Our second annual New Year’s Eve dinner and dance party turned out to be delicious and fun. It stared with a bit of work, as planned, cleaning the garden as best as possible and harvesting things we wanted to use or needed to be picked. I grabbed some of the ‘Early Wonder’ beets, which have proven to be some of my favorites. The roots are More
Despite many tempting invitations to friends’ parties and enticing menus at some of our favorite restaurants, Will and I have decided to stay home for New Year’s Eve. I thought of doing something that makes sense to me not only from the practical point of view, but also from the sort of spiritual. With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, a few overnight More
Thanksgiving is perhaps the most characteristic of all holidays in the United States, as I know no other culture that celebrates it. I hated it for years after spending every single one cooking the previously unknown fare at Threadgill’s (“what the hell is cornbread stuffing????”), but I have learned to love it not necessarily for it’s historical meaning, but as an excuse to enjoy family, More
Last night I was invited to Paggi House for a preview of Executive Chef Shane Stark’s new patio night dinner series, Grillin’ & Chillin’. The idea is genius: taking advantage of undoubtedly one of the best patios in the city, chef Shane will step out of the kitchen and fire up the grill instead. Diners can visit with him “grillside” as he prepares three-to-five course More
A sagra is a local fair, usually a celebration of food, as in a preparation (sagra dei gnocci) or a raw ingredient (sagra del pesce [fish]). Local customs, dancing, music, sporting events, and children’s activities are usually included as well. Think about our Wurstfest, or even the Chronicle’s Hot Sauce Festival, as a sagra. Last week we attended a sagra at Sagra Enoteca & Trattoria, More