I turned 50 this year (more on that later) and to top this milestone year, I'm aiming to complete visiting the rest of the United States. States left to visit are Arkansas, Tennessee, both the Carolinas, Delaware, Connecticut, and Rhode Island -- just 8 states! I'm still in the planning states for a late summer/early... Continue Reading →
We're not Christmas people. Aside from hanging up stockings and exchanging gifts it's not a really big personal holiday we celebrate although we do enjoy the day off. In the year following the pandemic, we were feeling tied down to San Diego itching to explore more places far from home and decided to do something different that Christmas. It started... Continue Reading →
ROUND 1: Carl's Jr. vs. Popeyes Fresh off the win against Jack in the Box, Carl's Jr. now faces tough competition from Popeyes. Popeyes' Cajun Flounder sandwich is a full dollar more expensive than Carl's Jr.'s Beer-Battered fish sandwich, and that may be enough to swing favor. But Popeyes swings flavor, and clobbers Carl. Win... Continue Reading →
Birthdays are looking really different in 2020 for a lot of people and for me, that includes birthday cakes. I took the simple route for Paul's birthday cake this year not wanting to bake and make it as simple as possible and what's more simple than an icebox cake. I've never attempted making one before... Continue Reading →
While walking around Brooklyn in January, fetching procuitto bread and bagels for Darlene, I wandered past a regional fast food chain that A) I haven't patronized, and B) had a fish sandwich. It was lunch hour and the line was modest so I decided to give their deep Sea Double a try. Like Hardee's to... Continue Reading →
Do you ever get SO obsessed with a dish that you attempt to replicate it at home? That’s what happened with me when I had one bite of pasta all’urbiaco at a local San Diego restaurant. The dish is simply pasta cooked in red wine. It’s an intense dish that’s slightly sour featuring a slight... Continue Reading →
If you’ve never had shakshuka, you’re missing out in a satisfying meal full of flavor. Composed of tomatoes, red peppers, garlic, feta cheese, sweet paprika, cumin seeds and eggs, this dish is well known in Israel, Africa and Middle East and usually served for breakfast. But honestly, I’ve had it for lunch and dinner. The... Continue Reading →
My resolutions this year are similar to previous years: get fit, drink more water, see friends more often, and be a better person. Along with getting fit — a resolution that was always difficult when I was writing for Zagat — was to cook more at home. Now that my time with Zagat is over,... Continue Reading →
Every December, we fall into the most deliciously wonderful baking rut every year! It starts with Thanksgiving when I bake up a batch of mini pecan tarts, a project I always baked with my mom and is now a tradition in my tiny family. Come December, Paul and I pull out the cookie press for... Continue Reading →
My Burning Kitchen... on the road 