batter, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, German Cuisine, jajka, kotlet schabowy, meat, polish cooking, Polish cuisine, Pork, pork cutlet, pork loin polish style, pork schnitzel, published by Marta Fowlie, schabowy

My “Miserable” Youth was Filled with this Cucumber Dish 🥒

February 20, 2016 by Food Polka

As I began exploring my Polish food memories, I realized that many Polish dish names carry pretty negative associations. Let’s take “Mizeria”, a simple dinner side green cucumber dish, which basically translates to “Misery”. Mizeria consists of two main ingredients. Sour cream and green cucumbers 🥒🥒. That’s it. The sour cream was sometimes swapped for similar dairy products like kefir, buttermilk, or yogurt if they were available. Some people used heavy cream instead. To boost vitamins and flavor, my mom […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Apetizer, California Cuisine, Cucumbers, Culinary Writing, Diary Product, Dill, Dinner, Editorial, Food Art, Food Photography, Food Styling, Garlic, Lemon, Lunch, Polish Cuisine, Potatoes, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Resourceful Cooking, Salad, Snack, Vegeterian, Yogurt, Yogurt • Tags: creative food stylist los angeles, dressing made from scratch, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, green cucumber recipe, helathy salad, home made dressing, lean cuisine, light food, persian cucumbers, personal chef LA, pickling cucumbers, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, refreshement

Brownie Cakes Recipe that I Love and So Will Your Loved One

February 9, 2016 by Food Polka

Have you ever thought? Here we go again. Another year, another Valentine’s Day? Another dilemma! What should I do with her? What should I do for him? Well, I am telling you, I have been there. I have also been there to help others out; as a personal chef. Besides offering a private intimate, sensual Valentine’s Day dinner for your beloved one, I can also offer simple ideas that you can execute on your own. There is a lot of […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: American Cuisine, Butter, Cake, Chocolate, Cookies, Cooking Classes, Culinary Writing, Dark Chocolate, Dessert, Editorial, Eggs, Food Art, Food Photography, Food Styling, Holidays, Lunch, Mango, Marta Fowlie, Marta Smolczewska, Mint, Oranges, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Salt, Snack, Strawberries, Valentine's Day, Vegeterian, Wheat Flour, Wheat Flour, Yogurt • Tags: brownie, Chocolate, creative food stylist los angeles, food art, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, food visuals, fudge, midcentury food, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, privet chef los angeles, published by Marta Fowlie, tea cookies, Valentine's Day, valentines day dessert, valentines day dinner in la, valentines day idea, valentines day recipe

Polish Split Pea Soup Inspired by Military Field Kitchens 🪖🫛

December 29, 2015 by Food Polka

This is the ultimate Polish soup recipe. The soup is called “Grochówka” and is made from dried split peas and a few other typical Polish soup ingredients. If you drive across Poland, you will notice roadside stands and food shacks in the woods inviting you to have a bowl of the “Grochówka Wojskowa” or “Grochówka Polowa”, which translates into the “Military Split Pea Soup”. Stop by, and you will most likely end up with something really tasty. Something very similar […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Carrots, Christmas, Communism, Culinary Writing, Dinner, Food Photography, Garlic, Green Pea, Herbs, Lunch, Marjoram, Polish Cuisine, Pork, Potatoes, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Resourceful Cooking, Smoked Bacon • Tags: creative food, creative food stylist los angeles, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, fusion food, green pea soup, grochówka po polsku, grochówka polowa, intuitarian, marta smolczewska, military split pea soup, polish soup, polish split pea soup, published by Marta Fowlie, resourceful cooking, sauce, soup, sustainable cooking

American steakhouse dinner menu takes the cake, proving meat and potatoes never go out of style 🥩 + 🥔

October 28, 2015 by Food Polka

Earlier this month, I received the unfortunate news that the creative chef startup that first recruited me back in 2013 is shutting down its operations in Southern California. Their business model didn’t quite align with LA’s sprawling geography, so they’ve decided to focus exclusively on New York City, where they’ve been seeing much more success. I have to admit, I genuinely enjoyed working with them. Not only did they match me with a variety of fantastic gigs that connected me […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: American Cuisine, Apetizer, California Cuisine, Culinary Writing, Dessert, Dinner, Food Photography, German Cuisine, Mexican, Polish Cuisine, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie • Tags: art director, birthday dinner menu, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, dinner party, family dinner menu, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, home dinner party, long beach chef, los angeles food service, personal chef, personal chef LA, privet chef long beach, steakhouse dinner

Lightly Salty, Naturally Fermented Dill Pickles 🫙🥒

September 3, 2015 by Food Polka

Growing up in Poland, I fell in love with homemade sour pickles – especially ones that were naturally fermented. The pickles sold in America are cucumbers preserved in vinegar. My idea of a pickle is a cucumber that’s been naturally fermented in a brine solution. The most common place to find them in the U.S. is at Jewish delis or overpriced foodie spots, but these places usually only give you one, or even just half of a pickle, so I’m […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Apetizer, Black Pepper, Cabbage, Cucumbers, Culinary Writing, Dill, Dinner, Editorial, Food Photography, Food Styling, Garlic, German Cuisine, Herbs, Lunch, Pickles, Polish Cuisine, Privet Chef Events, Resourceful Cooking, Salad, Salt, Snack, Spices, Thai Chili, Vegan, Vegeterian, Yellow mustard seeds • Tags: art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, dill pickles, fermented cucumbers, fermented food, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food polka, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, home fermented cucumbers, home food fermentation, home made pickles, home preserves, jemwiecjestem.com, jewish deli style pickles, marta fowlie, marta smolczewska, personal chef LA, Polish Carnival, Polish chef, Polish cuisine, polish cuisine is us, polish pickles, published by Marta Fowlie, sauerkraut and pickles

All butcher blocks and cutting boards were “pretty ugly” before they became beautiful

July 18, 2015 by Food Polka

This post is basically a photo-reportage from my last month visit at Brooklyn Butcher Blocks in Brooklyn, NY. I first run into the BBB products when I was working as a chef and I was right away impressed with the stunning look and construction of their dark brickwork carving board. So, I’ve started following them on Facebook. In the spring I was hanging out at the Artisanal LA trade show and sure enough there was the BBB booth. So, I’ve […]

Like this:

Like Loading…

Categories: Culinary Writing, Editorial, Food Photography, Home Design, Kitchen Organization, Photoreportage, Published by Marta Fowlie • Tags: art director, butcher blocks, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, culinary writing, cutting boards, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, photoreportage

The springtime dinner ala Food Polka

June 10, 2015 by Food Polka

What the springtime in Poland taste like? It tastes like a new vegetable garden. It tastes like tiny, creamy new potatoes boiled with the skin on, tossed in fresh butter or buttermilk, and topped with fried, runny yolk egg. It tastes like fresh, chopped dill. It tastes like miniature, pale but the sweetest baby carrots and fresh green peas. This is the only time of the year when you can get all these flavors and combine them into one dinner […]