ON MY WAY TO FRANCE

Bags are packed, passport in hand and I am ready to head off to France. Only it's snowing outside. Rather than being worried about air traffic delays, I am completely mesmerized by the powder white snow flakes flurrying from the heavens. It will be the same scene for the next few hours, but I can sit before my window and stare for days. I'm reflecting on life, how lucky I am to have such an incredible husband who makes my journey through life so fulfilling, parents who support and love me through life's trials, and of course friends, the many souls that that bring such warmth to my heart.  What is it about snow that triggers such nostalgia? The thoughts of gratitude bring tears to my eyes, and I couldn't be happier.

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FALLING IN LOVE WITH ROSEMARY CHICKEN AND WHITE WINE SAUCE

Have you ever had a dish at a restaurant that was so good and so simple that you couldn't wait to go home to try to replicate it? Perhaps a scrumptious farmer's market salad? Seafood pasta? Creamy, savory, bacon-y mac and cheese? Or if you're really ambitious, cracking the code to a restaurant's secret recipe for chocolate chip cookies? I've encountered many meals that have inspired crazy adventures in the kitchen where I tenaciously guess, test and tweak recipes over and over again until I achieve the same inspiring results. Many end in utter failure and a handful so close, it makes all the trials that much more worthwhile. It's kind of like falling in love, and trying to replicate everything that brought you to such a heavenly state. I know, the recipe may not love you back, but you've simply got to try.

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GOING RAW AT ONE LUCKY DUCK

I walked into the carnal red room hearing violent blades whirring against raw vegetables, shredding, grinding and juicing. As I advanced to the counter, I studied the neatly organized shelves of organic vegan food: chia seeds, flax seeds, goji berries and raw carob powder, and stacks of books on living and eating raw.  I was met by a modern day urban hippie standing behind the counter sporting a slouchy hemp beanie, I looked closer and everyone behind the place wearing a hemp beanie. Eerie, like deja-vu. All they needed were tie-dyed shirts and burning incense to fulfill the stereotype, and I would have been completely transported back to my hippie days at Berkeley hanging out and living with hardcore vegans.

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CRAZY DAY WITH HAGAN AND FISHERS OF MEN II

It's five minutes to ten o'clock Tuesday morning and I'm crossing Wall Street to meet with food blogger, Hagan Blount of Wandering Foodie, who is spearheading the 93 Plates project. For the entire month of January, Hagan is eating and blogging his way through three meals a day of food experiences. So far he is more than two-thirds of the way to completion, has gained ten pounds and is feeling good about it.

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THE FATTED CALF IN NAPA VALLEY WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

 

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THE LOBSTER PLACE NEW YORK

 

When I arrived in New York last spring, I had two priorities: first, to have our apartment organized, and second, to figure out the best places to source high quality ingredients for our meals. The latter seems to be a never ending journey with my passionate pursuit to meet, visit and learn about local farms in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The experience has not always been positive, to my dismay I've found many farms that continue to rely on chemical spray as part of their farming practices, but it has armed me with more information to make decisions and that in itself makes the time and effort entirely worthwhile. While I have found a good handful of organic farms to rely for fresh produce, I still toggle between a couple of sources for meats. I've been successful in finding reliable sources for good quality pork and poultry, and while it is not always local, I've been most impressive with the wide array of fresh seafood at the Lobster Place at the Chelsea Market in New York. 

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NETTIE'S CRAB SHACK SAN FRANCISCO

Imagine sweet tender fleshy crab meat freshly plucked from the ocean, and then steamed, stuffed, and swaddled between a buttery toasted brioche bun. Sounds yum-o-licious doesn't it?

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Julia Child Mastering the Art of French Cooking Cookbook Winner

Thank you to everyone who submitted comments for this giveaway. There were 115 comments, and I wish I could give everyone a copy of this book, but alas I have only one copy.

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SILVERADO WINERY NAPA VALLEY Wordless Wednesday

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Sauteed Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Walnuts

Just when you thought you've seen just about every permutation of roasted brussels sprouts, I have another one for you: brussels sprouts sliced so thinly that you might as well call it shaved. These slivers of brussel sprout leaves are sauteed in a pan, creating an entirely different texture: softer, fluffier and dare I say delicate? When I first made this dish, my husband told me that the textures did not resemble brussels sprouts, and he actually enjoyed them more, a nice compliment given that he loves these stubby veggies.

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JULIA CHILD COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY REMINDER & WINNERS

 

A friendly reminder that there are still two days left for the giveaway of Julia Child's cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking. With seven ways to win, don't be shy! Best of luck!

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GIVEAWAY: JULIA CHILD MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING

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LASOON JHINGA

After all of the party food we've been pigging out on all through November and December, both my husband and I have been craving a simpler, lighter and fresher fare. The nice thing about following food blogs is that meals are almost effortlessly planned for you. It doesn't often occur to me to search for recipes anymore, I just read until I find an inspiring recipe, think about  whether I have the ingredients on hand, and see if I can accomplish the recipe by dinner.  I've learned so much about different cuisines and cooking techniques by using this approach, and with so many great recipes to try I typically do not repeat a recipe within a month.

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CREPE-MAKING WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

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THE BEST OF NEW YORK IN 10 SECONDS & A GIVEAWAY

Over the holidays I received a couple of gifts in the mail, including The Best of New York in Just 10 Seconds, a compact travel guide to visiting New York City. I've read the book several times over, looking for ideas for places I'd like to eat, and I must say that I am quite impressed with how handy this little book has become, even for someone who lives in the city.

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MICHAEL CHIARELLO'S BOTTEGA IN NAPA

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TOP 5 FROM 2009?

Happy New Year everyone! Is anyone awake and sober to read this post? No? That's okay. As you can tell from the picture, it was a rough night for someone in New York, and it wasn't me. Even though I live only four blocks away from Times Square, I was happy to be absent from the party. Although I probably should have been out because I ended staying up until 5am this morning anyway. If you've ever wondered why I started this blog, it's because I just can't fall asleep at night. I have no idea why, but I certainly get a lot done, not necessarily well, but I do get a lot done during those hours.

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