food detective
After an overnight overseas flight we landed in Stockholm, dropped our bags at the Grand Hotel and set off for a tour of the city. Three hours in our energy sank at the Vasamuseet just as the 375 year old war ship had after it tried to set off from its Stockholm port. Thankfully our guide steered us to a charming lunch spot, Ulla Winbladh, where I
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Move over Maryland. Here is a crab cake that is substantial on the jumbo lump and light on the filler. A perfect summer main following a refreshing chilled soup. This runner-up is a breeze to bring to the table because the cakes must be formed and chilled hours in advance. Ideal for a midweek business dinner that is healthy and light but makes a
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
With my parents in for the weekend I thought it would be fun to serve several small courses for dinner. I also wanted to wow them with a showstopper. In Dayton Foremost Seafood has the most incredible soft shell crabs. You need to call ahead to see if they’re available but when they are Foremost will clean the live crustaceans for you on the spot
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Pulling a Friday night party together in a flash. With temps literally off the chart who wants to greet their guests with a blast from the kitchen? Not only is this dinner prepped entirely ahead of time; the grilling is done before the first guests arrive. This light, fresh and super fast meal is the perfect kick-off to the weekend. So beat the
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Shrimp roll sliders, a downsized version of that northeastern summer staple- the lobster roll. A perfect accompaniment to chilled watercress soup. While top cut hotdog buns are “wicked good” they are almost impossible to find east of I-91. Simply sub bakery fresh slider buns and split them down the top. Continue inland and swap the lobster for
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
With guests on their way in a day and the heat index expected to reach a staggering 115 degrees in Dayton, it’s time to come up with a refreshing and light menu. Chilled watercress soup is the perfect ticket to escape this oppressive heat. Made a day in advance then served up alongside shrimp roll sliders and a tomato and burrata salad. All will be
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the hostess with the mostest hotel
Loaded into the Mercury Grand Marquis, armed with water and sunglasses we headed west to Joshua Tree Park. Past the alien-like windmills of Whitewater and north toward the national park the temperature readout on our dash the size of a park bench dropped with each mile. A quick pit stop greeted us with 35 mile winds and plunging 51 degree temps
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ripped from the ... making it work for you
Dining in one of Suzanne Goin’s restaurants in LA is truly a treat. Her recipes on the other hand should come with a disclaimer. Pay close attention to the timeline. I adore her cookbook, Sunday Suppers at Lucques, and was excited to see one of her recipes in Bon Appetit’s RSVP section. When I see recipe from a place I’ve actually been a patron
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Living in a smaller town has certain limitations; one is a wide selection of restaurants. Thankfully Dayton has a profusion of purveyors with top-notch butchers, fishmongers and an abundance of specialty food items. Making business entertaining at home a more than viable option. Such weeknight dinners need to have a minimum of muss and fuss.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Sometimes things just come together. The right people. The perfect meal. The planets. This past Saturday was one of those cosmically aligned nights. At twilight our guests arrived and with drinks in hand we ventured out to see the crescent moon forming a perfect triangle with Venus and Jupiter. Easy to enjoy this stellar company because all of the
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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!