It’s no secret that I love visiting the Traverse City area. From May-October this area of northern Michigan becomes an irresistible attraction with wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, resorts, golf courses, farmer’s markets, apple orchards, creameries, stables, marinas, antique shops, boutiques, lighthouses, and even a casino. There is literally something here for everyone, but culinary travelers, […]
Those who know me and longtime readers know that I dream of being a Chef one day, having started my site years ago while living in southwestern Germany. I got my start with a stack of cookbooks that my husband gave me as inspiration to start pursuing my dream. If you had told me back […]
Though the tragic events in Paris on November 13th cast a shadow over À la carte Chicago, the spirits of my French colleagues gradually recovered as hope and determination replaced fear. One week later the 31st annual Passport to France event began with an uncorking of emotions in a celebration of French culture and resolve. […]
I recently had the pleasure of attending a private luncheon for the Consul General of France, Mr. Vincent Floreani. The event was part of À la carte Chicago, a celebration of contemporary French cuisine and culture. Fifteen guests gathered at Chez Moi in Lincoln Park to experience a four-course menu prepared by Executive Chef Dominique […]
In November, more than 35 local restaurants and organizations participated in the first annual À la carte Chicago. An 11-day celebration of French food, wine, and culture, with menus and events designed to excite and inspire, and A Cook’s Canvas was invited to cover several of the events. Restaurants across the city, most but not […]
Perhaps nothing in the whole of human history has been so closely associated with love, romance, and celebration as Champagne. But it’s not just bubbles that create the magic; sparkling wines come from all over the winemaking world, and many of them are quite good. What truly makes sparkling wine Champagne is not only that […]
My husband and I have been big fans of Michigan wines for years. Before moving abroad, we would vacation all along the Lake Michigan shore from north to south, following the wine trail while stopping at farmer’s markets and apple orchards to pick apples and enjoy fresh cider. If you aren’t familiar with Michigan wines, […]
Today more and more people are discovering the pleasures of eating seasonal, locally grown produce, and farmer’s markets are popping up all over the city and surrounding suburbs. However, if you are seeking an even more holistic experience, and would like to meet the people who grow your food or simply want to experience the […]
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our past life in Germany, where I began writing this blog. I’ve always loved cooking, trying out new and challenging recipes, but while living abroad in Europe I fell in love with food culture, especially European cuisine. I taught myself to cook through trial and error in a tiny […]
Well, hello friends! I’ve missed writing to you. I’ve missed my ritual of brainstorming recipes, shopping for ingredients, cooking, baking, shooting photos and then writing to you about it. We’ve been in Chicago a little over three weeks now and it still seems like yesterday that we said goodbye to our life in Germany and hello […]
Hello Friends, I have been fairly quiet here on my blog these last few weeks but for a very very good reason. The winds of change are blowing and after four years of living abroad in southern Germany, we are moving back to Chicago. It has taken all our time and energies to sort through […]
Women love shopping, and I’m no different. While most women are shopping for shoes and handbags; I would rather browse shops and markets for herbs, spices and fresh ingredients. My favorite section is produce, this is where I really get inspired and the ideas start flowing. Soups, stews, casseroles, salads, or just heirloom tomatoes and […]
A Cook's Canvas 