Santa Barbara Getaway- Part 4 – Foley Wines and Ollalieberry Cobbler
A drive up coastal 101 to the wine country, where I’m treated to the sight of rolling green hills with occasional grazing horses to my right, and the vast Pacific to my left, leads to at the blue highway, 246, and Buellton to visit Foley Wines and search for ollalieberries.
read moreSanta Barbara Getaway-Part 3-Spot Prawns and a Perfect Rosé
Dinner at Coast Restaurant during a Santa Barbara getaway offers a perfect Rosé, and the local So Cal coastal delicacy, spot prawns.
read moreSanta Barbara Getaway- Part 2- on the Hunt for Rosé
I happen to have a deep fondness for Rosés, so when I noticed a sizable selection of them on display at Metropulous, I struck up a conversation with the cashier, who directed me down the street to the Santa Barbara Winery to sample one.
read moreSanta Barbara Getaway- Part 1
A drive up the Santa Barbara coast and a great lunch in a discovered spot go a long way to relieving the pressures of life in L.A.
read moreSummer Jazz Sunday Brunch Menu-Plum Frangipane Tart
This prize winning tart Plum Frangipane Tart, showcasing Prune plums and almonds, both Sonoma produce is perfect for a late summer picnic.
read moreSummer Jazz Sunday Brunch Menu-Zucchini and Roasted Red Pepper Frittatta
Frittatas are easy to whip up, are a perfect dish for brunch, and ideal for taking outdoors, as they are great at room temperature,as well as hot out of the oven.
read moreSmooth Jazz Sunday Brunch Picnic
Great music, excellent wines, fabulous food in a beautiful country setting-there aren’t many better ways to spend a late and lazy summer morning. So when Barbara Blake of Smooth Jazz Sunday Brunch asked if I would like to create a Sunday Jazz Brunch menu to enjoy at a Sonoma wine country outing, I jumped at the chance. Sonoma County is not only a renown wine grape growing region, but also one of the country’s most abundant producers of many agricultural products, so I’ve created a menu which celebrates that richness with the simple elegance of a classic Mediterranean style picnic menu. And what wine to drink with your picnic brunch? Rosé wines not only carry the very essence of summer in every sip, but also happen to be just about the best food friendly wines around. So what do we recommend? Try a great Rosé, like Pedroncelli Winery’s (a Sonoma County winery) Dry Rosé of Zinfandel, or Wente Vineyard’s Pinot Noir Rosé. Tapenade with Crostini Zucchini and Roasted Pepper Quiche Prosciutto with Figs and Melon Poached or Grilled Salmon with Gribiche Fingerling Potato Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette Wild Arugula Salad with Shaved Sonoma Dry Jack Cheese from Vella Heirloom Tomato Salad with Basil and Buffala Mozzarella drizzled with Balsamic and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Plum or Apricot Frangipane Tart Heirloom Tomato and Buffala Mozzarella Salad...
read moreBlack Bean and Corn Salad with Avocado Goat Cheese Garnish
This Black Bean and Corn Salad, a recipe I’ve tweaked over the years to include this avocado and goat cheese (inspired by a dish at a favorite restaurant, Sonora Cafe), is a delicious summer dish.
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