Hop Into Espana Just over Spain’s border, the city’s of San Sebastian and Barcelona offer visitors two views into a country rich in food, culture, and a spiced up life. Hop over the French border into Spain and at either end of the Mediterranean country you’ll find two starkly different, brilliant examples of what Espana has to offer. On the Western side, lays the sleepy seaside town of San Sebastian, with charming medieval streets lined in tapas bars. The Ea... Read Full Story

Le Ferme de Monatges As the train pulled out from Bordeaux, we unloaded our lunch. Fresh chevre, salami purchased from the market we stumbled upon in Bordeaux, apricot jam, warm bread from the boulangerie, and crisp, red wine. As we began to eat slices of salami, cheese and bread, our French neighbors across the train asked, “ You are American? What kind of cheese is that? “It is chevre, we made it on the farm we’ve been working on for the last few days,” we happily replied. “Oh! That must be... Read Full Story

Running Through Londontown and Grand Paris This week has been a few quick days in London and Paris. After a stroll through the art exhibits of London’s Tate Modern, there was just enough time left for a wonderful lunch of smoked eel, ox hearts, and treacle pudding at St. John’s, creamy sheep’s milk cheese from Neal’s Yard Dairy, and a few good beers from Jersulem Tavern. Jumping on the Eurrorail in London, it was a fast train ride into France. The Paris day began with... Read Full Story

Spending some time The Fat Duck This week I’m at the Fat Duck. It’s an exciting, educational and awe inspiring experience. I have met chefs from all over the world; New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada, and Argentina. There is an Australian who spends his days testing experimental recipes, an Italian chocolatier who looks like a mad scientist dressed in his lab coat holding a chocolate spray gun, and the most talented and educated chef I have yet to meet, ironically, from Los A... Read Full Story

Words of Wisdom for the Class of 2009 Congratulations Class of 2009. You’re a graduate, so pat yourselves’ on the back and give a giant round of applause. You’ve made it through the long hours, hard classes, and sometimes boring professors. Finally it’s the day when you can take off the toque and walk out a free cook. As you push through the doors of your culinary school, realize the wide world of restaurants is a tough business. You’ve managed to acquire a job a... Read Full Story

All You Need Is Love Apple Farm Imagine a world with the sweetest carrots, peppery radishes, and leek scapes with a musky, garlic bite. This is a world where the produce is given extra loving care by farmers who never take a day off and who live a stone throw away from the planting beds. Every morning the crops are pruned and tended, and by mid-afternoon the day’s vegetables are picked and whisked away. Washed and cleaned, they are roasted, chopped and pureed into the food of two star... Read Full Story

Lubitel Youbitel A few months ago I was flipping through the pages of a fashion spread when a svelte model caught my eye. She was holding a Lubitel camera, and I was smitten. Not long after, Thomas, my long-distance beau, arrived for a visit from Los Angeles with a preset in tow, a Lubitel of my very own. I have to say, I was a bit intimidated at first by the double lens and waist level view finder. However, this beginners level, medium-format camera isn’t difficult to use, and the nuan... Read Full Story

Mother’s Day Confections Box I distinctly recollect the first life lesson I recognized my Mother had taught me. It was a hot summer day in Philadelphia, and I was on my way to a funeral service. Although I was a college student who often disregarded the proper rules of attire, that morning I had remembered to slip on a pair of pantyhose underneath my black shift dress. Walking into the funeral parlor, I realized my Mother would be proud at my commitment to propriety despite the heat. Of... Read Full Story

Dominican Republica: Paradise Found Charlotte revved the throttle of the atv as we roared up the rocky hillside, pushing into the Samana mountain range.  Day three of the Dominican adventure and we were deep into the lush countryside heading towards the coffee fields. The sky over head was clear, the sun shone bright above us. Each turn brought a new view.  In the wilderness, surrounded by lush greens, the blue beach peeped out between the valleys in the far off distance. Then all at once, ... Read Full Story

First Look: Farmers Market Preview The days are warming up and your tongue is craving the sweet strawberries and juicy peaches of spring. Even with the occasional bright sunny day, it’s still just a bit too early for fruit, but the farmers markets are starting to bustle. This Sunday, the Dupont Market was alive with bustle, and lucky for the home cook, springtime is just around the corner. I have to say, I’m a bit of a farmers market snob. Having spent the last three years shoppi... Read Full Story