Pigging Out

Wednesday, July 9th, 2008

After living through a tad too much drama last summer with the cooking of a whole lamb, J and I turned to a pro this year, perusading our friend Tom McNary, the brilliant chef at Carried Away in Aptos, to perform the beast roasting. This ranks as one of our best ideas of 2008.

Tom brined [...]

Tags: Carried Away, chocolate cake squares, Flo Braker, roasting a whole pig, Tom McNary

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »>

Tomato Wars

Tuesday, May 13th, 2008

J and I generally agree on the big marital issues: sex, money, travel destinations and the importance of always owning at least two dogs. But seemingly minor matters occasionally rock our relationship; high on the list is his insistence on purchasing crappy tomatoes.
I was taught at an early age that beef should be served rare, [...]

Tags: Baking with Julia, Dorie Greenspan, Flo Braker, galette, Julia Child, tomato, tomato pie

Posted in Uncategorized | 13 Comments »>

No-hassle Holiday Gifts

Thursday, November 29th, 2007

For holiday gifts, some people bake cookies. I booze cherries.
A few years ago I was on deadline for a Boxing Day story and needed more column inches. Remembering the marinated fruits on the cheese cart at Campton Place, I ransacked my pantry, found some dried tart cherries and macerated them in brandy to pair with [...]

Tags: boozy cherries, cornmeal pound cake, Flo Braker, Stilton

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »>

Mad about Majolica

Thursday, September 13th, 2007

I have this tiny little food-related addiction, aka a passion for pottery. To me, sliced tomatoes look more delicious when served on a green majolica platter, madeleines more evocative of France when piled onto a Quimper plate, even olives more appealing in a little terra cotta tapas dish.Amongst my favorite pieces are the fruit and [...]

Tags: Barbara Eigen, Flo Braker, majolica

Posted in Uncategorized | 7 Comments »>