Who doesn’t love cheese? I’ve had great cheeses from all over, but my favorites tend to be French. I love creamy camembert, nutty salty hard aged Mimolette, and the deep savory earthiness of blue veined brie. For us there was a bit of a learning curve, an acquiring of taste to really enjoy strongly flavored […]
Over the last several months I have been rigorously testing some cookware from legendary French maker Mauviel, and it has totally changed the way I cook. From searing meats to simmering velvety sauces or baking perfectly golden desserts, nothing cooks like copper. Even a thick steak won’t chill a hot copper skillet, and perfectly even […]
“Bonjour!” was the first thing I heard when I entered the luxurious lobby of the Sofitel Water Tower Hotel. The relaxed atmosphere and attentive staff are very welcoming and though I am tempted to linger awhile, my focus today is on the hotel’s crowning jewel, the restaurant Café des Architectes. The dining room has an […]
With so many projects on my plate and several more exciting ones coming up, I need to stop and take a moment to catch my breath. I felt like cooking something simple and decided a basket of fresh baked rolls would be nice, plus I would get to play with dough! I should tell you […]
Spring time has finally arrived in Chicago and the streets are busy with hungry locals and tourists in search of something good to eat and all of Chicago’s best restaurants are ready with new spring menus to entice them. I recently had the pleasure of dining at Chuck’s: A Kerry Simon Kitchen to sample their […]
Executive Chef/Partner David Dworshak isn’t new to Latin cuisine. He cooked at Carnivale in Chicago for 8 years; as Executive Chef for six of those. After having finely honed his craft, Chef David decided to downscale from the massive operation at Carnivale to a more intimate setting, and Takito Kitchen opened its doors in March […]
“Where the water costs more than the wine” – Quartino Restaurant Italy can be hard to describe to those who have never been there. Beyond obvious things like ancient building facades and wonderful smells wafting out of kitchen windows and into the narrow cobblestone streets, there is a rhythm to life that takes a bit […]
A few months ago I was having trouble sleeping and for some reason I kept waking up at 4:35am. I didn’t even need to look at the clock to know, I already knew before looking that it was 4:35. What does that mean? It went away for a while but recently it has started up […]
A little over a week ago we returned to Germany after spending three weeks in the States enjoying the holidays with our families, and as the plane touched down with a jolt I was shaken out of my holiday mood and the familiar homesick feelings crept back into my heart. At this time every year […]
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 […]
I know, I know… apple galette’s, coq au vin, a decadent chocolate cake, casseroled artichokes and then I write a post about White Castle hamburgers. What is going on here? They’re called cravings people. We get cravings living overseas for food from home. Sometimes, lying in bed, we take turns naming things we miss most. If I […]
It all began on a cold February morning in 2000. I had a severe cold and a term paper due in twenty minutes that I had been up all night writing… As I was sitting in the computer lab adding the finishing touches and printing it out, I noticed a guy looking at me from […]
A Cook's Canvas 