seafood

last supper in berkeley: salmon with fruity mole

Like my friend Jim said, “It’s been a great run.” After two and a half years of California living, all of my gear is packed up and I have begun the trek back to Vermont. It’s not going to be easy trading in flip-flops and sunglasses for boots and a shovel but I am looking forward to changing seasons, rolling green mountains, and a slower pace. [click to continue…]

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Either I was really hungry or this was the best pasta dish I have ever put together. I am embarrassed to say I scarfed it down and went back for seconds. With eggplant, early girl tomatoes, freshly made breadcrumbs, and sardines packed in oil, I can’t really determine what the secret ingredient was that sent this dish over the edge. They all just worked together.

I had been looking for a great way to highlight summer vegetables in a pasta dish and when I ran across Mark Bittman’s recipe on his blog, Bitten, I knew I had found it. If you aren’t familiar with Mark Bittman it might be a good idea to add a couple of his cookbooks to your shelf. His recipes are always simple, straightforward, and delicious. [click to continue…]

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Ceviche screams summer. With its no-cook, no-fuss simplicity and it’s cooling, refreshing character, I think it is the perfect recipe for July. Unless, of course, you are in the Bay Area where it has been rather chilly as of late. Or if you live in the northeast where storms and rains have been raging. Geez, I sure hope it’s hot somewhere because this is a simple recipe that takes minutes to prepare and will impress your family and friends at the next potluck. [click to continue…]

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After a fun and exciting trip to Vermont, it feels good to be back home. I have spent the last couple of days getting life organized and nursing a cold that I picked up during my travels. Now that I am unpacked and my body is beginning to revive, I am looking forward to getting out to the farmer’s markets and back in the kitchen.

Even with a few sniffles I managed to throw together a nice dinner last night that was inspired by a dish my friend Kerri enjoyed at The Kitchen Table Bistro in Richmond, Vermont. The Kitchen Table Bistro is a chef-owned restaurant run by a husband and wife team who met while training at the New England Culinary Institute. Their experiences working in some of the best restaurants in San Francisco and Napa inspired them to open an upscale but casual restaurant with an emphasis on the use of seasonal and local ingredients. [click to continue…]

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I haven’t found a great sushi restaurant in my new neighborhood so I have had to improvise a little when I have a sushi craving. I came across the sushi bowl concept in Super Natural Cooking by Heidi Swanson (author of 101 Cookbooks and Mighty Foods), and ever since then it has been a dish that makes its way onto my table every couple of weeks. [click to continue…]

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