One of my favorite things about Summer is when friends occasionally stop by with a large bag of freshly picked fruit from their gardens. This past weekend, my dear friend bestowed on me a basket full of fresh plums. I could have made a pie, but I was in the mood for an easy, yet delicious crumble.
Crumbles are stewed fruit with a mixture of butter, flour, and sugar to make a crisp topping once baked. I added pistachios to the topping for extra crunch and spicy fresh ginger to the plum filling. Combine with a scoop of ice cream or dollop of whipped cream to make this fruity, nutty, and crunchy crumble the perfect Summer dessert. Crumbles are easily altered to suit just about any taste, so to learn how to make one, read more

The October issue of Bon Appétit unveils the winners of the 11th Annual Bon Appétit Awards. The honors are awarded to the "most inspirational, influential, and innovative" tastemakers in the world of food. The headline honor, Chef of the Year, went to Michael Psilakis, head chef at Manhattan's Anthos, for being the person who "totally reinvented" Greek cuisine. I'm not too surprised by the unveiling, as I met Psilakis at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. The chef, here with Anthos business partner Donatella Arpaia, has been one of the most talked-about chefs this year.

Psilakis follows in the footsteps of last year's winner, Momofuku chef David Chang. For a full list of all this year's Bon Appetit Award winners, read more

My parents recently got back from a trip to Ireland where they fell in love with Smithwick's Irish Ale. My dad was excited when he found the beer at a local market, but he noticed a distinct difference in the taste, claiming that the American-bought Smithwick's was watery and not as creamy or flavorful as its Irish counterpart.

His remarks got me thinking about foods we enjoy on vacation. Was the American Smithwick's made with a different formula, or did it taste better in Ireland because of the experience? What do you think? Have you ever tasted something on vacation and found that it tasted different at home? If so, what was it and why do you think this is?

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The New York Spring 2009 runway shows officially kicked off this weekend, so I'm throwing a Fashion Week-themed party. I'm inviting my friends to dress up as their favorite fashion icons and enjoy swanky cocktails and some classic Big Apple bites. I'm getting the party started by sending out these simple yet festive invitations. To learn how I put them together, read more