January 2007

Ahhh Lavender. I love Lavender. Just the thought relaxes my mind, body and spirit. So clean and fresh. Large rolling fields of it blowing in the winds of Provence. Purple, blue, violet, indigo. French, English, Grey, Spike, Grosso. So many…

I am lucky enough to live about 5 miles from the Culinary Institute of America. They have 4 restaurants and a bakery open to the public. The Escoffier Room (French cuisine), The American Bounty (American fare), St. Andrews Café (a…

It’s time for another excellent wine recommendation. This time I splurged a bit. I had heard of Masi as an Italian producer of Amarone, but they make Valpolicella and other wines as well. This particular wine was a recommendation from…

Another weekend excursion in the Hudson Valley. This past Saturday we headed down to Fishkill, NYfor the day. I wanted to stop by a new place located right on Main Street. I had heard really good things about it, so…

  Travel. I love it and I hate it. I love to go new places and experience new things, but if I had the choice, I would close my eyes, cross my hands and snap my head like I Dream…

Every now and then I am in the mood for something quick and easy to make for dessert. This Italian treat combines a few of my favorite ingredients and was inspired by Giada DeLaurentiis. Most of the recipes I like…

I know, I know. You are probably thinking, "A California wine, I thought this blog was about Europe". Yes, but one could argue that the Pinot Noir grape was originally grown in France, before being transplanted in US soil. It’s…

When traveling to Paris, you must take time to visit this idyllic spot. Place Dauphine is one of the prettiest squares in the City of Light and lies literally right in the center of Paris on the I’le de la Cite,…

I must confess‚Ķ. I am a chocoholic! I would not have it any other way. It has always been a guilty pleasure of mine, a pleasure in which I can easily over indulge. So, when the reportscame out, touting the…