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Bellwether Farms – San Andreas
“Once upon a time, Cindy Callahan needed a way to keep our pasture grasses under control, so she bought sheep,” explains Cindy’s son, Liam. ”That one innocent act triggered a series of events that placed our family at the forefront of the American revival in artisan cheese making.” Liam Callahan and his wife, Diana, now run Bellwether Farms, located about an hour north of San Francisco in the beautiful hillsides of Sonoma County. It would be fair to say that everything relating to this farm is beautiful, from the family’s mission of creating a perfect American Pecorino to the care of their flock of 200 East Friesian...
Read MoreCheddar & Smoked Onion Rolls with Bacon
Hey, remember when I said I was a vegetarian and then I posted a pulled pork recipe followed closely by this bacon-heavy recipe? It happens. Especially when you take a childhood favorite – warm, buttery, cheesy crescent rolls that were always served at some adult’s holiday party that your mom would drag you to and you would hate until that little platter of meat-wrapped crescent rolls would make its debut alongside some artery-clogging cheese dip and deviled eggs. Ahh, the 90s were the best! – and spin it with a more gourmet twist using artisanal, small batch ingredients. Charlotte tells me, “Normally I...
Read MoreVenice, Italy
My girlfriend, Kim, emailed me from a train leaving Rome, yesterday. It made me nostalgic for Italy and reignited the wanderlust that permanently resides within my deepest layers. So, I figured I’d ‘re-visit’ Venice via photographs taken from my trip to Italy a few years back. Please feel free to join along. Venice: Our hotel: Venice’s famed canals: To this day, these are the best clams I have ever been in the presence of. You can’t find these in the states. Well, maybe you can find them. I couldn’t. If you get your hands on them, please let me know immediately!!...
Read MorePulled Pork & Chipotle Slaw Sandwiches
Some of you may call it a weakness. Some may call it addiction. Some may even consider it disgusting. Me? I don’t care what you label my love for pulled pork sandwiches – just get one in my face. Charlotte says “The star of this sandwich is the Chipotle Slaw.” Which is great because, as you know, I’m a vegetarian. Yes, I cheat for pulled pork. And Pho Cali. And sushi. But that’s it. After that I draw the line and return to my roots as die-hard vegetarian. Ok, maybe I did eat a homemade Niman Ranch blue cheese burger last week. But, other than that, die-hard vegetarian. ;) If...
Read MoreEdible Sarasota: ‘Life of Pie’
Sometimes I write for Edible Sarasota, a downright glorious publication (if I do say so myself) that focuses on our local gastronomic community. Chefs and recipes are featured, for sure, but they also highlight unique stories like the power of edible flowers and one-of-a-kind chalkboard menus. Last issue I was burdened with the oh-so-horrible task of eating all of the delicious pizza in Sarasota and her neighboring towns. What a chore! Each pizza joint had something different to offer. Thus, if you’re moody like I am, there’s a pie to suit your every whim. Super cheesy, authentic Neapolitan, pizza by the yard, grilled, baked, or covered...
Read MoreSnack Time: Go Raw & Somersault
It’s the simple things that make life worth living. A fiery sunset, a book you can’t put down, kitten videos on YouTube and, now, seeds, grains, sprouts, spirulina and such smooshed into delectable circular snacks. So, I picked up a couple of bags of ‘Go Raw‘ products on a whim. I was looking for an easy snack we could keep in the pantry that would have a healthier impact than the chocolate chips we’ve been eating straight out of the bag. I also noticed a bag of ‘Somersault‘ nuggets loaded with grains and seeds. I opted for the Dutch Cocoa flavor as we were obviously going to need something to quell our sweet...
Read MorePubbelly Miami & PB Steak
A couple of months ago, the man and I went to our favorite Florida city – Miami. Oft portrayed as an ‘oonz, oonz, oonz’ nightclub town, Miami may wield some of its famed Art Deco Miami Vice backdrop, but the sunny city offers much more than the glitz and glam the TV portrays…. We generally skip the late night scene and opt for daylight hours where we bike around town, stopping at hidden spots, downing Acai Bowls at Pura Vida, meandering through vibrant alleys where the smell of Cuban coffee is stronger than the Cuban accents, and jaunts to touristy spots alike – with a must-hit Lincoln Road visit to...
Read MoreSweet Grass Dairy: Green Hill
Not terribly far from the Florida Georgia border, a sustainable family-owned farm (farms really, but more on that later) is churning out some of the creamiest, gooey-ist, buttery-ist double creme this side of the sea. I picked up a wheel of Sweet Grass Dairy‘s award winning Green Hill Double Creme Camembert some time ago when I was merely a customer at Artisan Cheese Company and instantly fell in love as I slathered thick smears of it on freshly warmed baguette while standing at my kitchen counter. Now that I’m behind the cheese counter, Louise has to regularly check my purse to make sure I’m not stealing the inventory. It’s that good. I...
Read More(By Popular Demand) – Blueberry Chimichurri
This sauce is beyond. Beyond reason. Beyond flavor. Just beyond. Use it as a marinade, a dip, a sauce. Pour it on anything: meat, fish, your face. As long as it’s blueberry season, it should be chimichurri season in your fridge. Of course Charlotte just whipped this up out of nowhere – in case you haven’t caught on, the girl has flavor flair. This dish is super bright and zingy with a delicious bite from the garlic, vinegar and lime, and a rounded out sweetness from the honey. Oh, and it seriously takes about 19 seconds to make. As we’ve been blueberry picking at King Family Farm the last few weekends,...
Read MoreCauliflower & Rigatoni Gratin
Am I the only person who can’t get enough cauliflower? It’s been abundant at local markets so it keeps finding its way into my kitchen. Roasted, mashed, sauteed or raw, this super-veggie is making dinner extra delightful. Kiddos, I assure you, sweet roasted cauliflower in a rich creamy gruyere sauce with fresh thyme and earthy sage mixed with fresh pasta and placed under the broiler until browned and bubbly …this dish will make you an absolute star. This is, by far, one of my favorite flavor combos and I have yet to serve it to somebody, anybody, who doesn’t end up obsessively loving it as well. The addition of the herbs...
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