Good Taste is the Worst Vice

Hart Davis Hart wine auction, Chicago

There's a scene in the Golden Girls where Blanche, Dorothy, and Rose go to an art auction and naturally, hijinks ensue - Rose fans herself with her paddle and finds herself (temporarily) on the hook for $25,000 worth of Greek statuary. That was running through my mind when we first sat down at ... continue reading...


Breakfast at the Carneros Inn (Boon Fly and Hilltop)

I'm not much of a breakfast person in general, but I'll make an exception on vacation (and anyway, during our stay at the Carneros Inn, breakfast was included in our rate!). We tried both restaurants, the Boon Fly Cafe and the Hilltop dining room (open only on weekends most of the ... continue reading...


Chicken with apricots, herbs, and basmati rice

Chicken and rice is one of those classic combinations that crosses cultures - whether it's arroz con pollo, chicken paella, or chicken teriyaki. I was inspired by Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi's cookbook Jerusalem to try my hand at a Middle Eastern-themed one pot version - spiced chicken and ... continue reading...


(Not red) Velvet cake

Perhaps you're wondering why my velvet cake is more brown than red? To be honest, I was worried about amount of food coloring I'd need to use to achieve a truly red velvet cake.  It seems a little unnatural, and more significantly, I fear there's a high probability that my kitchen (and/or I) ... continue reading...


Drinks at the Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley

I was curious to check out the Auberge du Soleil (probably Napa Valley's best known luxury resort), so D and I stopped in for a drink one afternoon. We snagged a table on the shady porch overlooking the valley; on a Sunday afternoon, it was packed! A dish of olives was delivered with our ... continue reading...


Next: Chinese Modern

I have to confess, I wasn't tempted by Next's Steakhouse incarnation - it seemed like far too much richness, so I skipped it. But I was excited about Chinese Modern, about the idea of these talented chefs reinterpreting what can be a pretty predictable cuisine here in the US. Did it live up to ... continue reading...


“Mi cuit” chocolate cakes

You know those ubiquitous warm chocolate cakes with a melting center?  I love to eat them, but I don't love the usual name.  "Molten chocolate cake" just doesn't sound as sophisticated as it should. So I'm going to take a page from David Leibovitz's new cookbook, which has put me in a français ... continue reading...


The Carneros Inn, Napa Valley CA

I've found my new favorite vacation spot - the Carneros Inn. Really, who could resist this? The resort is situated just south of Napa Valley, about equidistant from downtown Napa and Sonoma on either side - very convenient. There are sweeping views of vineyards and hills, and that ... continue reading...


Baked French toast

For those who don't enjoy standing over the stove making pancakes, omelettes, or French toast for more than two people (and let's be honest, isn't that all of us?), this is for you - baked French toast. What a frittata is to an omelette, baked French toast is to individually-made stovetop French ... continue reading...