“Ow I like dem erstas at Hank’s.”

“Ow I like dem erstas at Hank’s.”

That was my attempt at what New Orleanians call a “yat” accent. I know. Not very good was it. In her book, New Orleans Cuisine: Fourteen Signature Dishes And Their Histories, Susan Tucker refers to Oysters Rockefeller as “the single greatest contribution of the United...
You’re invited to spend a gourmet evening in Spain.

You’re invited to spend a gourmet evening in Spain.

At next month’s San Miguel de Allende wine-pairing dinner, we will be exploring the wine regions of Spain. With six different courses each accompanied by a different wine. The menu, I think, speaks for itself. GASPACHO DE ANDALUCIA Cucumber, bell pepper and herb...
Appassimento. Hard to spell. Easy to drink.

Appassimento. Hard to spell. Easy to drink.

There is no winery in my opinion more emblematic of the Veronese style than Masi Agricola. Still family-owned, Masi is one of the largest wineries in Valpolicella, producing over 12 million bottles a year. 47 of those bottles were opened last week at Firenze, one of...
In pursuit of a better shepherd’s pie.

In pursuit of a better shepherd’s pie.

I’m recycling one of my blog posts from a few years ago today. Partly, of course, because I’m lazy. But mostly because a Scottish version of Don Day’s Wife’s shepherd’s pie will be on the menu at Bonds’ Robbie Burns Night in San...
“If you know beans about chili, you know chili has no beans.”

“If you know beans about chili, you know chili has no beans.”

Wick Fowler wrote those words. Jerry Jeff Walker sang those words. Don Day doubted those words. I was never really popular as a kid. Except for about every two weeks on Thursday. Because it was about every two weeks on Thursday that I would get up in the morning and...