Ginger Martini
The Ginger Martini……what a great find. This unique drink was on the cocktail menu in the lobby bar at the San Francisco Marriott on Union Square when I stayed there a while back. It was made with a premium gin and ginger liqueur, and it was refreshing and delicious. I watched the bartender make our…
Simple Syrup
Today, with so many cocktails requiring simple syrup, this is a “must have” recipe. This recipe is easy to make, only two ingredients, ultrafine sugar and cold water. There are two methods for making simple syrup. Some people like to use the heat method, heating until the sugar is dissolved into the water. The way…
Miller’s Guild
My first experience with Miller’s Guild restaurant was at the “Taste of Seattle & Gourmet Fair” at the 2014 International Food Bloggers Conference. They were a sponsor of the event and served braised short ribs at their display booth at the fair. These short ribs were great; in my opinion the best food served at…
Relish Burger Bistro
The Relish Burger Bistro is located in the lobby of the Westin Hotel in downtown Seattle, Washington. I recently discovered this classy burger joint while I was attending the 2014 International Food Bloggers Conference, which was held in the same hotel. The first night of the conference I was looking for a late night snack…
Barolo Ristorante
The amazing restaurant, Barolo, is located in the Metropolitan Tower in downtown Seattle and is just one block from the Westin Hotel where we attended the 2014 International Food Bloggers Conference last weekend. While we were at the conference we met a really nice couple, Stacey and Tom Bender, founders of “10 Legs in the…
Bolognese Sauce
Since Bolognese Sauce has been around for over 200 years there have been many variations on the recipe and much disagreement over what is the authentic version of this meat sauce. In 1982 a recipe for “authentic ragù alla bolognese” was registered with the Bologna Chamber of Commerce by the Italian Academy of Cuisine. I have…
Garlic Bread
I think I might have finally achieved garlic bread perfection. It is pretty much a staple every time I serve Italian food. This garlic bread is so good it’s often requested at my dinner parties even when it’s not an Italian meal. It took me a while to get this recipe to the point where…
Ginger Sesame Vinaigrette
Recently I have been having lunch at a couple local restaurants where I found different versions of this Ginger Sesame Vinaigrette. I, of course, wanted to create my own version of it, so I could always have it on hand for salads at home. This vinaigrette is extremely tasty with its combination of strong flavors of…
Spaghetti & Meatballs
Spaghetti and meatballs is a classic comfort food and a favorite of anyone who loves Italian food. Well, probably more accurately, it’s actually American Italian food. I have discovered that you will not find many places in Italy that serve spaghetti and meatballs. But there seems to be some disagreement among food experts whether the…
Dark ‘n’ Stormy
On my first visit to Bermuda, I was introduced to the national drink, the “Dark ‘n’ Stormy”. I had never heard of it before, even in my bartending days back in Wisconsin. I was kind of intrigued by the name, so when my friend ordered it at our first cocktail stop on the island, I…
