Lake Kabekona, Minnesota – My Favorite Minnesota Lake
I’m in Minnesota (MN), U.S., this week. If you’ve never been here, it is a beautiful place — referred to as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes”. In fact, MN has many aquatic natural wonders. Continue reading
Billboard Outside the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden)
Jamie Oliver may be English born and raised, but he knows Italian. Jamie’s Italian Covent Garden, one of his three London restaurants and one of his many Italian establishments, is a hop-skip away from London’s Royal Opera House (AKA Covent Garden). Continue reading
Villa Entrance
Tuscany, as most everyone knows, is a magical and unspoiled place. Although many areas can be crowded with tourists, with just a bit of effort, one can still find beautiful slices of traditional Tuscan life. When asked by friends to join them in a stay at one such unspoiled gem, we agreed without hesitation. They had found a villa to rent at a family-run winery in the Chianti Classico region of the Black Rooster (Gallo Nero) between Sienna and Florence. The villa’s resident caretaker, Marianne, would provide home-cooked traditional Italian meals for us on selected evenings. How could we possibly resist? Continue reading
Shrimp, Artichoke and Tomato Salad with Riesling Vinaigrette
Vinaigrette, as the word suggests, comes to us from the French. According to famed French chef, Auguste Escoffier (1846-1935), who documented the essentials of French cooking for us, this simple “cold sauce” should be used to accompany “calf’s head or feet”. Auguste might be surprised to know that, while the vinaigrette has endured to grace our tables more than a century after his writings, his recommended application is no longer a common use. I must admit that I prefer my vinaigrette on something other than calf’s feet. Continue reading
A GLOBAL GARNISH 