Spices and ingredients are weapons for your kitchen arsenal – a diverse cache prepares you for most culinary challenges, whether it be saving a dish with a skillful application or satisfying a discerning palate.
Every now and then it's wise for a cook to do an inventory of their arsenal and the inspection of my pantry renewed my interest in cooking at home. In the past fortnight, chicken and cardamom have piqued my curiosity.
Look at this strange creature and tell me if it looks like anything you've ever eaten? Ironically enough, it's called black chicken (or Silkie chicken) and although it may be new to some of us in the West, Silkies have been a delicacy in the East for centuries. But don't be fooled by the white feathers – the skin, meat and bones of this small bird are all black… yes black! No genetic modification or cross breeding, Mother Nature meant for this to happen.
This article appears in Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2009.