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We have some really good friends visiting us from Connecticut. They arrived last night.  So we bought some snacks to munch on while we caught up.  Of course we had a couple of bottles of wine too - - Cellar No. 8 Cabernet  from California and Cerejeiras Red from Portugal - both were quite tasty.   I picked up some cheese made by Cowgirl Creamery . My favorite cheese of theirs is the Mt. Tam Triple Cream Brie.  The store I stopped at for the cheese was out of the Mt. Tam so I picked up The Red Hawk instead.  I didn't notice the scent of the cheese at first. Then I really started to smell it in the car. So I opened up the back windows. By the time I picked up our friends from the airport and got home you could REALLY smell the cheese. I was beginning to wonder what I would find when I opened the package. I was imagining something green and fuzzy. Well, we got all the snacks together and gave it a test. It tasted MUCH better than it smelled. It was creamy and delicious. My friend Ker...

My plan last night was to bake the Cherry Apricot Cobbler I wrote about on Monday. In my mind, I was going to shop the farmer's market for fresh fruit, with Elli skipping by my side.  Then go home and bake a lovely fruit cobbler which my family would enjoy. Sometimes things don't go as I imagined.  (Sort of like this photo.  That is not me!) First, I had a client meeting on Tuesday that ran long so I wouldn't be picking Elli up from school, which means I won't be going to the Farmer's Market which is right next to her school. I did manage to swing by Bed, Bath and Beyond to pick up the cherry pitter.  Which works like a charm - if used correctly. So I went to Safeway to get the missing ingredients - apricots, cherries, flour and buttermilk. I got in a short line to check out - which turned out to be the slowest line, and, the guy behind me started playing a FLUTE!!!  Yes, a flute. Like the kind you play in band.  Great. It's finally my turn. The last thing the c...

Acai. I've seen it here and there. Now it's in my Yoplait yogurt.  So what the heck is it?  And how do you say it? Well wouldn't you know it, our local paper the Marin Independent Journal has a whole feature about this mystery berry. First, how do you pronounce it?  "ah-sah-EE".  I always thought the "c" was pronounced like a hard "k" - guess not! According to the article, acai is a berry native to Brazil. It tastes like an earthier version of a blackberry. Sounds interesting. Some even say it tastes like a chocolate covered blueberry. Now we're talking!  I went on the acai website, www.acai.org, but all their info is from wikipidia. Interesting..... So I went to  wikipedia.  The acai fruit is only harvested twice a year and deteriorates rapidly, so they freeze the pulp or dry it for use in beverages, ice cream, yogurt, soda, etc. You probably won't see it very often in your local market. If you do, I'm guessing it will be expensive...

It's cherry season! Cherry vendors have pitched tents all over the place. You can drive by only so many times before you have to stop. It's impossible not to. Because fresh cherries are yum-my. I don't know about you, but our cherries rarely make it to the fridge. They make it all the way to the sink where they get a quick rinse - then that's it. Down the hatch they go.  There was an article in the San Francisco Chronicle on Sunday with some great tips: Look for cherries with the deepest, darkest hues Store in the refrigerator for up to five days You can freeze cherries by simply putting them in a ziplock. Didn't know that.  Excellent! Jane Tunks, the author of the Chronicle article recommends making a simple sauce for chicken, duck or pork by sauteing cherries in some broth and butter. It sounds really simple and good. Of course,  you have to save some cherries when you get home. Personally, I'm a sucker for fruit cobblers. So I think that's what I'm g...

Two and half years ago, my husband and I bought a business in Napa called Pollin's Interiors and Custom Upholstery .   We always talked about having our own business, so when the opportunity came up - we went for it.  It hasn't been easy, but all the hard work, stress, and sleepless nights have been worth it.  Being from the advertising business - we're firm believers in the power of advertising and PR. We know what it can do for a business.  So when   California Home and Design Magazine contacted us back in February to make all the furniture for a feature story about using outdoor fabrics for indoor furniture, we jumped at the chance.  We remade two sofas, a chair, and countless pillows in all shapes and sizes.  The feature includes all the pieces we made. If you go on the website you can see the before and after pictures.  Plus, there is a video interview with Don. We also submitted photos of Michael Chiarello's new restaurant Bottega - which ...

Don't you just love a guy in a tux? purrrrrrrrr........ I just read about a Champagne for all the wanna-be Bond girls out there. It's called Ayala .  It has no sugar, so it's a bone-dry champagne with fine bubbles. Great with caviar, sushi and shellfish. The Daily Sip I haven't tried this champagne. But I'm willing to dress Don up in a monkey suit and get myself all dolled up in a dress and heels and give it a try.  Except my Bond (my hubby Don) isn't too fond of monkey suits, so we'll probably just pick up some sushi and enjoy it at home. I'll put the heels on anyway! So I know some of you out there will wonder why I chose THIS Bond photo.  I was going to use a picture of Sean Connery.  And then I saw this photo of Daniel Craig, our current James Bond. And I have to say, I find him quite sexy. Oh, one more thing.  Enjoy this chilled, not shaken, or stirred. Cheers!

Last weekend, Don treated me and Elli to the most amazing weekend.   We had a FABULOUS night at the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco - on the Club Level. If you have ever stayed at the Ritz on the club level you know how special it is.  If you haven't, well, it ain't no Hampton Inn. Trust me, it's special. And if you're on a business trip - schedule all your meetings in the lounge or you're going to miss out on all the yumminess. Funny story.... there is a concierge sitting at a desk right in front of where the elevator doors open. Elli and I weren't expecting anything to be there. The doors open and we saw a lounge with tables set up for a big buffet - and we squeeled!  "OOOOOHHH!"  The concierge laughed. They were between set-ups. We were looking at empty silver platters. He said, "I can't wait to see your reaction when we have the food set up." Hello. The rif raf has arrived. We tried to behave ourselves from that point on - but it was har...

This post has nothing to do with food.  Or wine. It's about Elli - the budding artist. She is one of about 40 elementary kids chosen to be in a Mill Valley School District art and poetry show.  We have five elementary schools in Mill Valley - so this is a pretty big honor! Here she is with her masterpiece.  This weekend, Elli told us she wants to be nine things when she grows up. Singer Dancer Artist Teacher Veterinarian Fish store owner (aquarium kind of fish)  Dress shop owner Mom President (of the U.S.) Well, she's already a singer, dancer and artist. Better watch out America. Elli's on a mission. You may have your first Chinese-born American running things in 30 years.  Wouldn't that be amazing.

I get so many emails from different retailers.  There just isn't enough time to view them all. Sometimes I just read the subject line before, delete!  And sometimes I actually click on it to see what they're trying to sell me. Just depends on what kind of day I'm having. I get a ton of wine-related emails.  Most of which are an eye-sore.  Way too much copy and technical mumbo jumbo.  For some reason, this one caught my eye.  It said,  '06 Peter Lehman Barossa Shiraz, $12.99 91pts Wine Spectator Ripe, juicy and balanced - drink this full and flexible gem with everyday fare such as pizza, grilled or fried chicken or a bacon cheeseburger. All right!  I haven't tried this wine.  But for twelve bucks there's not much risk. You can order it from PJWine  Or call 212-567-5500. It's also available at BevMo .  But it's not on sale - $19.99. hmmmm...

Mother's Day is this Sunday.  So take a moment to tell your mom how much you appreciate her.   I have no idea how my mom did it with four kids, or Don's mom with five kids. I only have one, nearly perfect child, :-) and I can barely keep up. I won't get to see my mom this mother's day - but I will see her in a  few weeks so we'll have a delayed celebration. My mom is the greatest, most supportive mom around. I'm always telling everyone how much fun she is.  I've discovered that's not the case with everyone's mom. So I feel very lucky to have such a special mom. Here are some ideas of things to do for your mom, or things your kids can do for your wife, ( hint, hint ) that will bring a smile to her face and make her feel appreciated. Things to do for your mom: 1) put your dishes in the dishwasher 2) hang up your coat - in the closet 3) pick up the wet towel off the bathroom floor 4) sweep the patio 5) wipe the toothpaste splatter off the bathroom fauce...

I love champagne and sparkling wine.  Whenever we go out to dinner I like to start the evening with a glass of sparkling wine.  We went out to dinner Saturday night, and that's just what I did. Did you know that unless the wine is from Champagne, France they can't call it Champagne?  It has to be called Sparkling wine. I learned that from Judy, the very thorough proofreader at Hoffman Lewis (where I work.)  As I've mentioned before, through my job I get to taste some good stuff. We had a BevMo meeting at Mumm Napa a while back. They showed us how they turn the bottles to get the bubbles just perfect. It's pretty amazing to me that someone, somewhere, thought of all this stuff.  We had the most amazing lunch with a private wine tasting. It was awesome. Then we went shopping for wine. My favorites are the Mumm Brut Rose (formerly called the Blanc de Noirs) and the Mumm Blanc de Blanc.  These are not $5 bottles. But they don't cost a fortune either. But back to Saturd...

I'm sitting here reading Wine Business Monthly and came upon an article about Sauvignon Blanc. It's my favorite varietal. It's perfect to have when hanging out or when eating just about any food. I prefer it much more than Chardonnay. It's not oakey or buttery and doesn't over-power food.  So I was interested to know what the pros think. What is the attraction? 1. Sauvignon Blanc grapes can grow well anywhere in any type of soil. And they don't need to be aged. The wine can be bottled in January and ready to drink in March.  Sweet. 2. Apparently the grape is difficult to work with and there are lots of special techniques to" tame the vigor of the varietal " -but the pros have it all figured out. It is a grape we're talking about, right? 3. They describe the wine as having amazing fruit flavor and aroma.  There are hints of melon, tropical fruit, grapefruit, lychee. The flavors are descriptive and bright. 4. It usually has good acidity so it pairs ...

What is Cinco de Mayo anyway? And why don't they make it a national holiday so we can get the day off?  Or at least a regional holiday. Heck, half of California is from Mexico.  According to Wikipedia , the holiday celebrates Mexico's defeat of the French army in the battle of Puebla. Why were they at battle you ask?  Well, the Mexican government had ceased making interest payments on their debt, so the French invaded Mexico to try to force payment of the debt. Am I missing something? Are we celebrating the fact that Mexico bullied France out of their country so they wouldn't have to pay them back? I think we are. 'Cuz it doesn't say anything about Mexico ever paying them back. Nice. So do smashing pinata's at a party represent beating the tar out of the French? hmmmm..... This history lesson is spoiling the mood. No wonder they invented tequila. Something had to numb the guilt. So let's get to it. Grab the tequila, the triple sec, some lime, ice and mix you...

Don and I watched the movie Saturday night on our big screen at home. We're a little behind the rest of the world in catching this flick. But since we missed it at the theatre, we had to wait for it to come out on DVD.  We knew it would be good since it was the big Oscar winner. But that doesn't always mean you'll like it.  It's a great movie.  I can see why it got such great reviews and ultimately became the big winner at the oscars. Who doesn't love a story where you get to route for the underdog - a poor, uneducated street kid in love with a beautiful girl. The story follows his life and how he ended up on the show "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." It has action, suspense, lots of bad guys, a good guy, a beautiful girl and a cool sound track.  I give it two thumbs up. Click here to see the movie trailer.

Today is the Kentucky Derby.  So if you find yourself watching the race, here's the same cocktail all the ladies and gents will be sipping at the track.  The classic Mint Julep.  I love the way the bartender in the attached video gets the ice to crush into ice powder. He puts ice cubes in a canvas bag and beats them with a big wooden mallet.  I have got to try that at home. (Talk about a free therapy session!) I just told Don and he said, "we can buy crushed ice." Hmm.  I'm buying a bag and a mallot! Here's a video to show you how to make it.   Click here. You only need 4 incredients: Simple syrup (sugar and water) Ice Mint Bourbon Of course the bartender serves it in a really cool pewter cup.   Enjoy! That's it.  Have a good weekend everyone! Click here to order cool cups for next year!

It's been an exhausting week. No recipes or cooking tonight. It's date night! Don and I love watching movies. And we love seeing them on the big screen. We don't go to the movies much anymore - unless they are family flicks. So when we do get out we really enjoy it. Last Friday we had a real (adults only) date - dinner and a movie.   The thought of it sounds so good right now. It's been a long week. We had dinner at a fantastic new restaurant in Mill Valley called Balboa Cafe . The meal was great. Our two favorite things were the Ahi appetizer and the Blueberry Bread pudding for dessert. It was served with really good vanilla ice cream. It was warm with a bit of crunch on top. Soooooo good. I might have it instead of an entree next time. After dinner, we saw the movie Sunshine Cleaning . We both enjoyed it. I really like Amy Adams and Emily Blunt.  I loved Amy Adams in Enchanted .  And thought Emily Blunt was terrific as the secretary in Devils Wears Prada .  Anyhow, th...