Even though I haven’t been there in years, I have to admit that T.G.I. Friday holds a warm place in my heart. This might sound surprising, especially from someone who advocates for whole, seasonal, and local foods diet (none of which are usually found at a giant chain). But when Friday’s first started out, the atmosphere was lively, the fast-casual food was a fun/new concept, and even the “flair” was a bit entertaining (remember this classic Office Space clip?)

So back in the day, my mom, sister, and I would to meet-up at Friday’s for a “girls’ night out” where we would get a little bit crazy and order a mess of appetizers for dinner (I like to think that we were early pioneers of the small plates craze). It was a lot of fun and we always shared a lot of laughs. While we weren’t regulars enough to always order the same thing, I do remember that their loaded potato skins usually ended up at our table. [click to continue…]

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With Thanksgiving looming on the near horizon, I’ve been tweaking recipes for holiday sides and trying to balance family traditions with new recipes to shake things up a bit. I was a bit enamored with the potato-leek soup I posted last week, so much so that I enjoyed it for breakfast for four days straight. In an effort to confirm that leeks and potatoes are in fact best friends I baked this gratin. I am happy to report that it was delicious and that leeks and potatoes should be combined whenever possible. Now onto the contest!

thanksgiving contest:

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I thought it would be fun to hear about your holiday stories, cooking experiences, questions, tips, and ideas. For those of you with a bit of a writer’s block (happens to me all the time) here are some jumping off points:

• Do you cook the same thing every year or do you like to try new recipes?
• Any Thanksgiving success stories or misses?
• Fun tips or ideas?
• Favorite memories?
• Do you order take-out for Thanksgiving?

All you have to do is share a note in the comment section below to enter to win a treat in the mail. Easy as that.

So what’s the prize? One of my favorite cookbooks from my library - Biba Caggiano’s Italy al Dente. A cookbook I have used for inspiration many times, it is loaded with recipes for pasta, risotto, gnocchi, and polenta - perfect for the cool winter nights ahead. I picked up this cookbook at a used bookstore in Berkeley, so it is a little loved (with a note from someone’s grandma), but I always find the best cookbooks are passed along with a bit of wear.

I’ll be picking the winner at random on Thursday, 11/20. If you get the big prize, I will notify you by email.

So please share your stories and definitely try out this gratin recipe!

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I was lucky enough to enjoy not one but two rockin’ dinners out last week, and while they are located on opposite sides of the country, they are both serving upscale pub food in a casual atmosphere and have been quite successful. The foodie term that has been used to label these concepts are gastropubs, and they are both chef-driven operations that source high quality, local and organic ingredients. [click to continue…]

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I am always on the lookout for great brunch recipes and when I saw Jamie Oliver make this tart on his Food Network show, Jamie at Home, I immediately put it on my recipe to-do list. Brunch is a great time to entertain friends and family, especially during the spring and summer when you can enjoy the sunshine in the backyard or patio. The only problem with brunch is the timing crunch. Unlike a dinner party where you have a few hours to plan ahead, brunch necessitates either an early wake-up (not so nice during your weekend) or a menu that is quick, easy, and can be made ahead of time. [click to continue…]

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