ANOTHER PU PU PLEASE

Aloha! My fella and I just got back from 7 beautiful days on the Big Island of Hawaii. I expected huge hotels, mumu-wearing tourists and lots of bad key chains. What I found was one of the most beautiful, topographically diverse and relaxing places I have ever visited. I have been to Maui twice, once to run the Maui Marathon ( I bring that up as often as I can) and the second time simply to explore. As majestic as Maui is, there is one thing inherently missing that I found on the Big Island and that is, the spirit [...]

By |2018-10-03T16:31:13-04:00August 6th, 2010|
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SEXY AND SIMPLE AVOCADO SALAD

This recipe was inspired by Martha Stewart's Avocado Jicama Salad that I found in one of the only cookbooks I have ever used, "What to have for Dinner." The recipe was tasty. It consisted of avocados, Jicama, red onion, lemon juice, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, etc. etc. You would think that was simple enough for me? Not so much. My second bout of inspiration came from the avocado salad at Versailles, my old favorite Cuban food restaurant in Venice Beach, CA. Theirs consisted of sliced avocado, sliced white onion, white wine vinegar, vegetable oil and salt and pepper. MY AVOCADO [...]

By |2018-10-03T16:33:39-04:00July 7th, 2010|
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DIRTY STRAWBERRIES

It's strawberry season! I know that nowadays you can get strawberries year round, BUT they don't taste like they do right now. I am not sure what the origin of this recipe is, but I was introduced to it for the first time when I lived in New Mexico in the late 80's. I was told it was a southern thing. If you know, please share. DIRTY STRAWBERRY I remember that the thought of strawberries dipped in sour cream and then brown sugar was not appealing. Boy was I wrong. This is short and sweet because I really [...]

By |2018-10-03T16:36:58-04:00June 3rd, 2010|
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I’M CALLING IT PIZZA.

Thoughts of this pizza wake me up at night. Kinda sad. I am blessed with a neighbor and amazing friend who is also an incredible cook. She has a chalk board the size of a door with the week's menu written beautifully in colorful chalk, which usually features some form of pancetta, shrimp and cheese. She also has a full-time job and a husband. Dynamo. One day I had nothing to eat and Shannon, the amazing friend, said c'mon over and I will feed you. She presented me with a Lavosh pizza which was inspired by the "Sonny Boy" pizza [...]

By |2018-10-03T16:39:00-04:00May 5th, 2010|
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TASTES LIKE CHICKEN

That there phrase could be a high compliment depending on the bird in question. I believe that the litmus test to a great restaurant or chef is how good their chicken is. Chicken can be a sublime experience if it is wrangled correctly and it usually isn't. I ordered the chicken at Chez Papa the other day and it was delicious, moist and perfectly seasoned. It rested on a bed of piperade, chorizo and potatoes and shined regardless of it's very tasty bedfellows. My lunch partner that day is a cook book editor for a very notable publisher. I mentioned [...]

By |2018-10-03T16:42:28-04:00March 15th, 2010|
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