Latest Posts

  • Cafe Spice’s New Naan Toasties

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Cafe Spice introduces NAAN TOASTIES in three filling flavors: Chicken Tikka, Cauli Tikka and Chicken Chutney, filling sandwiches in conveniently packaged half moon versions. They are available online and in select supermarkets. And the story is that Naan Toasties also represent the most recent shift in Americ...

  • Cooking with Everyday Dorie Greenspan

    We met Dorie Greenspan Dorie Greenspan’s bold Summer Vegetable Tian jumped out at me from her EVERDAY DORIE book. And no wonder: Roger Vergé the brilliant Provençal chef influenced this slow roasted dish. And so Dorie inspired me: I have had his book forever, just to admire, after meeting him and eating his eating his [&hell...

  • So Welcome to the US: Thrilling Tenuta Montemagno from Italy

    (Gerry Furth-Sides, content and photos from Tenuta Montemagno in Italy) Tenuta When we received a beautiful, generous gift from Tenuta Montemagno last fall of two bottles of their finest wines, we were so overjoyed we shared them with our wine maven friend, Irv Wynuck. Even after Tenuta Montemagno let us know that they were stil...

  • Celebrate Easter at The Raymond 1886

    (Gerry Furth-Sides, content from The Raymond 1886) We’re excited to hear of the reopening of historic The Raymond 1886 restaurant and bar for Easter. Our memories of dining outdoors in their gracious, timeless patio there were lively enough to last a year, and we were pleased to hear that during the pandemic the site was [...

  • Celebrate Easter at Our Favorite Celestino, Pasadena

    Happy Spring and Easter celebrations at one of our favorite family of restaurants that brought us “through the pandemic” with their to-go specialties and dining outdoors as soon as it opened up: the Drago brothers – who also happened to be our last public event we attended a year ago! And we found a way [&helli...

  • Ancient Crackers Go Contemporary with GG® Scandinavian Bran Crispbreads

    Everything seems to move in cycles in the culinary world, and it is no exception with crispbreads from the renowned GG company in Norway. They have earned high marks with their Exceptional Fiber Crackers, the  GG® Scandinavian Bran Crispbreads line of functional fiber crackers produced since 1935.  GG Crackers ar...

  • New Latin-Inspired CowLESS Burgers!

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) A new choice on the market for meatless eating is the CowLESS vegan burger option in South Pasadena, made with a grilled Beyond Meat patty, shredded lettuce, a fat tomato slice, vegan cheese, housemade chipotle and mayo for richness and a pillowy brioche bun. The burger is so popular there are now plans [&hel...

  • Cutting-Edge Millie Gram Goes Nuts with Mystical Ancient Mushrooms

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) You might say that foresty mushrooms are having a new “moment in the sun.” This new incarnation arrives as a lush, healthy snack food and spread.   Millie Gram answers the current search for a new portable form of basic, functional, healthy foods with mushroom-nut butters and pastes. It is not b...

  • Celebrate A “Well-Rounded” New Year of the Ox

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) The growing popularity of historic Chinese New Year celebrations show how important this Asian holiday is becoming with mainstream America despite the recent bizarre backlash to the pandemic. Food plays an important role during Chinese New Year, and there are a number of dishes that are eaten to bring good lu...

  • Easy French Dinners with Susan Loomis’ PLAT DU JOUR Book

    (Gerry Furth-Sides) Today I am an American in Paris from afar. And I share with you a revelatory brunch and lesson by way of Susan Herrmann Loomis’ definitive new culinary lifestyle book, PLAT DU JOUR French Dinners Made Easy.  The French have always been known to love food, even everyday meals. Featured on bistro menus [...