Zazie
My friend Agnes and I met for breakfast at Zazie in the Cole Valley neighborhood of San Francsico. I really like the bohemian-style atmosphere of the place. The staff was very friendly, too. It was...
View ArticleThe Monk’s Kettle
For my husband’s birthday, I took him to The Monk’s Kettle in San Francisco. My husband is a beer fan and I had heard about this new restaurant that pairs beer and local, seasonal foods. When we...
View ArticleLe Jardin du Quai
I was very fortunate on my last trip to Provence to discover Le Jardin du Quai in the lovely village of Isle-sur-la-Sorge. The restaurant itself is in an old restored mansion across from the train...
View ArticlePatisserie Jouvaud
This patisserie in the town of Carpentras in Provence is a fantastic discovery. On my last trip, I had the pleasure to meet Pierre Jouvaud who is actively involved in managing this third-generation...
View ArticleFabulous French Wines from Chateauneuf du Pape
I just received my new shipment of wines from Cave de Verges des Papes in Chateauneuf du Pape. I tasted all of these wines when I was at my friend’s cave back in February. They are superb and I...
View ArticleLe Rove
This small, round, white goat’s milk cheese is named after the Rove breed of goats, believed to be one of the oldest breeds of goats in France. It is sold when it is only 2-3 days old. It is prized...
View ArticleLa Grande Epicerie au Bon Marche
This upscale gourmet shop in Paris is definitely worth a browse. Here you will find a huge array of fresh vegetables and fruits, olive oils, cheeses, meats, seafood, condiments, wines, spices,...
View ArticleRue Cler
Rue Cler is perhaps my favorite Market Street in Paris. It has a food market everyday and the street has wonderful cheese shops, charcuteries, butcher shops, olive oil shops, restaurants, bars,...
View ArticleMarche Raspail
Marche Raspail is a wonderful open air food market in the 6th Arrondissement that is open three times a week. This marketplace is filled with produce vendors, charcuterie stands, eggs, salts, meats,...
View ArticleFauchon
If you love fine upscale food that is exquisitely packaged, you won’t want to miss Fauchon. They have wonderful preserves and jams, mustards, teas, coffees, chocolates and wines. They ship worldwide,...
View ArticleHeirloom Tomato, White Corn and Basil Salad
Ingredients 1 1/2 pounds heirloom tomatoes (assorted sizes and colors) 2-3 ears white corn kernels (cut off the cob) A handful of fresh basil leaves 3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 Tablespoon...
View ArticleProvencal Tomato Soup
Ingredients 6-8 lbs. ripe tomatoes ½ cup olive oil Sea salt Pepper 2 teaspoons sugar 1 head garlic 1 ½ cup crème fraiche You will also need: Large roasting pan Food processor Tasting spoons Large soup...
View ArticleFresh Tomato Tart with Roasted Red Peppers
Ingredients 3 eggs 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup half-and-half ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper 3 tomatoes, cut into ½” thick slices and de-seeded (or use tomato confit) 2 roasted red peppers, peeled and...
View ArticleArugula and Fresh Tomato Side Salad
This is a simple salad but you will find yourself serving it often – with chicken, fish, sandwiches or maybe just by itself. Add some crostini with goat cheese for a nice treat! Ingredients 2-3 cups...
View ArticleRoasted Sweet Tomatoes with Basil
This dish works best with sweet, fresh tomatoes, such as sungolds or sweet 100’s. Ingredients 2 cups tiny sweet tomatoes, stems removed 1 small handful of fresh basil leaves (plus more for garnish) 2 T...
View ArticleChilled Heirloom Tomato Soup
This soup gets its freshness from a hint of lemon verbena. Be sure to choose the sweetest tomatoes you can find. I like to serve this soup over a piece of poached salmon. Ingredients 1/2 cup olive...
View ArticleNew Year’s Day Good Luck Soup
I grew up in Southeast Georgia, and our tradition for good luck for the New Year was eating Hoppin’ John. To us, Hoppin’ John was a big pot of dried black-eyed peas cooked with hog jowl or ham shank....
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Slow-Roasted Tomatoes
This is one of my favorite ways to bring out even more flavor in vine-ripened tomatoes. You can either peel the tomatoes first, or leave the skin on – it depends on how you would like to use them. We...
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Sungold Tomato and Bread Salad
This dish features some of nature’s best produce – super sweet Sungold tomatoes, sweet red onions and arugula. These fresh ingredients, combined with your favorite toasted bread cubes and a sweet-tart...
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Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
This dish is great for nights when the weather is slightly cold or dreary. The leftovers can be used in sandwiches the next day – guaranteed to bring a smile! You can serve these meatballs as an entree...
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