FOOD & WINE
The Best Ginger Cookie Recipe
This recipe is tried and true - the best ginger cookie recipe I have ever used. I love the blend of ground ginger, cloves, and cinnamon in this recipe. It all creates a complex cookie that's not too sweet. The molasses and butter contribute to the chewy gooey goodness...
Cava, Prosecco, and Champagne
When it comes to sparkling wine, three names shine prominently on the global stage: Cava, Prosecco, and Champagne. I am often asked "What's the difference between them?" and "Why is Champagne so expensive?!" This blog post is not exhaustive for each area, but more of...
Vineyard {511} 2015 Cabernet: A Wine That Inspires
Calling all Cabernet lovers and wine aficionados alike! I recently experienced tasting the Vineyard 511 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon and I have to tell you about it. When my father-in-law asked what I thought of the wine, I told him that it was inspiring. As a wine...
Hi! I'm Sydney,
nice to meet you!
I left a marketing career in Hollywood to go to the Culinary Institute of America. After a few years of working in restaurants, I am now a private chef and sommelier in the 30a area.
Wine FAQ’s – Answered!
Wine with Roast Chicken
Roast chicken is an excellent dish to pair with wine as the crispy skin allows for a wider range of pairings from Sauvignon Blanc to an oaked Chardonnay to even a light Pinot Noir. Sauvignon blanc from Sancerre, France would be a refreshing contrast to the rich...
Wine with Steak
Wine and Steak. The great combination of flavors and the vision of luxury (for some at least). What kind of steak are you eating? Ribeye/T-Bone/NY Strip that has been grilled to a perfect medium rare with a nice char and tons of black pepper? Go for a Syrah from...
Wine with Salmon
Salmon can be a tricky fish to pair with wine - not because it's a fish but because of the fatty oils it has. These oils (Omega 3 and 6's primarily) can interact poorly with tannins found in wine causing a metallic taste to result in your mouth. Red wines have...
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Frosé
Frosé. What could be a better signal of summer than that? It's refreshing, easy to drink (maybe a bit too easy?), and just straight delicious. Have you ever tried to make your own frosé? It's so easy! And if you're looking for a beverage to bring to a Memorial Day...
Strawberry Sorbet
It's almost Memorial Day Weekend! Strawberry sorbet made from fresh strawberries is one of my favorite dessert components of all time. I love using this strawberry sorbet recipe for client dinners. The sweet and refreshing sorbet pairs so well with so many different...
Classic Tiramisu with Marsala and Mascarpone
I love tiramisu in all forms, but the classic combination of ladyfingers, chocolate, coffee, and custard is my favorite. This recipe deviates from the original by adding masala to the custard, and by soaking the ladyfingers in espresso and marsala rather than just...
Homemade Ladyfingers or Sponge Cake
Homemade ladyfingers are quite easy to make. To make things even easier, I take this recipe and spread it out onto a prepared 1/2 sheet tray. This way you don't need a piping bag or tip. You can cut squares using a knife, or cut with biscuit cutters to fit whatever...
The Best Easy Pizza Dough
Easy Pizza Dough? Is there really such a thing? Nancy Silverton talks in her Chef's Table episode about how she spent 10 years perfecting the Mozza Pizza Dough.... so can it really be easy? (PS if you haven't gone to Mozza in LA -- add it to your bucket list). While...
Cinnamon Ice Cream
This is a classic cinnamon ice cream. Egg yolks and a mix of heavy cream and half and half make this rich and decadent. So I'm giving you the disclaimer now: if you're the type of person that likes the "light" or "fake" ice cream stuff -- go get some fro-yo. This...
Review of Martha Stewart Wine Co
As a wine educator, Martha Stewart Wine Co sounded really interesting to me for a number of reasons. I'll let you know that I am an affiliate with Martha Stewart Wine Co, but I only started recommending her products after going through this experience. This blog post...
Portuguese Wine Travels: Villa Rosa Bairrada Baga Wine Review
Portuguese Wine is some of the best and most memorable wine I've ever tasted. One of the most memorable experiences I've had was perhaps at a Michelin Star restaurant, at The Yeatman, in Porto. Every course was served with a Portuguese wine to match. And every wine...
Easy Flourless Chocolate Cake
If you're looking for an easy flourless chocolate cake recipe, look no further! This dense and fudgy cake is best served cold with a light dollop of sweetened whipped cream and fresh berries. A client of mine asked for this as an add-on to a wine tasting and tapas...
Fall Kale Salad with Roasted Sweet Potato
Sometimes I just crave a good, hearty fall kale salad. Do you? This salad is paleo-friendly, gluten-friendly, dairy-free, allium-free, and grain-free. Whew! That's a lot of "free's" If you want to spice up the salad - I won't be offended, see below for my...
