By Luci Try it! You’ll love it!!  This fruit from SE Asia is a treasure. Like any treasure, it’s protected. A dark, reddish-purple husk encloses soft, lush, juicy, snow-white segments with ambrosial taste. Its sweetness is complex and augmented by clear tart notes. Many consider the mangosteen the best of tropical fruits; it is often called the queen of them all.  Mangosteens are scarce and hard to find, even in Asia. A mangosteen tree will only grow in tropical environments

By Luci I love to “play” with food, to cook creatively and to sample whatever food may come my way. As a kid and tomboy I was NOT! interested in cooking but cared about taste and was tuned in to texture. Later, I had some dynamite dining experiences that did two things. They lit up my foodie fires and gave me lessons not only about food but also about how to live a good life. I became one who loves food, who loves to explore the culinary landscape, who is fasciated by the com

By Luci Did you catch the big replica of a Velveeta cheese box in Central Park? I didn’t either, but its photo in the NY Times caught my attention. Combined with the TV ads for Velveeta that keep popping up, I wondered - what does Velveeta taste like to me now? Back in the day, Velveeta was in every kitchen, appearing regularly in comfort foods such as grilled cheese and mac and cheese as well as simple preparations such as a cold cheese sandwich or with crackers as an appeti