Red Room Where the Writers Are

Can We Talk About Lasagna? And a Book. »

The weekend ended with a lasagna. Not your ordinary lasagna. Roasted summer squash, bolognese sauce, home made noodles, fresh mozzarella, mushrooms, ricotta.

"O Taste and See"--Join Me at the Table for Delicious Poetry in Deep France »

Join me for a workshop in "Deep France" (non-touristy) Auvillar, where we will explore the senses through our poetry, and enjoy an adventure in good eating, delicious wine, walks through

A Great Restaurant In The Oakland Hills »

‘Round midnight last night, I was sitting on my porch steps after washing the dishes for two and a half hours.  My husband Kenneth and I had our friends over for dinner.  Kenneth is a chef, so her

Food That Makes You Go Mmmmm ... The TABLE MANNERS Challenge  »

I am currently finishing up my manuscript for my third novel, Table Manners, the sequel to Good Things.

Food, friendship, family... »

Here’s a beautiful reissue of fan favorite

Snapper Stew »

My dad, like so many of us in the family, is a college teacher. Many of his students are adults, and some regularly give him food gifts. Much of this bounty he and my mom enjoy.

Carrot Soup »

Maybe this Carrot Soup recipe doesn't belong on a writer's blog. Maybe I don't care. It's cold in northern California this week and all I can think about is soup. I love soup, what can I say?

CHECK PLEASE! »

Rotisserie Chicken Soup, Mexican Style »

Csirkas Paprikash and Spaetzle »

Paprika Chicken, the Hungarian national dish. 1983: I came out of ten days in pre-break-up Czechoslovakia, days of boiled meat, potatoes, and “How would you like your cucumber and tomato salad, with or without onions?” into Budapest, food heaven.

Foodies On the Road »

We're having a hard time out here, Folks. Less than a week on the road, and we two Bay Area foodies have shown our wimp colors, we've keeled over, and we're tenderly crying for broccoli.

Deadline Food Recipe #2: The Yogurt Sandwich »

Summer school starts in July, and it is grueling.

Rash Decisions »

The first time I heard about the Darwin Awards, named after the father of evolution, Charles Darwin, and given posthumously to people who “improve the species... by accidentally removing themselves from it,” I cackled like I was auditioning for a voiceover gig for the clown ride at the county fair. 

Multi-generations much happiness makes »

  Personally, I would not like to live in a "retirement" community, where other aging folks reflect back to me on a daily basis the image of my growing older.

City of Light »

Paris. Paris. Paris! What else is there to say?

The Language of Menus »

Anybody who knows me for more than five minutes knows that I love to eat. And since I'm as obsessed with words as I am food, it won't surprise you that I'm deeply into menus.

Flirting »

Flirting is fun.  I think we should flirt at least once a day like eating an apple.  I feel a metaphor or allegory coming on, but I want to stay focused on the fabulosity of flirting.

Allegro Romano »

Allegro Romano, a small Italian restaurant on San Francisco’s Russian Hill, is the setting for a key scene in The House of Mondavi. The restaurant was where Timothy Mondavi broke bread with two of the outside directors of the Robert Mondavi Corp. in an effort to convince them to oust the company’s non-family member CEO. His efforts backfired. Instead of convincing them to fire the executive, his campaign only fueled the directors’ growing conviction that Timothy, himself, was a loose cannon. I’d never been to Allegro Romano until I was invited there last week by Judy Miner, president of Foothill College in Silicon Valley. I’d given a book talk as part of the Foothill Authors Series and Judy took me there afterwards, since it was one of her favorite neighborhood restaurants. The restaurant’s ebullient Italian owner, Lorenzo Logoreci, welcomed us to a table scattered with rose petals and confetti. “Bella,” he called Judy, greeting her warmly and referring to her as his first customer. (Logoreci and Fusae Castelluccio, both from Rome, bought the long-established restaurant about eight years ago.)

A Few Things for Breakfast in New York City »

I was in New York City recently, looking for a few things for breakfast. The scone was an unusual shape - round, looking delectable, with small raisins in it.

Deadline Food Recipe #1: Fagioli All’uccelletto Cheating Style »

I have a few "recipes" I pull out when I'm exhausted and need to eat now and eat well and get immediately back to the book, the column, the article, the whatever-I'm-crashing towards-dead

Did Ammiano Get Smeared? »

The Philippines provides an endlessly delightful menu of hyper-Westernized food names.

Red Diaper Dharma -- The Family Food »

The recent talk discussion of gingerbread and oxtails and chicken made me hungry so my Literary Mama column this month is about FOOD.

How did the Breatharians get in there? »

Focus, focus, FOCUS!!!

Just a guy from Turlock: Michael Chiarello and lifestyle marketing »

Michael Chiarello is at home, making risotto alla primavera for 130 or so of the best customers of Chiarello Family Vineyards. He tastes a bit of the rice and parmesan cheese mixture, finds it to his liking, and orders it dished onto the scores of white plates which are laid out and waiting, where it will be topped off with a soffrito of spring vegetables.

My Favorite Simple Roast Chicken--mon poulet roti »

One 2- to 3-pound farm-raised chickenKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper2 teaspoons minced thyme (optional)Unsalted butter and Dijon mustard  

Chasing a Food Memory »

It’s an unassuming plate - little irregular lumps of nearly naked pasta. No visual fireworks, no flashy garnish.

Yes, Chef! »

Some people find gardening shows relaxing. Others love watching playful otters frolic with each other in nature documentaries. Give me the red meat and raw savagery of the kitchen anytime.

Food for Thought and Love »

The main character in my manuscript bakes for a living. Baking has always been her solace, her comfort. And it's not the eating part of the baking.

Like Calves to the Slaughter »

On Sunday, the USDA took action to force the recall of 143 million pounds of beef dating back two years — the largest beef recall in our country’s history.  More than 25% of

GIVE EATING DISORDERS A NEW NAME – WINNERS! »

Thank you, one and all, to everyone who submitted a new name for eating disorders!

Even in Winter, Eat Local – It’s Delicious »

One of the keys to eating a healthy diet is eating regionally and seasonally as much as possible. The best choice is most often the one closest to home.

Resolutions 2008 »

OK, I admit it. I make resolutions and never keep any of them, although I did manage to stop biting my nails last year and now have ten (count 'em) gorgeous looking fingers.

The Great Cafes: There are some that simply transcend the very idea of a cafe. »

Upon the drinking of a cup of coffee, Balzac wrote, "everything becomes agitated. Ideas quick-march in

The Spanish Civil War (Or at least that part of it that was fought in the kitchen). »

"Manolo, señor."