Mariya

Mariya is a blogger and culinary student living in Brooklyn. Some of her recipes are simple, comforting updates on foods from her native Ukraine, like Tangy Kasha and Great Grandma's Pancakes-aka, Blinchiki, while others are restaurant-worthy in their complexity, like Chicken Paillards with Marinated Pear, Goat Cheese and Almond Slivers and Andouille Crusted Duck, with Ricotta Stuffed Sweet Pepper, and Spicy Kasha with Sweet Snow Peas. Between her chocoholic leanings (just take a look at her home alone comfort food) and her self-proclaimed "fascination with making unusual flavors work together," she finds lots of ways to get dark chocolate into unexpected places -- a novel, indulgent cocktail or two and even a savory spiced brussels sprouts dish. Check out Mariya's profile page and fan her here.

Read Mariya's profile Q&A below: 

• What is the strangest food you have ever eaten?
  There are a few: fried cricket (in Laos), alligator legs (which I braised for 3 hours), and cangaroo meat
• What do you cook when home alone?
  Melted chocolate atop of almost anything
• Your most treasured kitchen possession:
  My stove top pan, which wont melt in the oven
• Your ideal meal:
  A combination of sweet and salty (protein and fruit), a grainy side dish, and decadent, dark chocolate dessert
• Something you'd like a chance to eat or cook:
  Would love to gain patience to bake breads!
• The number of bottles of wine you own:
  3
• The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
  8
• Kitchen pet peeve:
  Not cleaning as you go >:o
• Your favorite cookbook:
  I have two from the 1950's-one in Russian and one in English!