year end: reality is a long game…. (2023)

Recently, La Tour d’Argent, a standard bearer of la grande cuisine since the 1500s – where kings and emperors have feasted, where the fork made its French debut – posted a horrifying video on Instagram of a soufflé being murdered at the table. It was scalped by the server, then disemboweled by the spoonful onto […]

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year end: reality is a long game…. (2023)

Recently, La Tour d’Argent, a standard bearer of la grande cuisine since the 1500s – where kings and emperors have feasted, where the fork made its French debut – posted a horrifying video on Instagram of a soufflé being murdered at the table. It was scalped by the server, then disemboweled by the spoonful onto […]

Continue

counting the stars… part ii

Given my experience and observation with the Guide Michelin in Europe, here are my comments on the recently (or yet to be) released Guide Rouge for New York … the results are: three stars each for: Thomas Keller’s Per Se Eric Rupert’s Le Bernardin Alain Ducasse’s eponymous establishement at the Essex House Jean George Vongerichten’s […]

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counting the stars… part ii

Given my experience and observation with the Guide Michelin in Europe, here are my comments on the recently (or yet to be) released Guide Rouge for New York … the results are: three stars each for: Thomas Keller’s Per Se Eric Rupert’s Le Bernardin Alain Ducasse’s eponymous establishement at the Essex House Jean George Vongerichten’s […]

Continue

counting the stars… part i

I must apologize and account for my long absence from posting. If I have any readers left out there, thanks for hangin’ in there and spread the word that I’m back! I’ve been eating my way around Europe… and “chasing the (Michelin) stars.” I’ve spent quite a lot of time (and money) scoping out the […]

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counting the stars… part i

I must apologize and account for my long absence from posting. If I have any readers left out there, thanks for hangin’ in there and spread the word that I’m back! I’ve been eating my way around Europe… and “chasing the (Michelin) stars.” I’ve spent quite a lot of time (and money) scoping out the […]

Continue

review: haute comfort food in the alps

Obauer (one visit, September 2005) Tucked away in the sleepy village of Werfen about an hour’s train ride from Salzburg, at the foot of the Austrian Alps, is the delightfully refined restaurant and hotel, Obauer. Run by brothers Karl and Rudolf, this ten-roomed cottage on the main street of Werfen boasts a Michelin 2 star […]

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review: haute comfort food in the alps

Obauer (one visit, September 2005) Tucked away in the sleepy village of Werfen about an hour’s train ride from Salzburg, at the foot of the Austrian Alps, is the delightfully refined restaurant and hotel, Obauer. Run by brothers Karl and Rudolf, this ten-roomed cottage on the main street of Werfen boasts a Michelin 2 star […]

Continue

review: running up elevators and glorious summer delights…

Mosconi (one visit, September 2005) Mosconi Luxembourg There are those special personal triumphs that call for a special (eating, of course) occasion. My latest came while happening through the small “Grand Duchy” of Luxembourg. To fête, I booked my very own table at the Michelin 2 starred restaurant, Mosconi. Situated in an old bourgeois home […]

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review: running up elevators and glorious summer delights…

Mosconi (one visit, September 2005) Mosconi Luxembourg There are those special personal triumphs that call for a special (eating, of course) occasion. My latest came while happening through the small “Grand Duchy” of Luxembourg. To fête, I booked my very own table at the Michelin 2 starred restaurant, Mosconi. Situated in an old bourgeois home […]

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personal triumph…

Yesterday, I fixed my toilet – sans plumber, just me and a monkey wrench. I’m beaming with pride.

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personal triumph…

Yesterday, I fixed my toilet – sans plumber, just me and a monkey wrench. I’m beaming with pride.

Continue

make your own designer ice cream…

I just found my dream website… rather, my dream company. Illinois-based Ecreamery runs an amazing online ice cream and gelato store. You can either buy one of their pre-mixed base flavors like Ube, Hot Pepper, or Jasmine, even the infamous Durian, or you may select one of their Signature Flavors like Cucumber Dill Weed (currently […]

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make your own designer ice cream…

I just found my dream website… rather, my dream company. Illinois-based Ecreamery runs an amazing online ice cream and gelato store. You can either buy one of their pre-mixed base flavors like Ube, Hot Pepper, or Jasmine, even the infamous Durian, or you may select one of their Signature Flavors like Cucumber Dill Weed (currently […]

Continue

review: great potential in the making…

bluestem (two visits may, 2005) Colby and Megan Gerrelts came to Kansas City with outstanding training and credentials. The dynamic duo met in the kitchen of TRU in Chicago. Returning to Colby’s hometown, Kansas City, the Gerrelts garnered more top-notch training in the kitchen of the famed American Restaurant, under Michael Smith and Debbie Gold, […]

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review: great potential in the making…

bluestem (two visits may, 2005) Colby and Megan Gerrelts came to Kansas City with outstanding training and credentials. The dynamic duo met in the kitchen of TRU in Chicago. Returning to Colby’s hometown, Kansas City, the Gerrelts garnered more top-notch training in the kitchen of the famed American Restaurant, under Michael Smith and Debbie Gold, […]

Continue

review: i can’t hear my food…

Le Bec Fin (one visit November, 2004) I’m so thrilled that Pete Wells decided to write about his experience at Le Bec Fin in the July, 2005 issue of Food & Wine magazine (“Putting Le Bec Fin To The Test”). His assessment of the French megalomaniac/psycho-chef Georges Perrier’s (he underwent therapy after losing a star […]

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review: i can’t hear my food…

Le Bec Fin (one visit November, 2004) I’m so thrilled that Pete Wells decided to write about his experience at Le Bec Fin in the July, 2005 issue of Food & Wine magazine (“Putting Le Bec Fin To The Test”). His assessment of the French megalomaniac/psycho-chef Georges Perrier’s (he underwent therapy after losing a star […]

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my new toy…

My very own OXO Mandoline Isn’t she a beaut? Thanks to Mr. Williams of Sonoma, California (actually he should be thanking me for spending too much money on his enterprise), I am now the proud owner of my very own OXO mandoline. I’ll be able to slice, julienne, waffle cut, and crinkle cut to my […]

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my new toy…

My very own OXO Mandoline Isn’t she a beaut? Thanks to Mr. Williams of Sonoma, California (actually he should be thanking me for spending too much money on his enterprise), I am now the proud owner of my very own OXO mandoline. I’ll be able to slice, julienne, waffle cut, and crinkle cut to my […]

Continue

review: over-priced “truck stop”

Zingerman’s Roadhouse (multiple visits, last in May, 2005) When Ari Weinzweig decided to open the Roadhouse edition of the methodically expanding Zingerman’s “full-flavored” demi-empire in 2003, American “road food” stepped up a notch. At this awkwardly situated corner where Huron Street turns into Jackson Street crossed by Maple-almost-Stadium Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the always-friendly, […]

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review: over-priced “truck stop”

Zingerman’s Roadhouse (multiple visits, last in May, 2005) When Ari Weinzweig decided to open the Roadhouse edition of the methodically expanding Zingerman’s “full-flavored” demi-empire in 2003, American “road food” stepped up a notch. At this awkwardly situated corner where Huron Street turns into Jackson Street crossed by Maple-almost-Stadium Street in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the always-friendly, […]

Continue