A Sweet Find
I always am looking for the next “it” item when I am at Corti Brothers market. Unlike any other market that I have ever patronized, Corti has items that no one else carries. The candy aisle is no exception. My partner in Sacatomato, Ann, turned me on to the salted licorice, which I am going [...]
Fair Food Without Grease (mostly)
So the state fair is already two weeks along, but there’s a week left to visit CalExpo and see for yourself how many food items can be eaten from a stick. Really–everything from corndogs to pickles to watermelon! But I was determined to find some good food at the fair that wasn’t fried or covered [...]
Cheese and Bacon Sandwiches with Honey Chutney
Demonstrated today at the State Fair Honey Chutney 1 pear, cored and coarsely chopped ½ cup (about 10) chopped dried apricots ½ cup (about chopped stemmed dried figs 1/3 cup alfalfa honey ¼ cup fresh orange juice ¼ cup white wine vinegar 1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger 2 cloves garlic, minced ¼ to ½ [...]
Tortugas : Have You Had a Torta Lately?
If you’ve never heard of a torta before, it’s Spanish for “sandwich” or “cake.” (The Italians use the term more for sweets.) Tortas are typically made on round sandwich buns and piled with juicy meats, pickles, and cheeses and end up looking a little like little turtles–or tortugas, in Spanish. On Friday, a friend and [...]
Table 260: A Soul Food Experience
Okay, I am the first to admit that I don’t really know that much about soul food and the assumptions I had were not based on actual consumption. So when I was recommended the restaurant Table 260 in Elk Grove I was given an opportunity to discover a new place to eat and catch up [...]
State Fair Cooking Demos
Just because you’re going to the state fair doesn’t mean that you have to eat the new Krispy Kreme chicken sandwich (over 600 calories!). Stop by the California Foodstyle building (#2 in the tower buildings) and catch some of the chef demos, cooking contests, and fair judging. There are also free samples of honey, cheese, [...]
Pear-Cheese Tarts with Honey and Hazelnuts
This could be an appetizer or a dessert. It is subtly sweet and great for making ahead of time. 1 box (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry 1 pear, cored and quartered 1 lemon, zested and juiced ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons sage honey, divided 8 ounces cream cheese 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 2 eggs ½ [...]
Mâche, Pear, and Avocado Salad
Recipe courtesy the California Pear Advisory Board Vinaigrette 4 tablespoons sesame oil 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar 1 teaspoon fresh chopped ginger 1 teaspoon prepared mustard Salt and pepper to taste Salad 4 ounces mâche 2 California Bartlett Pears, quartered, cored and cut into thin slices 1 avocado, cut into 1-inch cubes 4 small purple [...]
Chicken-Pear Calzones
Hands Off: 25 minutes Calzones are essentially a larger version of empanadas, which are little meat pies made all over South America and the Caribbean. You’ll often find them made there with beef and onions, olives, or peppers. The Argentineans like to add fruit like pears and peaches, though, and I like the idea of [...]
58 Degrees and Holding
Sitting at the end of the bar at the relatively newly opened 58 and Holding Company, I am surveying the scene and I like what I see. In the corner there is a group of twenty-something women swirling their glasses furiously (passing thought: please let it be something more exciting then Rombauer Chardonnay) their focus [...]
