Not every meal needs something totally off-the-charts different; sometimes a simple riff on a classic will do. This time of year, when I’m in San Francisco and the rain is slanted sideways and the fog so thick I feel alone in a city of nearly 1 million people, that’s when I crave recipes that are… Continue →

It was like eating my way through history with each bite revealing something new about the origins of cacao. I was tasting the creations of Hawaii-based Madre Chocolate, whose goal, in their words, is to serve up “an edible history of chocolate.” Madre Chocolate is but one year old yet they’ve made an impact in… Continue →

For the last recipe of my Hawaiian coverage, I wanted to share with you my California-fied twist on a classic Hawaiian recipe. Poke (pronounced poh-kay) is one of those classic Hawaiian dishes I can’t get enough of and I eat my share when I’m on island. If you haven’t had it before, it’s like a… Continue →

After yesterday’s TasteMakers interview with Dave Caldiero, I asked him to share a few of his essentials kitchen tools as part of the TasteMakers takeaway. So here they are: ten classic kitchen tools that, when treated well, will pretty much last a lifetime. If Dave hadn’t already convinced you of his love for making pasta, the fact… Continue →

Having spent the last few weeks in Hawaii, it only seemed appropriate to spotlight a Hawaii-based food person as this month’s TasteMaker. Dave Caldiero immediately came to mind not only because he’s a friend, but also because he’s at the front lines of the local, organic, sustainable food movement in Hawaii. Dave is a native… Continue →

It’s that time of the year when some of us have ditched our healthy eating New Year’s resolutions while others are still attempting to hold on with dear life. I’m in that second group and am doing my best to eat clean and healthy — with the help of a ton of lighter soups, healthy… Continue →