World Cup of Yum

Lemon Mousse

Cookbook Club – BraveTart In July, our Cookbook Club actually had two events, because Anthony organized a bonus dessert pool party (I love that people are so excited about the club that they’re now organizing additional gatherings!). We used BraveTart by Stella Parks, which celebrates classic American desserts. Go to my Cookbook Club site to…

Sweet Cream Biscuits

Cookbook Club – Eat Mexico In July, we used Lesley Tellez’s Eat Mexico for our Cookbook Club. I was really happy we were trying a type of cuisine our club hadn’t cooked yet. The book highlights dishes from Mexico City’s street stands, markets, and casual restaurants. You can see our full Mexico City food journey…

Ginger Scallion Steamed Fish

Growing up, one of my absolute favorite things was Chinese steamed fish with ginger and scallions. We would get a whole steamed fish at restaurants, or have a steamed filet at home. This recipe works for either – it just depends how comfortable you are pulling the meat from the skin and bones. While I…

Bok Choy Salad

Most people think of Bok Choy as a vegetable that you eat stir-fried, but did you know that it’s got crunch and sweetness that makes it great for eating raw? This is a Bok Choy salad that I whipped up for a pizza party that needed a fresh and bright side as a counterpoint to…

Pizza Marinara

Cookbook Club – The Elements of Pizza In June, we did a special event in partnership with the LA Bread Bakers, using their outdoor wood-fired pizza oven! We used The Elements of Pizza by Ken Forkish for dough and sauce recipes and topping combos, and also came up with our own pizza creations. Go to…

Cucumber Dill Blueberry Salad

The base of this recipe was inspired by a cucumber dill salad that my mom used to make when I was growing up. I freshened it up with the addition of red onion for a bit of bite and blueberries for a sweet pop. So good on a summer day! Guessipe 4 Persian cucumbers, sliced…

Le Comptoir Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #69 Le Comptoir is one of the most intimate experiences on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. There are only two seatings per night, in which 10 lucky people get to sit at the counter watching Chef Gary Menes prepare and plate the 8-course set menu. He starts with an introduction describing that…

Green Bean Salad

It’s summertime, when I like a cool veggie side, but want something more substantial than a leafy salad. This green bean salad fits the bill, with lots of crunch from the beans, the nuttiness of toasted almonds, and egg for more substance. The dressing completes this simple tangy dish. Great for bringing to a summer…

Broken Spanish Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #68 Broken Spanish is one of the Mexican restaurants on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. The wide rectangular space has a glass front wall and large bar in the center. It feels mostly modern, but has some rustic touches like a side wall hung with family photos and shelves full of clay…

Spaghetti with Garlic, Lemon, Kale, and Parmesan

Cookbook Club – What’s For Dinner? For May’s Cookbook Club, we used What’s For Dinner? by Curtis Stone. I chose the Spaghetti with Garlic, Lemon, Kale, and Parmesan. Go to my Cookbook Club site to see everything we had for dinner. For now – my dish! When I saw this recipe, I could immediately imagine…

Manuela Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #67 I think Manuela makes Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list as much for its atmosphere as for its food. Located downtown in the Hauser & Wirth building, the restaurant blends into the art galleries with specially commissioned lighting and artwork of its own, and a patio that looks out onto the sculpture…

Japanese Restaurant Dressing

You know that salad you get at the start of a meal at so many Japanese restaurants? And somehow they all seem to have the same dressing (which I’m not complaining about, because it’s sweet gingery deliciousnous)? Well, I always enjoy that salad, and found myself wondering why I couldn’t have it more often. So…