Once Upon a Pesto

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Once Upon a Pesto

Travel the world. Learn new recipes. Master the pesto process. Find it all in the cookbook Once Upon a Pesto.

22/09/2026

India is impossible to capture in a single day, but every journey has to begin somewhere. From Himalayan peaks and sacred rivers to magnificent forts and colorful cities, every region tells a different story. This week we’ll explore how geography, history, and thousands of years of tradition have created one of the world’s most diverse cuisines.

Taj Mahal: Built by Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his wife Mumtaz Mahal, the Taj Mahal is one of the world’s greatest architectural masterpieces. Its white marble changes color with the light, making every visit feel slightly different from the last.

Varanasi & the Ganges River: One of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Varanasi has welcomed pilgrims to the banks of the Ganges River for thousands of years. Sunrise boat rides reveal daily rituals that have remained largely unchanged for centuries.

Living Root Bridges, Meghalaya: Rather than building bridges from wood or stone, the Khasi people guide the roots of rubber fig trees across streams over decades. The result is a living bridge that grows stronger with time, blending engineering and nature in remarkable harmony.

Amber Fort: Overlooking Jaipur, Amber Fort combines intricate palaces, mirrored halls, and sweeping views of Rajasthan’s rugged hills. Every courtyard reflects the artistry and grandeur of the Rajput kingdoms.

Kerala Backwaters: A peaceful network of canals, rivers, and lagoons winds through lush coconut groves and villages in southern India. Traveling by houseboat offers a slower way to experience everyday life and the landscapes that inspire Kerala’s celebrated cuisine.

Hampi: Massive boulders, ancient temples, and the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire stretch across an extraordinary landscape. Although it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi still feels surprisingly uncrowded compared to many of India’s famous landmarks.

Ranthambore National Park: One of India’s best places to spot wild Bengal tigers, Ranthambore blends wildlife with history. Ancient fort ruins rise above forests where tigers, leopards, and countless bird species still roam freely.

Golden Temple (Amritsar): The Golden Temple is the spiritual center of Sikhism a

21/09/2026

Start wide, keep swiping and make your best guess. With every slide, the map gets a little more specific until our destination is finally revealed. Then we’ll spend the rest of the week getting to know this place through its culture, history, ingredients and food traditions.

20/09/2026

Pesto and a Movie, but make it a trip to France.

Start in the kitchen with my France-inspired Broccoli Pesto and use it in my Chicken Pot Pie Crêpes. Then trade your food processor for the TV remote and head to Paris with Ratatouille.

It’s a delicious way to experience a place from two directions: through the ingredients and stories that inspired my pesto, and through a movie filled with French food, streets, and scenery.

Save this pairing for your next movie night and tell me: would Remy approve?

18/09/2026

Succotash gets a glow up when Collard Greens Pesto joins the vinaigrette instead of sitting on the side. Corn, beans, and a little Southern soul, all in one bowl. It’s the kind of side dish that quietly steals the show. Once Upon a Pesto has the full breakdown, honey included.

17/09/2026

Collard greens have been part of Southern kitchens for generations, but today they’re taking on a completely different role.

Instead of simmering them low and slow, they’re becoming the heart of a pesto that is smoky, slightly sweet, and packed with flavor.

That’s what I love most about the pesto process. Familiar ingredients become something completely unexpected.

Tomorrow I’ll share one of the Southern-inspired recipes from Once Upon a Pesto that uses this pesto.

Save this one now. You’ll be surprised how many meals it can transform.

16/09/2026

A light frost signals collard greens to convert some of their starches into sugars, making the leaves taste noticeably sweeter. That’s one reason many Southern gardeners wait until cooler weather before harvesting their best crop.

Good things really do come to those who wait.

Tomorrow I’ll be sharing my Southern U.S.-inspired Collard Greens Pesto, inspired by a region where this humble vegetable has been a cherished staple for generations.

15/09/2026

The Southern United States is often described through its food, but every famous dish has generations of stories behind it. This week, I’m exploring the traditions that shaped Southern kitchens and inspired one of the chapters in Once Upon a Pesto. From front porch conversations to Sunday suppers, let’s discover why Southern culture is about far more than what’s served on the plate.

Southern Hospitality: Perhaps no Southern tradition is better known than welcoming guests with warmth, generosity, and plenty to eat. Visitors are often offered food before they’re even asked if they’re hungry. I love that hospitality isn’t treated as something extraordinary. It’s simply the expected way to care for others, and food naturally becomes the language of that kindness.

Sunday Supper: Across much of the South, Sunday dinner has long been the week’s biggest family meal. Relatives gather after church or throughout the afternoon to enjoy dishes that often take hours to prepare. These meals remind me that recipes become traditions because they’re repeated with the people we love, not because they’re written in a cookbook.

Front Porch Gatherings: Before air conditioning became common, neighbors often spent evenings sitting on front porches where conversations naturally flowed from one home to the next. Stories, laughter, and local news traveled just as easily as plates of homemade food. Community wasn’t scheduled. It simply happened one conversation at a time.

Biscuits and Bread Traditions: Fresh biscuits, cornbread, and other breads have long held an important place at Southern tables. Recipes are often passed from grandparents to grandchildren with measurements like “a handful” or “until it feels right.” Some of the best family recipes aren’t written down because they’re learned by watching, practicing, and cooking together.

Music as Community: From bluegrass and gospel to jazz and blues, music has always been woven into Southern gatherings. Festivals, family reunions, church events, and neighborhood celebrations often include live performances alongside shared meals. Food and music have something in common. Both bring people together in ways that words alone sometimes c

14/09/2026

This flight could land almost anywhere. Swipe as the plane travels the map, make your prediction and wait until the final slide to see if you were right. Wherever we touch down will become our destination for a week of culture, traditions and food.

13/09/2026

It’s time for another round of 40 Shades of Pesto!

Think you know your pesto palette? This one has a bright side, but can you pick the pesto behind the hue before the answer is revealed?

Lock in A, B, C, or D… then see if you were right.

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Cairo

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http://onceuponapesto.com/

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