Michelin list of Restaurants in the Department of the Vaucluse (84)

Here is Michelin’s list of restaurants in my old stomping grounds of the Vaucluse a department that includes the town of Avignon and other cities of gastronomic interest .  Click on the link below to see the PDF with all the listings.  It was shocking to see that la Mirande lost its one Star status. [...]

2011 Starchefs – International Chefs Congress – Day 2

Heading out into the street on Monday had a very different feel to it than Sunday.  The city was bustling with workers.  Wherever I went on the subway, I was fighting the tide of the working masses. 

2011 Starchefs – International Chef Congress – Day 1

It was hard getting up by 9am to prepare for the “Blood and Curds” Spanish Wine and Cheese seminar and the calm along 6 Ave. on a Sunday morning made it even harder to get out of the comfortable bed. In previous years at the ICC the lines to get in were overwhelming and the [...]

2011 Starchefs – International Chefs Congress – Amuse

Sometime in August I got an email from Starchefs to fill out their industry survey and become eligible for a drawing for a free ticket to attend this year’s Congress.  Midway thru September I was informed I had won free entrance. 

You say Asado……………

After many changes in direction and detail, the day of the Asador came.  It all started like this. 

Epic Wine Tasting

So I have to add another service to my blog homepage.  I can create a Food and Wine experience around what’s in your wine cellar.  This is how it went down.  I had very nice couple who came to two of the classes in my wine series at the Kitchen Table.  At the end of [...]

Treasures from the Garden

This past weekend we had 21 close friends and family over for lunch at our house.  This time of year the garden is beaming with produce and begging for simple dishes that exploit the flavors of the summer sun.  I made an awesome Asian slaw and used Vietnamese cilantro from the garden (very unique flavor) [...]

Edible garden

Two week ago, I planted some mesclun green seeds and today I am ready to harvest.  In the past I only planted one of these planters, but this year I planted two.  I can trim one, make a salad and the following day trim the other one.  This rotation should allow me to have beautiful [...]

Follow the green brick road

I was summoned by Facebook to attend some open house events at several local restaurants to market the Green Route association.  They invited people to come for free appetizers and drink specials.  I went to check out Duo on one night and Root Down on another.  Both restaurants are in the super trendy Highland’s neighborhood [...]

Putting it all out on the table

The first day at a new job is always interesting.  What to expect?  What to discover?  New people to meet and get to know. After a fairly long courtship and multiple interviews I have been hired as the General Manager for a small recreational cooking school, kitchen supply store and European style espresso bar called [...]