Cook Spotlight

aliyaleekong

September 1, 2010

  Melon Orange Blossom Gelato

Aliyaleekong is a New York City-based food blogger whose cooking reflects the Indian, Pakistani and East African flavors of her upbringing. Though she calls herself a "professional home cook", she's also earned bragging rights (and probably the most impeccable of knife skills) in the kitchens of Jean Georges and Per Se.

Her recipes would be alluring even in their most stripped down forms, but we love that she throws in an unexpectedly perfect ingredient in each one -- the cardamom in her peach streusel, the pomegranate molasses in her baby back ribs, the orange blossom in her melon gelato, the fenugreek in her creamy cauliflower puree -- that makes us want to unearth the underused spices and elixirs in our pantries and get cooking. See aliyaleekong's profile page and fan her here.

Read her profile Q&A below:

  • What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
    cow brains...and they were good
  • What do you cook when home alone?
    comforting East African dishes
  • Your most treasured kitchen possession:
    my chef and paring knives
  • Your ideal meal:
    homecooked, innovative and flavorful, surrounded by friends and family
  • Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook:
    moorish cuisine
  • The number of bottles of wine you own:
    50 or so
  • The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
    8
  • Kitchen pet peeve:
    lack of passion
  • Your favorite cookbook:
    Spice by Ana Sortun

  • Chocolate_peppermint_truffle_cookies_032 Reply

    I love your recipes! It's so nice to see your food and blog in the spotlight! Congrats!

    About Reply

    I so appreciate that, ChezSuzanne!

    Cheese_for_twitter0001 Reply

    Your blog is fabulous.

    About Reply

    Thanks!

    About Reply

    Thank you for all of the warm sentiments!

    Sagegr Reply

    I love your recipes! Thank you.

    Reply

    Oooooh goody, new recipes right up my alley. On the to do list as soon as the cleanse is over.

    Wedding_pictures_162 Reply

    Awesome.

    036 Reply

    Beautiful recipes - nice to see you in the spotlight!!!

    Ozoz_profile Reply

    I love the sound and look of the recipes and I love 'secret ingredient' cooking!

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