Jul 28, 2007 9:17 am US/Central
Real 'Spice Girl' Celebrates Fragrance, Flavor
Wave, W Chicago, 644 N. Lake Shore Dr.
(312) 255-4460
by Vince Gerasole
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Victoria Beckham may be the Spice Girl for fashion and glamour, but for expertise on the subtle qualities of fresh spices, the go-to girl is right here in Chicago.
CBS 2's Vince Gersaole shares a Table for 2 this week with chef Kristine Subido, who is a real spice girl.
"I am constantly trying to find different ingredients and spices so I am not bored in the kitchen," Subido said.
The contents of Subido's nearly marked jobs – with exotic names like grains of paradise or ras el hanout, eventually make their way into the flavorful cuisine she cooks up at of Streeterville's Wave Restaurant, in the W Hotel at 644 N. Lake Shore Dr.
"People think spices are spicy, as in hot," Subido said, "but it's really not. It just really adds a lot of flavor and character to your cooking."
For example, coriander has an earthy taste that Subido marries with licorice-like fennel, eventually sprinkling them over raw ahi tuna with oranges for a light salad.
"It's just like having a little party in your mouth – it just pops," she said.
To help spice up our own cooking, we traveled with Subido to Patel Brothers, an Indian market on Devon Avenue. Vince followed her to the pleasingly fragrant spice section.
"As you walk in the door, you get a whiff of it," Subido said.
From chiles to lindi pepper, Subido prefers to fill her basket with whole spices, which keep longer.
"Spices – if they're ground, you don't want to keep them for more than three to four months in your pantry," Subido said. "Otherwise, the flavor will just dissipate."
The selection at Patel Brothers is abundant and inspirational, and even for a pro contains its fair share of surprises. Subido picks up a wide range of whole spices, and back in the kitchen she stores them in air tight bell jars for no longer than six months.
When the time comes, Subido will measure out just the right amount into a pan for toasting.
Finally, she releases the full flavor of the spices by grinding them separately in a dedicated coffee mill. The aromatic results are intoxicating.
"When you add spices, you'll be surprised at how much flavor draws out of your main ingredient when you cook," Subido said.
Subido says her hands down favorite spice is the perfume-like green cardamom, which she likes with desserts.
Patel Brothers is located at 2610 W. Devon Ave., and is the main store in a nationwide Indian grocery chain. In addition to enormous shelves of spices, they also sell Indian grains, pickles, chutneys and legumes, prepackaged Indian meals and snacks, and even imported incense. You can reach them at (773) 262-7777.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
