musings about food, travel, creativity and life
Madison inspires me. I love the university vibe, even though it is mellower in the summer–and hotter and muggier. Bicyclists are out in full force; music and food festivals abound; sailboats, kayaks and rowing shells sweep by on Lake Mendota. And–one of the best and […]
Here we are in Wisconsin with all of its treasures. First there are the friends–inspirations, all. And the food they share with us around their respective home tables…from white fish and trout at Lake Superior, to ratatouille fixed in a new Instapot, to a new […]
“On the road again,” and we found ourselves “on the shores of Gitche Gumee,” Longfellow’s rendition of the Native American Ojibwe name for Lake Superior. To begin our Midwest adventure, we landed in Minneapolis and then drove to Duluth, Minnesota–a first-time visit for us–along roads […]
This week I was able to “bring joy to the table” in the form of special food items from my growing-up years in San Francisco. One was a lemon from a tree my father planted in the backyard of our San Francisco home over 50 […]
My favorite morning beverage is a caffè latte with homemade almond milk. After I assemble my first cup, I travel out to our porch, take in the valley view, settle on the green love seat that was my mom and dad’s and take that first […]
We just returned from a trip to Ashland, Oregon. The four days were filled with many gifts, including these edible delights prepared by friends and local establishments…. *Sweet Potato Enchiladas from the Oh, How She Glows Cookbook, a vegan cookbook by Angela Liddon, […]
It’s been a cloudier-than-normal week in Carmel Valley. I have done some outdoor physical things, but I’ve also done a lot of indoor reading. One book I am enjoying is called Eat This Poem, by Nicole Gulotta, “a literary feast of recipes inspired by poetry.” […]
A few months ago, I was in the Phoenix Gift Shop near the Nepenthe Restaurant in Big Sur and I saw a delightful series of colorful little cookbooks. Each volume focused on a different ingredient or food, was curated by a well known food personality, […]
I remember Friday fish Lenten dinners around the Catholic home front when I was growing up. They were simple fare and, because I usually gave up sweets for Lent, there were no cookies, candies, or ice cream lying around to tempt me. Not so at […]
Some weeks, I just need to keep it light. Last week was one of those weeks. Here’s what I did when guests came for dinner and an overnight: 1. I had a simple table centerpiece*–one doll, two vases of flowers, three glassybaby candles. […]
This past week, we were again in San Francisco and this time ’round, I wanted to focus on some of the places from my, and my parents’, past. The first night we walked from our inn on Union Street to North Beach… …up Russian […]
I am part of an unusual blended family. For the past 11 years, my husband and I, together with a dear friend, have shared being “parents” of Cosi, a spunky dog named after the Mozart opera “Cosi Fan Tutte.” Like her two moms and dad, […]
It must have been the visit to my hometown of San Francisco that has made me so nostalgic for “all things Italian.” I thought a lot about my parents who were my first “bring joy to the table” mentors. Both of them had a zest […]
The San Francisco Ferry Building is one incredible place. It hosts an indoor marketplace all week, with a produce-plus outdoor market every Saturday. It usually attracts tons of people but on this rainy, Super Bowl morning, there were no lines. We stopped there in […]
Every time I return to my hometown of San Francisco, I feel good. As we drive by my childhood home, I am transported back in time. I reminisce about feeding squirrels in Golden Gate Park with my dad, walking along Ocean Beach watching the sea […]