Top 20 Donut in America? Well…

After reading on The Daily Meal that Dottie’s Diner in the quaint town of Woodbury, CT had been voted one of the top donuts in America, I had to check it out. To be honest, I really don’t like donuts. They always make me feel horrible after eating them, so I don’t eat them often.…

Ode to the Caprese Salad

Summer is a faint memory as we enter the cold month of December and I am truly missing our homemade Caprese Salads. During the summer, the nightly ritual of going to the garden, picking a few fresh organic, heirloom tomatoes and some fresh garlic. Then slicing the tomatoes and layering in slices of fresh buffalo…

Recipe – Stuffed Mushrooms with Cheese

The holidays are not complete without these simple to make and delicious stuffed mushrooms. Start with a pound if white mushrooms. Pop the stems off and arrange caps in a baking pan. Chop four cloves of garlic and sautĂ© in a medium frying pan until golden. Dice the mushroom stems and add to the garlic.…

Meatballs – the ultimate comfort food

I love meatballs. They are hearty, satisfying and delicious. Now that the weather is turning a bit colder I made a batch like my mother used to make. Meat, cheese, breadcrumbs, spices, garlic and an egg. The house instantly smelled like my childhood. I also cooked up some caramelized onions to add to the pasta…

Dreaming Tree Wines by Dave Matthews

Ever since I was in college in the early ’90s I have been a fan of the Dave Matthews Band. Over my years in business I have been lucky to become friends with some members of the band and get to see the band perform when they come to town. When we see the show,…

Cashew Pesto from the Garden

The garden kept giving and giving this year and our basil was one of the rockstars. One of the best parts of basil is that it can easily be turned into pesto. Regular pesto is good and all, but when I make mine I substitute cashews for pine-nuts as I like their creamy and rich…

Hollywood Cafe – San Francisco, CA

I love breakfast. I love pancakes, omelets, waffles and anything else I can put jelly and syrup on. In my research of good places to eat in San Fran I came upon some very good reviews for a place that was walking distance from my hotel in Fisherman’s Wharf, the Hollywood Cafe. When we arrived,…

Doc Crow’s – Louisville, KY

Some days a body needs a bit of polluting. Maybe an extra drink (or 10), or maybe a meal with way too much grease. Doc Crow’s in Louisville, KY was the site of one of these meals. This dark and lively place feature a menu that would make any cardiologists wince. So many things on…

Hofbräuhaus -Munich, Germany

I will tell you one thing, I hate touristy places and chain restaurants. So, when I was in Munich recently and a few friends called to get a beer at the Hofbräuhaus, I hesitated for a second and then thought, what the hell. We arrived and ordered a couple of liters of the darker beer…

Homemade Tomato Sauce from our organic garden

I love summer and the amazing vegetables that come out of my organic garden. It’s not huge, but it provides my family with tomatoes, basil, strawberries, scallions, chives and peppers for four or so months during the summer. Being 1/4 Italian, I love to make homemade sauce. Today I tool a bunch of Roma tomatoes…

Moonshine under the Moonshine

Had dinner with some friends tonight and we opened a bottle of Catdaddy Carolina Moonshine. Years ago I was given some real moonshine out of a mason jar that was a cross between lighter fluid and paint remover. One shot and I was done for the night (the little I remember), so I was a…

Lobster Burger at the Parkside in Providence, RI

Providence is an amazing city. As the capital of the tiny state of Rhode Island, this capital is nothing but tiny on charm, character and style. Two of us went to the infamous Waterfires on a nice June evening. After a romantic gondola ride with a cold bottle of Sauvignon Blanc, we strolled over to…