Each time I go to France, I raid the supermarket. Yes, in a land of gourmet, fresh food this may sound a bit odd, but there’s a generic brand of French mustard (only available there) that I just cannot live without. Amora fine et forte costs about one euro, and my baggage is usually weighed [...]

I spent some time with a few friends living in Bordeaux last week. The region is not only known for its wine, but also, for its stock of duck products—from foie gras to smoked duck breast to duck proscuitto. This fact became painfully obvious after about my third day as a guest of the young [...]

I am not a huge white chocolate fan but encourage you to try this month’s Bon Appétit recipe for a white chocolate tiramisu trifle with spiced pears. The dessert is simple to make, impressive to serve, and can be simplified and prepared with basic ingredients. The dish is comprised of two parts: spiced pears and [...]

Hill Country, the BBQ joint that garnered so much press when it opened its doors during the summertime, always seemed to me like more of a wintery type of establishment. And, now that ‘tis the season, I am excited to make this recommendation: regardless of which holiday you choose to celebrate, on December 24th, eat [...]

Just in time for the holidays, everyone should pick up Gina DePalma’s Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen. I’ve been plowing through these recipes and they keep getting better and better. I started with a difficult but extremely satisfying cranberry tart for Thanksgiving that Florence Fabricant wrote about in the Times; then I tested [...]

I joined a small group of friends in the middle of their evening last week as they were leaving a favorite local restaurant. We made a quick decision to head to our friend Irini Arakas’ apartment to continue the evening. She lamented the fact that she had not cleaned up or prepared for guests; however, [...]

I recently came across some very cool Champagne flutes flutes, and, unabashedly, I’d like to mention how badly I want them for a New Years Bash. It is a set of six flutes that are designed to overflow into one another. Each flute, save the sixth, has a little spout on its rim in which [...]

When a good friend of mine mentioned her slight obsession with the quinoa cakes at Whole Foods, I wanted to see what the fuss was all about. I love quinoa—its grainy flavor, the health benefits, its versatility. I found the cakes in the pre-packed, refrigerated section of the prepared foods section—my selection did not look [...]

If you are looking for a truly unique Santa to decorate your house with or to give to your niece, consider heading to Maccarone Gallery on Greenwich Street. No, no, no… I’m not suggesting you purchase new art for the sake of Christmas. But, then again, Peter Paul Chocolates are artwork. Until Christmas Eve, the [...]

Why it is called a swingle remains a mystery, but Steve’s Key Lime Pie frozen and dipped in chocolate is so good that he could call it a chocolate covered hubcap and it’d still be a coveted item. Deal with the cantankerous attitudes of the staff that works Steve’s on a deserted pier in Red [...]