food detective
I am crazy for fried green tomatoes. Meadowlark in Dayton, Ohio fries up some of the best. Lucky for me the restaurant is practically in my backyard. I can pick up an order to go then devour them at home, piping hot with a big spoonful of their tangy chow chow relish. But with each bite I secretly wish I could master making my own. Lucky for me
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Last week I was the guest chef at Moraine Country Club. We decided on a tasting menu to showcase all the season had to offer. It was such fun working with the staff and being back in a professional kitchen. As I uniformly chopped crates of vegetables for my gazpacho for sixty and wrestled the massive Hobart mixer the memories came flooding back.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Farm stands and markets are cropping up everywhere in southwestern Ohio. Worth the trip- the 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton and the Yellow Springs Farmer’s Market. But I have to say that Dorothy Lane has a pretty incredible daily farmer’s market right inside their grocery store. And right now the peaches from Branstrator Farm in Clarksville
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food detective
Last week I was invited to a shindig. Turned out to be a fabulous networking party at the Dorothy Lane Market Culinary Center. The great folks who create the Ohio Valley edition of the Edible magazine were there, along with many of their contributors and local foodies. If you’re not familiar with the magazine series make a point to pick up a copy.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Savvy hostesses need a few secrets up their sleeves. I always like to impress without the stress. That means I am constantly on the hunt for things that look complicated but are practically effortless. Take my take on mushroom cheese puffs. Not sure if you’ve ever made a pate au choux, but in my former life as a professional chef and caterer I can
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food detective
The other morning I was walking by the TV in my bedroom and caught a snippet of Giada de Laurentiis attempting to show Savanna Guthrie how to devein a shrimp. It was an amusing although futile clip, what really held my attention was the recipe that followed- buffalo grilled shrimp with a goat cheese dipping sauce. Secretly I love wings though
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Is there anything better than waking up on a summer Saturday, grabbing a big cup of coffee and heading off to the local farmer’s market? That scenario is tops in my book. Second on the list- the cascading menu that tumbles out of my orange collapsible picnic tote. What better way to mark the summer solstice than with a cool gazpacho highlighting
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food detective
A few weeks ago my husband and I were invited to dinner. I knew it would be a special night and I wanted to bring something equally exceptional. As I filed through my extensive repertoire of hors d'oeuvres I found myself reaching further back into my culinary recall. Maybe my vegus nerve was subliminally triggered by the start of golf season
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entertaining with style- making it work for you
This spring I have been traveling non-stop judging flower shows for the Garden Club of America. While my expertise is in the photography division I delight in seeing how the national floral arrangers interpret and execute their themes. I marvel at their creativity and expertise because for me a centerpiece needs to be as simple as one-two-three
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food detective
In our family the birthday girl dictates the celebratory meal. Most often the menu features bacon wrapped grilled fillets, asparagus or broccoli tossed with lemon and the ever-present twice-baked potato. But as the girls have grown so have their palettes. On a recent trip to Whole Foods in Palm Desert they were offering samples of crispy
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →