Once upon a time, long before my obsession with puns,I had the privilege of living in Iowa. I worked at an elusive consulting firm that sometimes felt more like The Firm than just a neighborly business within the wholesomeness of Iowa. My tribe of single, young adults, spent much of our down time, going to movies, eating, and exploring the state charms. And although I couldn’t get enough of sizzling rice soup from Yen Ching’s, it was the local fare that always welcomed me home – buttery sweet corn, fried pork tenderloins and Maytag blue cheese. But, nothing could beat Iowa’s small town festivals where half the population participated in Main Street parades while other half watched; flags flying, smiles on every face, livestock as pets, and the elders revered as much as the children. It’s no wonder that Julie Roberts escaped to Iowa after Sleeping with the Enemy. Bam, two movie reference in one paragraph and that’s not counting Cedar Rapids.My friend is traveling back this weekend to her native Iowa and will be smack dab in the middle of one of the state’s best small town festivals, Solon Beef Days which for the longest time I thought was Sole & Beef Days. I’ve been nostalgic for the Midwest this summer, despite a fantastic trip to Indiana for a family reunion (yes, I’ve lived in every state).

Rather than make my own fried pork tenderloins, I was reminded of all that’s good on the West Coast too. Our access to fresh fish is a treasure – perhaps giving us our own Sole & Beef celebration. I especially treasure wild salmon that’s still in season.Then, I came across an item that gave me a way to take salmon (fresh, frozen, or otherwise) to the next level without having to be a gourmand.

read more

This one is not for the hurried, not for the dieters, and not for the pastry purchasers. This jammy crostata, however, was a worthy attempt for me because it brought together the inspiration of two women who have made their mark on the culinary scene from different parts of the world, andboth with whom I have had the good fortune to recently connect. It’stheir devotion to organic, fresh foods that gave me one creation worth the effort. If you like the smell of sweet baked goods in your house and homemade breakfast pastry from a notable B&B, indulge with me.

read more

If I hadn’t made it myself, I never would have believed that a soup steeped in this much sweet creamery goodness and alive with the summer’s freshest bounty, started with yesterday’s corn on the cob and ended in a blender. Almost a crime..but, ten minutes, a power blade, and ready-to-use steamed vegetables, made me a kitchen hero and it can make you one too.

read more

Maybe it was the sun breaking through June’s marine layer. Maybe it was the half dozen blue ribbon mangos arriving in our fruit-of-month box. Maybe it was the burning craving that hounded me since seeing a sign for fish tacos at Taste of Chicago last weekend.

Kendall gets her first real Taste of Chicago, even though she was born right there in one of those buildings behind her.

A festivalwhere one should dabble in indigenous char dogs and deep dish pizza, or foods from favorite haunts, but not the tangy, spicy, crunchy, drip down your hand bites of fish tacos of the southwest. I figured I could get the best fish tacos right in my own Southern California backyard. And then, with asale on Mahi Mahi at Whole Foods, how could I not whip up fish tacos in my own backyard. Satisfied…and the mango salsa was, to friggin’ die for….

read more

Just returned from a fabulous trip to Italy, the southern Tuscan region,outside of Siena,where we stayed in an awe-inspiring country house. In addition to having a da Vinci-esque view of the patchworked hillside, a cook’s kitchen, and an infinity pool, this house came with a garden shed and that garden shed came with three kittens. Shut up! Will I have to pay extra for the kittens? You know what that security deposit is for.

read more