my essential kitchen tools
A practitioner is only as good as the tools he uses to produce his work. Since I fancy myself a kitchen witch, I thought I'd share some of my favorite tools of the craft that help make cooking easier, faster, and more enjoyable. My Essential Kitchen Tools Non-stick cookware w/matching lids - Non-stick cookware makes cleanup easy, and because of that, my set of non-stick pots and pans are my everyday go-to cooking tools. While it isn't necessary to have a full set (you might even come out better with mix-and-match pieces), it is advised to spend a little extra for quality ...
you might be a bon vivant if… (part 2)
Continuing the series of posts entitled, 'you might be a bon vivant if...', here are 4 more ways for you to tell if you or someone you know is a bon vivant. You Might Be a Bon Vivant If... You have an extensive and varied social network Bon vivants love to surround themselves with interesting people. Especially those with unusual occupations, intriguing conversations or personality traits that the bon vivant finds entertaining in some way. You have above average intelligence Bon vivants tend to not only be well-educated, but also well-learned. They are perpetual students, always seeking to learn new ideas, languages, skills, and concepts. ...
you might be a bon vivant if… (part 1)
A little while ago, I mentioned that I would be delving deeper into defining – in my own terms, based on my own observations – what it means to be a bon vivant. Unfortunately, the term bon vivant is one that is not well understood or is often misconstrued to be an individual who puts on airs or enjoys a excessively lavish, high-priced lifestyle. Of course, I couldn’t disagree more. So in an effort to clear up any confusion, I’ve penned what I hope will be an informative series of clues that will more clearly define what it means to be ...
how to say ‘cheers’ in 50 languages
A long time ago I read somewhere that the toast originated during the Middle Ages. During large banquets hosted by feudal lords and kings, each guest would toast by pouring a little bit of their drink into their neighbor's glass, and by the time the toasting was done, everyone would have what everyone else was having. In a time where hostile takeovers often involved secret poisons, this sort of toast was done to make sure that if there were any poisoners present at the feast, he or she would also get a taste of their own medicine. Hopefully, Dear Reader, you ...
food porn: buford highway bingefest
You know, you really have to be careful about the kind of people you hang with. The wrong crowd can get you caught up in all kinds of foolishness, and truly cause you to lose all sense of yourself. Such was the case this past spring when a food-loving friend invited me to join some other food-loving friends for a little dim sum at Gu's Bistro. What started as a simple weekend lunch gathering turned into a multi-hour, multi-stop foodie bender along Buford Highway. The limits of decency (and my waistline) were definitely stretched. [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="400" caption="chengdu cold noodles @ gu's ...
a bon vivant is as a bon vivant does
I don't know where I first heard the term bon vivant, but I do remember thinking to myself, "Now that sounds like something I could get used to being called." Or something to that effect. I do, however, clearly recall a pass-the-time bar game I played a few years back which involved me and a friend sharing our intergalactic spy credentials (don't ask). During the round where we revealed our alter-ego occupations, I boldly proclaimed that mine was: 'bon vivant'. To which my friend replied (actually, scoffed) "That's not an occupation." I was and still am indignant about the matter. Being a bon ...
Music
stone soul christmas playlist
If you’re anything like me, you’re probably fed up with all of the treacly department store and easy listening Christmas music you’ve been hearing for the past month or longer. Actually, according to the graph below, it seems most of us have been listening to the same tried-and-true Christmas songs for 50 years or more. 20 Most Played Christmas Songs I think it’s high time...
More MUSIC>>>Food and Drink
chicken chili verde recipe
There’s a great brewpub in East Atlanta called The Midway Pub. They’ve got an amazing selection of craft beers on tap and an even more amazing patio. When I lived in the neighborhood, I’d end up eating or drinking there an average of 3-4 times a month. The vibe of the place is casual, slightly hipster (Okay, okay. Reeeally hipster), and reasonably priced. You know, the sort of place...
More FOOD AND DRINK >>>Recipes for Life
pre-holiday detox: 5-day cleanse before you binge
If this holiday season is anything like last year’s, it will be indulgent. Very, very indulgent. Already, my weekend calendar for the next month is jam-packed with events where hearty food and heavy drink will be the central focus. And that doesn’t even include Thanksgiving. The chances of me abstaining from this once-a-year feeding frenzy are about as slim as the chances that some portly, older gentleman will slide down my chimney and deliver gifts in late December. Translation: It ain’t happening. But if I’m going to make... [Read more ]
More RECIPES FOR LIFE >>>Foodie Travel
food porn: weekend in amsterdam
This year’s trip to London included a weekend jaunt to Amsterdam. 2 days in Amsterdam isn’t nearly enough time to see all that the city has to offer. But… I did my best. Here’s a recap of the weekend in Amsterdam, as told by my belly. welcome spread The trip to Amsterdam had been a long one. By the time I reach my room, I’m exhausted and a bit frazzled. The bottle of wine and tasty crackers my host has laid out looks like mannah from heaven to me. fruit in my guest room romeo cooks plantains Shortly after... [Read more...]
More FOODIE TRAVEL >>>Dinner and a Movie
how to watch television – tips #2, #3, and #4: put your tv in its place
“If you read a lot of books you are considered well read. But if you watch a lot of TV, you’re not considered well viewed.” ~Lily Tomlin In keeping with the series of posts about the evils of television I started a couple of weeks back… wait. No. Let’s clarify a couple of things before we get too far along with these. I don’t actually consider TV to be evil at all. After reading my first post on the topic, a friend of mine expressed some concern that I had morphed into one of these staunch anti-TV nazis and that I was... [Read more...]
More DINNER AND A MOVIE>>>Restaurant Reviews
chicken and the egg – farm to table dining comes to Marietta
Executive Chef Marc Taft’s new farm-to-table concept is giving Marietta diners something to squawk about. You may remember Marc Taft from another, decidedly different Atlanta-area restaurant – Pacci – the comfortably ritzy Italian restaurant that was located on the bottom floor of the former Hotel Palomar in midtown. Taft served as Pacci’s General Manager until the restaurant and the hotel shuttered their doors earlier this year due to foreclosure. At Chicken and the Egg, Taft has traded his GM suit for a chef’s jacket, but his unassuming,... [Read more...]
More RESTAURANT REVIEWS >>>Food Fun
top 10 hangover cures
I’m way too hungover to be writing this post. But since I love you, Dear Reader, I wanted to share 10 of my personal favorite hangover remedies. I’ll talk softly. #1 Water and lots of it Dehydration is the main culprit of the pain and suffering associated with a hangover. So load up on the H20. #2 Multivitamins With a hangover, your body is depleted of necessary vitamins and minerals. A quality multivitamin helps you replenish them. Note: The best cure for a hangover is prevention. The first two hangover cures in this list are... [Read more...]
More FOOD FUN >>>Recipes for Work
work is play – what I learned from kickball
When I get the opportunity to work with larger, corporate clients I often hesitate, even cringe. My main reason for deciding to pursue a non-traditional career was because most corporate cultures are just too dysfunctional for my tastes. Bad behavior, internal politics, and power plays are often rampant in corporate environments, and no matter how long I usually succeed in avoiding them, I eventually either get pulled into them or fed up with them. Besides, I have my health to consider. Even though corporate gigs tend to pay well and offer more... [Read more...]
RECIPES FOR WORK >>>Featured Video
Some of My Favorite Recipes
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