As some of you might remember, a few years ago my husband and I started a Gourmet Group with three other couples who love to cook as much as he does. And I say “he” – because I’m a decent cook, but don’t love doing it. I do love to eat, though. For these dinners [...]
Ca’ Del Sole has long been one of my favorite neighborhood restaurants. Located in a little Mediterranean-style building with washed ‘mustard’ colored stucco walls and pots of geraniums on the outside walls, this is an Italian restaurant with a Tuscan flare. The main dining rooms are chic and inviting with displayed Italian pottery, beautiful framed [...]
Sometimes when spending time in Ojai, I feel as if I’ve stepped into the enchanted valley where Brigadoon was nestled. Ojai Valley is a jewel box filled with gems such as lavender fields, orange and lemon groves, music under the stars and pink moments off the Topa Topa mountains. The people are warm and friendly. [...]
While tooling around town today, my husband and I decided to try the new brasserie on Ventura Blvd. in our little Studio City, Calif. hamlet. It’s name: Bokado Market-Brasserie (Bokado is Spanish for little tastes or something like that) – Anyway, the restaurant is a Spanish influenced brasserie with an elegant, but simply designed room [...]
It’s been some time since I waxed poetic about The Village Idiot’s smoked cheddar burger, kvelled over its mussels steamed in ale or lauded its brussel sprouts with bacon, but I’m here to praise this gourmet pub again… not the fish & chips with its malt vinegar dipping sauce or its oak grilled bangers & [...]
When we woke up the next morning, I couldn’t wait to explore this cozy coastal town while the guys played 18 holes. My cousin and I meandered through lovely shops and galleries on Main St. that ran along the ocean front. After golf and meandering, we all drove a little north of Ft. Bragg (a [...]
I’m an east coast girl. More specifically, a Long Islander with New England roots. I grew up in and around lovely coastal towns… from Glen Cove and Sag Harbor, to Quogue and South Hampton… from villages on the Cape and Vineyard to my mother’s hometown of Gloucester/Rockport, Mass. So for years after moving to LA, [...]
My husband and I were in Europe a while back. He was producing specials for the Food Network and we couldn’t wait to get to Florence, the legendary city in Tuscany. Driving into the ancient part of the city where our hotel was located, we found ourselves in a maze of narrow one way streets [...]
Ojai is a charming village east of the coastal town of Santa Barbara, California. Located in the high desert, it’s famous for its “pink moments.” That’s what the natives call the phenomena that occur when the sun sets against the Topa Topa mountains, turning the sky pink. Ojai is also famous for its theater and [...]
The binge began at our annual big Christmas Eve party. The house was decked out. Each room had a Christmas tree, our two fireplace mantels were covered w/ garlands and flowers, lights and candles, a welcoming wreath hung on our front door and the outside was covered with little white twinkle lights welcoming everyone. As [...]
