I think it was the frantic sound of wine bottles angrily rattling against each other, the clank-clank-clank of glass, so insistent that I braced myself for the inevitable crash, the shattering that would surely follow, that yanked me from my sleep.  A terrifying heat washed over... Continue

Do you know that feeling when you dine out, the feeling when you exit the restaurant into the fresh air of the real world outside, and you feel so completely content that it is nearly impossible to not sigh a really big sigh, look up... Continue

It is inevitable that I will fall hard for a place sporting collard greens.  Throw in some hush puppies and you know it is all over for this Southern gal.  Add in crafty, thoughtfully prepared cocktails and the atmosphere of a historic dancehall and I... Continue

Those lovely, tiny cherry tomatoes that are spilling from their little green baskets, the teeny red ones, the tear-shaped yellow, and especially the almost-purple-black ones that are abundant at the market right now, are like bits of candy.  Better than candy, really. These miniature tomatoes... Continue

If you’re anything like me, you are busy. Oh, sure it is summertime, things are meant to slow down, the days are long and laid back, plenty of lazing around the pool or popping off to beachy locales. Right? Um, not really. I realize, with... Continue

The small town farm stand.  There may not be a means of shopping for food that brings me more joy.  Saturday dawns and I begin plotting my day, which will inevitably revolve around an unhurried stop at one of Sonoma’s many delightful farm stands.  We... Continue

For many, many years, I had a fairly serious addiction to New Orleans’ style coffee and chicory.  Each morning, lingering for longer then necessary, I would sit and watch the sun rise with my oversized mug of strong, milky café au lait.  I always brewed... Continue

You know when it was so hot last week?  Out came the first of what I am sure will be many of my favorite to make cold, cold, raw vegetable summer salads.  I stopped at the Fruit Basket on my way into town: a Sunday... Continue

I am a daddy’s girl.  I adore my dad for many reasons: his huge loopy smile, the big hugs he doles out generously, his kooky addiction to radio trivia contests… but it is his love for food that makes me most happy. I can’t say that... Continue