Greetings and welcome to TasteFood!
This blog chronicles a culinary journey that begins and ends at the kitchen table. In 1991 I moved from Boston to Paris to study cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. I returned to the U.S. 17 years later with my Danish husband, 2 children and previous addresses in Geneva, London and Copenhagen.
Every country has its unique traditions reinforced with food, and there is no better way to immerse oneself in a new culture than to have a seat at its kitchen table. We speak many languages, yet cooking and eating are universal, connecting us to our family, friends and new aquaintances, no matter the spoken word.
In our well traveled life, our kitchen table has had countless visitors. It’s been the gathering point for new and old friends, while reinforcing the importance and pleasure of the family dinner. I am often asked where I feel is my home, and I answer it’s wherever the kitchen table is. I call this Kitchen Table Philosophy, and would like to share it with you through my stories and recipes on TasteFood. So, please pull up a chair and get comfortable. I promise there will be something good to eat.
- Lynda Balslev
Lynda Balslev is an award-winning food writer and recipe developer based in the San Francisco Bay area. She writes about food and travel, contributes to NPR’s Kitchen Window and authors the blog TasteFood, a compilation of nearly 500 original recipes, photos and stories. Lynda is the 2011 recipient of the Chronicle Books Award for recipe writing to the Greenbrier Professional Food Writers Symposium.
Lynda attended Le Cordon Bleu Ecole de Cuisine in Paris and remained in Europe, living for more than 15 years in Switzerland, England and Denmark. When she wasn’t moving country, setting up house, raising her children and learning the language of her new home, Lynda worked as a writer, caterer and cooking instructor. She was the food editor of the Danish magazine Sphere from 2004 to 2006. A corporate move brought Lynda and her family to Northern California in 2007, and when she recovered from reverse culture shock, she launched TasteFood in 2008 as a chronicle of her cooking and travels.
Lynda’s writing and photography have been recognized by many publications including Gourmet Live,The New York Times Diners Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Huffington Post, CIA ProChef Smart Brief, and Food News Journal.
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Hi Lynda, Your background is unique and very interesting sounds much like mine. I left CO in 1971 and returned to Germany, a country I was very familiar with and returned 35 yrs., later. I was always on the receiving end (enjoying) of the food business. The last 30 yrs., there my wife and I lived in the Rheinland-Pfalz area, about 45 mins., from France. We visited France frequently, since we were in the wine and spirits business, we always had the best of the best. France has strong competition with certain parts of Italy. We returned in ’06 and currently have a German Deli and a German Restaurant (Schnitzel Fritz) in Colo Springs, CO. Although we’re small we stick to tradition and quality. I”m going to Germany 15 Jan to attend a hearing (Fkft Kon) for a German Baker, whom I’ll bring to the CO, where we’ll do only traditional European breads and pastries. Wolfgang has been doing this for 35 yrs. I currently have a full blown bakery just waiting to turn on the ovens. I’m excited as there is a huge interest here with a large familiar population. We use a Rational oven (combi) and just started doing Schweinhaxen over our delicious homemade Sauerkraut. May I try a couple of your recipes and I’ll let you know results. Lynda, that’s it for now as I’ve got to finish packing.
Tchuss,
Mitch and Anke Verburg
Hi Lynda -
I came upon your blog via Pat Sinclair’s facebook post. Pat and I know each other through a local cooking school. Anyway, I just poked around your site and love it. Thanks so much for sharing your stories and recipes. All the best,
Bret
Hi Lynda,
your life sounds amazing and your blog is gorgeous! I love your recipes, very special and with a interesting European influence. I cannot decide which recipe to cook first!! Very nice to meet you, I look forward to your posts!
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Ai un blog foarte frumos, imi place mult cum gatesti, felicitari!
Such a cool story. I’m really enjoying your blog. I read the LA Times article that featured your photo, but saw it online and had no idea! That must have been so fun to see.
I’m signing up to your blog…it’s lovely.
Hope you can check out mine some time soon, too
Appreciate and thanks much for sharing this weblog article post.
Please include me in your emails
It is very interesting to read about your background and I love your blog!
Just stumbled upon your site looking for an apple cranberry crisp recipe. I loved your idea for the roasted cauliflower, prosciutto, peas with oricchiete…in fact, just thinking about it makes me hungry! I look forward to reading your blog!
What an accidental discovery…Nice food blog..just followed
Lynda, it was great meeting and cooking with you at CavallO Point. I will enjoy reading the blog in the future. Cheers, Pam
Pam: It was so nice to meet you. I would love to learn more about your vineyard! – Lynda
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So glad to find your blog and Facebook page. Thanks for inviting me. I look forward to coming back for more delightful culinary adventures!
Im signing up for your blog! WOW, what an amazing backgroup. No wonder you come up with all these amazing recipes!
So glad I stumbled upon your blog! Full of little treasures.