I have ulterior motives. In the spirit of full disclosure, I should probably admit that I start businesses (or as I sometimes like to call them, “projects”) for selfish reasons. I opened a gourmet grocery in the smallish East Texas city I lived in years ago because I wanted a place to buy good bread […]
Planning the Thanksgiving menu is one of my favorite activities of the holiday season, and I fully embrace the challenge of satisfying the traditionalists in my family (yes Dad, cranberry jelly will be happening) while following my own impulse to put a modern spin on a few of the dishes. Today’s menu is what I’d be […]
“Though a whole roasted bird is traditional, l think that a turkey breast rolled up with stuffing is hands-down the most flavorful way to serve the bird on Thanksgiving. I ask my butcher to debone and butterfly the turkey so that the hard part’s done before I bring it home. If you’d like, prepare the […]
Back from Hawaii this week and still smiling every time I think of our time there; the tropical flowers, salty air, incredible ocean/mountain views, and freshest fish I’ve ever tasted left an indelible impression on my mind. We had some amazing experiences — a helicopter ride all over Maui, and the day that Adam and […]
I was raised in California, and the closest it gets to cold, wintry weather is dropping below 75 degrees in December. It’s not the most festive place in the world for the holiday months, but we had other ways of making it special. I always associate banana bread with the changing of seasons, as a […]
Have you ever tasted a new ingredient and thought, “Now this is a game-changer”? I can remember a few times in my life: Maldon sea salt, really good dark chocolate, European butter, and most of all, six years ago when we were on our honeymoon in Italy and I tasted buffalo mozzarella for the first time. Previously, I’d had […]
Whether you’re a newlywed or you just signed the lease on a new home, nothing beats the excitement of inviting your nearest and dearest to break bread at your table. But if you’ve never hosted a seated dinner before, the sheer thought of cooking for a group can be overwhelming. The key? Keep it simple! Set […]
Most people think of lavender as a summertime ingredient, but once it’s been dried it can be a wonderfully subtle drink garnish in the fall. Dried florals in general feel like autumn to me, reminiscent of wreaths and golden fields. This year we’ve partnered with Terlato Wines to create a lavender-inspired fall cocktail using their […]
Typically around this time of year, I find myself daydreaming of ways to spookify my favorite baked treats. Witches, goblins and all the creepy crawly things I can wrap my head around, they’re all there, waiting to be turned into something sweet. But this year, it’s been a little different. The end of the month crept up […]
Just a few days out from Halloween and the anticipation around the office could be cut with a knife! Most of our Halloween prep — costumes, decorations, sweets — is checked off the list, which leaves us with the final to-do item: the booze. There’s absolutely no better way to spook your guests than with creepy crawly (but still delicious!) […]
When Veuve Clicquot first came to us with the challenge of creating a chic Day of the Dead party concept, we weren’t quite sure where to start. Flower crowns? Nah. Skull face paint? Too overdone. An abundant buffet? We did it last year. But as soon as our brainstorm ventured over to the holiday’s sugar skull […]
You guys — I’ve been anxiously counting down to today for the past several weeks. As you read this, I’m on a flight to Maui for our first family vacay since Henry was born! I have been seriously craving some time to unplug and inhale the fragrance of tropical flowers, eat tons of sushi, go for […]
