Not sharing. No way.

Check out this bag from elements restaurant in Princeton. When I could not finish my entrée there recently (delicious Griggstown chicken), manager Emilia Sparatta presented me with this take home bag that made my day (or evening).  Soft woven “fabric,” piped edges, cord handles.  You’d think I’d been to the toniest shop on Madison Avenue.  My friend … Continue reading →

Canal House Cooking

Time to break out the perserved lemons – or make your own.  I have a jar myself, just like the one at right, begging to be used, and now that I have the newly released Canal House Cooking, I’ll crack that jar open posthaste. You can read more about this new cookbook in my Packet In The … Continue reading →

A Capital Idea

Are you loving the great weather we’re finally having?  If so, come out to the Capital City Market in Trenton, which takes place Thursdays, sometime soon and enjoy Jersey Fresh produce, arts & crafts vendors, tours, activities for children and music.  Here are some of the highlights: CAPITAL CITY MARKET 11 am-2 pm. Every Thursday … Continue reading →

Wine Mania (and some beer, too)

I am getting more and more emails each week about wine dinners and tasting events in the Princeton area.  These events are all the rage, and many of them seem to sell out quickly, even in this economy.  I think it’s the “value added” aspect of them.  Not only are you enjoying several courses of well-prepared … Continue reading →

Farm Dinner at Griggstown Quail Farm

There’s still time to make your reservation for the July 19 dinner at Griggstown Quail Farm.  Chef David Felton (formerly of The Pluckemin Inn) will use the farm’s poultry and produce, and other local products, to create an elegant multi-course meal under a tent, complete with organic and biodynamic wine pairings from the Wine Library.  Chef … Continue reading →

Memorable Moments at the A&B

Does what happens at the Alchemist & Barrister in Princeton stay at the A&B? Not if you’re willing to tell all! Here’s your chance to win a champagne dinner for two. Contestants should describe their Most Memorable A&B Moment by logging on to the A&B web site. Deadline is July 30 and the winner will … Continue reading →

The Ultimate Steak?

This could be my favorite steak ever.  I recently sat in on a grassfed meat grilling “seminar” that was hosted by Cherry Grove Farm when Shannon Hayes, aka The Grassfed Gourmet, visited Princeton for a series of events organized by Fran McManus of the Whole Earth Center. One of the meats we sampled that evening … Continue reading →

Ramen

I’m not sure where I got this photo, I thought it was from friends of mine who have been living in Okinawa, Japan (he’s a Marine), but now I’m not so sure.  But I love the image of all the bowls waiting to have hot broth poured into them, the slice of pork, shreds of … Continue reading →

Fancy Food

The energy was good at last week’s Fancy Food Show in New York. We may be in a depression, but buyers seemed confident that people would still allow themselves to have some treats. Smaller packages were much in evidence, which I take as a sign of both economic and health-conscious times.  There are always interesting … Continue reading →