by Brian | Dec 24, 2011 | Recipes
Crab. Dungeness Crab. When you grow up on the West Coast, the two terms are synonymous. And how to use that sweet, cool crab? Well, the most elegant way was Crab Louis, also known as the King of Salads. This crab creation first appeared on the West Coast around 1910,...
by Brian | Dec 22, 2011 | Dessert Digest
If you bake a cake from scratch, which is much better than from a box, you often follow these steps: Cream butter with sugar Add some fluid [such as milk] with dry ingredients [flour] in alternating steps Why do you have to alternate? And why do you begin with the dry...
by Brian | Dec 21, 2011 | Dessert Digest, Recipes
“We need to discuss this,” Suzen said. I didn’t know why. It was a simple request. “Sit down,” she said. I did. “What is your last name?” she asked. “Now wait a minute,” I objected, “I’ve taken all my meds.” ‘What is your last name,” she repeated. “O’Rourke,” I said....
by Brian | Dec 20, 2011 | Cookbook Reviews
“Another macaron book?” you ask. There was that list of best macaron books a couple of weeks ago and then the Pierre Hermé book and now … Trust me. I need to undo an oversight and make your macaron life wonderfully secure. This book is a necessity. Suzen and I know...
by Brian | Dec 19, 2011 | Dedicated Drinker's Diary, Really Simple
Part of the trick to entertaining is to maintain balance with the stages of the evening. When guests come to our house — which really means when they come to our kitchen where every party seems to...
