Another Turkish Delight: Feta and Walnut Spread

Friday, February 12, 2010

I have visited Turkey several times, and I’m always struck by the careful and accomplished cooking in that country.  From the fine restaurants on the Bosporus to simple cafes in Sultanahmet, it seems almost impossible to have a bad meal. Many meals either begin with or consist of a collection of delicious, full-flavored small dishes […]

Cute Bags for Sweet Treats

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

At 17 months, Julia already has a posse.  Vivian, Charlie, Charles and Tess all live either in our building in Chelsea or very nearby, and the kids have regular play dates.  Most days at around 5pm there’s a stroller convoy in front of one of our doors.  To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I thought I’d make […]

Reasonable Indulgence: Porcini Crusted Filet Mignon with Fresh Herb Butter

Monday, February 8, 2010

Last Tuesday my partner David was bringing home two colleagues for dinner, one visiting from Japan, one local to New York and both eager to see Julia, our 17-month old daughter. Vaguely recalling of an episode of Bewitched (Wasn’t she always whipping up something for Larry Tate and some client of poor old Darren’s?), I […]

My Heart Belongs to Papa (and Vice Versa)

Saturday, February 6, 2010

I think she likes it.  Last weekend I made this little planter for our 17 month-old daughter Julia, and I slipped it into her room while she was napping.  When she woke up, she pointed at it, smiled, and I got an enthusiastic “Ooooooooh!” It was a simple hardware store craft project, but I got […]

Chicken Luxe: Perfect Roast Chicken with Truffled Potatoes and Champagne

Friday, February 5, 2010

Nobody gets excited about a chicken dinner, but I think they should.  At least I do.  I don’t think there’s anything better than a properly roasted chicken –crisp on the outside, moist and tender inside, and filled with the comforting flavors of fresh chicken and herbs.  Pairing this classic everyday dish with a luxurious side […]

A Quick, Sweet Valentine’s Treat

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Unless it requires a rider to your insurance policy, something you made yourself, I think, usually makes the best Valentine’s Day gift.  The day is so full of dull, mass-produced tokens of affection –chocolates, ho-hum red flower arrangements, rushed dinners at crowded restaurants– that any personal touch really stands out. Recently I posted a great […]

Coffee Table Tulip Garden

Monday, February 1, 2010

I was lucky enough to have one of my favorite people in the world as my boss, not once, but twice.  One day every Fall, at the end of some long meeting about a weighty legal matter, Alison would say something like, “Now, for something really important,” plop her dogeared tulip bulb catalogs on the […]

Homemade (and Delicious) Maraschino Cherries

Friday, January 29, 2010

The homemade brandied cherries that my friend Marta gave me for Christmas (last year) had run out, but it was still the height of Manhattan season (the cocktail, not the island).  I had to do something. Supermarket Maraschino cherries weren’t an option.  For years I told myself that they were an amusing retro touch to […]

Roasted Cauliflower Soup with (or without) Vadouvan

Friday, January 29, 2010

Our 17 month-old daughter Julia and I share many favorite things — vintage disco, french toast, cardigans, and, perhaps less predictably, cauliflower.  Raw, I find it almost inedible, and steamed or boiled it’s watery and dull.  But roasted in the oven it’s transformed into a nutty, tender vegetable delight. It’s one of my favorite side […]

Style, Function, Luxury and Economy: A Proper Shaving Brush

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I love it when style, function, luxury and economy come together in one beautiful piece of gear.  A good shaving brush is a perfect example of how this can happen. I’m not advocating going all retro with your shaving kit.  The safety razor is a modern miracle of performance and thrift, and traditional straight razors […]

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