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...


Cheese x 13 at Brindille, Chicago

Now that's a cheese plate! Brindille offers thirteen varieties of French cheese arrayed in a neat circle, with meltingly sweet baked apple in the middle.  Starting at 12 o'clock, they proceed roughly in order from mild to intense: Chevre d'Argental - Rhone-Alps Blanc Bleu Tombor - Pays de ... 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...


Lunch at Solbar, Calistoga CA

It's a longish drive from Napa to Calistoga - past the touristy wineries in the sunny valley, then through the center of St Helena (where Hwy 29 becomes, literally, "Main Street"), and finally out into a narrower part of the valley, where the hills are closer and anonymous wine production facilities ... 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...