Thirsty Thursdays: Charles Smith Wines
With his Sideshow Bob-esque gray mane and heavy metal roadie demeanor, Smith is not your typical wine nerd.
Play
Salt & Spice and Everything Nice
I fancy myself somewhat of a domestic goddess. Le Creuset pots make me giddy. I own a Microplane and use it frequently to zest freshness into new dishes inspired by the Food Network. I even attempt to grow herbs on the concrete foot wide protrusion my landlord calls a balcony. So, when I heard that a …
Say Cheese, America
When I used to think American cheese, I thought Velveeta and Kraft. I’m not sure I’ve ever ordered American cheese, except for when topping a burger or deli sandwich. And never with wine…But not anymore. I recently attended the Charleston Food + Wine festival, and became a believer in the elegance of good ole American …
Outstanding in the Field
Is it just me, or does food ALWAYS taste better when eaten outside? As a child, I remember savoring those warm PB&J sandwiches and neat little orange wedges my mom would bring to the beach. Yes, I consumed mine along with a healthy dose of grit and sand (I’m clumsy, what can I say?!), but …
POP the Bubbly
No disrespect to wine bars (cause I love em!), but as they’ve become more frequent, I have been on a search for something different. I couldn’t control my enthusiasm when a friend told me about POP Champagne & Dessert Bar. Now, this is a place to get excited about. Located in Old Town Pasadena, it takes …
Flower Power
In this economy, giving a house plant over cut flowers seems a more practical approach to gift-giving. But, choosing a fern over sweet smelling roses just doesn’t seem to have the same effect. David Austin Roses to the rescue! This award-winning breeder of English Roses ships container roses all over the world–and for way less …
Macaroons…The New Cupcake?
A few years ago thanks to bakeries like Magnolia (NYC) and Sprinkles (LA), cupcakes became a wild craze. Brides used them to replace the standard wedding cake, people stood in long lines for them and they replaced wine as the standard “thanks for inviting me to your fabulous party” or “thanks for taking care of …