When we met her at last month’s Manhattan Cocktail Classic, we not only spoke to her about her most recent cookbook, Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day, but also got a few of her best tips on romantic dining, world travel and enlightened living. While, certainly, every day is potentially a great day to think about these topics (and look at photos of Padma), the summer wedding season seems most appropriate, as it tends to put love in the air — whether you're a newlywed or celebrating your golden anniversary.
JustLuxe: What dish would rekindle romance between a couple after 15 (happy, but exhausting) years of marriage and two teenage kids?
Padma Lakshmi: Chicken for the Bold, with chipotle and date chutney. Mix it with yogurt to cool off the spice if need be. It’s very tactile.
JL: What recipe would you recommend for a "cozy night in" with the kids staying over at grandma’s house?
PL: Mushroom and goat cheese flautas, from the appetizer section. For a dipping sauce, Mint & Date Chutney. You can eat this with your hands, and it’s easy to eat in bed. Flautas are fried, so pair with a Classic Negroni.
JL: What’s your favorite destination to get inspiration for recipes?
PL: Bali. The climate is so beautiful and warm. You have the ocean, rice paddies and mountains...culture and temples, but also outdoor nightlife. The island cuisine is Pan-Asian: Japanese, Thai, Chinese, Indian, Indonesian — oftentimes all at the same restaurant. You'll sometimes even pick out the fish that you want roasted, grilled or fried. It opens your mind to thinking in a panoramic way.
Tangy, Tart, Hot & Sweet: A World of Recipes for Every Day can be purchased on Amazon.com.
