YOU HAVE TO TRY THIS! This is definitely one of my signature dishes.  As I mentioned in my first posting, this recipe is a perfect example of my obsession and love of food and cooking. Inspiration: It started with braised short ribs at Cioppino’s, then a Wolfgang Puck recipe, and over to a  Giada de Laurentiis […]

Out of all of the Napa Cab-Sauvs we’ve tried in the $20ish dollar range, the Avalon is my new favorite.  I really enjoy the Liberty School and the Ravenswood as well, but the Avalon is more of a mouthful. Please give it a try if you haven’t already. It’s $23.78 at the B.C. Liquor Store. If you don’t like it, […]

I love this Caesar Salad.  It’s T’s invention.  She goes through the same process as I do.  Start with a traditional recipe, add your own ideas and flavours and keep toying with it every time you make it until it’s so good you actually have to write down the ingredients and the preparation and stop […]

We spend a lot of dough on dog stuff: food, toys, grooming supplies. It’s in my nature to over-research the things I buy, so I thought I’d share my faves and maybe save you some time. Food is an interesting topic with our dog. Because of allergies and her medical challenges, we’ve been all over […]

This is T’s recipe.  It’s a great go-to appy that is pretty quick to throw together. We think the fresh crab with the canned is a good combo. The canned is usually finer and helps bind the cakes. With fresh crab meat going for $39/pound, it also helps with the price.  The sauce we serve […]

Church & State 2005 Syrah We were told about this winery during a class featuring B.C. wines. We didn’t taste any Church & State wines that night, but the instructor explained that Master Winemaker Bill Dyer, who previously brought his skills to much-loved and hard-to-get Burrowing Owl products, was now working with Church & State just outside Victoria, BC. When I got home I did […]

I’m a freak (please hold off the chorus of “We Know!”) for lemon tarts. As a child, lemon meringue pie was my favorite desert. Though, to be honest, I could do without the meringue; thus my obsession with tart. Il Giardino is one of our favorite restuarants.  There’s nothing better than Old School Classy Italian. Sure, they call […]