Good Taste is the Worst Vice

The French Laundry Pt 2: Chickens in the garden

The wait is over!  Lunch at the French Laundry is here. But first....  D and I arrived to Yountville a little early to work up our appetites with a stroll around the French Laundry garden. It's an expansive space, with beds so well organized and beautifully tended ... continue reading...


Carriage House restaurant, Mackinac Island MI

I've heard of those old-fashioned menus without prices, meant to be given to the ladies at the table, but never seen one until our trip to Mackinac Island, and the Carriage House restaurant at the Iroquois Hotel. After I finished admiring the lakefront view, I noticed that something ... continue reading...


Mackinac Island MI: Biking and fudge!

I've been wanting to go on a road trip with D for a while now, and this weekend I finally got my chance!  We drove about 7 hours to Mackinac Island, way up in the northern part of Michigan where Lakes Michigan and Huron meet, for my company's retreat. Some facts about Mackinac Island: It's ... continue reading...


Zucchini fritters

I'm not always the most creative cook.  More often than not, I make some combination of pasta and/or roasted vegetables (after all, it always hits the spot). But this weekend I wanted to make something different.  Since D was planning to grill steaks, I pondered over side dishes. As soon ... continue reading...


Chimichurri sauce

My first taste of chimichurri was a revelation. It was fresh, and mouth-wateringly tangy, and just tasted... green.   I'd heard of chimichurri before, but didn't really know what it was. Turns out it's an Argentinian sauce served with steak.  (No wonder it's good; they do know how ... continue reading...


Dolce Vita, Anguilla

During every trip to Anguilla, no matter how wonderful the crayfish and lobster are, there comes a time at which I. Must. Eat. Pasta. Trattoria Tramonto is a good destination when this happens, though I do tend to get distracted by their pumpkin soufflé if it's on the menu.  During our stay on ... continue reading...


Radio South Beach, Miami

My favorite part of my recent trip to South Beach wasn't the ocean, or the people watching, or even the gators - it was a game of giant Jenga.  On Saturday evening, my sister, our friend E, and I headed a few blocks west of our hotel to  Radio South Beach, a former pop-up bar that's just ... continue reading...


Pecan pie

If you could rank desserts in terms of ROI (return on investment), I have to imagine that pecan pie is near the top of the list. There aren't many ingredients at all, and it comes together in almost no time.  The result of a small amount of work is a gratifyingly impressive and delicious ... continue reading...


News Café, the Everglades, & Pollo Tropical, Miami

Most visitors to South Beach spend their days lounging in the sunshine and their nights clubbing until the wee hours.   But when my sister, our friend E, and I headed down this weekend, our plans were a little different – plenty of walks, relaxing dinners... and an outing to the ... continue reading...