Moveable Feasts is normally a weekly agenda in which we give you the low-down on this week’s food fairs, workshops, and pop-ups in Buenos Aires. But as we are in the times of Quarantine, we’re using it as a way to keep you entertained, full, and safe as we all STAY AT HOME.
I was talking to a friend yesterday, trying to virtually connect to this world from which we all seem so far removed, and since none of us are doing much (yeah, I get it, we’re all doing a bunch of things, but we’re all staying inside – OR SHOULD), we were essentially talking about nothing. At one point, as most conversations these days do, he talked about what he was watching right now (Westworld, for those interested) and said (and I quote), “You should totally watch it if you have time.”
At the moment, we both laughed at the ridiculousness of the idea of “having time” to watch a TV series. We have time. We have nothing but time. “Having time” to do something feels like one of those old phrases that reflect a past long gone, kind of like “hanging up the phone” or that diskette drawing you click to save a Word document. Of course we’ve got time – but perhaps there’s better ways to spend them than just glued to your computer watching a dystopian reality (especially considering you can get your very own live reenactment by just looking out the window). Here at La La Lista, we’ve been trying to help you make the most of these quarantined days with ways in which you can boost your creativity, teach yourself a thing or two, or even just plan the best way around grocery shopping – and it’s time to give this same space to food. Here’s a list of some great chefs you can follow on Instagram so that you can make your own culinary agenda this week… if you have time. Here we go:
1) Instagram Queen Paulina Cocina
Yes, I’m not exactly breaking any news here, but I could have never called an Instagram Chef List complete without mentioning the queen herself, Paulina Cocina. Follow her on IG and YouTube for hilarious video series like “Puede fallar,” where she tries the weirdest cooking tips that the internet swears by, and keep on following her for extremely useful ideas like her meal-prepping series (useful info even after quarantine is over) and how to freeze vegetables so that you can quickly put together any healthy meal you may want. And naturally, don’t miss out on her regular recipes – posted on both her stories as videos and her feed as very succinct recipes, and covering anything from veggie meals to gluten free cookies… all sprinkled with a nice, healthy dose of memes.
Favorite recipe: pear and cheese pie (or as I like to call it: how to be the fanciest without actually doing shit)
2) El Gordo Cocina
Another staple of Instagram goodness, El Gordo Cocina has been providing us foodies with a non-stop waterfall of incredible recipes since day one. If you have yet to follow him on Instagram, you’re truly missing out, since his recipes are very easy to follow (and always detailed in the caption) and his pictures make sure you don’t miss out on cooking your heart out.
Favorite recipe: home made falafel sandwich (or as I like to call it: falafel doesn’t always have to be take out)
3) Samurai de Ensaladas
Whether you’re starting to delve into the world of veganism or just looking to vary the way you eat, Samurai de Ensaladas is here to introduce you to everything you need for all things vegetables. From videos on how to properly stock a pantry to actually change the way you cook, to the best vegan restaurants in town (for you to try after quarantine) there are tips and ideas on all things vegetable and legumes. This is the one stop shop for all your vegan cooking needs. Check her out for a healthy dose of both general info and cool recipes.
Favorite recipe: how to boost any type of salad (or as I like to call it: stop thinking of salads as “just diet food”)
4) Fuego Bs. As.
This column doesn’t forget where it comes from: the aim to share with all our readers a list of cool pop ups, closed door restaurants, and food fairs for y’all to satisfy your food cravings. In creating these, we’re always looking for new names to bring to the table (heh), but sometimes there’s a few really strong ones that keep coming back… and one of those is Fuego. Closed door restaurant that it is, in order to access their delicious cooking you need to secure one of the few precious spots they open for each one of their meals; however due to the quarantine, they’ve been releasing a few recipes (and will continue doing so) for us to try at home. If you feel like these time of social reclusion is the right moment to try your hand at the kitchen, why not start here?
Favorite recipe: super fancy risotto (or as I like to call it: this is delicious, but took forever, but God this is delicious)
5) Amasa Madre
For us bread addicts, Amasa Madre brings us all you can ever wish for in terms of flour based recipes. From sweet and savory pies, to cookies and alfajores, to good old-fashioned bread, this tried-and-true Instagram chef truly delivers in her recipes while still keeping it simple enough for us kitchen amateurs. Also, note that while she mostly cooks with white flour, often times you can grab one of her recipes and adapt it to use different types of flour that better suit your taste (just keep in mind that that’s not the case for things like a sour dough starter – check yourself before you shrek yourself, boo).
Favorite recipe: dulce de leche cones (or as I like to call it: happiness)
6) Gluten Cero
Fairness calls for a gluten free option, considering we’ve just shared a flour-centric Instagram, and there’s none better than Gluten Cero and all her tips, tricks, recipes and recommendations for you to scour through on these quarantine days. From easy pancakes and cakes, to gluten free pasta, pizza, bread, pies, and anything else you can think of it’s a celiac’s paradise… and in all honesty, just any person’s paradise, from the looks of these chipas. #ChipaIsLife
Favorite recipe: bomba de papa (or as I like to call it: I couldn’t put chipa again so here we are)
7) Cocinera en construcción
Aren’t we all chef’s in the making? At least that’s how I like to think about it, and since my kitchen success rate is about 70-30 (not saying which is which), the idea of a name that conveys I’m working towards improving those numbers makes me rest easy. That being said, Cocinera en construcción clearly has a much better idea than I do when it comes to cooking, something that’s glaringly obvious by scouring through her Instagram. Check out all her recipes for easy meals you can put together with things you will almost certainly have at home, and let your quarantine fears of forever eating pasta begone!
Favorite recipe: granola (or as I like to call it: cereal for dinner… but make it fancy)