time and a sack of groceries in the church basement, and not as a professional caterer who expects to be properly compensated for her work. if these people were really good friends, you could be very blunt and open their eyes to...

This whole ingredient vs talent thing—Here’s how it started: I travel a lot, and I’m constantly challenged to find real food in strange cities. Also, some of our traveling companions have parochial preferences....

I hear you. My household income is within what I would have called “rich people” when I was growing up. Still, I live in a starter house in a blue collar area, drive a modest car, and watch my grocery budget. I...

I think a lot of this depends on when you grew up and where you were. We lived in Ohio and various places in the 70’s where my mom had to make do with what she could find in the grocery stores (not much) and then we’d...

, with a horseradish dipping sauce on the side. Yum. True Thai—my favorite fish cakes, and a papaya salad. One of my favorite places to eat papaya salads. (Although my Hmong friend who imports produce tells me that one of...

I’ve never eaten from a food cart in NY. This sounds like a good one to try and I’m frequently in that nabe when I visit since my time in the City begins and ends with Grand Central. I’m wondering how a...

comparable to La Brea Bakery’s, not as custardy as Boule’s. The orange ginger currant scone is one of the best in town, though the disappointing croissant could come from any high-end grocery store. The Liquid...

in town, that has a shaker of the stuff at the snack bar... the sweetened soy evolved from various iterations of kitjap, the thick, sweet soy condiment from Indonesia...I used to buy it at a Chinese grocery, but when faced with an...

-raising chow meets in other cities. I’m sure there will be more in NY as well.

I see what you’re saying. I guess I am lucky to live in a pork producting area. Plus, the locally owned grocery stores have local brands and on-site butchers where even the non-organic stuff still tastes darn good to me.

of city between their house and mine. Walking up around 9 or 10 wasn’t bad, but I walked back alone at 3 am once and it was a bit scary. After that, I would never walk home unless someone was headed my way and could...

One of the most annoying upsells, IMO, is the server who asks, “Still water, sparkling or ______'s Finest?” (insert city name).

friend also hates onions, but she understands the cost and effort that goes into a dinner party from scratch and is generally able to overcome her dislike to be polite. Interestingly, though, I recently went to the grocery store...

- Lunch at Ubuntu (City of Napa) - Domaine Carneros, Moshin Vineyard - Dinner at Cyrus Day 3: Napa - Breakfast at Cheeseboard - Round Pond Olive Oil Tour - Tour of CIA - Casa Nuestra Vineyard - Explore Yountville/Bouchon Bakery -...

of wild rice soup to serve. However, lately, I’ve begun to broaden this request to, “perhaps a bottle of wine or a beverage of your choice to share.” On the West Coast, guests can stop at almost any grocery...