The other night, while dining at Bar Bambino, I was inspired by the restaurant's simple and rustic napkin rings. The napkin was elegantly rolled into a tight scroll and closed with an angled piece of worn leather. A hole was drilled into the leather, and the thinner part was pulled through to create a decorative artistic finish.

This would be wonderful at a country cabin dinner or Western-themed party. Instead of going to the craft store to purchase leather, look in your closet for an old belt! This technique can easily be applied to other types of durable material like suede or even denim. What do you think of this idea? Couldn't it be creatively tailored to suit your own entertaining needs?

Last week, Top Chef contestant Nikki Cascone almost went home because of a bad batch of mushrooms. However I've been fully assured by several Sugar cohorts that it must have been a fluke because her food is fabulous. After a recent Coutorture cocktail event, my pals told me that the appetizers were delicious and the desserts — specifically the doughnuts with melted chocolate — were to die for. One of the apps that stood out to me was an endive boat filled with apple, pecorino cheese, and chives. With my recent endive fascination, I knew I had to get the recipe. Luckily, the folks at 24 Prince were kind enough to pass it along.

You can check out the recipe, along with other droolicious food photos and photos of Chef Nikki all glammed up; just read more

Normally when I reach for a bottle of red wine, I grab a Zinfandel or Pinot Noir. Only recently, while at a Syrah tasting, did I wonder why I've been neglecting Syrah. At the tasting, there were plenty of wonderful Syrahs, however, Tallulah's 2004 offering ($28) was the most memorable.

From the Sonoma Coast, this Syrah has a dark plum color with delicious aromas of cherry and pepper. It's an elegant, soft, full-bodied wine — that is neither too bold nor too fruity — with an intense finish. I would pair it with a cheese plate or a rich pasta sausage casserole. The nostalgic label and moderate price range, make it a great gift wine.

When the seasons change, I enjoy updating the mood of my kitchen with new placemats. Since Spring has sprung, it's time to soften my kitchen's look with Spring placemats! Let's head off to market in search of lovely placemats with floral printed motifs or pretty pastels. Bookmark your finds in the Yum Market on TeamSugar with the keyword tag, Spring Placemats. I am excited to see what you find!

To learn more about the bookmarking feature of TeamSugar please read GeekSugar's explanation.
Don't know where to start searching? Check out a list of my favorite online stores when you, read more

One of my favorite things about major holiday feasts is getting to make sandwiches with the leftovers. But while the post-Thanksgiving sandwich is probably the most popular, I think Easter is underrated in this regard. So for this 'Wich of the Week, I thought I'd do something a bit different and show you how I transformed my Easter ham and side dishes into a sandwich.

This probably isn't a sandwich you'd make from scratch — the individual components are fairly time intensive — but it would be delicious if you did. Or, you can easily re-create the meal and use the leftovers to make your own sandwich. To see how the meal became a sandwich, and to get the recipes, read more

• Fine dining's not just for the adults, kids menus are growing up as more children dine out. Plus Candybar opens with champagne and four-course dessert tasting menus. — San Francisco Chronicle
• Did you know? Chipotle is locally sourcing their meat in some markets. — Washington Post
• With a slumping economy, it might be helpful to learn how to survive New York on 99 cents. Plus how do five cooks with $40 make five dishes and three desserts?— New York Times



• As the bee population continues to shrink, the cost of renting hives to pollinate trees and grow produce rises. — Los Angeles Times
• What's it like to be the chef for the Cirque du Soleil? — The Oregonian
• And finally, it's not that newsy, but is anyone up for some chicken fried bacon? — Flickr

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For my Spring picnic, I knew apple pie had to be on the menu because it's the quintessential American dessert. The only problem is pie isn't the most picnic friendly of meals. Unlike cookies or brownies, pie just does not transport easily.

However, this recipe for apple pie bars looks picnic perfect. The crust is a crisp shortbread, the filling a mixture of apples and cinnamon sugar, and the topping an oat-walnut streusel. All the familiar flavors of apple pie are present, but no fork or plate is necessary! To see how it's made, read more

This morning, Cajun celebrity chef Paul Prudhomme — who often gets credit for leading the 1980s Cajun cooking frenzy — was hit by a stray bullet. Don't worry though, the man behind the Magic Seasonings is doing fine and was cooking up a feast five minutes later. In what is believed to be a freak accident at the Zurich Classic — a golfing event — in New Orleans, Prudhomme was struck by a .22 caliber bullet above his right elbow. Strangely, he thought it was a bee sting and did not realize he had been shot until the bullet fell out of his sleeve. The police believe the stray bullet came from somewhere within a mile and a half radius of the golf course. At this time, they do not think anyone was out to get the secret to Prudhomme's magic spices.

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