first
Many years ago, I had the good fortune to be in a cooking school in Tuscany, at Badia a Coltibuono Lorenza de’ Medici’s home, with Lorenza herself as my instructor. This experience totally changed the way I thought about planning a menu and cooking. One of the things Lorenza did when preparing a salad was […]
Crostini are a fantastic last minute appetizer. The combination of flavors is limited only by your imagination. For these, I used really ripe runny brie cheese and the sweetest strawberries I could find. Here’s a secret: Sometimes the smallest strawberries pack the most flavor. CROSTINI WITH BRIE & STRAWBERRIES EVENT: Last Minute Company Dinner YIELD: […]
I know when you have last minute company or you get really busy, when it comes to dessert, it’s easier to stop by the bakery or pull out those homemade cookies you stashed in the freezer last month. But sometimes, it’s nice to bake a cake, especially if it’s really simple, made from things that […]
Filmed and Edited by Xu Zhang
You are never too old to play games, especially when they are accompanied by lots of alcohol and enticing bar food. Little did I know when I organized this party how wildly competitive my guests would get. The winner was up in the air until the last hand was dealt. But with all the food […]
Sometimes the table design comes first and sometimes – the menu. The chicken / egg question. In this case, I started with the feeling I wanted to create: Fun, fun, fun! I knew I wanted bright colors and playful flowers, nothing too dressy or even sophisticated. I started out rummaging around in my butler’s pantry […]
I served a Chili Garlic Sauce and a Peanut Sauce with the Thai Lettuce Wraps. I buy the Chili Garlic Sauce readymade because frankly I can’t make it any better and the ingredients are simple and straight forward. I make my own Peanut Sauce because most of the readymade peanut sauces available in supermarkets are […]
I am fortunate to have really great authentic Thai restaurants in Los Angeles. I verified the authenticity several years ago when I was in Bangkok, Thailand. Everything I ordered tasted just like home. One of my favorite appetizers are the Thai Lettuce Wraps. These are wraps made with thin sheets of rice paper wrapped around […]
Israeli Salad is so simple to make and fresh tasting that it’s a great addition to any summer party. I use small Persian cucumbers that don’t even have to be peeled. Could it be easier? You can tweak this basic recipe by adding finely diced purple onions or even diced Kalmata olives. In the Pulled […]
