Never Better
Avanti that is. A few very hot nights ago we gave up on the whole idea of cooking and headed over to Ristorante Avanti where the evening specials dazzled. Under the expertise of lead sauté cook Roberto Serna, two entrees and one shared salad said everything about the...
Condiment Queen
Cholula - yes, the deliciously picante Mexican chile sauce that offers flavor interest as well as kick. Thanks to the piquin and arbol chiles it contains, this eye-opener bursts into full flower powered by an under-current of vinegar. Watch scrambled eggs take on new...
Cooking with Diana Kennedy
If you adore great food, and the chance to get into the kitchen with a true culinary master, you might consider taking the Kitchen Classics Cooking Tour with Diana Kennedy – August 15 – 25. The My Mexico Tours junket, run by the highly experienced and vivacious...
June @ Windy Oaks
Judy Schultze of Windy Oaks Estate Vineyards emailed to remind me that the charmingly rustic facility — which just squeaked through the recent south county fires unscathed — will be open during the rest of June (hurry!) for tastings of what many argue is one of...
Operatic Orgy
If there's a legal thrill that comes close to great, live opera - I haven't found it yet. And last Sunday's opening matinee performance of Ariodante just proved it all over again. Written seemingly to twist Baroque-era vocal chords into rococo pretzels, Handel's...
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.