You’ve been seeing it all over the news, but there was probably one moment in the last month when you felt the reality of it the most: Food prices are at their worst inflation in 17 years. For me, this occurred when I was comparing flour in a grocery store aisle. Peeking at the pricetag on a five-pound bag of King Arthur brand all-purpose flour and seeing that it cost almost $6, I nearly jumped back in fright. That’s more … Read More
co-worker S: You know what I really feel like having for lunch? Homemade lasagna. co-workers (chorus): Ohhh… co-worker J: If you go to Duke’s, I think they usually have that in the buffet… the place downstairs? co-worker S: (aghast) That’s not homemade lasagna. chorus: Yeah, that totally doesn’t cut it… What are you thinking… That crappy place downstairs?… Not the same… me: That’s really funny, because I brought homemade lasagna today for lunch. It was leftovers… chorus: What?? Really? co-worker … Read More
Isn’t it wonderful to discover blogs and websites that are so up your alley you almost want to inhabit their space-as-virtual living room? The feeling must have gone both ways when I was encountered by Sarah McColl, who writes from a like-minded crafty, clever and budget-savvy point of view at Pink of Perfection (even though she’s happily engaged – bah!). She may have beaten me to running a profile, but I had such a nice girl talk for it that … Read More
I’m going through a problem here. At the risk of revealing myself crazy, I must admit to some eating-related fault; somebody help me out. Today, for instance, I just finished a decent-portioned lunch. Homemade pesto, whole wheat pasta, with shards of asparagus throughout. Totally filling — the carbs not lacking, the flavors satisfying. Everything was fine.
Ever since I’ve grown chummy with the fine folks at the Whisk & Ladle supperclub, and especially after reading the investigative work into recent Brooklyn speakeasies in this winter’s issue of Edible Brooklyn, I’ve been fascinated with supperclubs. (More than enough to toss out the space between the two words for good.) Who knew that homes were the new hot spot for fine dining? Oh wait, I did. I just didn’t think there were so many other people who seem … Read More
Since going green has become the hot new scene, there’s probably one place to check out the best action this spring and summer: public parks. As cities nationwide prepare for their biggest brouhaha over Earth Day in years, it almost feels like the upcoming weekend before Tuesday, April 22 were a genuine holiday weekend.
In the current “Dirty New York” issue of The L Magazine, I let loose with a mini-tirade on Jamba Juice. But along with stopping slurping up styrene, I strongly encourage you to check out the New York “Green Villain” in the article just before that one: FreshDirect. I didn’t write this blurb, or any others for that matter, but who could have put it better than this: “Dear New Yorker who supporters idling, double-parked, bike-hitting trucks by forking over the … Read More
There’s a new home base for not eating out in New York: my new place in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. I don’t know if I could say this transition went less smoothly than the last time I moved, since I’ve had a working gas stove at my new residence since Day One. But it was a frantic one. Alright, so New York is essentially frantic, chaotic and crazy all the time, but it’s probably reflected in real estate matters more than … Read More
There’s a silver lining to every cloud. Rainy, stormy, freezing days are cooking days for me, spent tending a fragrant simmer, in the warmth of a oven breaking blisters onto the crusts of bread. There’s an acute feeling of physical and emotional nourishment that comes with even the simplest of meals, in the worst of weather.
Is more chocolate! Because thanks to all of you who voted and the esteemed chocolate experts who judged the top ten entries, I’ve won Culinate‘s Death by Chocolate blogging contest, hence a weekend trip for two to Napa to attend Copia Center‘s chocolate festival and a private tour of Charles Chocolates‘ factory. What?! I’m still getting used to this hallucination. I hope I didn’t pull a Hillary on you guys by doing the blogging equivalent of crying on camera to … Read More