Semiserious Chefs

In the short, Lumpia is the Filipino version of pork egg rolls. The cuisine of the Philippines is actually quite an intriguing one. Obviously they are an Asian nation, and they have an abundant supply of such fresh ingredients as rice, bananas, citrus, fish, and other uniquely Asian fruits and vegetables, but they have also […]

By technicality bistec asado means ‘grilled steak,’ but to be totally honest this recipe is just a marinade so you can cook your steak however you’d like. In fact, I pan fried this big ‘ole fatty. There is also the fact that Mexican Bistek Paste is ‘steak seasoning,’ yet I’ve seen it used with chicken […]

I recently created a marinade for steak featuring ground annatto, but as a liquid I felt the options might be limiting. This dry rub version can just as easily be used for any kind of meat last minute, but is also great for grilled or steamed vegetables. Additionally, and very specifically, because there is no […]

Ceviche is a traditional dish made using an acid, typically a citrus juice, to marinade raw fish. It is believed to date back to the Incan Empire, but with so much immigrating in and out of the area, and the basic-ness of the idea, it’s pretty unrealistic to allow one civilization full credit. There were […]

This plantain breakfast, enjoyed by both the Brazilian and Peruvian Amazonian cultures, as well as the High Sierra Peruvians, is unique from the others I have tried in that it uses ground annatto seed, which is called achiote by the locals. Annotto has a very unique flavor. It has a flowery aroma with hints of […]

In our American world of mish-mashing cultures, it is really wonderful whenever I stumble upon a truly authentic l dish. Not too long ago, in my never ending quest to expand my herb and spice collection, I purchased a pinch bag of annatto seeds and began researching the hows and wheres of their common use, […]