Sicilian Spice

Sicilian Spice

A wine from Sicily is always something mysterious, suggesting volcanic minerality and citrus perfume. This beauty from Tascante offers all of that and more. Hints of Mediterranean herbs, burnt orange peel, pepper and gorgeous red tannins make a volatile flavor...

Fogline Farms, al fresco

Fogline Farms, al fresco

On Memorial Day, the long, linened "Outstanding in the Field" dinner table was cradled by redwoods and grapevines, the ocean in the distance, apple orchards filled with baby piglets and enormous sows, and roving bands of plump, beautiful chickens. The spot was Fogline...

Spice Island—Alameda’s Burma Superstar

Spice Island—Alameda’s Burma Superstar

It was like old times, having lunch at Burma Superstar with my old friend filmmaker Saul Landau on the main street of Alameda (which actually is an island). The food was brilliantly spiced Burmese cuisine, flecked with red chiles, handfuls of fried garlic, tendrils of...

Pandol Pinot

Pandol Pinot

I love this wine! Not the least bombastic, but not "invisible" either, it gives Santa Cruz Mountains winegrowing region yet more luster. The wine in question is a lovely, highly affordable ($22+) 2009 Pandol Pinot Noir made from Regan Vineyards grapes by Jennifer...

Beyond Pizza @ Pizzeria Avanti

Beyond Pizza @ Pizzeria Avanti

We split this salad of crisp Bloomsdale spinach, pancetta, egg, sherry vinaigrette and shaves of Parmesan Reggiano, at Pizzeria Avanti last Friday. And then we had a splendid pizza topped with arugula and prosciutto. With glasses of Spanish garnacha. All better than...

Inside the Flame

the rituals, discoveries, and treasured sensory memories that make our home in the world

A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.

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