Last Friday afternoon at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, I had the chance to hang out with Top Chef Season 3 winner Hung Huynh. As part of his prize, Hung was invited to appear at the Classic Cook-Off on Sunday. In between attending seminars and sipping wine, Hung and I met up outside the grand-tasting tent.

An approachable, friendly guy, Hung isn't afraid to say hello to fans or cook dinner for 150 people. Although he was sometimes portrayed as a villain on TC, in real life, Hung is just an ordinary guy who cooks really well. To learn more about Hung, read more

Ever since I made Peartinis in January, I've had a bottle of Grey Goose La Poire chilling in my freezer and wondering when it might be useful again. Sometimes I'll mix it with club soda, but this weekend I decided to seek out another cocktail recipe to let this (surprisingly delicious) pear vodka take center stage.

I never would have expected to find it in a sazerac, a classic New Orleans cocktail made with Pernod or another anise-flavored liqueur.
This version replaces the traditional rye whiskey with pear vodka, and though the concept sounded bizarre, the cocktail was pleasingly crisp with an intensely fresh fruitiness and just a hint of licorice flavor. To get the recipe, read more

Missing Top Chef already? Don't worry: Starting June 21 the show is coming to a town near you with Top Chef: The Tour. This morning Bravo announced the 20 dates and cities of the tour. In each city, four cheftestants will lead cooking demonstrations, host food tastings, and reveal secrets from the show. Fans can participate in the programs and will have the chance to meet and greet their favorite TC alum. Although Bravo has yet to publicize which chefs will take part in the tour, I'm positive the event will be fun, interesting, and informative. I plan to go when they come to San Francisco!

To check out the complete list of stops on the TC tour, read more

The longest day of the year, June 21, is this Saturday. To celebrate the official arrival of Summer, I'm hosting a Summer-themed dinner party. All this week, I'll provide the details to my outdoor extravaganza, so take my ideas and make them your own. Start by sending invitations. To see how I made these fun, lantern-inspired invites, read more

I first fell in love with these amazing doughnut muffins awhile back. Now check out this updated version of the classic cinnamon sugar doughnut muffins. They solve the doughnut vs. muffin debate every time! — Genesis of a Cook

With the lovely weather of Summer, who wants to spend all day indoors baking? Not me! Thankfully, I came across this sweet and tart lemon confection that is quick and simple. A light, single-layer cake flavored with lemon zest and poppy seeds, this dessert is complemented by a zippy yet sugary lemon glaze.
The perfect fix for any Summer sweet tooth, the recipe would also make a great cupcake for your next picnic or bbq. To learn how to make this sour yet luscious cake, read more

Use exotic flavors to transform leftover grilled pork chops into an exciting new meal. In this recipe, strips of pork, red onion, ginger, and shredded broccoli fill a wrap. A generous slathering of a simple peanut sauce finishes off the stuffed wrap. It makes for a great on-the-go meal.

To take a look at the recipe, read more