Italian Lessons

I love carbs, but they don’t like me very much. For anyone watching their carbs, here is something to remember: Italian food is more than just pizza and pasta.

“Farm to table.” Once upon a time, this was not a familiar phrase. What comes next?

‘The Princess and the Pea,” written Hans Christian Andersen, is one of most famous references to peas. Maybe you remember Carol Burnett starring in the television musical interpretation of this children’s story? The younger among us may better recall the 1996 musical revival starring Sarah J…

Dried cranberries, dried apricots, dried mango, dried plums. One of these things is an impostor.

Here we are in the depths of winter. Sometimes it feels like 10 p.m. but we look at the clock and it only 5:30 p.m. Let’s bring some zest and brightness into the kitchen with the plentiful tangy and colorful citrus that’s abundant this time of year. The fragrance alone of citrus fruits is li…

So, I’m watching one of my favorite TV shows and the main character opts to pass on the donuts in the meeting room and instead shares that she’ll “just have some baby carrots.”

Soon crisp leaves will lay beneath our feet, leaving the trees to expose their spindly twigs. Days will get shorter and the colorfully tinged leaves of the vineyards will fade. Fall will announce its arrival.

I have to admit that even though I am a foodie and write about foodie things regularly, it’s often long stretches of time between my visits to local restaurants. So many wonderful choices here in the valley, and just not enough time.

The composition of a classic Italian meal, especially for celebrations, has many moving parts.

“Eating My Way Through Italy.” Yes, this could be me talking about my “Let’s Go Cook Italian” adventures. In this case, it’s about “Heading Off the Main Roads to Discover the Hidden Treasure of the Italian Table.” Again, sounds like what I love doing on my travels.

Living in the Napa Valley, we often hear the word “veraison” (ver-ay-zuhn), especially in July when there are breathtaking changes in the vineyards that surround us. The word veraison comes from the French, and is defined as “change of color of the grape berries”. From green to yellow, red a…

When I hit the road to Italy with my “Let’s Go Cook Italian” groups, I know the joyful moments that will greet me on the other end. The special moments and memories that come from these culinary adventures are due in no small part to our chef instructor, and my friend of many years, Chef Cri…

Make way for the winemakers of the future — young and natural winemakers who will be the next generation to build on the foundation of wine world trailblazers.

I’m constantly on the lookout for something truly new, interesting, innovative and just plain fun, but for mostly products that the average family might actually use.

You’d think that with the plethora of restaurants in our valley that I’d be wanting for nothing as a foodie. Not so. My restaurant wish list is really very simple, however.

Italy is a country rich with rituals. Customs and beliefs have been handed down generation to generation for centuries.

One of the things on my “makes me crazy” list is when labeling is misleading or incorrect.

Word of the day: “unctuous.” From the Latin word “unctus,” which means “anointed with oil.”

During the last two months, have you found yourself drawn to nibbling cookie dough, craving Cheetos or sitting with a spoon and a jar of Skippy? Me, too.