Category Archives: Eating & Drinking

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Cold-brew coffee

It’s getting warm (!!!) in the Bay Area, which has me craving all kinds of summertime treats – burgers hot from the grill, fish tacos, popsicles, and a good iced coffee. I’ve resolved to make this the summer that I finally try cold-brewing coffee, but there are so many cool (and local!) companies doing it, that I might opt for those instead: Jittery John’s is based in San Francisco and does pop-ups in Dolores Park so you can enjoy some coffee with your Bi-Rite ice cream; Milton & Small is an Oakland-based brand that delivery around the Bay Area; Slingshot offers both ready-to-drink and concentrate versions around the South; and Brooklyn-based Grady’s Cold Brew is a New Orleans-style coffee with chicory – yum. If you want to try cold-brewing at home, here’s a recipe from Bon Appetit.

iced coffee

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Ramen!

Growing up living next door to my Japanese grandmother, ramen was a staple in my childhood diet. So you can imagine my excitement as I’ve seen the ramen craze catch on {with a bunch of great ramen houses popping up in the bay area!}. Earlier this week I finally stopped by Ramen Shop in Oakland, and somewhere between the jams {90′s hip hop} and the spicy miso broth, I fell in love. Can’t wait to go back! Do you have a favorite spot you care to share??

Ramen{image via}

 

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Jack Rudy Tonic Syrup

My family’s proclivity for gin and tonics means we’re all on a constant search for ways to improve our favorite summertime drink. My mom’s latest discovery, Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic Syrup, is really shaking things up…especially when mixed with life-changing Sodastream sparkling water. I loved reading about the original Jack Rudy, great-grandfather of the company founders, pilot, inventor, and “marvelous” dancer. Next, I’m trying their Small Batch Grenadine, and making myself some very fancy Shirley Temples.

bottle-jr

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Cake decorating heaven!

Have you seen the Elle Fanning story in the spring 2013 fashion issue of New York magazine??  {Watch the video here.}  Will Cotton shot her in key fashion looks with accessories created from icing and candy at Duff’s Cakemix in LA.  Always a sucker {no pun intended!} for sweets and cake decorating, I can guarantee my next trip to LA will include a stop here.  Heaven, no??

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Thin Mints

Sadly, there’s a lack of Girl Scouts in my neighborhoods, which has meant a few Thin Mint-free years for me. Little did I know that all that’s standing between me and an ice-cold, after-dinner minty treat are three ingredients: Oreos, semisweet chocolate, and mint extract. (Thank you for changing my world, Top With Cinnamon!) I only worry that now that I know how easy it is to whip some up, I won’t be able to ration them into disciplined three-cookie servings. (Did you know February 8th was National Girl Scout Cookie Day?!)

Thin-Mints-+-White-Chocolate-Peppermint-Mocha-Cookies-10

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Ottolenghi

I love the beautiful cookbooks from Yotam Ottolenghi, but somehow I think my at-home creations don’t quite live up to the food in his London restaurants. That was why I was so excited to see that the Ottolenghi online store is open! Now everything from blackcurrant mini meringues to apricot and passion fruit jam to macadamia and coconut fudge can be yours – without the trip to England!

ottolenghi

{image from here}

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Welcome to oakland…

Off the Grid!  Hooray!  Seriously, what has taken you so long?  Everyone knows Oakland is a haven for food lovers. Starting Friday, January 25th, and continuing every Friday after that, Off the Grid will be happening outside of the Oakland Museum of California from 5 to 9 PM.  {If you haven’t checked out this museum yet, you need to.}

{photo from here}

 

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Homemade gifts

Every year, I want to give all homemade gifts at Christmas, but procrastination gets the better of me and I wind up with a lot of overnight orders on Amazon. This year, I’ve been collecting ideas for homemade presents and I’m going to try a few of them out: meyer lemon-orange bitters, vanilla extract, pickled cherries, and I might revisit this citrus compote I made last year {I used blood oranges, cara caras, Valencia oranges, and tangerines – tart and delicious!}. What are some of your favorite homemade gifts to give? The best one I’ve ever received was a chilaquiles kit from our friend Angela, complete with fresh tortillas, Mexican hot chocolate, and homemade chilaquiles sauce – the perfect Christmas morning breakfast. Hopefully one year my kitchen will look like this at Christmastime!

{image from here}