SNACK: A bite-sized Q&A-with Marti Buckley.

Marti Buckley, Author, TV host, Journalist—and SCANDALOUS dis-liker of Ramen shares her love of santoku knives, dill pickles, and dark roast coffee- in this snack-sized Q&A.

Marti Buckley is an award-winning author, culinary expert, TV host, and journalist in San Sebastián, Spain. She writes for outlets, including Condé Nast, National Geographic Traveller, Food & Wine, and Travel & Leisure. She teaches, photographs, and translates Spanish-English (books and articles, specializing in food and wine).

Check out her books about Basque cuisine— The Book of Pintxos and Basque Country, and her blog, Travel, Cook, Eat.

Marti Buckley’s bite-sized Q + A: SNACK!

1. Midnight Snack: My homemade refried beans (cumin, oregano, paprika) with melted cheese, spicy sauce, and scallions.

2. Best Food City: Besides where I live (San Sebastian), where I’m from (New Orleans).

3. Favorite Meal of the Day: Dinner! It’s when I’m hungriest.

4. Favorite Restaurant: Asador Etxebarri in Basque Country.

5. Must-Have Kitchen Tool: A sharp santoku and a KUHN RIKON peeler.

6. Fridge Must-Have: Dill pickles.

7. Pantry Must-Have: Freshly ground dark roast coffee beans.

8. Cooking Mishap: Burning cookies in the oven when I overestimate my ability to not forget about them.

9. Overrated: Ramen. Sorry, not sorry!

10. Item One on the Shopping List: Cheese, always (hard, grated, fancy, meaty, cheap, like five different kinds at a time).