When I was growing up, my family went to Sante Fe every year. Then we’d drive to Telluride.  On the way, we’d stop off along the road where there was a giant teepee and listen to Joe Hayes tell stories as the sun set.  I’ve tried in the past to find him and his stories [...]

My not-so-new but recently getting out-of-hand obsessionis the flatbreads at Huckleberry.  See them in the picture above? They are a little left of the center – oily bread covered in zucchini slices that’ve been baked into the dough.  I’m swooning left and right for them and have scheduled four lunch meetings for next week at this Santa Monica [...]

I wanted to go to Joseph Leonard almost immediately after they opened. The problem was I’d just moved to Cali.  So after several trips back to the east coast and like five attempts to get to JL, I set up my final evening so that I’d start off having a drink there and hopefully be [...]

I first visited Locanda Verde last summer after they’d just opened.  Andrew Carmellini… Robert Deniro… Karen Demasco… talk about a dream team!  Ever since that lovely day back in 09, I’d been plotting my return.  But somehow, there was just never enough time. So you can imagine my squeals of joy when my uncle and I decided [...]

In case you are in a particularly ramen mood. It’s pretty great. You can learn how to make ramen or just Zen out to the Japanese. Ahhh, ramen… Go here.

Since moving to LA, I’ve been to Gjelina about four times. And Taylor has been even more than I have. It’s weird: In NYC, upon arrival, I was determined to try every restaurant – old and new.  But here, it’s just a little different. When you find something you like, you just stick with it. [...]

This is funny.

When I got Michel Roux’s book on sauces a few weeks back, I was a touch intimidated.  I mean this man is a genius! A true great. It seemed very technical. It seemed pro. It seemed to daunt me. I’d flip through and salivate but then think I don’t know if I can do that. [...]