Day of Feasting
Thanksgiving 2006 — the first time I’d be spending the holiday in California in a decade — dawned bright and clear and crisp. All day …
Amusing the Palate?
This article in the New York Times from a few months ago (I think it is restricted-acess for Times subscribers; sorry) about amuse-bouches at first …
Harvesting Fall
This morning I have been gorging on the online Thanksgiving ideas offered by the food sections of Washington Post, NY Times, and the San Francisco …
Cheese and Wine
There are few things I love as much as I love a cheese plate — before it became ever so fashionable here in the States, …
Can a Flower be a Vegetable?
Confession: since the last time I wrote here I made two batches of cupcakes: one pumpkin with chocolate-ganache frosting for Halloween; and one devil’s food …
Inspiration Comes From …
Michael Bauer recently reported on Thomas Keller’s “temporary” restaurant in Yountville, and the description of one night’s menu proved yet again the man makes food …
Tea and Sympathy
The first – and only – time I went to Ireland, I stumbled through a grey Dublin morning with my best friend in search of …
Birthday Decadence
Today’s observation is that organic bananas really do taste better than conventional ones, and are worth the few extra pennies that make up the price …
If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Roast ‘Em
A confession is in order on this grey day: when I made the switch to a vegetarian diet lo those many years ago, I wasn’t …
Summer is a Piece of Cake
I’ve never lived in San Francisco before, and rarely even spent summer days in this city by the bay when I did manage to steal …