Cafe Trix

Chilly Winter Weather Spurs Baking Frenzy

2012-01-17T10:56:00.000-08:00

Gingerbread Muffins with Meyer Lemon Curd There are times when a baking bender is required. That time is now, as the temperature dips have given us multiple nightly freezes, (yes, right here in Northern CA!!) this just makes me want to keep my oven employed. This weather led me to find the most delicious recipe for Fresh Ginger Muffins. Actually, the author calls them Steamed GingerBread

ReSolutions

2012-01-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Regional Park/Stepping Stones to a Chair RE-SOLUTIONS As the title implies, re-solutions is a great name for the ringing in of the New Year and finding new solutions to the old challenges. Each year we get to re-do some things over again that perhaps didn't work out the way we thought they would, or to try to do better, or to slow down, relax or treat ourselves and loved ones better. Be

2011-11-29T15:35:00.001-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Our green pomegranates, like ornaments on the tree, awaiting a warm ripening sun with our property and Sonoma Mt. in the background. I thought you might find this humorous, as I did....especially the carrots....and eggnog, and well, just about the whole thing. We do seem to be an obsessive bunch and you wonder where the enjoyment of the holidays comes in, is it

Quince: A Forgotten Fruit

2011-11-07T16:35:00.000-08:00

Fresh Picked quince with the fuzz (down) still on the fruit Quince is one of those fruits that you find yourself attracted to because of its beautiful shape or color, and its floral scent, but rarely know what to do with. It is the only fruit of its kind in its genus, but resembles an apple or pear. Ripening now in fall, it takes a little time to prepare, but its worth the effort. Preparing

Nora's Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

2011-10-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

Nora's Chocolate Chip Cookies with Dried Montmorency Cherries So, I am long overdue for a blog post and I soooo appreciate that you are hanging in there with me! It has been a very hectic summer and early fall and now we find ourselves in October already. Whew! With this fall weather brings a longing for cooking stews, soups and baking. For this post, I am giving you a recipe for my

New Beginnings

2011-08-03T18:14:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry to be out of touch. I have been busy putting the hopefully final touches on a new business, a new business plan, new business cards and a website. I started Maison de Concierge for the home market here in Sonoma County with the intention of helping second home owners with the management of the property whether they live there part time, rent it out, or only visit twice a year. I

SLOWING DOWN AND GETTING BETTER

2011-06-16T14:19:00.000-07:00

Marley & Lockyer There is something great about getting older, you are forced to slow down. Have you ever thought that you were racing around but not getting anything done. Too much on your plate? Frantic heart racing? I am sure you have. Many of us feel like we can't get off the wheel...it just keeps rolling. I am beginning to see the error of my ways and have started being more

Try Your Hand at Making Jam

2011-06-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

The First Fresh Strawberry Jam of the Season Watmaugh Rd Strawberries There are times during the year when if you wait, you miss out. So often life is fleeting, and never more so than with spring’s fresh produce, like fava beans (oops, you missed them!) , strawberries, certain stone fruit, spring garlic, scapes, spring onions, and well you get the picture. Strawberries sort of fit into

BAHN MI

2011-05-27T13:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Memorial Day Weekend! I have been wanting to write this post for sometime, but my life has been somewhat topsy turvy. Here it is finally! Enjoy! The perfect solution to an afternoon snack. BAHN MI SANDWICH WITH TAPIOCA (BOBA) BALLS IN LYCHEE TEA BAHN MI Banh Mi (pronounced "bonne me") sandwiches are a delicious combination of French and Vietnamese. The baguette and

The Chicken and The Egg

2011-04-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

Colorful Brookfarm Eggs I have always loved this time of year. Besides April being my birthday month, I love Easter and Springtime. The bunnies, chicks, and chocolate that find their way into our Easter baskets and let's not forget the real bunnies and chicks that are reproducing this time of year with great benefits for us all, as in, feeding us. My neighbors have had

Spring White Bean Soup

2011-04-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

White Bean Soup with Swiss Chard This is a soup perfect for Spring's crisp, uncertain weather. It is light, not heavy and you can put in it whatever is in your fridge. The addition of fresh spring fennel, leeks and swiss chard really add a lot of spring flavors. I toasted a little piece of olive bread put a slab of gruyere on it and called it a meal! Very tasty and soothing. Since soup

Granola Goodness

2011-04-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

It isn't often that I eat cereal for breakfast, but recently, when a new cookbook arrived at my door, the granola recipe jumped right out at me. How hard could it be? This simple preparation will inspire you to make your own combinations of dried fruit, nuts and seeds. It's easy, takes only an hour on low heat to bake and kept in sealed glass jars, will keep for quite awhile. They will be

DIY (Do IT Yourself)

2011-03-25T16:10:00.000-07:00

Kabocha Squash Soup with Coconut Milk and Lemongrass Kabocha and Coconut Soup with Lemongrass In this time of belt tightening, the bay area seems to be on fire with DIY (Do it Yourself; a new acronym for an old idea) cookbooks, craft books, home improvement projects and more. The DIY idea has caught on big time, so much so, that more and more people are canning, pickling, and preserving than

Community Supported Agriculture or CSA

2011-02-15T14:06:00.000-08:00

The biggest cabbage I have ever held in my hand. Look at the veins! January and February are a slow time in the field, but not as slow as you think. The root vegetables, alliums (onions, shallots, leeks, and garlic), and chicories thrive in this cool, wet weather. Some farmer's markets may be closed until April, but some farms are still producing and some may even make CSA boxes for

organization on the brain

2011-01-25T11:50:00.000-08:00

The days are getting longer and we have the promise of a new year to catapult us into a better and happier place than last year. I'll take that! January is such a great time to re-organize. Organizing your surroundings is like re-organizing your brain. It allows space in your life, creating openings that you might not have thought possible before. What works one year, doesn't always work

Olive Love

2011-01-04T16:32:00.000-08:00

Olives ripe for the picking The Pendolino is thriving My fourteen olive trees, somewhat neglected this past year or so, have stayed smaller than I would like. I can't decide whether it is because of lack of nutrients or because of gophers, deer, and turkeys eating away at their roots and branches. Probably a bit of both. They are resilient though, beautiful to look at

The Things That Matter Most in Our Lives are Not Fantastic or Grand

2010-12-19T16:37:00.000-08:00

Oil of Abraham's Mother's hands This year, with weather turning us back indoors to hunker down, I feel a little like a child ( minus the 10 degrees) waiting rather impatiently, but marveling at the falling of the season's first snow, nose pressed against the window. I couldn't wait to go out in the fresh snow to make a snowman, an igloo or walk over to our pond to skate. Outdoors were

Recipe Revelation

2010-11-29T12:57:00.000-08:00

Leftovers and more.... This past week was filled with long lazy days of lolling about with children and husband. I am finally getting a post out, but I am sorry to be so slow about it. We all had a lovely Thanksgiving, and I have discovered some delicious recipes in the meantime. For starters, I made a delicious pot-pie with the leftovers from our own lunch the day after Thanksgiving.

Tradition of Thanks

2010-11-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Eggplant and Pepper Wreath from Oak Hill Farm Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year. Who can resist the lengthy table sitting and nibbling until you are simply too full to move? My sister Susan and I take turns hosting the dinner, every other year, partly because her married son alternates with his in-laws and partly this way it is never too much for either one of us. It’s a

LAVENDER

2010-11-02T11:51:00.000-07:00

Lavender just harvested from my garden about two months ago. LAVENDER It is past the time when my lavender was harvested, but since I was away this summer and am getting a late start to it, I thought I should talk a little about the process and what I am doing with it all. Lavendula x intermedia is a provencal lavender with tall green stems and short to medium long flower bundles.

Highlighting the BLOGHER conference.

2010-11-02T09:41:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share with you the BLOGHER conference that I went to last month before it gets away from me. Let me first say, that it was so amazing to have a room full of women who blog about food. I was totally in my element. Everyone was pleasant and chatty and wanted to share their ideas and their blogs with eachother. All of the women I chatted with were eager to learn new things, network

THE OLD WAYS STILL WORK

2010-10-29T16:09:00.000-07:00

Olive Oleaceae Olive season is fast approaching. My olives are just starting to turn color, and I will wait till the Arbequeno varieties have turned dark purple before plucking them from their limbs. Its seems like the grapes are barely off the vine, then its the turn of the olive. According to an online definition, it is a stone fruit - "fleshy indehiscent fruit with a single

2010-10-27T10:20:00.000-07:00

New York Minutes I love New York. I wish I could spend a month, a year, or more time than just a few days here. In New York, time seems to be accelerated. I get caught up with the vibe, the motion, the heartbeat of the city, then I too am a New Yorker and in the mix, for that day or week. I love taking the subways, walking for blocks and blocks, seeing art at the museums and eating at great

FALL APPLES

2010-10-10T16:49:00.000-07:00

CRISPY APPLE SALAD FOR FALL Fall and ApplesI am a little wistful this time of year. The days are getting shorter and with it the light is different. It’s changed and there is a sense of trying to finish what one has started. The birds are busy pairing up and building their nests, and the temperature dips down at night. I love it, but I know what is coming, winter. I am lucky that winter

FIRST DAY OF FALL

2010-09-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

FALL Tomatoes Warm My Heart! Yes, its hard to believe, but here we are. The first day of fall. With 90 degree weather on its way this weekend, I don't feel too bad, and true to course, there are all those yummy fall vegetables and fruits to look forward to. Just a few; artichokes, beets, carrots and chards, celery root, mustard greens, winter squashes, and then there are the fall and winter

PUTTING UP AND CANNING IT!

2010-09-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

Fresh Pesto and Spicy Tomato Jam Can It! Summer is closing and fall has arrived, even though the calendar tells us it is a week away, and in our area, its the best weather we have had all summer, I mean seasonally it feels like summer, but hey we'll take summer any old time, even in Sept. There are tell-tale signs of autumn with leaves dropping, wind whipping up occasionally, and that last

INOPIA

2010-08-26T07:15:00.000-07:00

INOPIA Barcelona, Spain Padron Peppers from INOPIA INOPIA es UTOPIA I am back from my travels, but my thoughts keep returning to a great restaurant that I ate at in Barcelona’s Eixample district. INOPIA is owned by Albert Adria, brother of the well-known pastry chef, Ferran Adria of El Bulli, on the Costa Bravas. Albert’s restaurant is a tapas bar with an edge. It

Summer Salads

2010-08-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

Roasted Eggplant Salad Last time I checked, summer was still here and by all standards August is still a summer month, yet why do I feel as though my thoughts are turning toward fall and winter? Canning, knitting, baking, nesting? Can it be that I am hearing about our friend's children going back to school? Our my own son, who is a sophmore in college, starts back after Labor Day? Or Labor

Summer Travels

2010-08-04T16:13:00.000-07:00

Summertime TravelIt has been a few weeks since I have written anything, but I have a good excuse. I have been travelling for three weeks in Spain and France. We went to Barcelona, Mallorca, Bilboa and San Sebastian, before heading north to Bordeaux and finally, one of our favorite destinations, Paris. Here are some highlights of the trip! BarcelonaArriving a day later

CSA'S, FARM DINNERS, POP UP STORES AND MORE

2010-07-08T15:51:00.000-07:00

CSA's, POP-UPS and More....Oh MY!What is a pop-up store? A pop-up store is just what it sounds like. It is a moveable feast of sorts that may have an ever-changing location. It appears, maybe once a month, or so where chefs and foodies present their wares to customers, notifying them by twitter, email or through a blog or facebook reminder. If you go to one, double check the location to make

The Best of Japanese Food~Kirala

2010-06-24T15:17:00.000-07:00

The Best Japanese Food in the Bay Area Kirala, an East Bay/Berkeley institution, is my favorite Japanese Restaurant in the bay area. Since we do not have one single Japanese restaurant in Sonoma, I am forever craving it. When I was living in the East Bay, I thought nothing of scooting over to Kirala for a quick lunch after or before grocery shopping at Berkeley Bowl nearby. So, a few weeks

Retreat of Gold

2010-06-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a long weekend retreat of relaxation at Tassajara Hot Springs. I took a gardening and cooking workshop that was so gratifying and soulful. The three women teachers were Wendy Johnson, Annie Somerville and Laura Burgess, who have very different vocations, but live their life in the spririt of the way. I was so inspired, I wanted to share some of their wisdom with

In the GREEN Kitchen by Alice Waters

2010-06-10T07:51:00.000-07:00

Bringing it Home Alice Water's new book, In the Green Kitchen, Techniques to Learn by Heart, reminds us that what is best for us, is fresh, organic, and minimally processed foods and meals. She brings us back to the basic values of eating, cooking and shopping for ingredients. There is something satisfying in shopping for our own food. Just take a look at the farmer's markets that have

Summer Squash Sensation

2010-05-31T13:17:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what to do with all that summer squash and zucchini that is so readily available all summer long? Squash is prolific during summer months and sometimes it is hard to get a handle on what to do with the sheer quantity of them. Harvested young, summer squash is brightly colored, with shiny skin and tender flesh that is creamy and delicate while sweet in flavor. When

Green Cooking

2010-05-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

Techniques to Learn I have just done it! I ordered Alice Water’s new cook book, “In the Green Kitchen: Techniques to Learn By Heart.” Some people may wonder why, after 25+ years cooking and catering that I would want a simple cookbook, with easy recipes and techniques that I probably already know how to do? Well, because as a cook, I never want to stop learning (I will

New York Travels

2010-05-19T09:44:00.000-07:00

A New York MinuteNew York, New York, so great they named it twice! That’s how I felt last week while visiting our daughter and son to attend our daughter's college graduation at Yankee Stadium, no less. Although I have traveled many times to New York over the past two decades, I feel like I have really gotten to know the city over the past four years. Visiting twice a year, staying in

1st FOOD BLOG potluck dinner

2010-05-18T15:51:00.000-07:00

Last Month's Potluck for FOOD 52 When the word potluck comes to mind, it conjures up an array of casserole dishes brought with love, but often duplicated, or indistinguishable from the one sitting next to it. Not so at our FOOD52 potluck dinner last month. Some of the dishes were Crab Lasagne with pine nuts, Potato salad with green beans and proscuitto, goat cheese and caramelized onion in

Mother's Day Meatballs

2010-05-09T14:02:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was perusing through Classic Spanish Cooking by Elisabeth Luard to educate myself about an upcoming trip to Spain this summer. I wanted to try to make some of the dishes that we might eat in Barcelona and to attempt to pronounce (and remember) some of the Catalan/Spanish names so that I could have a little edge when I was ordering tapas. Let's face it, it’s all

Santa Barbara

2010-05-05T21:11:00.000-07:00

SANTA BARBARA SURPRISES Santa Barbara is a place I have only visited twice. I was there in 1998 when we rode our bikes from San Francisco to LA with a group of friends. We alternated camping and staying in hotels and Santa Barbara was a hotel night so we stayed at the Miramar hotel. With beachfront property and a train going right through the grounds, we were enthralled. It had a coffee "

California Coast

2010-04-26T16:44:00.000-07:00

Gratitude for California Living Whenever I travel the coast I feel lucky to live in California. It is spectacular from Humboldt county in the north to San Diego County in the south. About 12 years ago, my husband and I travelled from San Francisco to Los Angeles with some friends on bicycles. Some of us rode, some of us drove the mor home/support vehicle. We alternated sleeping in sleeping

Tools of the Trade

2010-04-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

CHOPPED CHICKPEA SALAD This may sound strange, but I have a thing for knives. My first knife was given to me by my sister Susan, as a house-warming gift when I moved into my own apartment in San Francisco. It was a Wusthof 7” slender slicing knife that I used for everything. Since it was my one and only good knife, it dulled, of course, and I gradually added more knives to my collection.

Market Time as Spring Arrives

2010-04-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

TUESDAY EVENINGS IN SONOMA WARM WEATHER and longer days are arriving as spring seems to have made a comeback. Despite the unpredictable weather, there is beautiful produce arriving at the farmer's markets and Tuesdays on the square in Sonoma, is just the place to sample fresh spring vegetables, although you might have to fight the crowds to get to them. The energy is high with shoppers,

Green Gulch Farm and Carniolan Bees

2010-04-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

Recently on a trip to Green Gulch Farm to pick up my new carniolan bees, I found myself wandering around the farm's beautiful gardens. It is hard to describe the sense of peace and quiet one feels here, but it is as if you have just been dropped down in the middle of a slow zone, quiet, and with no cars. Everyone is walking at a pace I can only dream of. It is like opening your senses and

COOKING CLASSES coming soon

2010-04-13T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone, Cooking Classes will be coming to Sonoma soon! I am so excited! I will be teaching at two private homes on two different dates TBA. I look forward to many more in-home classes. If you or someone you know would like to host a cooking class, please contact me at tobcaters@gmail.com. Thanks so much! See you in the kitchen! September 2010 Class / Tomato Class December

Huevos Ranchero Heaven

2010-04-12T16:31:00.000-07:00

Huevos Rancheros at Wildwood Market Cafe, Graton CA. I have a love affair with this dish. I order it almost every time I go out to breakfast or brunch. I can't help myself. I love the combination of flavors, I am almost never disappointed and well, it just makes me happy. My friends make fun of me, my husband is happy because he can always taste mine and order something different. This

Rainy Day in Sonoma

2010-04-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Fresh Spring Rolls are so healthy and delicious. They are full of greens, mint, basil and cilantro, crispy carrots and cucumbers and sometimes shrimp or rice vermicelli. It is like having a salad wrapped up into a burrito rice wrapper and dunked into a sweet and spicy dipping sauce. This was one of my favorites when I was catering. They are showy and pretty on a platter and are easy to pass.

Travelling is the Spice of Life

2010-04-03T19:17:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE and BEYOND Travelling always puts me in a good mood. I get to plan for it weeks or months in advance and I get to go somewhere new or visit someone I love. This time I met a friend from Junior High while we each took art classes up in Port Townsend, WA called ArtFest. It was something that she had planned with two other friends from Denver and we had signed up for last year. The

SPRINGTIME in Sonoma

2010-03-21T20:51:00.000-07:00

Spring Fever It distinctly feels like warmer spring weather has arrived and with it daylight savings, and the promise of longer days. My crab apple tree seemed to blossom overnight and the fruiting Quince and Wisteria are not far behind. It means that soon the farmer's market will return to the Square on Tuesday nights. Oak Hill Farm will re-open soon at the barn on Highway 12, and summer

Out and About in Oakland

2010-03-13T10:23:00.000-08:00

Reminders of a Former Life As many of you know, I lived in Oakland for 20 years. Except for the first 15 months of my daughter's life, where we lived in San Francsico, Oakland is where I raised my two children. Those years were the best years of my life. It was bittersweet when we moved to Sonoma County last year, however, beautiful the place we live in is, it can't replace the energy and

March LUNCH AT ZUNI CAFE

2010-03-04T21:22:00.000-08:00

Dining at Zuni Cafe is a religious experience. Besides the high windows and ceilings and oddly shaped rooms that lead to other rooms and stairways, it is a veritable rabbit warren of cozy spots with natural light coming in at every angle. I love it! Since its inception some 25+ years ago, I have been a regular customer. Twenty-three years ago this month, after getting married at City

Winter Tomato Soup

2010-03-02T10:39:00.000-08:00

Winter Tomato Soup A delicious way to start the weekend. This recipe is easy, delicious and healthy. With winter still lingering around, and rain falling on our heads, get out of the weather and warm yourself up with this soup. It has Chicken, Chick Peas, Spinach, and Canned Tomatoes. You can extend it if visitors stop by, with chicken or vegetable stock and add a few more ingredients, it

EATING IN FOR THE NIGHT

2010-02-22T15:07:00.000-08:00

Turkey Burger Love I have never been a burger lover, per se. Growing up in the midwest, I probably have had enough meat to last me two lifetimes. Having said that, every once in a while, I have a hankering for something that is "like" a burger. Not the big sloppy kind with ketchup (yuck) and mustard (yum), but a more tasty version. This Turkey Burger has carmelized onions sauteed and then

Spring is in the Air

2010-02-15T11:28:00.000-08:00

Friends, With spring almost here, my mood is starting to perk up, my legs are moving again and my mind is starting to clear out all the webs of winter. This bay area warm spell is just what the doctor ordered. With warmer weather, you can be sure that spring vegetables and herbs are not far behind. I have been eating out so much lately that last night's dinner was a nice reprieve from the

Cafe Trix: Boon Fly Cafe

2010-02-09T14:04:00.000-08:00

Cafe Trix: Boon Fly Cafe

Boon Fly Cafe

2010-01-26T15:08:00.000-08:00

Saturday morning brunch is a revelation at Boon Fly, a quaint, easy to get to, restaurant situated on HWY 121 near Domaine Carneros and Di Rosa Preserve. Plan an outing to the Di Rosa Preserve for their eclectic collection of California artists. They have an outdoor sculpture garden or inside gallery and a separate house. The house is floor to (literally on the) ceiling full of art. It is

Cooking with New Ingredients

2010-01-23T15:49:00.000-08:00

Winter Roots I don't know about you, but winter sure seems long this year! With all of the rain, the fog, and the general malaise that this weather has brought, I am ready for a trip to the sun! I have spent countless hours indoors and have inevitably ended up in front of the stove. Most recently, cooking and testing a Deborah Madison Stew recipe for Oak Hill Farm's newsletter. I wanted

Winter Pleasures

2009-12-31T12:24:00.000-08:00

During these dark, cold, wet and wintry days of winter, it behooves us to take it slower. After the holiday rushing about of shopping, cooking, friends and family get-to-gethers, it is time sit and take stock and reflect, then move forward. Writing about the winter and the cold, the wetness, the clouds, the fog, all seems to be a bit of a downer, but actually....I like this time of year. I

A Day Around the Bay

2009-12-13T15:54:00.000-08:00

Since moving to the country late last year, one of my favorite things to do is to go down to the East Bay and San Francisco and visit my old haunts~ places that are my favorites, but that I don't get to on a regular basis. Last week I caught up on my favorite places and had some delicious food in the mix. Monterey Market, (www.montereymarket.com/) in Berkeley, one of the best little markets in

The French Laundry

2009-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

Well....it takes my breath away to talk about The French Laundry. The restaurant, tucked into a turn of the century stone building at the North end of Washington St. in Yountville, is a Relais & Chateaux restaurant. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relais_&_Chateaux So, having said that, one only expects the very best service, the very best food, and the very best dishes, glassware, and combination of all

Superb Napa Valley Day and Evening

2009-11-21T13:17:00.000-08:00

Looking west toward the Mayacamas. A wintry day of rain, sun, and clouds. Afterwards, everything gleaming bright green and like new. Our afternoon wine tasting at Opus One was like no other tasting I have been to before. A limestone building with its central core rising so as to take in a 360 degree view of the valley, was both welcoming and stately. Modeled to be both the old and the

A Bargain is a Bargain Politically Speaking

2009-11-10T21:29:00.000-08:00

$5 Cheeseburger with French Fries Tonight on my way home I decided to check out the Breakaway Cafe in Sonoma and their Tuesday night special. $5 Cheeseburgers! Since I don't eat burgers (red meat, in fact) I ordered an Ahi Tuna Burger....more $$ but I don't compromise on the no burger policy. (I haven't eaten one since I was a kid....honestly, I don't even remember the last time I had

Dio De Los Muertos

2009-11-03T01:36:00.000-08:00

Celebrating our Ancestors It was a sight to be hold upon walking into Oakhill Farm last Sunday, which happened to be Dio de Los Muertos or Day of the Dead. The beautiful curtain of chrysanthemum heads in brightly colored orange and yellow were "sewn" together and hung from the ceiling to celebrate this holiday most associated with skeletons, retablos or alters, and fresh fruit and candy laid

New York, New York

2009-10-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Yes, it has been a few days since I have been blogging, however, I have been tasting my way through New York City the last couple of days and what fun it is! Narrowing down the choices is the most difficult part of any trip to New York. There is never enough time, money or energy to do everything and so something must always be left behind for next time. This trip is no exception. Two nights

CUESA FUNdraiser

2009-10-05T21:19:00.000-07:00

Last night was the Sunday Supper put on by CUESA (Center for Urban Education About Sustainable Agriculture) An organization that I used to work for many moons ago, with the Market Cooking for Kids program through the Oakland Public Schools. A great program that introduces inner city kids to seasonal foods and cooking. It is such a fun event that I think we have only missed it once. We

Art and Food, A Perfect Combination

2009-10-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Last night was the opening for a friend's art show, so we headed South of Market to find a place to nibble and grab a beverage. We ended up in the new Milennium building at a restaurant called RN74 (RN74.com). This seems to be its second location, the first being on Powell Street on the 13th floor. Sounds intriguing. My friend and I sat at a long common table....alone, just the two of us,

Sometimes All You Need Is A Cocktail

2009-09-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

Our real intention was to go the Tuesday farmer's market on the square. It is a lovely affair with beautiful fruits and vegetables and even some yummy food already prepared so you can eat a picnic on the grass or take it home for later. You know the places....they are everywhere today! www.sonoma.com/thingstodo/farmers_markets/featured.htm However, the side tracking came when my friend

dinner on the run

2009-09-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

Tonight I came home and was feeling rather blah from the work a day world and noticed that I had a bag of swiss chard in the fridge that I had chopped up a couple days ago. MUST saute them immediately, so they don't go bad....I was thinking to myself. With a little leek before hand, then salt and pepper with a little balsamic drizzle to top it off, it was a nice side dish by itself. However

Sharing Time and Meals with Friends and Family

2009-09-28T07:52:00.000-07:00

One of the most satisfying rituals in my life is sharing meals with friends and family. It gives everyone an opportunity to have face time. In an era with cell phones, ichat, twitter, email, blogs, etc, I often feel like I am not sure if I am being listened to, or that I myself am fully listening. Whether it is the computer, the t.v. or the kids there is always a distraction, but when you are

Nepalese Food in Glen Ellen

2009-09-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Sunday night, my husband and I found ourselves in Glen Ellen at Yeti Restaurant. A Nepalese Restaurant in the charming Jack London Village section near the Creek. It was a lovely evening, the doors open and the staff delightfully warm and friendly. The food was plentiful and delicious....very similar to Indian food, although somewhat less spicy. Our starter was a chicken dumpling served

Early Fall Dinner Al Fresco

2009-09-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

Al Fresco Valley of the MoonWhat was your favorite Al Fresco Dining experience? This one comes pretty close! A delicate start of lovely rose wine from La Crema (lacrema.com) and a Navarro (www.navarrovineyards.com) Gewurtraminer for dinner. Dinner last night with friends consisted of a beautiful Grilled Salmon (thank you G.) fresh corn on the cob, an armenian cucumber, cherry tomato,

A Calistoga Evening

2009-09-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

Good Morning All, Last night on a warm late summer/early fall night in downtown Calistoga, the scent of earth and crushed grapes in the air, I joined a friend and her mother at a lovely restaurant named JoLe. JoLe is located on the main drag about two- three blocks from Hwy 29. It is in the Mount View Hotel. A historic hotel that has now been updated and feels very fresh and modern inside.

Lunch at Sol Food

2009-09-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

A favorite place to have an inexpensive lunch. The portions are so large that my husband and I usually share. Our favorite is Pollo al Horno. It comes with rice, beans, a delicious piece of marinated chicken, two pieces of garlic plantain (imagine tortilla plantains) and a lightly dressed salad of mixed greens. Check it out! They have two locations within a block of eachother in downtown

My Nepenthe

2009-09-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

My Nepenthe by Romney SteeleA new cookbook/family chronicles of the restaurant Nepenthe is out! It is all about the beautifully, restful, and la boheme area of Big Sur and the family that started Nepenthe, a must see stop along the California Coast south of Monterey and Carmel. My husband and I stopped along here one time several years ago, and while we were having an early dinner, whales

First Morning Blog

2009-09-18T09:44:00.000-07:00

Good Morning Foodies!I have finally, after many years in the food business and catering business, have decided to start blogging. (I know, I am a late bloomer) I hope that this will be a journey that goes both ways....I send out, and you send back. I would appreciate your comments, encouragement, ideas, gifts, thrills, tastebuds, and more will keep me encouraged to keep writing, and to keep