I've recently been on a bit of a cookbook binge, and got two books by Nigella Lawson. Her writing can be over-the-top at times, but that just makes the recipes more fun to read. What other cookbook can boast shellfish characterized by "bouncy sweetness", cheesecake that's an "overindulgent ... continue reading...
Dark chocolate brownies
It's pretty clear that I love chocolate - for example, a typical day at the office starts with a few squares of my favorite 65% Michel Cluizel single-origin chocolate. Given this, perhaps it's odd that I don't make many chocolate-based treats. Only rarely do I bake a chocolate cake, cookies, or ... continue reading...
Thinking of Japan
Japan has been heavily on my mind lately - such an amazing country, facing such terrible and unrelenting disaster. So I wanted to share some of my favorite memories of Japan, focusing on the food, since that's certainly one of the things that makes Japan so distinctive and ... continue reading...
Spinach pie (aka spanakopita)
My introduction to Greek food came when I was quite young, at Ikaros restaurant in Baltimore, and I found it wonderfully exciting. It was always a treat to go to Ikaros since it was so far afield from my usual haunts; Greektown is near the industrial part of the harbor, almost an hour drive ... continue reading...
Palo Alto Sol (mole, olé!)
If you spend enough time with me, you'll sooner or later come to realize that I have an obsession with mole sauce. Not just any mole, though - the mole poblano at Palo Alto Sol. For those who aren't familiar with it, mole is a sauce made of unsweetened chocolate, chilis, spices, tomato, and a ... continue reading...
A day in Napa
For whatever reason, when I lived in California I never went to any Napa wineries. Since moving away, however, I've made several trips specifically to go wine tasting and spend a few days at a time in Napa and Sonoma. So I definitely associate Napa with "being on vacation." And yes, ... continue reading...
Olive oil cake with orange
Usually, when I buy a food magazine, I read the articles but only skim the recipes – and I certainly don’t go so far as actually making many of them. But occasionally, just from reading a recipe, I find that I can clearly imagine the taste of the finished product. And once that happens, the ... continue reading...
Superbowl chili
According to an article I just read, the White House Superbowl party will include bratwurst, kielbasa, cheeseburgers, deep-dish pizza, buffalo wings, German potato salad, twice-baked potatoes, potato chips, pretzels, dip and a salad. But no chili? That's a must-have, if you ask me. I’ve used ... continue reading...
Cheese soufflé
I love soufflés. There’s something that seems so special about a towering soufflé coming to the table – it’s always an occasion. I know, by heart, the Chicago restaurants that offer dessert soufflés, and rarely turn one down if I see it on the menu. Restaurant soufflés are one thing, though, ... continue reading...