Category Archives: Holidays

The Lonely Winter Brussels Sprouts Soup. It’s “lonely”, but you don’t have to eat it alone

December 22, 2016 by Food Polka

I am fortunate to spend this Holiday season with my family in Poland. It has been 16 years since the last Christmas together and a very long time since I experienced the “real” winter for longer than a week. Although it’s cold out here, I am still super excited because the trip triggers so many culinary memories. Winters in Northern Europe offer very limited variety of local produce but Brussels Sprouts are in season now. So, here is my sentimental winter tale about this “little” vegetable. I grew […]

Categories: Christmas, Communism, Cooking Classes, Dill, Dinner, Editorial, Food Art, Food Photography, Food Styling, Herbs, Lunch, organic, Pearl Barley, Polish Cuisine, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Resourceful Cooking, Soup, Tomatoes, Vegetables • Tags: brussels sprouts, brussels sprouts soup, creative food stylist los angeles, culinary productions, culinary writing, Dill, food photographer, food photographer la, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food polka, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, foodpolka, marta fowlie, polish cooking, published by Marta Fowlie, winter soups

Brownie 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 Valentines 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 truth […]

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

Split pea soup inspired by Polish military field kitchens

December 29, 2015 by Food Polka

This is the ultimate Polish soup recipe. The soup is called “Grochówka” which means it’s made out of dried split pea and few more typical for Polish soups 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 […]

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

Holiday Eggnog Martini just like grandma used to make

December 25, 2015 by Food Polka

When I was a little girl, I felt in love with the home made treat called kogel-mogel. It was made out of raw egg yolks and white sugar. Sometimes I would have it with a touch of raw cocoa powder or lemon juice. At times of my childhood in communistic Poland, when sweets were rationed and for most of the time not available at all, this treat meant to me a lot. Particularly, because I could make it at home […]

Categories: California Cuisine, Christmas, Cocktail, Dessert, Diary Product, Dinner, Eggs, Eggs, Food Photography, Food Styling, Holidays, Lemon, Liquors, Maple Syrup, Polish Cuisine, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Published by Marta Fowlie, Soy milk, Vegeterian, Vodka • Tags: adwokat, ajerkoniak, art director, boże narodzenie w polsce, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, diet cocktail, diet eggnog, eggnog, eggnog martini, eggnog with vodka, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, healthy cocktail, holiday cocktail, kogel mogel, light eggnog, personal chef LA, polish christmas drinks, polish christmas food, polish martini, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, refreshement, wódka z jajkiem, winter cocktail

Nothing speaks Thanksgiving louder than this delicious threesome

November 24, 2015 by Food Polka

This week we celebrate Thanksgiving. This time I won’t be cooking. I am going to celebrate. With my good friends. In the restaurant. And I will not eat turkey because I don’t like it. I’ll enjoy a juicy, bloody prime rib with horseradish. That said I have been “entertaining” the idea of Thanksgiving menu in my kitchen for the last month. How? Just by playing with different pumpkins, squashes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, cranberries, oranges… So to keep up with […]

Categories: American Cuisine, Balsamic Vinegar, Butternut Squash, Cranberries, Dinner, Food Photography, Food Styling, Fruits, Honey, Lunch, Oranges, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Resourceful Cooking, Thankgiving, Vegetarian, Vegeterian • Tags: art director, buttenut squash, cranberries, creative director, creative food, creative food stylist los angeles, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, fusion food, healthy thanksgiving recipe, intuitarian, marta smolczewska, orange, presonal chef los angeles long beach, privet chef los angeles, published by Marta Fowlie, resourceful cooking, sauce, soup, sustainable cooking, thanksgiving recipe

Pomegrante chocolates for Happy Mother’s Day and any other occasion

May 10, 2015 by Food Polka

Dark chocolate is full of sophisticated flavor. Personally, the darker the better. I love dark chocolate with a cocoa content of over 70% combined with fresh fruits. They bring its taste to a completely new level. I particularly love dark chocolate with pomegranate. The unforgettable sensation of juicy, refreshing, sweet and sour pomegranate seeds bursting in the middle of bittersweet, dense chocolate is my favorite. These two different flavors and textures are a sweet craving revelation. When we add some fresh, […]

Categories: Chocolate, Coffee, Culinary Writing, Dark Chocolate, Dessert, Food Photography, Food Styling, Marta Fowlie, Marta Smolczewska, Mother's Day, Pomegranate, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Spices, Vegetarian • Tags: aphrodisiac food, aphrodisiac ingredients based dessert, art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, cute dessert idea, cute gift idea, edible gift, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, mother's day, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie

Get ready for Mad Men’s final season with these modern cookies

March 31, 2015 by Food Polka

The last season of Mad Men starts this Sunday, and well… Not sure about you, but I am definitely going to shed a tear (or two) and need some serious comfort food to get me out of this funk. And no, the average potato chip just is not going to cut it. I will be keeping mid-century mod alive by baking some yummy shortbread cookies. If you aren’t too bummed to invite some friends over, throw a party and watch the final season […]

Categories: American Cuisine, Apetizer, Breakfast, Butter, Chocolate, Christmas, Cookies, Dark Chocolate, Dessert, Food Photography, Food Styling, Holidays, Lunch, Oat flour, Oatmeal, Oranges, Published by Marta Fowlie, Salt, Snack, Tea, Vegeterian, Wheat Flour • Tags: art director, cream cookies, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, mad men dessert, mad men season premiere, midcentury food, midcentury styled cookies, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, tea cookies

Play with your sweetheart and your cake this Valentine’s Day

February 12, 2015 by Food Polka

Just as you would play with your sweetheart, you should play with your dessert! It is mandatory that this V-Day your dessert consists of an aphrodisiac. Which one is my favorite? Pomegranate! According to common knowledge, many other fruits serve as aphrodisiacs. If you want to make the magic happen, the list of fruits goes on and on: strawberries, cherries, watermelon, bananas and more. Let your imagination run wild, and use them in whichever way you desire. Just bake your […]

Categories: Apetizer, Bananas, Cake, Cherries, Culinary Writing, Dessert, Food Photography, Food Styling, Fruits, Marta Fowlie, Pomegranate, Privet Chef Events, Published by Galore Mag, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Strawberries, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian, Watermelon • Tags: aphrodisiac food, aphrodisiac ingredients based dessert, aphrodisiac ingredients based dinner, art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, cute dessert idea, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, valentines day dinner in la, valentines day recipe, velentines day, X aphrodisiac dessert recipe

Double Dip allowed. Chocolaty aphrodisiac fruit dessert

February 11, 2015 by Food Polka

Valentines Day is a perfect occasion for dipping aphrodisiac fruit in rich, velvety chocolate that itself is an aphrodisiac. Cut aphrodisiac fruits into shapes that only your imagination can deliver. Put them on the skewer. Hold them with your fingertips by the stem. Dip the fruit inside that warm pot, full of velvety, chocolate. Pamper your lip and mouth with it. Let your tongue feel it when it’s still warm. And to add more spice to your dessert and make […]

Categories: Apetizer, Bananas, Cherries, Chocolate, Coffee, Culinary Writing, Dark Chocolate, Dessert, Food Photography, Food Styling, Marta Fowlie, Marta Smolczewska, Milk Chocolate, Pomegranate, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Recipe Development, Spices, Strawberries, Thai Chili, Valentine's Day, Vegetarian, Watermelon • Tags: aphrodisiac food, aphrodisiac ingredients based dessert, aphrodisiac ingredients based dinner, art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, cute dessert idea, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, valentines day dinner in la, valentines day recipe, velentines day, X aphrodisiac dessert recipe