Chris Nordquist
It’s probably a fair question to ask why one would want to pickle green beans. But, for me, there are two pretty good reasons. First, if you have a garden, you’ll know that unless you have a very large family or you’re truly crazy about the vegetable, the few frail little seedlings you plant in […]
Actually, it’s more like a year of daily spa treatments for $4.95. Yes, I exaggerate, but this little nylon cloth is better than any scrubbing lotion, exfoliating cream or loofah that I’ve ever tried. Wet and primed with a little soap or shower gel, it gently scrubs away dirt and grime and leaves my skin […]
Caesar salad has to be one of the most common salads served in restaurants, and I used to wonder why. Most of the Caesars I ate were masses of limp Romaine struggling under the weight of a too-garlicky parmesan dressing with a few damp croutons thrown in to help carry the load. There was something […]
Here’s a repost of a favorite from last summer — three great warm-weather cocktails to serve as alternatives to the margarita. Warm weather, meat on the grill, margaritas — they all go together, at least at our house. While I can’t really get enough of the first two, I can max out on the third, […]
In my mind it was easier. On Saturday afternoon, I would throw a tarp on the lawn, and –cool drink in one hand, spray can in the other– I would paint my drab tag-sale wicker chairs a cheerful yellow. On Sunday, I would complete this task with a top coat, probably sometime between clearing the […]
Last weekend in San Francisco our good friend (and Julia’s godmother) Marta hosted a dinner party for our friend John (who, actually, introduced Marta to me many years ago). I assisted. Unsurprisingly, I was in charge of cocktails. Unless there’s a bartender on hand, I almost always make a featured cocktail in quantity and well […]
When I went to San Francisco’s Bi-Rite Market this week, something among all of the beautiful local produce caught my eye, and my nose –great bunches of brilliant green, fragrant basil. For me, nothing signals the arrival of high summer like the aroma of fresh basil at it heady peak. I bought a few bunches, […]
In a perfect world, we would all just step outside and gather beautiful seasonal leaves to line our cheese trays. In my world, though, or at least in New York and San Francisco, most of the things you’d find blowing down the street shouldn’t go anywhere near your food. And, in any case, in the […]
Just a couple of blocks from our apartment in New York is a wonderful shop. It’s the first American outpost of the French fabric house Les Toiles du Soleil, which sells nothing but brightly striped fabrics and a small range of goods made from them. The place is a perfect antidote for a gray day, […]
One of our favorite summer Saturday lunches is grilled shrimp with fresh salad from the garden. It’s quick, easy and, importantly, light, given the slightly indulgent dinners that sometimes (ok, often) follow. Here’s a delicious and interesting version of this simple dish, incorporating dried lime, a versatile ingredient that I’ve been experimenting with lately. Originating […]
