Montreal Foodie Interview: Cheap Ethnic Eatz

Evelyne Budkewitsch of Cheap Ethnic Eatz

Browsing through Evelyne Budkewitsch’s blog, Cheap Ethnic Eatz,, it’s obvious that Evelyne is a foodie at heart with a sense of humor.

She shares her passion for food not only through restaurant reviews and recipes but also by organizing Dinner Events.
The World Ethnic Food section has a comprehensive list and descriptions of food around the world while one of my favourite sections, Foodie Shopping offers cookbooks and food products for purchasing. You don’t want to miss Evelyne's Thursday’s mystery ‘Thingamajig' post.

Evelyne also organizes Montreal Foodie dinner events where I had the pleasure of meeting her last year at one of the events.

Interview with Evelyne of Cheap Ethnic Eatz

Evelyne, when did you realize that you were a foodie?

Although one may say I have been a foodie most of my life I was not familiar with the concept or the term ‘foodie’ until maybe a couple of years ago. Looking back I guess my answer would be around 6-8 years ago when I realized I was the main source of consultation for recipes or restaurants from most everyone I knew.

You have a very interesting and informative blog. What made you decide to start blogging?

Thank you! The blog was the natural next step following the creation of my dinner group by the same name. Cheap Ethnic Eatz dinners commenced about 3 years ago and I started the blog maybe 6months after. At first it was strictly a restaurant review blog.

Do you have a favourite cuisine?

If I had children it would be like asking me which child is my favourite. If I had to pick it would probably be Korean, Indonesian, French, and Indian. But a dish from any other cuisine could qualify too. My criteria are layers of flavours, texture and anything that give my taste buds a culture shock.

What would be a typical menu when you entertain?

When I was younger I was happy to spend a day in the kitchen preparing a meal but now I just don’t have the desire. In the last years I have developed a great selection of amazing recipes that will really impress but that can be prepared in a flash. My goal is max 2 hours in the kitchen for a full meal when I entertain. I will usually have a cocktail with a simple hors d’oeuvre in the living room. At the dinner table one will find either a soup or appetizer, perhaps an exotic stew on a bed of basmati rice or a meal all cooked on the BBQ, and finished of with a homemade dessert and green tea.

Montreal is one of the best cities to be a foodie with its diverse culture and cuisine. Tell us about your Montreal Cheap Eatz Dinner Group. Can anyone join?

Absolutely anyone can join. They just have to sign up and I do approve each membership request. All that is required is an open mind food wise and a smile. There are 2 to 3 dinner events organized each month. I have 3 assistants who also plan events in rotation. We try to pick relatively affordable restaurants (around 25$ per person not including drinks) of diverse ethnic backgrounds. Places are limited and its first come first serve. Events fill up fast.

You also participate in online food events like the Daring Cooks and the Daring Bakers. Would you like to share your experience with these food events?

I am so happy to have discovered the Daring Kitchen. It has been a blast participating in the challenges. Basically each month a recipe is picked by a member and everyone must make that recipe. It’s just mind blowing how results vary fro one cook/baker to another. I have also made many blogger friends through these challenges since everyone comments on everyone else’s blogs. But I think what I like best is inviting a friend over to make the recipe with me and then devour it. Favourite challenges have been Indian Dosas, a Gingerbread House, Cannoli and Pho soup.

You are also one of the co-founders of the “Foodie Exchange”. What is the ‘Foodie Exchange’?

This is a group for foodies from all over the world who wish to be matched up with other foodies to exchange local food related items in the form of a care package. Package contents should be limited to about $10.00 in cost and be safe to mail. How did it start? I did it with a foodie blogger in Texas and I wrote a blog about it. Louise from Felice in the Kitchen saw the blog and loved the idea so much she decided to create a way for those interested to share this experience. We put our heads together and came up wit the Foodie Exchange Google group.

Are there any other foodie groups or causes you participate in?

Hmmm, let’s see. I started 2 years ago a Cheap Ethnic Eatz Kiva Fund. It’s a fabulous organization that gives out loans to third world entrepreneurs. As loans are repaid I can reinvest it in someone else. Recently I donated a recipe for the fund raising A Hand for Haiti Recipe Ebook effort created by Celiateen.com. As far as foodie group, this past summer I initiated a brunch exclusively for fellow Montreal food bloggers. The now 22 participating bloggers take turns organizing monthly events. Finally I am a Featured Publisher on FoodBuzz.com.

In which direction do you see your blog evolving?

I have no idea. Up until 6 months ago it was just restaurant reviews. I have revamped its look and direction drastically since then to include recipes, articles, presenting cooking gadgets and relating food stories. It has grown exponentially in a very short amount of time and I can only hope it keeps growing in popularity and earns a reputation of being an entertaining and helpful resource. I won’t lie, it would be nice if a small regular income was generated from it, but that will never be the main goal of the blog.

If you had a choice of going to any restaurant in the world, which one would you choose?

Can I pick 2? The first would be the current best restaurant in the world, El Bulli located in Spain, famous for its molecular gastronomy. The second would be David Chang’s momofuku in NYC.

Thank you Evelyne.

Below Evelyne shares one of her favourite recipes:

Duche de Leche Mousse Praline and Hazelnut Verrine

Makes 10 to 12 portions.

1 1/4 cup cold water
1 gelatin envelope (15ml)
3/4 cup maple syrup
2 cups hazelnuts
1/3 cup corn syrup
1 cup 35% cream
1 cup dulche de leche, homemade or store bought.

Preparation:

Jelly

In a small cup add 1/4 cup of cold water and sprinkle gelatin on top. Let stand 5 min.
In a pan bring to a boil the remaining water and the maple syrup. Remove from heat.
Add softened gelatin to hot mixture and mix well until the gelatin in all dissolved.
Pour mixture in 8×8in glass dish and refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

Praline Hazelnuts

Meanwhile in a large bowl add the hazelnuts. Put corn syrup in a microwaveable dish . Heat at max intensity for 40 to 45 seconds, until syrups starts to boil. Pour hot syrup over the hazelnuts and mix well.
Spread evenly hazelnuts on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven heated at 325F for 15 min.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack.
Chop hazelnuts in chunks.

Dulche de Leche Mousse

Beat cream with a mixer in a bowl until stiff peaks. In a larger bowl add the dulche de leche. With a spatula delicately fold in half the whipped cream. Do the same with the second half and fold gently until homogeneous.
Keep in fridge until ready to use.

Assembly

With a fork break up the jelly by racking it.
Divide evenly the jelly at the bottom of 10 small glasses (3/4 cup capacity).
Place on top of jelly about 2 tbsp of praline hazelnuts
Cover with about 1/3 cup each glass with the mousse.
Garnish before serving with a few hazelnuts on top.

Photos and recipe printed with permission from Cheap Ethnic Eatz.

You might also enjoy Evelyne's favourite recipes:

Evelyne's articles:

This is the first of a series of Montreal Foodie interviews. To receive email alerts for upcoming reviews, click on the SUBSCRIBE tab at the top of the page.

Comments

Donna Diegel 2 years ago

Awesome interview! The photos look so yummy!
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Kenneth Johnson 2 years ago

I really enjoy reading the interview and pretty cool looking pictures. Hope to know more about foodies in Montreal. I'll keep an eye on it.
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