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The Daily Dish from Tonia's Kitchen

Tonia’s Kitchen, a nationally syndicated radio show and Podcast, is where food and wine lovers explore, practice and grow. Listeners hear Tonia talk with top chefs, groundbreaking cookbook authors, fellow foodies and experts in the worlds of wine and gastronomy. Aspiring kitchen masters are invited to have a seat at the table in Tonia's Kitchen where they'll learn that, whatever they cook, taste and nutrition go hand-in-hand and they'll be taken beyond everyday ingredients!

Celebrity chef George Duran has created a variety of seasonal recipes that showcase the versatility and
convenience of Dorot Gardens products. Perfect for cookouts, pool parties, family dinners, and weekend
entertaining, these recipes demonstrate how fresh flavor can be as easy as Pop. Drop. Done.®
Dorot Garlic Grilled Shrimp Skewers
A crowd-pleasing summer favorite featuring succulent shrimp infused with the bold, fresh flavor of Dorot Gardens Garlic Cubes. Ideal for grilling season and outdoor entertaining.

 

Dorot Gardens Garlic Shrimp Skewers with Glazed Onions

by George Duran

Ingredients:
For the Shrimp
1 1/2 pounds large shrimp, peeled and deveined
4 Dorot Gardens Garlic cubes
4 Dorot Gardens Cilantro or Parsley cubes
3 tablespoons olive oil
Zest and juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes
Salt and black pepper
Wooden or metal skewers
For the Topping
4 Dorot Gardens Glazed Onion cubes
Directions:
Melt the garlic and herb cubes in a small bowl for a few seconds in the microwave or
over low heat.
Mix with olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, smoked paprika, chili flakes, salt, and
pepper. Toss the shrimp in the marinade and let sit for 15–20 minutes.
Thread the shrimp onto skewers tightly so they stay juicy on the grill.
Preheat grill to medium-high heat.
Grill the skewers about 2–3 minutes per side until lightly charred and just cooked
through.
While the shrimp cooks, microwave the glazed onion cubes in a small bowl.
Transfer the shrimp skewers to a platter and spoon the warm glazed onions directly
over the top.
Serves 6

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Have you ever tried Corn Ribs?

Dorot Gardens Garlic and Herb Corn “Ribs”

by George Duran

Ingredients
4 ears fresh corn, husked
6 tbsp butter, melted
4 cubes Dorot Gardens Garlic
6 cubes Dorot Gardens Herbs (parsley and/or basil)
Grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste

Directions:
Wrap corn in paper towels and microwave for 4 minutes to begin the cooking
process. In the meantime pre-heat your grill to high heat.
Trim both ends off each ear of corn to create a flat surface. Then stand the corn upright on a sturdy cutting board and using a very sharp chef’s knife, press down
firmly to cut the cob in half lengthwise.
Place each half flat-side down and cut again lengthwise to create long quarters.
You’ll end up with rib-like strips that will curl slightly when cooked.
In a small microwave-safe bowl, combine melted butter with the Dorot Gardens Garlic and Herbs. Microwave for about 2 minutes until completely melted and
combined. Divide into two.
Place half of the butter mixture in a large bowl and toss in corn ribs to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper, then place ribs on grill, cut side down first. Grill for about 5-6 minutes, turning occasionally, until lightly charred and the kernels are tender. They’ll start to curl and get those crispy edges.
Remove from the grill and immediately brush with the rest of the garlic herb butter.
While still hot, sprinkle generously with Parmesan so it melts into the crevices. Serve Hot

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Try a delicious Sangria

Wonder Juice Sangria
by George Duran

Ingredients:
1 Apple, peeled and diced
1 C. Blueberries
1 C. Diced strawberries
1 C. Mangos or Pineapple, diced
1 C. Blackberries
2 bottles Wonder Lemon or Wonder Melon Juice
2 Bottles Wonder Beet Juice of your choice
Ice Wine, if desired
Directions:
In a large clear pitcher add fruits and all four bottles of Wonder Juice. Serve with ice and wine, if desired.
Serves 4-6


I enjoyed talking with Geoff Dillon about their delicious products and "flavor matchmaking". Listen to the interview on our Podcast.

Summer hosting doesn’t need to be complicated to feel elevated. This season, it’s all about “flavor matchmaking”, pairing bright, refreshing cocktails with your favorite summer moments to create an easy, memorable experience.


I had a fun conversation with Bobby Hicks about his new cookbook.

What started as a viral video series born in a small Florida kitchen has grown into a full-blown
cultural phenomenon. Now, content creator and culinary storyteller Bobby Hicks, the creator of
TikTok’s Retro Recipes Kitchen, invites readers to take a deliciously nostalgic journey through the decades with RETRO RECIPES: Vintage Dishes with a Modern Twist.

Blending humor, heart, and history, Hicks reimagines mid-century American recipes, from Jell-O “salads” and Tuna Casseroles to elegant Vichyssoise and Pineapple Upside-Down Cake, bringing them vividly and deliciously into the modern kitchen. Everything from all-time favorites to lesser-known fare, including Lazy Daisy Cake, Crown O Gold Meatloaf, Chicken Divan, and the Egg Grab. Bobby has done his homework and provides colorful historical context for each dish. The result is part time capsule, part comfort food celebration.

Bobby shared a few recipes with me.

Vinegar Pie:

 

Buttermilk Pie

 

Carrot Croquettes

 

Bobby Hicks is a self-taught cook, videographer, and creator of the viral Retro Recipes Kitchen series, where he revisits vintage recipes and food trends from the early 1900s through the 1970s. A former bartender turned culinary historian, Hicks’ work bridges nostalgia and creativity, transforming forgotten dishes into culinary storytelling that millions have come to love
online. His signature mix of curiosity, humor, and authenticity has earned him a devoted following across social media. He lives with his partner Keiko Lynn in S. Florida.


I had a wonderful discussion with Emmanuel.

When most people think of Madagascar, images of lemurs, lush jungles, or even animated films may come to mind. But in A Taste of Madagascar: Culinary Riches of the Red Island (Post Hill Press), Emmanuel Laroche invites readers on a far richer journey—one that moves beyond the expected and into the heart of a country where flavor tells the story of land, people, and survival. 

A Taste of Madagascar weaves together food, culture, and immersive travel with the author’s deeply personal journey of discovery. It is not a cookbook, instead, Laroche—a self-described Flavor Explorer and Culinary Storyteller—guides readers through the kitchens, farms, and forests that define Madagascar’s unique identity. Through ingredients like vanilla, cacao, spices, honey, zebu, and even caviar, he reveals how food connects communities, sustains livelihoods, and serves as a powerful force for environmental preservation and cultural pride.

Many people think of vanilla when talking about Madagascar. Emmanuel talks about bringing the vanilla bean to bottle.

 

Lushly written and richly detailed, A Taste of Madagascar is both a love letter to a remarkable place and a call to appreciate—and protect—the flavors that connect us all.

 

About the Author:

Emmanuel Laroche’s journey began as a business trip to better understand Madagascar’s world-renowned vanilla industry. But what started as research quickly became something more profound. Captivated by the people and their connection to the land, he returned just seven months later—this time driven by a personal mission to document and share the island’s extraordinary culinary heritage. Born and raised in France, Emmanuel lives in New Jersey and travels around the country conducting tastings and giving lectures and presentations on food, flavors, ingredients, and consumer trends. Host of the podcast Flavors Unknown, he is the author of two books—Conversations Behind The Kitchen Door and A Taste of Madagascar—and is currently working on his first novel.  To learn more about him, visit: https://prbythebook.com/experts/emmanuel-laroche-2/

 

Bring a taste of Madagascar to your kitchen with this delicious recipe.

 

Recipe may be reprinted with the following credit:

Recipe reprinted with permission from A Taste of Madagascar by Emmanuel Laroche

Post Hill Press/February 2026

 

Lemongrass Fish Skewers with Combava Zest

By Chef Farah Rabekijana (Mon Road Trip Culinaire)

 

Image

 

INGREDIENTS:

Fish Skewers       

2.2 lbs fish fillets (about 4-6 fillets depending on type) 

6 cloves of garlic, minced     

2 medium onions, sliced     

Zest of 1 Makrut lime, or combava    

Salt and pepper to taste     

4 lemongrass stalks, bruised or chopped   

½ cup sunflower oil      

 

Mint-Lemon Green Sauce 

1 small bunch medium-sized basil

1 small bunch cilantro/coriander

1 small bunch kale

1 small bunch mint 

4 garlic cloves

3 lemons

6 tbsp. olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

 

PREPARATION:

For the Fish Skewers

  1. Clean and coarsely chop the fish fillets. Mix in a bowl with the garlic, onions and combava zest.  Season with salt and pepper, then knead by hand.
  2. Cut the lemongrass stalks into thirds and shape fish paste into balls, rolling them gently with the lemongrass stalk.
  3. Brown in a frying pan with hot oil, about 5 minutes, in batches if necessary.

For the Mint-Lemon Green Sauce

  1. Wash the bunches of mint, kale and cilantro/coriander and cut off the stems.
  2. Peel the garlic and add the herbs (mint, kale, cilantro/coriander) to the bowl of a blender.
  3. Cut the lemons in half, squeeze firmly to release all the juice into the blender.
  4. Blend and season with salt and pepper
  5. Add the olive oil at the end and blend to combine.

 

 


Gus Constantellis honors his Mother's Legacy with My Greek Mom’s Recipes. It is a celebration of immigrant kitchens and the universal language of
food. Expect unfussy, flavor-packed
recipes that honor tradition without intimidation. Every dish is infused with the same wit that
made Gus’s social media so beloved, peppered with mom-isms like “Bring a jacket! 
From flaky spanakopita to syrupy baklava, Gus brings his mother’s recipes to life with step-by-
step guidance, honest laughs, and stories that remind us how food keeps family alive, even after
loss.
Gus Constantellis in the kitchen

Photo credit : Sheneur Menaker

Gus shares a few recipes:

Greek Bolognese Sauce

 

Greek Walnut Cake

 

 


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