Chris Nordquist
When I was a kid (in the 1970s), my mother made a dessert that involved avocados, lime Jello, and something creamy –I think mayonnaise. It sounds odd (and it was, a little), but it was also very good, and I’ve always remembered how much I liked rich creamy avocado in a sweet, fruity dish. From […]
Demolition has started. We’re committed. It’s a little unnerving to see our home in ruins, but it’s also exciting to really begin the process of making the place our own. Before I start sharing progress photos, though, I thought I’d show you some “before” pictures of the space and tell you a bit about the […]
We’re on a little ski holiday in Deer Valley, Utah this week with good friends from San Francisco. In truth, it could be more accurately described as an apres-ski holiday since our group is probably more interested in dining by the fire than schussing down the slopes. (Julia’s too young to ski, but she’s having […]
San Franciscans (and I count myself among them) are protective of our city’s name, even to the point of being a little prickly about it. We like to use the whole thing, thank you –all four syllables. (“San Fran” produces winces of mild irritation, but repeated use of “Frisco” can get you escorted from a […]
When I went to the market today, I thought I’d grab the bull by the horns and try to make a nice Valentine’s Day bouquet out of a dozen red roses. They’re not the most original gift (I got a weary look from the clerk when I checked out), and the special Valentine’s arrangements on […]
Ground turkey always seems like a good idea — it’s lean, nutritious and economical, a virtuous substitute for beef, pork and (gasp) veal in dishes like hamburgers and meatballs. I can never get very excited about actually eating it, though. In my hands at least, the turkey version of the meat dish usually ends up […]
Someday I’d love to have a great florist (and we know a brilliant one –Zeze Flowers in New York) deliver fresh flowers to the house every week. I’d come home on, say, Tuesdays to see what beautiful seasonal creation they’d left on the dining table (and, while I’m fantasizing, in our bedrooms too). In reality, […]
It’s just a week away. Here’s a repost of a favorite Valentine’s Day cocktail to get help get you in the mood for (scheduled) romance. There was a time where the whole concept of Valentine’s Day irritated me. Of course, it’s a perfect example of a Hallmark Holiday; that is, a day that seems to […]
After about a six-month hiatus, Julia’s into eggs again, so I went looking for some new ways to prepare them for us. I’m new to this way of cooking eggs, and, frankly, I’m a little irked that I haven’t been eating this dish for the last 45 years. It’s astoundingly delicious. The creamy, soft-centered eggs […]
When I picked a jar of smoked paprika out of the spice drawer in our New York apartment and noticed a sticker that read “Best before 2/2007,” I realized I had, as they say, an opportunity for improvement. Our spice drawer was a messy jumble of mismatched jars and tins, most of which I had […]
