I Think I Love YouWhen I say Malbec, you might scratch your head asking, "Is that a wine, and have I ever had it?" Chances are, you have, even if you didn't know it at the time. Long a blending grape in Bordeaux, it's …
Have Some Paneer, My DearAs a kid, my momma used to drag me into the local health-food store about once a week. The pungent aroma their contents exuded fascinated me. I wanted to know what each spice was used for and how each tasted. …
A Fling RekindledMy favorite beers are all strongly attached to memories of the places where I discovered them. Abita Amber, from my four years living in New Orleans, will always hold a special place in my heart. It has remained a constant …
A Lent LamentWith three feet of snow and ice piled up in a gruesome combination of fresh snow and filthy sludge left over from the last blizzard, Lent in New England is a miserable prospect. The wind chill ensures that it never …
Wine Made In The MountainsWe have all heard plenty about Napa and Sonoma, but many of the other American Viticultural Areas in California want attention. The Santa Cruz Mountains AVA is one such region. Often ignored by the press, it is, nonetheless, home to …
Stuff YourselfI grew up in a survival-of-the-fittest (or survival of who-knew-how-to-cook) atmosphere. Even though my mom was a stay-at-home type, she wasn't the have-dinner-on-the-table-by-5:30 type. My siblings and I soon learned that if we were hungry, we might just have to …
What I Learned in CollegeMy niece Jessie, who is a freshman in college, recently called home pitifully exclaiming how tired she was of eating ramen noodles. I firmly believe, however, learning to survive off those 25-cent packs is a rite of passage into adulthood. …
Magic Times ThreeBecause Feb. 14 is rapidly approaching, I was told that in writing this food piece I could "garnish with edible underwear or something," which I confess wasn't even the slightest bit tempting. So this is the Valentine's Day issue, but …
The Search For The Elusive WontonI was a child when first introduced to wonton soup. During regular visits to the local Chinese buffet, I feasted only on the life-giving wonton soup and the occasional egg roll. I didn't know at the time that the strange-looking, …
Army Of The Night KitchenA bread maker's day begins at 1 a.m., so it's good that Amy Breckenridge is a night person. Breckenridge, the baker at Rainbow Natural Grocery, spends her nights baking bread, usually four different breads a night. When I meet her, …
Vienna Via MexicoNegra Modelo has become my favorite Mexican beer. I was perfectly happy with Corona until I discovered this darker, much tastier beer. Although Negra Modelo is a dark beer, it does not have the bitterness that most dark beers are …
The Fajita KingOn rare occasions during my childhood, my family ventured to "Los Amigos," the one and only Mexican restaurant in our town. For a Mexican restaurant located in the Montana Rockies, at least 1,000 miles from the Mexican border, it wasn't …
New Year's Eve In The CapitalOne of the most exciting things about a new year, other than a chance to wipe the slate clean of all those indiscretions from the previous year, is all the chances you get to party (and maybe start an all-new …
Do It For Your CountryThere are certain holiday essentials. One such essential: eggnog. And you simply can't have eggnog without alcohol. Now, <i>that's</i> a holiday essential.
Then There Were FourHoliday dinners with my family, particularly on my father's side, have always been interesting. For the past 15 years or so, our Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners have consisted of the same meal, which my stepmother, Jan, and I prepare. Before …