“If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.” ~J.R.R. Tolkien Well, as someone who has always dreamed of hoarding as much gold as I can find, I suppose when it comes to my Martinez family, I will agree that a merrier bunch around food and cheer may be harder to find. Food & Family It probably comes as no surprise that, for me, food has always been an important thing. Growing up, every occasion was marked by food. It’s not that unusual, of course. Most families serve food at special occasions: weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, deaths, celebrations. And memories are…
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Would You Like Soup with That?
“It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without soup or bread in it.” ~M.F.K. Fisher I’d say this Ms. Fisher was on to something. Soup kinda does add an extra something to a meal. It’s usually served at weddings, fancy affairs, important business meetings, peace accords (I would guess), and usually at my house growing up whenever my mom made grilled cheese sandwiches. Soup was a must with grilled cheese sandwiches. I mean, can’t you imagine soup being served at most meals at Buckingham Palace, or at the United Nations, or the White House, and at every fancy bistro in Paris. But…
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New Year, New Restaurant— Same Love & Support
“A great dinner can change your day around.” ~Brett Gelman I agree. A great meal with great company can not only change your day around, but it can change around your whole life! Too dramatic? Well, maybe. What I mean is that sometimes when you have a meal with one of your closest friends, you can help support each other when it’s needed or even when it’s not needed. And when it’s the first time you see them at the beginning of the new year, your support and encouragement of each other’s new year goals can be just the thing you need. New Year, New Restaurant Our girl’s night out…
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Whodunit? Colonel Mustard. In the Kitchen, with Pasta, Sausage and Basil…
“Almost anything is edible with a dab of French mustard on it.” ~Nigel Slater I’ve always loved mustard. Even as a young kid. I wanted it on my baloney sandwiches, hot dogs, pork chops – especially pork chops as it was the only way I wanted to eat them. My brother could keep his ketchup. I’d take mustard at every meal and until every fingernail on my little hands were stained yellow. And so I quite agree with Mr. Slater—and how cool is it that the first mustard quote I found was said by the person whose recipe I chose to be the first of my “Cook the 40” challenge…
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Ready for Prime Time
“It’s so great to find that one special person you want to eat with for the rest of your life.” ~eamII Happy Anniversary! Peter and I celebrated twenty-two years together last Friday. While not a wedding anniversary, on January 4, 1997, I went over to his house to watch a few movies (The Godfather, and The Godfather, Part II, to be exact) and to eat ravioli. By January 5th, we were a done deal. Whether or not true love was due to Francis Ford Coppola’s movies, our mutual love for Italian food or Peter’s inability to live without my amazing personality, I may truly never know. I do know that…
