[1] This easy-to-make Warm Eggplant Salad hit the spot on a chilly day. When it’s warm out, enjoy it hot or chilled (recipe and photos #1 and #2 © Hannah Kaminsky | Bittersweet Blog).

[2] A graffiti eggplant. The variety looks like the fairytale eggplant (photo #4) but the latter is much smaller—a mini size.

[3] Solanum melongena is the the most widely cultivated of the five worldwide eggplant species. This purple globe eggplant is the most familiar, but other popular varieties are fairytale, Chinese, graffiti, and Japanese eggplants (photo © Amber Engle | Unsplash).

[4] The fairytale eggplant (photo © Botanica Restaurant | Los Angeles).

[5] The right produce departments and farmers markets sell a color mix of cherry or grape tomatoes (photo © Love Food Art | Pexels).

[6] Bright green basil adds to the color palette of the salad, in addition to its aroma and complex flavor, with notes of anise, mint, and pepper (photo CC0 Public Domain).

[7] While pine nuts suit the Italian profile of the recipe, almonds and pistachios have more protein‡‡ and work equally well (photo © Good Eggs).

[8] Coconut aminos have less sodium than low sodium soy sauce and are gluten free. There’s more about this great pantry addition at the right (photo © Big Tree).

“Eggplant and tomatoes, in the dead of winter? Oh no, that’s not very seasonal of me,” said our colleague Hannah Kaminsky of Bittersweet Blog. Then, we went right out and purchased the recipe ingredients for her Warm Eggplant Salad (photo #1) and had a great lunch, with enough left over for tomorrow.”

She departed from the standard deep purple globe eggplant (photo #3) and opted for graffiti eggplant (photo #2)

“Graffiti eggplant, tender and silky, pairs perfectly with juicy cherry tomatoes and vibrant fresh basil, offering a burst of flavor that contrasts with the cold season,” says Hannah.

“I should have just saved this recipe for a few months and pretended it was devised in the warm sunshine of late June…but a little bite of summer in the middle of a dark, cold, winter day might be what we all need.

“While it may not be the most obvious seasonal choice, in the depths of winter, indulge in a little taste of summer with this indulgent yet simple-to-make dish.”

The recipe follows, but for your consideration:

> The history of eggplant.

> The history of tomatoes.

> Different types of eggplant.

> Below: Why use graffiti eggplants?

> Below: The difference between fruits and vegetables.

> Below: Why use soy sauce or liquid aminos instead of salt?
 
 
RECIPE: WARM EGGPLANT SALAD

It’s worth seeking out graffiti eggplants in a specialty produce market or farmers market.

Graffiti eggplants, also called Sicilian eggplants, are believed to have originated in Sicily. They are a member of the same genus and species as the familiar globe eggplant, Solanum melongena, which also includes other eggplant subspecies. See the reasons to choose graffiti eggplants, below.
 
Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. SLICE the eggplant into 1/4-inch rounds and place them in a large bowl. Drizzle with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil, liquid aminos or soy sauce, and garlic. Toss to coat, then place the rounds in an even layer on two air fryer sheets lined with foil. Make sure that no pieces are overlapping.

2. AIR fry one sheet at a time at 400°F for 6 minutes. Flip, then air fry for another 5-6 minutes, until browned and very tender. Meanwhile…

3. COMBINE the remaining olive oil, cherry tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, and nuts. Gently toss with the cooked eggplant and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to a serving platter and enjoy while still warm.
 
 
WHY USE GRAFFITI EGGPLANTS?

There are five key reasons below, but first a bit of interesting botany.

Eggplants trace their origins to India and Southeast Asia, where they were first domesticated more than 4,000 years ago. They later spread through the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, reaching Italy and Spain via Arab traders during the Middle Ages.

They are truly a global food, eaten on every continent. They’re:

 
Their genus, Solanum is commonly known as the “nightshades.” Other genus members include capsicums (bell peppers, chili peppers, and paprika), goji berries, potatoes, tomatillos, tomatoes, and potatoes.

Two well-known non-foods are belladonna—the famed “deadly nightshade,” a highly toxic plant that has been historically used for medicinal, cosmetic, and even poisonous purposes.

The other is tobacco, which has its own way of poisoning people.
 
 
Graffiti Eggplants

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[1] A dramatic beauty (photo © The Ocean Aire).

[2] Brandy, rum, or other alcohol is lit in a small cup or spoon and poured over the Baked Alaska (photo © J F Restaurants).

[3] The dessert is just as beautiful without flames (photo © Monkey Business | Dreamstime).

[4] You can use any flavors of ice cream and sherbet you like. For this Spumoni Baked Alaska, here’s the recipe (photo © Taste of Home).

[5] Mint lovers: Try Grasshopper Baked Alaska. Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste of Home).

[6] For home, we prefer a large Baked Alaska for everyone. But restaurants make individual sizes. However, these individual Mocha Baked Alaskas were made at home. Here’s the recipe (photo © Taste of Home).

[7] Delmonico’s, home to the first dessert called Baked Alaska, still follows the original recipe, which included apricot compote. Here it’s used as a garnish, with a side of apricot liqueur (photos #7, #8, #9, and #12 © Delmonico’s).

[8] A close-up on Delmonico’s Baked Alaska.

[9] You can style the meringue as you wish. Before Delmonico’s used the smooth, modern style above, the Baked Alaska had other designs, including this one.

[10] This is the prettiest presentation we’ve come across, from Charlie Palmer Steak.

[11] Pastry chef Franciscoz Migoya eliminated the cake base and made Baked Alaska in a glass bowl. Here are some of his other beautiful creations (photo © Franciscoz Migoya).

[12] Fun with food: Delmonico’s made Baked Alaska ice cream cones for a special event (photo CY Eats for Delmonico’s | Facebook).

[13] This is “deconstructed” Baked Alaska: a slice of cake topped with ice cream and meringue, no baking required. Here’s the recipe (photo © Komodo Restaurant | Miami).

While February 1st is National Baked Alaska Day, it’s relatively easy to make this dazzling dessert anytime you want to impress. Just use store-bought ice cream and pound cake.

(Over-achievers: churn your own ice cream and bake your own cake.)

Make a Baked Alaska with this recipe. It’s easy when you use store-bought ice cream and pound cake instead of making/baking your own from scratch.

> The original Delmonico’s Baked Alaska recipe is below.

> Here’s the classic Baked Alaska recipe we use (it’s much simpler).

> A recipe for deconstructed Baked Alaska (photo #13).

> The history of Baked Alaska is below.

> The different types of ice cream and frozen desserts: a photo glossary.

> The history of ice cream.

> The different types of cakes.
 
 
But first:
 
 
WHAT IS BAKED ALASKA?

Baked Alaska is a masterpiece of chemistry: an ice cream cake topped with meringue and baked in the oven until the meringue browns.

The concept (and execution) is simple. Ice cream, mounded on a pie plate or in a rectangle, is covered on all sides with slices of sponge cake or pound cake; this is then covered with meringue.

 
 
BAKED ALASKA AT DELMONICO’S

Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City took pages from both the Chinese and Benjamin Thompson playbooks, tweaked the recipe, and renamed it named Baked Alaska in honor of the newly-acquired Alaska territory, and the name stuck.

Delmonico’s is credited as creating the iconic dish called Baked Alaska, although the restaurant’s original recipe was called “Alaska Florida” for its extremes of cold and heat [source].

Hot and cold elements in a single dish were a “first” in the U.S.

While the concept existed before, Ranhofer is credited with naming it in 1867 to celebrate the U.S. purchase of Alaska. The new name popularized the dessert.

His original Baked Alaska consisted of a base of walnut spice cake topped with apricot marmalade, banana ice cream in the center, and a meringue shell that was toasted in the oven.

Since its inception, Baked Alaska has been one of the bestselling desserts at Delmonico’s, made in individual portions. The restaurant estimates that approximately 7 out of 10 guests choose Baked Alaska for dessert.

Since its reopening in September 2023, Delmonico’s has also been offering seasonal twists on the dessert.

 
 
BAKED ALASKA RECIPE: THE OLD VERSUS THE NEW

The original Omelette Norvégienne (the 19th-century French version of Baked Alaska) differs from modern versions in several ways:

 
 
DELMONICO’S ORIGINAL BAKED ALASKA RECIPE

Today’s executive chef at Delmonico’s, Bill Oliva, shared his recipe for Baked Alaska, patterned after the original. This recipe makes 8 individual portions, as opposed to one large cake.
 
Ingredients For The Walnut Sponge Layer

 
Preparation For The Walnut Sponge
 
1. COMBINE the egg yolks with 2 ounces of sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat at medium speed until thick and light in color. In another bowl…

2. BEAT the egg whites with the remaining sugar to medium peaks. Gently fold the egg whites into the egg yolk mixture.

3. FOLD the sifted flour and chopped walnuts into the egg mixture. Spread the batter on a parchment-lined sheet pan and bake at 425°F for 10-15 minutes.

4. COOL completely cut into 3-inch rounds. Set aside.
 
Ingredients For The Apricot Compote

Editor’s note: We purchased a brand of top-quality apricot preserves.

 
Preparation For The Apricot Compote

Put all compote ingredients into heavy bottom pan and bring mixture to boil. Reduce heat and simmer till apricots are cooked and liquid forms a syrup.
 
Ingredients For The Banana Ice Cream

 
Preparation For The Banana Ice Cream

1. PLACE the milk, cream, half the sugar, and the vanilla bean in a saucepan and bring the mixture to the boiling point.

2. BLEND the egg yolks with the remaining sugar. Temper the egg yolk mixture into the hot milk mixture.

3. ADD the banana purée and heat slowly until the mixture thickens to coat the back of a spoon. Strain the mixture and allow it to cool in ice bath. Refrigerate overnight.

4. PROCESS the mixture according to the instructions of your ice cream machine. Store the ice cream in the freezer until assembly.
 
Ingredients For The Italian Meringue

 
Preparation For The Italian Meringue

1. COMBINE the sugar and water in saucepan and bring the mixture to 240°F on a candy thermometer.

2. PLACE the egg whites in the bowl of mixer and, when the sugar in the saucepan reaches 230 degrees, start to whip the egg whites into soft peaks.

3. BEGIN adding the sugar syrup to the egg whites in steady stream, continue to beat until all the sugar syrup has been incorporated into the mixture. Continue to beat until the mixture has smooth consistency and firm peaks.

1. PREHEAT the oven to 425°F. Place the walnut cake rounds on serving plates and top them with apricot compote.

2. SCOOP a generous portion of banana ice cream onto the apricot compote.

3. PLACE the Italian meringue in pastry bag and completely cover the ice cream, walnut cake and compote with meringue.

4. BAKE for 4 minutes or until the meringue is slightly browned and crispy.

5. GARNISH if desired and serve. The recipe doesn’t indicate garnishes, but you can see from photos # __ and #__ that edible flowers, swaths of apricot compote, and candied walnuts are used.
 
 
________________
 
*Charles Ranhofer (1836–1899) was a French chef who came to New York and became at Delmonico’s Restaurant in New York City, where he helped shape fine dining in America and joined Delmonico’s in 1862. He worked there for creating famous dishes, including Eggs Benedict, refining what became Lobster Newburg, and Pommes de Terre à la Delmonico.

†Pommes de Terre à la Delmonico is a rich, creamy, and crispy potato preparation, sometimes compared to modern potatoes au gratin or Dauphinoise potatoes, but with its own distinct style. Peeled potatoes are cut into uniform small cubes, parboiled, and sautéed in butter. A rich sauce (cream-based or stock and butter) is added.

The mixture is transferred to a baking dish, topped with grated Gruyère or Parmesan, and baked until golden and bubbly. Some versions finish with a light dusting of breadcrumbs for extra crispness.

‡The U.S. acquired Alaska from Russia in 1867, paying $7.2 million for the territory (less than 2 cents per acre). Despite the initial skepticism and ridicule, the Alaska Purchase would prove to be a wise investment; its vast natural resources, including oil, gold, and minerals, would make it worth well over $500 billion today. Alaska became the 49th state on January 3, 1959 [source].

‡‡The history of Delmonico’s: In 1827, at the beginning of New York City’s evolution as the financial center of the world, a small pastry shop at 23 William Street in lower Manhattan was opened by the Delmonico brothers. It sold classic French pastries, fine coffee, chocolates and bonbons, wines and liquors, as well as Havana cigars, was operated by two brothers from Switzerland: Giovanni (John) and Pietro (Peter) Delmonico. Its success led them to purchase a triangular plot of land at the intersection of Beaver, William, and South William Streets where, in 1837, they opened the first fine dining restaurant in the country.

A third member, nephew Lorenzo Delmonico, joined the business in 1831 at age 19. Lorenzo became instrumental in transforming Delmonico’s from a cafe into America’s first true fine dining restaurant. He was particularly known for his business acumen and for introducing French cuisine and fine dining customs to American restaurant culture.

Delmonico’s restaurant offered what was then an unheard-of luxury in America: the European custom of private dining rooms, where afforded discriminate entertaining. This made Delmonico’s the place where New York’s elite conducted their business dealings.

The basement held the restaurant’s treasure, the largest private wine cellar in the city, with an impressive 1,000 bottles of the world’s finest wines. It was said to be the first wine cellar in an American restaurant.

Other innovations: They were the first American restaurant to allow guests to order from an à la carte menu, rather than eating whatever set meal was being served that day. This was revolutionary at the time. They hired French chefs, most notably Charles Ranhofer, who became one of America’s first celebrity chefs.

Lorenzo was particularly clever about cultivating an exclusive atmosphere. He maintained a strict dress code and was known to turn away people who weren’t “suitable,” even if they could afford to pay (including refusing admission to Jews and people of color). This exclusivity made Delmonico’s even more desirable to New York’s upper class, and the policy continued after Lorenzo’s death in 1881. The practice remained common at many upscale establishments into the 20th century [source: Claude.ai 2025-02-01].
 
 

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We tried to get a pickle bouquet kit from Grillo’s; the kit was supposed to be available on their merch website from January 28th and delivered before Valentine’s Day.

Instead, a notice that “This product is unavailable” greeted us. Does that mean it’s sold out? A factory delay?

Whatever; the page lists the contents, so we picked them up at a home improvement store.

Why a pickle bouquet for Valentine’s Day? Because some people would rather have tangy pickles than sweets.

There are also 14 other holidays below where a pickle bouquet would fit right in.

You can create the bouquet in a nice vase, pitcher, or Mason jar and make that part of the gift, or can use something sustainable like a re-purposed large jar or coffee can*.

You won’t believe the number of pickle holidays where this concept may come in handy.

> Check out the year’s 9 pickle holidays below.

> Also below: why pickles are classified as condiments.

> The history of pickles.

> The different types of pickles: a photo glossary.
 
 
RECIPE: PICKLE BOUQUET

We tied a wide red satin ribbon around the vase instead; not only is it reusable, but more attractive than the tissue paper.

You can enjoy it with a Pickle Martini (photos #6, #7, #8):

 
They are also popular garnishes for Bloody Marys (photos #9 and #10).
 
Ingredients

For The Container

 
Cucumber Pickles & Other Pickles

If you know what types of pickles the recipient does (and doesn’t) like, great: You can buy (or make) as many types as fit the bill. Use spears instead of whole large pickles, which are too heavy for an arrangement like this.

 
Add Color:

 
Plus:

 
Preparation

1. WASH the container, rinse the foam base and the skewers. Fit the foam base into the vase.

2. SET OUT the food ingredients and blot the brine from them. Plan how to arrange them on the skewers (we actually sketched this out). Up to this point, you can wrap the skewers in plastic and keep them in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble the bouquet.

3. ADD the filled skewers to the vase. Fill in the spaces with herbs.
 
 
THE YEAR’S 9 PICKLE HOLIDAYS

 
Related Holidays

 
Note: Pickleball has no relationship to pickles. It does, however, have its own holiday, August 8th. The game was named after the “pickle boat” in rowing, which is a mismatched crew assembled from the leftovers of other crews. The founders agree: The game was created from various (mismatched) sports equipment.
 
 
WHY ARE PICKLES CLASSIFIED AS CONDIMENTS?

A pickle is often considered a condiment because it enhances the flavor of foods, rather than being a main or side dish itself. Think of its qualities:

 
You can also pickle fruits:

 
 
________________
 
*Your container should be heavy and wide (as opposed to tall and narrow). The pickles are heavy and you don’t want the vase. If you use a coffee can or other lighter object, add marbles or cooking weights to the bottom.

†Flowering herbs: Perfection would be to have herbs in flower, but only a great gardener can plan that.

‡There’s much more than cucumber pickles. Just about any vegetable, and many fruits [photo #12], can be pickled. Especially common are beets, cocktail onions, dilly beans (green beans—photo #10), giardiniera (mixed pickled vegetables), and jalapeños.
> Charcuterie and cheese boards: Pickled vegetables of any type complement cured meats and cheeses. Cornichons are typically served with pâté other cured meats.
> Cocktails: Pickle juice and/or spears are used in Bloody Marys, Martinis, and Picklebacks.
> Salads: Chopped pickles or pickle relish are often used in coleslaw, macaroni salad, and egg salad—not to mention deviled eggs.
> Sauces and Dressings: Finely chopped pickles are mixed into tartar sauce, rémoulade, and Thousand Island dressing.
> Smoked meats, barbecue, and fried fish: Tangy pickles help cut through the richness of fatty meats like brisket and pulled pork. They present a complementary flavor to fried fish.
> Sushi and rice dishes: Pickled ginger, daikon, or other pickled veggies are served alongside sushi and rice bowls. Called tsukemono in Japanese, they are most popularly cucumber, daikon (Japanese radish), eggplant, lotus root, and plums (umeboshi).
> Pizza: Dill pickles and pickled jalapeños are added to pizza and flatbreads such as BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza, Big Mac Pizza, Cheeseburger Pizza, Cuban Sandwich Pizza, Dill Pickle Pizza, and Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza.
 

[12] Pickled figs are delicious with everything from cheese and charcuterie boards to roasted meats and even withw vanilla ice cream. Here’s the recipe (photo © California Figs).
 

[1] For Valentine’s Day or any of the pickle holidays: a pickle bouquet (photos #1 and #3 © Grillo’s Pickles.

[2] Pickle spears (photos #2 and #4 © Good Eggs).

[3] Halves are better than whole pickles because they’re lighter and won’t tip over the jar.

[4] You can skewer pickle chips for the bouquet, and add them as a garnish to a Bloody Mary or Martini (photos #1 and #7).

[5] After you decide upon the size of the vase, you’ll know what length of bamboo skewers to purchase. These are 12” (photo © DaTpuik | Amazon).

[6] A Pickle Martini, garnished with a cornichon and a cocktail onion. See the link to drink recipes at the end of the Pickle Bouquet recipe (photo Elvira Kalviste | The Nibble).

[7] You can garnish a drink with pickle chips on a skewer, or skewer the chips on a a bamboo spear for the bouquet. Or both (sorry, we can’t find the origin of this photo).

[8] Pickles are popular garnishes for Bloody Mary’s. Here, dilly beans (pickled green beans) and a dill pickle spear garnish the drink (photo © Italienne Restaurant | NYC (permanently closed).

[9] Bloody Mary with a garnish of pickled asparagus, pickled onions, pickle chips, and olives (photo © Hella Bitters).

[10] V8 Juice | Bloody Mary Society | Facebook).

[10] Bright red peppadews, sweet piquanté peppers that are always pickled and sold in jars, contribute color as well as a sweet and slightly spicy flavor profile (photo © Murray’s Cheese).

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[1] These beautiful heirloom potato chips were created to pair with the finest caviar (photos #1, #2, and #4 © Petrossian).

[2] The brand has been given the name Tiyapuy‡.

[3] The potato chips were created to partner with caviar (photo © California Caviar | Facebook).

[4] The best in the world: caviar from Petrossian.

[5] You can make gourmet chocolate-covered potato chips by dipping Petrossian’s chips in your favorite artisan chocolate bar.Here’s the video via Buzz Feed Tasty.

[6] But you can buy these from Sweet Designs.

If your Valentine has a passion for gourmet potato chips, might he or she want to try “the best?”

In this case, the best means light on the salty and oilyness. These chips were created by Petrossian to pair with their world-famous caviar.

Of course, a tin of caviar along with the chips would make a truly memorable Valentine’s gift, but the heirloom potato chips are special on their own.

If you expect to share, by two canisters.

Says Petrossian, “For years, we’ve been searching for the perfect potato chip to pair with our incomparable caviar. It wasn’t easy. Many were too salty. Some were too bland. Others clashed with the buttery brine and complex flavors of our caviar.

“But in the Andes mountains, we discovered a strain of native, organic potatoes that have remained unchanged for thousands of years. [Editor’s note: Potatoes are indigenous to the Andes]

“Lightly seasoned with Maras salt and delicately prepared in sunflower oil, this mixture of colorful chips provides any pairing with a crisp texture and a robust, earthy tone.”

The salt is also exceptional. Maras pink salt, also known as pink Peruvian salt, is one of the world’s finest. There’s more about it below.

Whether you’re topping the chips with caviar, enjoying them on their own, or dipping them in chocolate (photos #5 and #6), these Andean delights contribute to a beautiful celebration.

> Get your Petrossian potato chips here.
 
 
Then, check out:

> The history of potatoes.

> The history of potato chips.

> The different types of potatoes: a photo glossary.

 
 
ABOUT MARAS SALT FROM PERU

Also known as Salt of the Incas, this special pink, flavorful salt is extracted from the Maras Salt Mines in Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Don’t confuse it with Maris Sal, also known as Dead Sea Salt, which has its own special qualities but is a very different product.

Maras salt comes from Peru: the District of Maras, Province of Urubamba, Department of Cusco, approximately 4,000 meters above sea level (photo #8).

It produces a 100% natural spring salt, with high mineral content (calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, among others).

The pink color of the salt comes primarily from its iron oxide content, along with other trace minerals. Since it is not refined or bleached like table salt, its natural pinkish color and mineral complexity are retained.

For many thousands of years, the area has had a subterranean hypersaline (salt water) spring. The resurgence* comes from the middle of the mountain, bringing high-salinity salt water infused not just with iron, but with calcium, magnesium and potassium as well.

The mines have been worked since pre-Inca times, for more than 500 years†. The Incas expanded and developed the salt terraces (photo below), and local communities have continued to harvest salt using traditional methods ever since.

The Incas determined how to channel the water inside the mountain into outdoor pools where the sun evaporates and crystallizes it into salt. These salt pans are still in use today, operated by local families using ancestral techniques.

Today, the Salt Mines of Maras (Salineras de Maras) are worked by families from the Maras and Pichingoto communities, who have inherited the salt ponds. The salt cultivation techniques from generation to generation.

Different varieties of Maras salt are available: fine grain, coarse grain, spiced, smoked, and citric salt for seafood.

> You can purchase them here.

> The different types of salt: a photo glossary.

[7] The different grinds of pink salt (photo via Saltworks | Facebook and and Facebook).
 
 

[8] The salt beds at Salineras de Maras (photo © T Fernandez | Panther Media).

†The Inca Empire spanned 1438 to 1533. It began when Pachacuti became emperor in 1438; he transformed the Kingdom of Cusco into a vast empire. The Empire reached its peak under Huayna Capac in the early 16th century, covering large parts of modern-day Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. The Empire’s decline began with the death of Huayna Capac around 1527, leading to internal strife. It ultimately fell to Spanish conquistadors, led by Francisco Pizarro, in 1533.

The Incas were one of the greatest civilizations in pre-Columbian America. They were master builders, developed advanced agricultural techniques including terrace farming in the steep mountains, had a centralized government with an efficient bureaucracy to manage the vast empire.

They promoted cultural exchange and religious practices throughout their territories, often integrating conquered peoples by offering them the chance to become part of the Empire rather than subjugating them.

‡Tiyapuy, the brand name of the potato chips, is a Quechua word. Quechua is the language spoken by the Incas and many indigenous Peruvians today. The meaning of “tiyapuy” generally conveys the idea of settling in a place, staying, or dwelling. It reflects the people’s deep connection to land.
 
 

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