Recent Posts

2012 Martin Ray Pinot Noir Santa Barbara County

June 20, 2014September 9, 2016

I'm not one to drink a lot of value Pinots. Pinot Noir is a difficult grape to grow and unless treated well both in the vineyard and by the winemaker, doesn't make an impressive wine. This means there's not much to be had for less than $15 that I would... Read More

Chardonnay France Tasting Wine

2012 Domaine Servin Chablis

June 20, 2014September 9, 2016

Chablis is a general designation of an appellation/region in France. At the Northern tip of Burgundy, Chardonnay grapes make wine typically with a flinty, steely edge and bracing acidity. If the wine is from France and says Chablis on the bottle, it is from this region and Chardonnay is the... Read More

✷ Mains Recipe

Spanikopita (Greek Spinach Phyllo Pie)

May 10, 2014September 1, 2016 cheese, Greek, spinach

I don't know what brought it on, but I've been in the mood to play with Greek dishes. While I've eaten many versions of spanikopita, I hadn't made my own until recently, and let me just say that this entree is both easy and substantial enough to make anyone happy... Read More

✷ Mains Recipe

Greek Phyllo Wraps

April 30, 2014September 1, 2016 Greek, Mains, phyllo

I fell in love with these Greek inspired rolls years ago when I first saw them in the magazine Cuisine at Home. I found the dill pattern so beautiful, I had to make them. They are crazy delicious, easy to make, and look so stunning you won't believe your eyes.... Read More

Recipe Side Dishes

Easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce

April 30, 2014September 1, 2016 Greek, sauce, yogurt

Creamy, tangy tzatziki sauce. Perfect with just about any Greek meat dish. For years I tried making a tzaziki sauce that rivaled my favorites from restaurants, but they always came up short. Too runny, too bland, too garlicky, not garlicky enough - how could such a simple sauce be so... Read More

Recipe Sweets

No Churn Coffee Ice Cream

March 20, 2014September 26, 2016 chocolate, coffee, desserts, ice cream, sweets

I have a favorite ice cream recipe. Jeni's Splendid makes the most delicious ice cream I've ever eaten or made, and while the recipe is by no means difficult, it does require an ice cream maker and a bit of a time/mess commitment. So when I saw Nigella Lawson make... Read More

Mains Recipe

Oven Barbecued Ribs

March 18, 2014September 1, 2016 barbecue, bbq, Mains, pork, ribs

There is nothing quite as hedonistic and finger licking good as a plate of meltingly tender barbecue ribs. They are easy to make (the only real investment is time) and so unctuously savory, meaty, and satisfying that I'm tempted to make them more often than is good for me. Boozy... Read More

✷ How To Mains

Happy Meatball Day!

March 9, 2014September 1, 2016 beef, Italian, Mains, meatballs, pasta, spaghetti, tomatoes

March 9, 2014 is National Meatball Day! What better way to celebrate than making a batch yourself? Meaty, juicy, comforting, meatballs are relatively easy to make and can be modified and flavored to match anyone's tastes. First, and perhaps most importantly, meatballs are not the same as meatloaf. When... Read More

Recipe Snacks

Fried black-eyed peas

February 16, 2014September 1, 2016 beans, black-eyed peas, snacks

I did not grow up eating black eyed peas. For many years they were completely off my radar. Then, Alton Brown, on some random food network show, talked about a restaurant that was serving deep fried black eyed peas as a bar snack. I was intrigued. The first time I... Read More

France Grenache/Garnacha Tasting Wine

2009 Domaine Paul Autard Chateauneuf-du-Pape Cuvee La Cote Ronde

February 15, 2014September 9, 2016

Happy Valentine's Day to me! I have such affection for Chateneuf-du-Pape. From the Rhone region of France, these grenache blends were what got me obsessed with wine in the first place. So when it came to a wine to celebrate Valentine's Day, I could think of nothing better. Beautiful garnet... Read More