Flavor of the Month: APRIL 2024
Hi Friends, welcome to Flavor of the month, a blog where I post what I’m currently obsessed over, what happened to me this month and a place to vent because therapy is expensive..
APRIL 2024
Another month has come and gone, and I could have sworn that I just finished crafting the previous blog post for March, only yesterday.
This month was a whirlwind! I worked with the James Beard Foundation to help announce this seasons Restaurant nominees; Three days of casual prepping to make the public’s absolute fan favorite plantain sticky buns at the beautiful Waldorf Astoria.
I did a cover reveal for my upcoming cookbook BODEGA BAKES which took me by absolute surprise and landed me in #1 in three categories on Amazon for 3 whole days just from posting about my preorder link- It was short lived but that response blew me absoulutely away!!
Was told by my friend DeAndra Bailey (the exc pastry chef at Bronze here in DC) that her upcoming Food Network show Next Baking Master: Paris airs on May 6th!! WHOO HOO!!
Went up to NYC to visit family and friends but also to attend the amazing Cherry Bombe Jubilee where our communities “Icons” and newest covergirls, dropped gems upon gems! Trust me, you gotta go next year!
Celebrated Maketto turning 9 and the publishing of Koreaworld: A Cookbook by making a new creation: Habichuela con dulce infused red bean paste empanadas with salted coconut icing. They were so cute, check out how they turned out here.
Participated in a wonderful panel for Black Women in Food and survived Chile Gate. Phew.
Maybe I should sleep all of May, until I go to Austin to support Aaron Franklins Hot Luck.
So let’s get to it! What did I like this month, what am I currently obsessed with and what could I maybe do without?? (PS- I know alot of y’all suggested that I participate in affiliate links/marketing, but I am just happy to share this with you dear reader. If there ever does come a time where I post on here for a brand or for affiliate marketing, I would let you know.. but for now enjoy this as a gift from me to you! Cause you rock.)
Food
Coconut water- 8 oz of coconut water, 1/2 a lime, 1/2 an orange and a pinch of kosher salt, before coffee each morning, Literally changed my life, helped with my bloated belly and is like natures Gatorade lol trust me, even the folks that don’t like coconut water will be drinking this refreshing coconut citrus-aide all summer long. I purchased my coconut at Costco whole sale, find your favorite brand, currently I like the Vita Coco brand. She’s nice lol but, I’ll be looking for the sale on my next trip.
Plantain Baguettes- Look, sometimes you gotta humble brag on yourself. I have been working all April long on this delightful recipe. I look forward to continue my R&D well into May, cause I want this bad boi to be perfect! but trust me even the early versions of this treat have been amazing. Plantain Jambon Beurre anyone? & for those curious yes, I am still working my way through my smuggled butter from France. Que viva La FRANCE BayBEE.
The SalviSoul cookbook- Karla just sent me this cookbook and I can’t wait to dig in. I love the colors of the cover, and just how amazing it is for her country and heritage to have this representation of Salvi cuisine. Keep crushing it sis!
Shucking Oysters with Liquid Nitrogen- Can I do this at home? HELL NO. Would I at least try, maybe? haha If you’re my landlord and youre reading this. I am just joking.
BODEGA BAKES- * insert shameless plug for you to preorder my cookbook * (I’m trying my best to keep hustling lol, I posted about this book at least 4 times on social media, or maybe more idk. anywho, help me sell out these preorders haha!!)
Items
Espresso Machine- This is absolutely just a want, not a need, also im not a crazy person who has racks of cash to spend on this but the La Marzocco mini just calls to me. Like a siren calls to a sailor. SOS.
Bread plate- a literal BREAD SHAPED PLATE. it’s handmade, if I buy it I’m stimulating the economy in a way. Will I buy it? maybe, idk, it’s a recession but SHE CUTE.
MUD.WITCH plates- I love looking at these plates, and when they get stacked? even better. My targeted ads are working overtime to capture my sale. I might be losing this fight haha.
Mandarin T-shirt- CMNTY GRDN’s upcoming preorder caught my eye. It’s simple yet, I NEEEEED THIS. Summer I am ready for you, my summer body didn’t fully download but we’re outside.
GINGHAM- Look im obsessed, I might be one flat lay on the grass from becoming a human picnic blanket, I currently couldn’t stay away from Ilana Kohn’s blue gingham pants, yes I caved and bought them. Now my bank account put me on a PIP. lolol and this set from Emma Mulholland on Holiday has me in a chokehold, but I shall not be moved EMMA. I SHAN’T!
Maison Alaïa fishnet flats- yes, as your fellow millennial, I am equally disturbed that flat shoes are making a comeback; my knees and my arches can not fathom wearing these. But these don’t count right cause they have ventilation plus I can just buy a comfortable insole.. idk haha.
Bornn Ceramics Colorama collection- It matches my branding, I’ll be taking donations to get this into my kitchen STAT.
Let’s skip it, bestie!
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I didn’t like BonBon in NYC. Not to say that it wasn’t good, but I wasn’t impressed. I spent money there supported and liked a few flavors, but it’s overwhelmingly sweet. I would skip it. (Sorry Bonbon I wanted to LOVE you so bad, but it's just not for me.)
FIN
That’s it, that’s all. I hope you enjoyed this list, blog, whatever you want to call it. Find inspiration from this, and let me live vicariously through you! haha Oh, and maybe this May I’ll finally post a few recipes on this site… I said I would in April, but I forgot hahah! sorry!
Looking forward to what May will bring! thanks for reading
Te Quiero mucho,
Paola
Note: I’ve been OUTSIDE since Thursday, today is Tuesday, my brain can’t handle any punctuation. I still know how to batonnet a carrot, please deal with my grammatical errors accordingly.