Pub fare. It conjures up images of mushy grey peas straight from the can and soggy, freezer-to-fryer fish and chips doesn’t it? I certainly have never seen a thoughtfully sourced, seasonal vegetable crudite or beautiful local oysters on the menu at any pub I have... Continue
During the past couple of long, long summer days, I can’t seem to shake the tropics. Is it the Southern gal in me, a little Florida cracker involuntarily sneaking out? I am not quite sure what it’s about. It might be our lengthy string of... Continue
I have been told that I am a food snob and, while I am no genius, I don’t think it was meant to be a compliment. The not so surprising fact, ha ha, is that I have actually been called that more than once in my... Continue
If I were to sit down and write a column about all the things that I find delicious and delightful about Sonoma, it would be more of a novel than a list, possibly a romance novel or a collection of love letters. There are simply... Continue
“Mozzarella Bar.” Those two words alone are reason enough to get me over the hill to Petaluma’s new outpost of my favorite pizza spot, Rosso Pizzeria and Wine Bar. The über talented gang who opened the creative, seasonally inspired, always yummy - and always packed... Continue
The Fourth of July, for me, typically conjures happy thoughts of sketchy Southern roadside stands hawking cheap fireworks, late night bonfires at my family’s rustic mountain barn, the little - and not so little - kids running crazy with sparklers, writing our names in the... Continue
It’s that time of year again, grilling season! I cannot say there is a more festive way to ring in the summer than with a Fourth of July barbecue. The Southern gal in me looks forward to this time of year when we get to... Continue
With my first bite, I gasped. I sat still and lowered the nectarine so I could take a good, long look at it. I rolled it over, unhurriedly, wondering what was this stunning piece of fruit? It seemed a normal nectarine, maybe a wee bit... Continue
I had been looking forward to eating at Glen Ellen Star for weeks and this past, very warm Sunday, I finally got in for a wine-filled, slightly sweaty dinner with friends. The restaurant’s pretty, white tile-lined, wood-burning oven cranks out some serious heat, not to... Continue
There isn’t much that screams summer more than ice cream. Childhood summer days of mine were often spent splashing around my grandparents’ swimming pool, and there was always a much-anticipated outing to the Carvel on the corner. My cousins and I always opted for the... Continue