About David Leite

David Leite

David Leite is the publisher of Leite’s Culinaria. He has received three James Beard Awards for his writing as well as for Leite’s Culinaria. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Saveur, Bon Appétit, Gourmet, Food & Wine, Pastry Art & Design, Food Arts, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Sun-Times, The Washington Post, Charlotte Observer, and Men’s Health.

A bifana, a Portuguese pork sandwich on a white plate with a bottle of mustard in the background.

Bifanas ~ Portuguese Pork Sandwiches

In the pantheon of great Portuguese foods, there are few sandwiches that are more superlative than the bifana. Essentially pork, bread, and sauce, it’s comfort food at its simplest.

A platter of Azorean carne assada--chunks of roasted beef, carrots, and sausage on a white plate.

Portuguese Carne Assada

A traditional Azorean dish that boasts meltingly tender oven-braised beef, potatoes, chouriço, and onions. It’s a rustic, homey, Sunday supper sorta dish from David’s VERY Portuguese mom.

Sweet and spicy roasted nuts in a large green bowl on a wooden table.

Sweet and Spicy Roasted Nuts

These sweet and spicy nuts are addictive, so serve with care. The sweet comes from sugar, the spicy is the result of red pepper flakes. Use any kind of nut.

A tangle of fresh pasta noodles on a cutting board that is sprinkled with semolina.

Homemade Pasta Dough

Pasta made fresh according to Italian tradition is unspeakably more supple, satisfying, and gratifying than the dried-out store-bought stuff and will make your mouth water. Here’s how to make it at home.

A Ball jar filled with chive blossom vinegar and the blossoms

Chive Blossom Vinegar

Remember your mom telling you, “Pretty is as pretty does…”? This lovely elixir knows no distinction–it’s just pretty through and through.

A bowl filled with spaghetti carbonara, topped with freshly grated Parmesan.

Spaghetti Carbonara

This spaghetti carbonara recipe tosses pasta with eggs, cheese, guanciale, pancetta or bacon, and pepper to form a creamy sauce. Quick and easy.

A plate of French onion potato gratin

French Onion Potato Gratin

Upgrade your potato gratin with a little French onion flair. Layers of mushrooms and onions are slipped between potatoes and it all gets covered in cheese.

Seven dirt bombs on a wire rack over a baking sheet and a bowl of cinnamon sugar with one dirt bomb in it.

Dirt Bombs

These wonders of wonders are irresistible cakey donuts baked in muffin tins that are spiked with nutmeg and cardamom and rolled in melted butter and cinnamon sugar.

French onion skillet chicken in a copper frying pan with a person lifting out a serving

French Onion-Skillet Chicken

This isn’t just an upgrade to French onion soup. This isn’t just roasted chicken. It’s an incredible combination of all the best parts of both, darling.

A apple rose tart on a glass cake stand.

Apple Rose Tart

Sweet, crispy apples crown this elegant apple rose tart. The apples aren’t baked, so their crisp bite of honey and citrus shine.