FOOD TRADITIONS

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’Tis the season for comfort food and family gatherings. We asked culinary pros about their favorite food traditions. —Melissa Howsam

My grandma made Fideuá with Shrimp, a Spanish dish that’s similar to paella, but made with pasta. It’s easy to prepare in advance—and a real showstopper for dinner or a party.” —Katsuji Tanabe

chef-in-residence at Vidrio and LM Restaurants

A delicious childhood staple of mine, I make a simple vegan eggplant stew that’s a beloved recipe throughout my home country, Trinidad & Tobago. This savory dish has a mild tingle of garlic, and I enjoy sharing it because it’s approachable but not predictable, and the no-frills ingredient list makes it easy to replicate.” —Brigid Washington

My heritage is Korean, so at family gatherings, we almost always include barbecue of some sort, so a Korean BBQ Marinade is a must. My version has a classic sweet-and-salty flavor profile that’s very versatile and works well with any meat or fatty fish like mero sea bass or salmon. I enjoy it on all meats, but especially for short ribs and rack of lamb.” —Michael Lee

chef/owner of M Sushi and M Restaurants

MAKE IT AT HOME!

Find the recipes for their favorite traditional foods on waltermagazine.com In France, we always had a seasonal fruit tart. In the fall, it was an Apple Tart. The smell of crust baking and apples caramelizing reminds me of home. For me, this isn’t just dessert—it makes for a fantastic snack with coffee, too.” —Lionel Vatinet

owner of La Farm Bakery

I come from a rural town on the south coast of South Africa, where any cooler weather called for a sticky Malva Pudding. It’s made with apricot jam and has a distinct, spongy texture that’s sinfully delicious. You pour a cream sauce over the “cake” while it’s hot so it absorbs into it. Lekker (yummy)!” —Keta Jade Halaszi