The other day, I attended a fabulous food festival called a Taste Of Petaluma. The day was a whirlwind of tastes and sips from over 40 restaurants, wineries, and cafes. There was a wide range of offerings, such as carne asada tacos, crab won tons, goat cheese ice cream, award winning chili, lots of merlot and even a rum punch. The best taste came at the end of the day when I sampled a flight of Trecini wines at the Vine & Barrel. I loved the Russian River Sauvignon Blanc so much that I bought a bottle to enjoy later that evening. It was a deliciously smooth and crisp white wine. Fruity aromas and a pale straw color enhanced the clean freshness of the finish. I paired it with pizza, but it would be exceptional with seafood or spicy Asian cuisine. At only $15 a bottle, this is an excellent everyday wine.

A few months ago, I mentioned that Gwyneth Paltrow was heading to Spain with Mario Batali in order to film a show for PBS. Well, for all of you who thought it was too crazy to be true, I have news for you: They've started filming!

That's right, according to the Associated Press, Paltrow and Batali — along with Mark Bittman (aka the New York Times's "Minimalist") and Spanish actress Claudia Bassols — are spending much of the next four months cruising around Spain in a fleet of Mercedes. Their producer, Charles Pinksy, hasn't told them what their itinerary is, but cameras in the cars will capture their reactions.

"It is going to be a road trip as if anybody else was taking a road trip, although we've planned things out. We've got some special things that maybe other tourists might not get a chance to do, as well," Pinsky told a press conference Tuesday in Madrid.

I don't know about you, but I am definitely going to tune in. Batali and Bittman are always worth watching — especially together — and the addition of Paltrow and Bassols should make for very entertaining television. What do you think? Are you going to watch?

Last Thursday night, I was invited to a fundraiser that kicked off Breast Cancer Awareness month. Put on by the organization Beats For Boobs, the event was a celebration of art, fashion, food, and music with the focus on breast cancer awareness. The annual fundraiser began in 2003 as a reaction to event producer Juliana Cochnar's mother's diagnosis with breast cancer.

• The Invite: In flyer form with the image shown at left. It stated that guests wear pink... and lots of it!




• The Look: An over the top explosion of all things pink. Tons of fresh, beautiful pink floral arrangements, pink tablecloths, pink ribbons, pink silverware, napkins, etc.



• The Menu: A smörgåsbord of scrumptious, slow roasted pork tenderloin chunks; fresh vegetarian spring rolls; sticky sweet barbequed chicken wings; crunchy crudites with creamy dips; cheeses; crackers; and much much more. For dessert they had cupcakes with candies in the shape of nipples for garnish!
• The Music: A rowdy mix of remixed hits, bumping beats, and smooth house. To promote feminine empowerment, the DJs were all female.

To check out all the pictures I took — there was a fire dancer! — and to see my tips on how to host a breast cancer party in your own home, read more

When I asked the Sugar HQ what kind of cookies I should make for this week's 52 Weeks of Baking project, BuzzSugar quickly answered, "LEMON!" I couldn't turn down such an enthusiastic request, and so lemon cookies it was. She specifically asked for crisp lemon cookies, however when searching for a recipe, I kept seeing ones that called for lemon cake mix instead. At first I kept looking for something else, but then I figured why not make it easy on myself? Why not start with a cake mix?

In the end I was really glad I did. These cookies came out fluffy and light, with a slightly crisp outside. They also come together in no time at all. To get the recipe and see my step by step photos, read more

• If you believe all the hype, then it's official: The Great Gin Comeback is in full effect. Plus, braised kabocha sqash and chicken dinner in 35 minutes. — Washington Post
• As a new moon signals the end of Ramadan, the fast can end and the feast can begin. — Chicago Tribune



• Even rats have figured out that organic food tastes better. Also, would you believe it? Grilled Cheese Sandwiches are becoming a huge trend, if not an "outright mania." — New York Times
• One man is on an odyssey to discover the best pizza in the Bay Area, but first he'll sample some of the nation's best. — San Francisco Chronicle
• Get creative and have fun! Potlucks aren't what they used to be. — Los Angeles Times
• Iron Chef Morimoto fully believes in cooking outside the box. His new book encourages you to do the same. — Boston Globe



• Get the food off the porch and into your bellies! Pumpkins make for some absolutely great eats. — Sacramento Bee
• Store-bought phyllo dough has made traditional meals easy, so does anyone actually make their own phyllo dough? — Houston Chronicle
• If you need simple no fuss food, check out these recipes that chefs prepare for themselves. — Dallas Morning News
• Shake up your cocktail repertoire with fresh mint, sage and thyme. — Seattle Times

Source and Source

Last week, you came up with so many inspiring recipes that we decided to challenge you yet again. So here's the scenario: you are at home and hungry for food. You have to cook up something scrumptious for you and your boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse/child/friend, but the ingredients you have on hand are limited.

You have red onion, honey, and French bread. Using these products along with whatever you currently have on hand in your cupboard and refrigerator, what would you make?

To see what I would whip up, read more