What do Beyoncé, 50 Shades of Grey and Iggy Azalea have to do with food? Quite a lot, according to Gabriel Cabrera. The charismatic talent machine behind this week’s Blog Appétit top pick, Artful Desperado, brings Gen Y speak, F-bombs and pop culture references aplenty (“go chocolate cray cray!” he urges) to his flavour-packed epicurean creations. He also shares art, fashion and design inspiration on his slick-looking site, making him perhaps the food blogosphere’s coolest kid. Want more examples of his loveable style? Excerpt: “OMG, you’re so handsome, where are you from? I know. I’m also really humble… anyways. I was born in Mexico but I now live, work, and play in Vancouver, Canada. Yes, I changed heat and awesome beaches for maple syrup and mountains – so far, so good!” As Artful Desperado would deem it, this blog, complete with recipes (many wheat- and dairy-free), punchy photography and smart styling, is da bomb. Try his collection of mouth-wateringly awesome desserts now.
"I find most recipes are meant to be shared, because obviously there’s nothing better than seeing someone’s face melt at the taste of your latest culinary creation. But sometimes recipes can be selfishly created. There’s nothing wrong with going through the process of cooking or baking to end up with a beautiful finished product that will not get to meet anyone else’s palate other than yours.
"Take it as a lovely, selfish moment of meditation, a time to reflect on whatever pops in your head: the consistency of the flour, the latest Hollywood gossip, or the importance of chocolate in your life.
"But, hey, if a friend so happens to pop by while you’re spiriting down the foodie rabbit hole, why not share a piece? The recipes you’ll find in here are meant for both: private moments with your beautiful self and joyful soirees with your dear friends. Enjoy!"
"Experiment and find my creative voice. Little did I know it was all about food in an artful way! Funnily enough, I went to school for culinary arts, but a few years after graduating I got out of the kitchen world vowing never to return. You could say I’ve come full circle. That or I’m crazy."
The must-cook recipe on my website is...
I can’t wait to go back to...
My current food obsession is...
"Ice-cream. It’s amazing how many wonderful things can become a frozen treat."
Eating...
"Spicy charred fish tacos takes me back to my home in Mexico."
Nugget of cooking wisdom...
"Your mood will affect the taste of the food! Be in a crappy mood and your dish will taste just as negative; be joyful and your tastebuds will explode with happiness. Not a hippie thing, but real-life fact!"
I learnt to cook from...
"Watching cooking shows as a kid and in culinary college as an adult. Both had several failures, but lots of wins!"
When I go back to my hometown...
"Mexico City, the first thing I eat is chilaquiles for breakfast. Chilaquiles are crispy tortillas with a spicy tomato/chipotle sauce, topped with an over-easy egg and añejo cheese. OMG."
Friends always ask me to cook my...
The one thing I can’t cook is...
"Oysters. Though most times they don’t need any cooking, the sight of them makes me ill."
If I ever met...
"Nigella Lawson, I would ask her to narrate the way chocolate melts in one’s mouth. It’d definitely not be PG-friendly."
I always have...
"Hawaiian salt in my pantry; Sriracha hot sauce in my fridge; and ice-cream of several kinds in my freezer."
My favourite biscuit to dunk in a cup of tea is...
My most sauce-splattered cookbook is...
"Barefoot Contessa Parties! The pages of the book are mega sticky, but it’s full of early cooking memories."
The most difficult food to shoot/style and make look tasty is...
"Liquid, mainly cocktails and juices. So simple and such a pain!"
Beyond my own blog, some of my favourite reads are...
"iGnant for art and design, Cup of Couple for fashion and photography, The Design Files for styling inspiration, plus a gazillion food sites. Some of my faves are Minimalist Baker, Wit & Vinegar, Two Red Bowls, What Should I Eat For Breakfast Today and obviously anything Food52."
1. Flourless dark chocolate soufflés with earl grey cream
2. Hazelnut mousse strawberry pretzel parfaits
3. Dairy-free Black Forest popsicles
4. Rhubarb-raspberry meringues with pistachio crumble
Blog Appétit editor Yasmin Newman
Source: Supplied
Source: Gabriel Cabrera
Blog Appétit is our curated list of go-to food blogs we love, with a focus on high-quality photography, trusted recipes, strong editorial themes and a unique voice and personality. View previous Blog Appétit entries.
