World Cup of Yum

Tomato Salad

Good tomatoes don’t need much to become a bright and fresh summer salad. Tomato salad may be one of those salads that actually gets better over time, as the juices release from the tomatoes and all the flavors meld. The liquid that is leftover after you’ve eaten all the tomato is so good that I’ll…

Parmesan & Chipotle Popcorn

Cookbook Club – Cooking for Jeffrey For July’s Cookbook Club, we used Cooking for Jeffrey: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook by Ina Garten. I made the Parmesan & Chipotle Popcorn. You can get a sampling of what else Ina Garten has been cooking for Jeffrey on my Cookbook Club site. For now – my dish! There’s…

Quinoa Tabbouleh

This was inspired by the tabbouleh I’ve had at Middle Eastern restaurants, but with quinoa instead of bulgur. It’s got a clean, fresh feel with lots of crunch from the cucumbers and just a touch of sweetness coming through the acidity of the lemon juice and tomatoes, but it also feels hearty. Since it has…

Mayura Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #42 Mayura, as you can see on the sign, is an Indian restaurant that specializes in Kerala cuisine. Kerala is a South Indian state. You can also see from the banner that Mayura has repeatedly made Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. Located in something of a dumpy looking strip mall in Culver City,…

Parmesan Fried Eggs

Ever buy a nice chunk of Parmesan to grate over a pasta dish, and then wonder what you could do with the remainder? Use it to make this awesome Parmesan fried eggs breakfast, which will feel and sound fancy if you’re making brunch for someone, but is actually so easy to make that you could…

Officine Brera Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #41 Officine Brera specializes in northern Italian cuisine. It is one of the many downtown restaurants on Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list. It is an awesome, high-ceilinged space with a long wine bar on one end, and a wall of windows opposite a view into the wood-grilling and roasting magic. You’ll even pass by…

What Happens in Vegas

Well in my case, what happens in Vegas is something I am posting for the whole world to read about. Vegas has become a city not just of absurdly decadent buffets and outsized eating experiences often attached to celebrity chefs, but a true food destination with stellar eating experiences on and off the strip. Those…

Jicama Lime Slaw

I love the crunch of jicama. It is great for make-ahead salad, because it stays crisp in the dressing. The sweetness of the apples brings out the sweetness of the jicama, and contrasts nicely with the bite of the lime and vinegar. This jicama slaw is so refreshing I find myself popping into the fridge…

Treehouse Tastes

If you’ve never stayed in a treehouse, you should do it. Especially if you can go with someone who wants to cook for you! We had six lovely ladies on this weekend getaway, but Zakiya planned and prepared enough awesome home-cooked food for a small army. It also just so happened that the treehouse was…

Pie Quest

Julian is a southern CA town known for its apple pie. When we drove through on our way to the treehouse we had rented for a girls’ weekend, we noticed the inordinate number of pie shops, many with signs saying they had the best apple pie. Naturally we figured we ought to investigate and find…

Roasted Turnips Dduk

Cookbook Club – The Red Rooster Cookbook For June’s Cookbook Club, we used Marcus Samuelsson’s The Red Rooster Cookbook: The Story of Food and Hustle in Harlem. I made the Roasted Turnips Dduk. Go to my Cookbook Club site for a taste of all the southern comfort food with Samuelsson’s multicultural twist. For now –…

LocoL Restaurant Review

Gold Dig #40 LocoL is a fast food spot in Watts, which I think makes it onto Jonathan Gold’s 101 Best Restaurants list as much for its mission as for its food. I fully support this. While the food might not compare to high end places where one dish will cost you as much as a whole tray…