I HATE COOKING!…Well, not really.

I hate cooking? Well, not really. Some days, it might feel like that but those days are few and far between. Mostly, its a matter of convenience or busy-ness. Other days its because the fridge is full, but not full enough of any one or two things to pull a meal together.

5 for 6 ’til 7 : Flemings Adds Happy Hour

Flemings, a higher end steakhouse, has just added a happy hour.  The menu, brief but well rounded, features five selections each of cocktails, wines by the glass and appetizers all priced at $6.  The specials are available daily until 7 PM!

Cake Donut Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

I love watching food television.  Food Network is perhaps my fave with all the shows they have to offer including the iconic Iron Chef series.  Its rare though, if ever, that I will want to use a recipe that I’ve seen on a TV show.  I’m inspired by the chefs and yeah, I’ll use tricks that I’ve picked up from shows, but I can’t recall the last time I made a point to recreate a recipe that I saw on TV.  An episode of Easy Entertaining With Michael Chiarello changed that.

LA BBQ Festival: The Secret’s in the Sauce!

On Mother’s Day weekend, BBQ pitmasters from far, wide and around the corner crowded into the parking lot at the Santa Monica Pier for the 2nd Annual LA BBQ Festival.  Lots of smoke and sizzle were par for the course for two days of sauce slathering and finger licking goodness.

National Grilled Cheese Month Comes to a Delicious End

Who comes up with these crazy “themes of the month” anyway?  Better yet, who cares!? 🙂 I made it just under the wire for National Grilled Cheese month.  Foodies across the states have been celebrating all month.  There’s even a Grilled Cheese Invitational where sandwich makers and chefs vie for the title of the best […]

Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2009: Part 3 of 3

Yes, even a couple weeks later, the food world is still salivating over the phenomenal foodie event, Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2009. I’m sure its because the bloggers that covered the event came back with so much material, its taken this long just to get it all sorted out! That’s my excuse anyway.

Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2009: Part 2 of 3

In Part 1 of my review on Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2009, I described the setting, sights, and sounds of this amazing event.  In part 2, I highlight the stars of the show: the food and beverages!

Pebble Beach Food and Wine 2009: Part 1 of 3

Wow.  In a word, that pretty much sums up the event.  If I had to be as concise as possible in describing the food and the experience, “wow” would pretty much do it.  I’ve been to some very nice food/wine tastings and PBFW – at least the Sunday afternoon Lexus Grand Tasting Tent which was the only event I attended – pretty much trumped them all.

Grilled Corn, Grilled Asparagus

Its a common misconception that grilling is only for meats.  But as the French say: Au contraire mon frere! Just about anything you can cook in the kitchen can be made in a similar fashion outside on the grill.  If you’re already cooking your meat there, why not cook the rest of your meal there too!?

Agave: Good for tequila, good for tea!

I was browsing the beverages in Whole Foods today and came across Honest Tea’s Agave Mate (pronounced MAH-tay).  Being familiar with the other uses for agave (hello!  making tequila), I was immediately curious.

(It’s Always) Time to Grill!

I know some people think Spring and Summer are a sort of “grilling season”.  For me, though, grilling is a year-round activity.  Some of the best steaks I’ve ever made were fired up during an Iowa blizzard!

Fortunately, living in Los Angeles provides optimal grilling weather year round.

Making Gourmet Burgers at Home

There are so many great places in LA where you can get a gourmet burger made to order.  Some of my favorites – The Counter, Houston’s, and numerous diners around the South Bay – are well worth the visit.

But these days, I’m finding it harder and harder to shell out $10 or more for a burger and fries at these places.  I’m even thinking twice about the $5 #2 “animal style” at In-N-Out!

To get over my hamburger-centric economic angst, I decided to do gourmet burgers at home.