Friday, April 19, 2013

BROOKLYN BOUND!

Jeffrey and I spent a few days in Brooklyn investigating all the fun new food places.  They’re amazing!  These aren’t big corporate restaurants that the owners dream of opening branches in China – they’re small and personal and very hands-on.  We loved them!  One of our favorites is called Seersucker and the food is delicious and Southern with a modern twist – stone ground grits with cheddar and chives, biscuits and gravy, and cornmeal crusted catfish.  I had to come right home and make my Oven-Fried Chicken for Jeffrey!  I hope you can get to Brooklyn to check out the food scene.  It’s so much fun!  I’d love to know about your favorite places in Brooklyn!

Friday, April 12, 2013

FUN ON "THE CHEW"!

OMG did I have fun this week cooking with Mario Batali on “The Chew!”  I had to pinch myself that I was cooking with the man who created some of my favorite restaurants in the world, starting with Babbo in NYC.  On the show, we made my Slow-Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise, and Mario and I talked about great tips for cooking meat.  (Click here to watch the show on your computer.)  With summer coming, it’s definitely one of my favorite – and easiest! - dinners for a crowd!

Saturday, April 06, 2013

LOCAL FOOD HEROES

I love exploring the local food producers in the Hamptons to see what ingredients inspire new recipes for me. There are so many farmers, artisanal producers, and people doing really interesting things at the East End of Long Island. I’m getting four fabulous local products and heading to the kitchen - all in the pursuit of research, of course!

First is Amagansett Sea Salt made from ocean water harvested at the beach!  I think I'll make my sweet and salty Salted Caramel Brownies - who wouldn't love that?

Next, it's literally farm to table with fantastic fresh beets from Quail Hill Farm for my Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad.

Third is Driftwood Ale, a delicious craft beer from The Montauk Brewing Company, a local micro brewery. 

Finally, I'm getting freshly baked ciabatta rolls from the Blue Duck Bakery in Southampton and I'll use them for roasted Salmon & Guacamole Sandwiches.  Local products and delicious recipes. They call this work??

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

EASTER FUN AT THE WHITE HOUSE!

Yesterday was the Easter Egg Roll at the White House and Mrs. Obama kindly invited me to make healthy guacamole with multigrain chips for the children.  I brought my friends Barbara Liberman, Kristin Fisher, and Charlie Allen (who’s almost four years old).  We had a ball listening to Justin Bieber, playing tennis, and rolling Easter eggs!  Click here for the Guacamole recipe and click here to link to the White House website to see the festivities.  I started my career at the White House and it was such fun going back as a guest!

Monday, March 25, 2013

ON THE ROAD AGAIN!

This is an exciting week!  Tomorrow, I’ll be in Providence, Rhode Island at the Providence Performing Arts Center to talk with Johanne Killeen from Al Forno restaurant, which is one of my favorite places in the world!  Johanne and her husband George Germon make amazing Italian dinners, including their famous grilled pizzas and baked pastas.  If you can’t make it to Al Forno, you can always cook one of their iconic recipes at home – Roasted Sausages & Grapes – from my “Foolproof” cookbook.  Hope you love it as much as I do! 

On Wednesday night I’ll also be at The Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts in Worcester, Massachusetts, and on Thursday night at The Bushnell Performing Arts Center in Hartford, Connecticut.

Hope to see you there!

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

LE CHOCOLAT CHAUD!

One of Jeffrey and my favorite things to do in Paris on a cold day is go to Café de Flore, have steaming cups of hot chocolate, and watch the fashion parade go by.  Now that I’m back home and it’s cold and grey in East Hampton, I keep dreaming of those big mugs of sweet, rich hot chocolate. The good news is you can make it at home, which is exactly what I’m going to do right now!  I’ve included my recipe so we can all drink Hot Chocolate and dream of things we want to do in the New Year!  Bon appétit!

Thursday, December 27, 2012

NEW YEARS’ EVE IN PARIS

Every year, Jeffrey and I celebrate New Years’ Eve in Paris with close friends.  We splurge and hire a car to tour some of the famous French landmarks all lit up – the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur - then stop at an historic bar for a glass of Champagne - last year we went to the bar at the Ritz (which Hemingway said he personally liberated after World War II!).  Then we head home to our apartment for a midnight supper.   My favorite New Years’ Eve dinner is Lemon Capellini with Caviar – really easy and so elegant!  Then some good French cheese and a salad, plus an apple tart or a decadent chocolate dessert from a bakery.  What better way to start the new year?  We’re lucky enough to be in Paris but you can make the same special dinner anywhere in the world!  I wish you and your family a happy and healthy New Year.  I hope you’re looking forward to 2013 as much as I am!

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

BREAKFAST IN PARIS!

Paris is my favorite city in the world - it’s so romantic!  I’m sure people think that I eat at fancy French restaurants, but when we’re there, in fact, Jeffrey and I prefer to hang out at small cafes and bistros.  We always arrive in the morning, so we head to our favorite Café Varenne for breakfast or lunch and order their delicious omelet with potatoes, bacon, and herbs.  Click here for my version of their recipe and you’ll have your own little taste of Paris at home.  As my hero Julia Child would say, “Bon appétit!”

Monday, October 15, 2012

CALIFORNIA ROSÉ!

In the summer of 1999 when my first cookbook was published, Jeffrey insisted on throwing me a party.  I decided to serve chilled rosé so I went to the wine store and bought 6 different bottles to taste -- tough job! By far, our favorite was Robert Sinskey Vineyard’s “Vin Gris” rosé, which is the most gorgeous color and has hints of peaches and strawberries.  Last week when I was filming my show in Napa Valley, Maria Sinskey (who runs the vineyard with her husband Robert) invited me to cook with her and to taste their wines. Maria made the best Zucchini Tart with Lemon Thyme and Goat Cheese that I’ve ever tasted.  My new television series on Food Network starts in January and you’ll see Maria and me cooking together.  It was a really fun day that I’ll never forget!

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’

Last week, I was in San Francisco cooking with my friend Tyler Florence, whose passion and enthusiasm for great food always knocks me out.  He invited me to his restaurant El Paseo in Mill Valley where he taught me how to cook the perfect steak to go with his amazing side dishes like creamed spinach, buttery whipped potatoes with coarse California sea salt, and thyme-roasted wild mushrooms and shallots.  They were all so delicious!  I also love Tyler’s San Francisco restaurant called Wayfare Tavern.  In my new cookbook FOOLPROOF, I've included a recipe inspired by his Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts. If you’re in San Francisco, run -- don't walk -- to one of his restaurants!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

INA ON TOUR!

It’s that time again! With my new book FOOLPROOF coming out on October 30th, I’m traveling around the country this fall meeting people and talking about cooking and entertaining.  I’m doing something a little different this time; in addition to book signing events, I’m also doing live conversations with food people and reporters in several cities around the country.  After the talks, I always love hearing from the audience, so please come with your toughest entertaining questions.  The first event is in Seattle, Washington, on Sunday, September 16th and the events continue through the end of the year.  Click here to see my entire schedule. This is going to be a lot of fun!