What is more central than our heart? Think about yourself, a dear friend reminded me recently. You have the power. Who else should have it?! I feel my heart beating hard and say thank you for all the hard work it has done for me. Tonight I am cooking for you, my dear heart, some good stuff full of everything you love. These oven-roasted vegies are easy cheesy. Take the freshest, most local, most organic things you can find growing under earth, in my case, carrots, pastinake, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, celery root. Wash them good and use the peels to make vegetable stock. I cook from the root to…

January here in Pulkau Valley calls for fire and the elemental comfort of home cooking. My simple, no frills kitchen is a true place of solace now. I adore spontaneous food creation with a just few things, whatever I find in the garden, pantry and fridge. Sometimes I have a particular wine, or wines, in mind – like yesterday – to which the food flavors bring depth, contrast and harmony. Last night it was Mother Earth pure: a soothing meal of „Quetscherdäpfel„, smashed potatoes, Schwarzwurzel (Scorzonera hispanica) and wild salmon caviar (a touch of zingy umami). Scorzonera is not as difficult to prepare as its reputation! If you get into its…