My entire family is addicted to Chinese food.  For my husband and me, it’s just in our blood after growing up in NYC. We grew up eating crispy Peking duck served with fluffy pancakes; dumplings of all varieties; and perfectly browned, crispy scallion pancakes. Our older son was born in NY and being that I was […]

My featured Changemaker is Suzen O’Rourke who is a pioneer in the field of culinary team-building and founder of a cooking school Cooking by the Book (or “CBTB”) in New York City. Suzi (as many call her) is also a dear friend and mentor. Suzi is one of the feistiest, most dynamic people I have ever met, […]

This blood orange pomegranate mocktail with a touch of turmeric is not only seasonal, it’s hands-down delicious. For all my non-drinkers out there, this recipe is a must-try.  Lightly sweet and bubbly, this beauty is not only nice to look at, it might even be good for you. Perfect for the cool Fall and Winter months, […]

Impress everyone with this lovely seasonal and satisfying roasted cauliflower steak with a whipped feta recipe.  Honestly, I would eat plain old roasted cauliflower every day.  But as I have said before (and my husband strongly believes), cheese makes everything better.  This dish is inspired by a close friend whom I met 11+ years ago […]

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I’ve always wanted to be British. Well, in fairness, I’ve always wanted to be British, French, and Korean to be exact. The traditional English crumpet is something I have always loved. As a very young kid I remember whenever my mom made me an English muffin for breakfast, […]

Who remembers Ovaltine?  If you remember Tang, you may also remember Ovaltine. Ovaltine is a brand of milk flavoring product made with malt extract, sugar, and whey that can be used with hot or cold milk.  Introduced in 1904, Ovaltine was created in Switzerland where it was known as “Ovomaline“. The name is derived from […]

Sweden is a stunningly beautiful place, and authentic Swedish meatballs are worth a trip there alone. Seriously, they were amazing. I traveled to Stockholm in the summer with my family, the first stop in a three-part European adventure. I had never been to Sweden before and quickly fell in love with the simple natural beauty, […]

Funnel Cake will forever remind me of strolling through crowded street fairs in NYC as a kid. Funnel cake, which is essentially fried dough batter with powdered sugar sprinkled on top, is a food popular in North America at carnivals and street fairs.  But this treat is believed to have traced back as far as […]

My family and I are obsessed with Din Tai Fung, a famous Taiwanese restaurant in at Santa Clara outpost that we frequent.  My husband is the only one of us who has been to Taiwan, which is partly how this obsession began. Once a restaurant opened in our area, we quickly became frequent visitors. For […]

Oh boy do I love figs, always have.  Fig Newtons (now called simply Newtons) in my lunch box as a kid was a favorite. I don’t think I encountered a fresh fig until I was in my mid-20s.  But, no surprise, I liked them right away.  Figs are native to the Middle East and western Asia […]

This is a Gin Rickey, and I’m calling it my “Fall transition cocktail“. Even if you have not tried one, a Gin Rickey (also known as a Lime Rickey) is a classic drink. Simple and refreshing, a traditional “Rickey” is simply gin (or bourbon), mixed with lime juice and carbonated water. Little or no sugar is […]

For those who don’t know, Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is a Japanese celebrity chef and restaurateur. Nobu is known for his unique fusion style of blending Japanese dishes with Peruvian ingredients. Nobu’s super-star status can in part be credited to his friendship with Robert De Niro, who was a frequent patron of Nobu’s much-loved Los Angeles […]

My featured Changemaker this month is Robert Surles, more commonly referred to as Chef Bobo. Bobo is a New York City chef leading the charge in helping make and keep kids healthy. In 2002, The Calhoun School, my alma mater, hired Chef Bobo–previously the personal chef to NY Yankee legend Derek Jeter— from the French Culinary Institute […]

Let’s discuss millet. Millet is an ancient seed originating from Africa and Northern China. Millet has been around for centuries and remains a “staple” in the diets of about 1/3 of the world’s population. With a milk-sweet corn-like flavor, this grain is naturally gluten-free–making it a go-to for Celiac sufferers. Millet is a whole grain, […]

Gluten-free and vegan-friendly, these blackberry oat bars may just become your new favorite treat. Fresh blackberries are the feature of these tasty bars. Sweet, yet tart with great texture. Thankfully, fresh berries are available well into the cool Fall months and here in California even longer. Oat and almond flour make the base of this […]