I don’t know how books help but sometimes they do make us feel a little less alone…
I’ve been very fortunate to participate in many Book Club meetings where readers have gathered to discuss Trail of Crumbs. The book lends itself to lots of good food and drink and some soul searching. It’s amazing [...]

Here are some quick tasting notes from a few days spent in L.A.:
At Susan Feniger’s Street, I discovered a new (to me) hangover remedy–Singapore-style–Toast spread with thick Kaya (coconut) jam that you dip into runny egg yolk drizzled with soy sauce. Author Pat Tanumihardja is working on a Kaya recipe to share but sent [...]

Blue Bottle Coffee in San Francisco

Everyone has a favorite burger joint–In-and-Out, Pink’s, The Burger Joint, Daniel Boulud’s DB Burger (sirloin, braised short rib, foie gras and black truffle), Shake Shack, New Orleans’ late-night haunt, Port of Call…but when I went to visit my friend, Brian Garrido, in San Francisco he insisted I not leave until I tasted the burger at [...]

I mentioned San Francisco’s Dynamo Donuts–the apple-maple glazed sprinkled with bacon, in particular, in an earlier blog post. Here are some more photos from that day and one of me feeding Donut-crazed author, John T. Edge.

PHOTOS by Thayer Gowdy

It’s been 2 days of non-stop dining in San Francisco which included an ice cream tasting (salted caramel, lavender honey) at Bi-Rite Creamery by owner Sam (one of the most passionate and exuberant people I’ve met in a long time), pizza at Delfina, meeting the Tamale Lady at Zeitgeist, BBQ and Sake with Bob at [...]

Day 1 continued: Julio, Thayer, and I are still tasting San Francisco, but took a break at Blue Bottle Cafe where Aaron showed us the art of the Kyoto Drip (photo below). It’s stunning to watch and even better to taste. The choice of single-origin Mexican beans enriched this coffee with deep undertones [...]

Eggs with Buddha’s Hand Zest at Boulette’s Larder, San Francisco
I never have time for breakfast. For me, it’s one of those meals best taken on vacation when someone else can serve it to you, preferably on a terrace overlooking the sea, or in bed after a late-night romp. But, when I’m in [...]

Watch Jazz of Jitlada, in Thai Town, on the border of L.A.’s Little Armenia, show me how to make Chicken Coconut Soup.
Jitlada is one of the best Thai food restaurants I’ve been to in a long time. Jazz, co-owner with her brother Tui, welcomed me by first reading my palm: “You are [...]

Squash Blossoms and Siamese Figs at the Hollywood Farmers Market early Sunday.
My friend, Sara Foster, and I were shopping for our Cottage Living photo shoot in Paso Robles last week. We were so full (we had had dinner at The Hungry Cat the night before where we feasted on raw oysters [...]