Need a special gift? Want a special treat? We recommend the Gourmet S’mores Kit (photo #1) from L.A. Burdick, one of America’s finest chocolatiers. It’s a limited edition: a summer special, available from June 1st to September 2nd. We’ll be ordering several for our own summer festivities and for Father’s Day gifts.     WHAT […]

Diet Tips

Our only experiences with a Sloppy Joe sandwich were in our high school cafeteria. Instead of a hamburger, Sloppy Joe stretched the ground beef with onions, ketchup, maybe with some Worcestershire sauce, and maybe other seasonings (although high school cafeterias are not known for seasoning finesse). Modern cooks have upgraded the recipe, some taking a […]

Diet Tips

[1] Treat yourself to soda made with real sugar, not high fructose corn syrup (photo © Hank’s Beverage Company). [2] A selection of Hank’s Gourmet Sodas (photo © Hank’s Beverage Company). [3] Better sodas make better floats (photo © Shag Photo | iStock Photo). [4] Incorporate Hank’s sodas into cocktails, like Caribbean Recipe Ginger Beer […]

Diet Tips

It’s a new year, and a new look at sausage. Seemore Meats & Veggies is a Brooklyn-based enterprise founded by a fourth-generation butcher and named for her grandfather, Seymour, who taught her how to make sausages. It has an original point-of-view, with a creative lineup of flavorful vegetable-infused sausages. Yes, there are other companies that […]

Diets To Lose Weight

People who love to cook will appreciate this gourmet dried mushroom sampler from Melissa’s, an online purveyor of fine fruits and vegetables. Their Mushroom Medley Sampler contains individual packages of five gourmet mushrooms: Chanterelles Morels Oyster* Porcini Shiitake   When these varieties on hand, there are many opportunities to add great flavor your cooking at […]

Diet Tips

Fine food lovers: The days of mixing sour cream with Lipton Onion Soup mix are behind you. Herewith, a better recipe for Game Day or any party. It uses sautéed onions, crème fraîche and fromage blanc, making it more “French” than a dip made with onion soup mix. The recipe comes to us from Bellwether […]

Diet Tips

[1] Michelle’s Maccs in Orange Zest (both photos © Michelle’s Maccs). [2] Michelle’s Maccs in Espresso.   If your idea of a heavenly bite is a coconut macaroon, we’ve discovered the best: Michelle’s Maccs, tender coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate—dark, milk or white, depending on the coconut flavor. And the flavors: ooh la la, magnifique! […]

Diet Tips

Our favorite Halloween candies were mini Almond Joys, Mounds, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and Skor bars. But our palate has since progressed beyond their childhood charms. Thank goodness for Theo’s artisan chocolates. Theo has brought these and more into the quality-chocolate universe. Coconut Bites (an upgrade of Mounds) Coconut Bites Salted Almond (an upgrade of […]

Diet Tips

While we’re having protracted summer weather this year, soon the temperatures will be cooling, the leaves will be swirling, and it will be time to enjoy the flavors of Fall. At Woodhouse Chocolate, a family enterprise and a Napa Valley destination, that means beautiful bonbons in seasonal flavors: Candy Corn: A white chocolate ganache with […]

Diet Tips