Month: January 2014

review: heart of tartness… (willows inn)

~ Is there a happier summer soundtrack than the splash of cannonballs accompanied by the reckless hoot of youth? My friend and I arrived at the ferry slip on a warm summer afternoon to the sight of children hurling themselves off the headworks into the cool waters of the sound.  We got out of the car and cheered […]

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review: heart of tartness… (willows inn)

~ Is there a happier summer soundtrack than the splash of cannonballs accompanied by the reckless hoot of youth? My friend and I arrived at the ferry slip on a warm summer afternoon to the sight of children hurling themselves off the headworks into the cool waters of the sound.  We got out of the car and cheered […]

Continue

travel: pacific pragmatism…

~ The last time I visited Seattle I was a rising senior in college.  That summer, I spent a few days with my friend Miller, who was from the inland suburb of Issaquah.  Thereafter, I went down to Portland to visit another college friend, Newland.  That was the last time I was in Portland too. […]

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travel: pacific pragmatism…

~ The last time I visited Seattle I was a rising senior in college.  That summer, I spent a few days with my friend Miller, who was from the inland suburb of Issaquah.  Thereafter, I went down to Portland to visit another college friend, Newland.  That was the last time I was in Portland too. […]

Continue

rumination 29: we need more experts…

A group of us were huddling together in the frigid night when our taxi – one of those odd European  hybrids with a cramped third row of seats in the back  – pulled up.  Daniel Boulud was the first to jump in, crawling into the far, back corner.  Someone else jumped in after him, but […]

Continue

rumination 29: we need more experts…

A group of us were huddling together in the frigid night when our taxi – one of those odd European  hybrids with a cramped third row of seats in the back  – pulled up.  Daniel Boulud was the first to jump in, crawling into the far, back corner.  Someone else jumped in after him, but […]

Continue

the best of 2013: the restaurant edition…

~ The late, great Diana Vreeland once said: “A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste––it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against.” I couldn’t agree more. There is a growing class […]

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the best of 2013: the restaurant edition…

~ The late, great Diana Vreeland once said: “A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika. We all need a splash of bad taste––it’s hearty, it’s healthy, it’s physical. I think we could use more of it. No taste is what I’m against.” I couldn’t agree more. There is a growing class […]

Continue

best desserts of 2013…

~ Three years ago, I created a separate year-end list for desserts because I wanted to recognize and record the exciting strides that I noticed pastry chefs taking. In the short time since, the borders of dessert-making and dessert-eating have continued to expand. Speaking specifically as an American, our understanding of desserts has taken on a […]

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best desserts of 2013…

~ Three years ago, I created a separate year-end list for desserts because I wanted to recognize and record the exciting strides that I noticed pastry chefs taking. In the short time since, the borders of dessert-making and dessert-eating have continued to expand. Speaking specifically as an American, our understanding of desserts has taken on a […]

Continue

best dishes of 2013…

~ I literally sat in front of my computer and scrolled through every single dish I ate this year.  When I was finished, I did it again.  And then again. Eight years ago, I surveyed all of the dishes I had eaten in that year and compiled a list of my favorites, more for my […]

Continue

best dishes of 2013…

~ I literally sat in front of my computer and scrolled through every single dish I ate this year.  When I was finished, I did it again.  And then again. Eight years ago, I surveyed all of the dishes I had eaten in that year and compiled a list of my favorites, more for my […]

Continue