Category Archives: Apetizer

“Just Go For It” Portobello-Spinach Wontons

March 4, 2016 by Food Polka

Much like a painter who just starts to paint and creates a unique piece of art, a good cook can whip up something by just starting to cook. I tend to make the best meals when I look at what’s lying around in my cabinets and refrigerator and just go for it. This happens because I have good cooking intuition. For example, one day I was feeling very hungry and knew I had to eat before my Pilates class, but […]

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Categories: Almond Milk, Apetizer, Black Pepper, California Cuisine, Chives, Cornstarch, Dinner, Dumplings, Eggs, Flours, Garlic, Green Onions, Herbs, Lunch, Mushroom, Olive Oil, Portobello, Resourceful Cooking, Salt, Spices, Spinach, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Wheat Flour • Tags: asian, cooking for singles, creative cuisine, creative food stylist los angeles, Dumplings, fast food, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist los angeles, fotografia kulinarna, healthy, marta smolczewska, pierogi z grzybami, pierogies, polish cooking, polish immigrants, polish pierogi, portobello mushroom, published by Marta Fowlie, quick meal idea, resourceful cooking, staffed dumplings, stylizacja kulinarna, wontons

My “Miserable” Youth was Filled with this Cucumber Dish

February 20, 2016 by Food Polka

As I started exploring my Polish food memories, there was a moment when I realized many Polish dish names have 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 add a […]

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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

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 […]

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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 […]

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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

Everybody Pesto! Pumpkin-Arugula, Pesto!

May 18, 2015 by Food Polka

I’m sure you’ve tried pesto before. That classic Italian sauce made with basil, pine nuts, and Parmesan—it’s delicious, isn’t it? But did you know that you can easily make it at home in about 5 minutes? Well, you can, and so can this version of pesto, which may not be as classic as the Italian prototype but is just as delicious. This new pesto recipe is made with arugula, pumpkin seeds, and Asiago cheese. While the ingredients may differ from […]

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Categories: Apetizer, Arugula, Asiago cheese, California Cuisine, Dinner, Food Photography, Food Styling, Garlic, Lemon, Lunch, Olive Oil, Privet Chef Events, Published by Marta Fowlie, Pumpkin seeds, Recipe Development, Resourceful Cooking, Snack, Vegeterian • Tags: art director, arugula pesto, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, different pesto, easy sauce, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food photography, food styling, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, personal chef LA, pesto, published by Marta Fowlie, quick sauce, sauce for red meat

Get Ready for Mad Men’s Final Season with The 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 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 isn’t going to cut it. I’ll 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 […]

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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

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According to Polish Conventional Wisdom Homemade, Veggie Pickles Cure Hangover

March 26, 2015 by Food Polka

How about some good, old, homemade veggie pickles? Just like our grandmas used to make. You can make them at home, pack them in a nice jar, and give them as a gift. They are perfect alone as a snack, appetizer, or an addition to your sandwich or dinner. Polish people say that they are great for hangovers. I think you should test that. Quick Pickled Veggies Shopping List (makes approximately 3/1-pint jars): Now follow these steps: If you want […]

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Categories: Apetizer, Black Pepper, Brown mustard seeds, California Cuisine, Carrots, Cauliflower, Condiments, Coriander, Cumin, Dinner, Food Photography, Food Styling, Lunch, Pickles, Published by Marta Fowlie, Red Onions, Rice Vinegar, Salt, Snack, Spices, Thai Chili, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian, Vegeterian, Yellow mustard seeds • Tags: art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, home made pickles, made pickles, personal chef LA, pickeled vegetables, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, quick pickles, refreshement, vegan snack, Veggie Pickles

Shed the Winter Lbs with this Garden Salad Recipe

March 7, 2015 by Food Polka

Seasons are changing and clothes are getting shorter and tighter. Many ladies have been hiding from the snow under a big cashmere sweater with a big bowl of takeout. It’s time to get our Summer bodies back and it’s possible by just eating clean! Here’s a simple garden salad recipe with an easy dressing made from scratch. Let’s get back on our healthy grinds during the weekend, not after. Garden Salad with Avocado-Wasabi Dressing Shopping List (serves 1): Salad Dressing […]

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Categories: Apetizer, Avocado, California Cuisine, Cilantro, Cucumbers, Diary Product, Eggs, Green Onions, Lemon, Lettuce, Lime, Lunch, Mint, Olive Oil, Published by Marta Fowlie, Radish, Romain Lettuce, Salad, Snack, Tomatoes, Vegan, Vegeterian, Wasabi, Yogurt • Tags: art director, creative director, creative food stylist los angeles, dressing made from scratch, food photographer, food photographer los angeles, food styling los angeles, food stylist, food stylist los angeles, helathy salad, home made dressing, lean cuisine, light food, personal chef LA, privet chef in LA, published by Marta Fowlie, refreshement

Black is the new green in this black olive appetizer

March 5, 2015 by Food Polka

I’m not a big fanatic of olives, but I always have a jar or a can of this popular delicacy in my kitchen. Why? For several reasons: 1) Almost every person I know likes olives. 2) They are cheap. 3) Don’t go bad fast and store in a can or jar, always taste just as good. 4) They do not need a long time to process or cook. 5) They are the perfect accompaniment to other dishes like meat, pizza, […]