Recipes or Reservations

A while back, I attended a business dinner at a trendy New York City restaurant. One of my colleagues was a middle-aged publishing executive with an ivy League education and a privileged upbringing. After scanning the menu he said; “I can’t believe how popular mussels have become recently. When I was a kid, nobody had […]

This dish turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The recipe was unbelievably easy to prepare. The final result was much more sophisticated and refined than I had imagined. I can’t believe I waited over 20 years to make it. Talk about procrastinating! I first discovered this recipe back in the early 1990’s. It was […]

This dish is a light and refreshing summer salad that is very easy to prepare. A lemon-thyme vinaigrette accentuates the creaminess of the avocado and the sweetness of the tomatoes. A variety of different proteins can be added to turn it from a first course into a main meal. My favorites are canned tuna, lump […]

We first prepared this dish as a last-minute addition to a holiday appetizer platter. Our company was on their way when we realized the first course consisted of mostly cured meats and cheeses. The few sparse fruits and vegetables were more decorative than substantive. A frantic scavenger hunt around the kitchen yielded limited ingredients. The clock […]

“It’s not always about the food, it’s about the story.” I think Ruth Reichl, the Editor-in-Chief of Gourmet, said that once.  My apologies if I am incorrect. (And no, this column is not about the fact many people are still puzzled and shake their heads and shrug about the closing of Gourmet magazine . Yes, I […]

We were driving one day in Shrewsbury last year and had to go to Staples.  We noticed construction, etc. next door and wondered what they were building in the old restaurant’s place.  Then we saw a sign, “Trader Joe’s Coming Soon”.  My husband became as giddy as a little boy who just won all the marbles.  I […]