The fancy dessert ...

Last year I had some friends over for a little get together for The Oscars , I wanted to make a fancy dessert that will wow them, and I think I achieved my goal !

Chocolate domes filled with strawberry ice cream and vanilla bean ice cream , almond croquant , fresh strawberries, fresh berries and wait ... STRAWBERRY CAVIAR ... yes ... just a little molecular gastronomy

The dessert of course was delicious and was well received by my guests ... I should experiment more with molecular tid tads !

Playing with fondant !

CAKE POPS CORNUCOPIA !

Chocolatines !

So I was at home goofing around ... had some cake and decided to make some cake balls ....

Chocolate cake & chocolate frosting rolled up in small cake balls and then bathed in green colored white chocolate ... just a sweet light libation ...

My Black Pepper Chicken !

So I will just mention the ingredients , and you can figure it out from there: Corn starch, olive oil, chicken, soy sauce, white pepper, garlic, onion, green peas, carrots, black pepper , salt and brown sugar .. .. two words: FREAKING DELICIOUS !

Summer BIG salad !

Well, this is one hefty nice salad : spring mix, grilled chicken, tomato, onion, bell pepper, cucumber, peaches and all tossed with orange peel, olive oil , salt, powdered garlic and vinegar

Open Face Sandwich with Chipotle Cream Chicken and Fruit Pico De Gallo

This is a small main entree: garlic toast topped with mozzarella cheese, chipotle cream chicken, bacon bits and just a hint of cilantro , with a side of fruit pico de gallo and some spring mix .

The chipotle cream is made with sour cream, tomato, chipotle pepper, onion, salt, sugar, roasted garlic and white pepper , the previously chicken breast is topped with this cream sauce ...

The fruit pico de gallo was made with pineapple, peach, green bell pepper, yellow onion, yellow bell pepper, salt and sugar .

Guava Sorbet With Vanilla-Coconut Cream and Lemon Peel

So this dessert is the epitome of simplicity : the guava sorbet was made basically by doing guava drink with fresh fruit, sugar and water , all blended together, then added to an ice cream machine ... the cream was really easy to make too : corn starch, butter, vanilla extract, coconut extract, water, egg white, sugar and a hint of salt ... to cut the sweetness that lingers in the after taste, I decided to add lemon peel, because the acidity will make a great balance , and it fact it did !

Capri Chicken with a side of Ceasar Salad

So this dish is one of my favorite : filet'd chicken lightly coated with spices and flour, then flash fried and baked , topped with sweet basil, mozzarella cheese, tomato, red crushed pepper, olive oil and balsamic vinegar ... ohhhh this is so close to heaven ! Of course, the ceasar salad is basically romaine lettuce, ceaser dressing, parmesan cheese and garlic croutons .

Rosemary Chicken with Garden Veggies, Bacon & Parmesan

So I marinated the chicken overnight with rosemary, garlic, salt and red onion ... then baked it, topped with bell pepper, more red onion, the garlic, fresh rosemary , chunks of bacon and olive oil ... it was delish and so so subtle at the palate, with a garlicky-rosemary end .

Orange flavored Three Milk Cake

Well, this is my take on a very famous dessert in Latinamerica, Three milk cake ... the trick about this cake, is that it doesnt requires butter or any kind of fat, so it turns out pretty spongy and dry, you add a mix of 3 different milks -hence the name- and overnight, the cake will absorb the milky liquid ... I made an orange really light custard and added to this cake, then some garnish with the orange, strawberries and sweet basil .
The whipped cream on top was handmade with corn syrup, egg white, vanilla, hint of heavy cream, salt and orange peel for flavoring .

Summer Dishes: Lobster-Mango Slaw With Wonton Discs, Avocado Mousse, Green Tomato Vinagrette and Roasted Poblano Relish

Like Andre from TOP CHEF season 4 said, "I had a culinary boner" when making this ... this dish is so small, yet so complicated and easy at the same time, it has a lot of elements, but all of them are easy and organic ... the lobster-mango slaw was made with lobster chunks, mango, chayote, green apple, avocado, cilantro, salt, sugar, olive oil, mayo and baby carrots ... its so delicious and yet simple ! I reserve the right to describe the avocado mousse , the green tomato vinagrette and the roasted poblano relish ... you know, little tricks under the sleeve !

Summer Dishes: Guava-Glazed Pork Belly Served With Fingerlings Potato Tossed in Rosemary & Garlic Butter

This dish made me so proud because it hits so many notes in the palate ! .

The guava glaze was made with olive oil, guava marmalade, garlic, salt and finely chopped onion, I tossed the pork belly on this paste and then oven baked ... the fingerlings were boiled and once done, tossed in butter, chopped rosemary, salt, garlic, sugar and onion powder. The quirky elements is those little pearls, made with the caramelized guava, I added as a silly little detail!.

Summer Dishes: Spring Salad; Mixed Greens With Bell Pepper Strips, Mexican Crumble Cheese, Almonds, Tomato & Kiwi-Rum Vinagrette

Well, the kiwi-rum vinagrette is quite addictive ! its sour, sweet, tarty, with a hint of alcohol that marries all the flavors nicely , I think I should sell this recipe in bottles !

Summer Dishes: London Broil Grilled Steak With Oregano Rub, Served With Sautee Green Beans, Onion, Bacon & Almonds, drizzled with Oregano-Steak Au Jus

So this london broil got a little overcooked, I wanted a pink center, but well ... the description is very accurate ... the juice that drip from the steak, I added it to the plate, for more flavor.