wanted a side dish to go with my pork shoulder leftovers. And I remembered reading a slaw side to Bobby Flay’s shoulder recipe when I was originally doing my pork research. So I found the recipe and realized it was ripe for a makeover. It doesn’t take much to slim down a slaw,... »

You don’t always need a cooking class, Food Network show or a famous cookbook to get a great lesson on cooking. At one time, the art of cooking was passed down through family, generation by generation. Although that tradition has all but vanished, we can still look to those around us to teach us... »

This week I was inspired by the chilly weather to cook a pork shoulder. I decided to try my own version of “Simple Roasted Pork Shoulder” from the Food Network site. (Craving ease, I was lured in by the recipe’s list of a mere 4 ingredients.) And although among the pork recipes I considered... »

The weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day are normally extremely busy for me. With the launch of a new book thrown into the mix, this year was exceptionally crazy. But, thanks to the nature of my work, there were also many delicious moments. y Valentine’s season came to a climax (dirty pun intended)... »

I’ve said before that I love my job and recent a weekend in Napa with all-you-can-eat truffles reminded me of just how good it can get. The occasion was the second annual Napa Truffle Festival. The event encompassed every aspect of truffle culture from truffle cultivation and the business of truffles to cooking with... »

partially reprinted from the Napa Truffle Festival Blog I’ve been assigned the unbelievably decadent role of official blogger for the 2012 Napa Truffle Festival. As Truffle Festival blogger, I thought it was important to address one of the biggest hot buttons in the culinary world since it involves the famed aphrodisiac of truffles, (or faux... »