the quest for zest

A food & travel community from The Crossroads of America.

Eat Local. Travel Global.

In The Kitchen

Advice on preparing seasonal, local, and occasionally more exotic ingredients. There are also guides to new ways of make old favorites.

Pizza Italiano, Part 2

Making the sauce and choosing toppings.

Pizza Italiano, Part 1

Making the crust.

Tortillas Frescas

Making fresh tortillas is easy, quick, and will transform your taco night.

A “French” Coffee Revolution

Tips for brewing richer, full-flavored coffee with a French press.

Inverted AeroPress Video Tutorial

Brewing better coffee; upside down.

Upended AeroPressing

The backward way to make a damn good cup of coffee.

Bon Jour, Philomène.

The perils of cooking from a fifty year old cookbook.

Spinach and Feta Quinoa Salad

Danielle walks us through the discovery and development of the first recipe she ever created.

Zen and The Art of AeroPress

Finding balance one cup at a time.

Orange Supremés

Skip culinary school and still slice oranges like a French chef.