Insatiable.

I won't lie. I have had a Greek salad every day since I came home. I am completely obsessed.

Daphne has found my obsession immensely amusing ever since our last adventure in Greece in 2006. I'm tempted to say that given my insatiable desire for them whenever we are together, and her teasing, she believes that this behavior is the norm year round, year after year. It's probably not far from the truth I suppose...

There's something about these salads that can't be replicated at home though, and I've never been able to put my finger on what it was. The tomatoes aren't quite as sweet, the cucumbers aren't as crisp... Sometimes, that's it... but no, that isn't the real problem... What is it then? 

It's all in the spices (well, and a rich slab of feta, let's be honest). Huzzah!!! While in Corfu, I picked up the biggest bag of "greek salad spice" (conveniently labelled for the non-Greek speakers, ha!) that I could find. Simply defined though, I was slightly disappointed to discover that all this really is, is oregano, parsely and spearmint! It's magic dust, and I'll take it!!

Spanikopita also makes my heart sing. Its mention shouldn't be buried this deep in the post since it inspired this love letter to Greek food, but I got carried away with my tales of the perfect salad, forgive me... There's no more perfect a bite of food than spanikopita in my book (other than my mom's pot pie of course). Flaky, creamy and savory with a bite of lemon on the finish. Sigh. I'm getting hungry now. If I had the slightest rumble in my tummy when passing a bakery in Greece, I jumped on the chance to bop in and acquire a spinach pie. Usually you can find perfectly sized snack versions as well... you know for the times when you aren't actually hungry but you just couldn't get enough. It's as if the Greeks really understand me, you know? We are going to have a life long love affair, Greece and I.

I couldn't help it... Within a week of returning home to San Francisco I whipped up a batch from my very own recipe, and we devoured them in minutes...

Scenes from the Weekend: SF Beer Week.

In a last minute change of plans, I ended up staying in the city this weekend and doing my part to kick off SF Beer Week right. And if for no other reason, I'm glad we did because we wandered on over to the Mission to try out the new Southern Pacific Brewery. This place is truly a gem. Good beer, spacious modern digs, tasty bites and a laid back, friendly atmosphere. I'm a huge fan. It's the city's version on Lagunitas' tap room, and that's sayin' something! It's the perfect place for an afternoon of brews while the weather is still too shoddy outside to brave Biergarten and Zietgeist's outdoor patios (not that it's stopped us before!).

Also on the weekend circuit: City sunscapes from atop Twin Peaks, experimenting with my new Holga, whipping up some homemade ricotta (crostini with ricotta and spicy broccoli rabe is undoubtedly my new party trick - watch out friends!), and [more] beers at Social in the Sunset (Rapscallion or Big Lebowski anyone?).

Cheesemonger.

Whipping up mozzarella and ricotta from scratch has been on the top of my list for quite some time and over the holidays I finally fulfilled my culinary resolution, with the help of my sister and her hubby!

Ignoring the resulting numbness in my hands from stretching hot curds, making mozzarella was a surprisingly easy process and ohhhhh so delicious. I'm looking forward to making a few batches every month, and experimenting with some herbs de provence!

I'll be adding cheesemonger to my CV soon, obviously.

Just kidding... I'll leave that to the pros - ahem, Kara.

Mozzarella is best devoured immediately, while warm... if you must - and I recommend that you do - accompany it with crusty bread, heirloom tomatoes and proscuitto chips (pop proscuitto into a 400 degree oven on a baking sheet for a few minutes until they just begin to crisp). It's a recipe for a glorious evening, without a doubt. My girlfriend and I also cracked a 2005 Viansa Fresa; I'm pretty sure that one was supposed to be out of reach, in the back of my cupboard, but c'est la vie! It was incredible.

Whispers of Mint.

What would be better then snuggling up with a mug of fresh hot mint chocolate the morning of Christmas Eve?!  Sounds good, right?  Check out Not Without Salt's lip smacking method for whipping up the perfect cup!

Have a cozy weekend! 

Not Without Salt's Fresh Mint Hot Chocolate

I am on a mint kick these days. If it’s acceptable to add mint to it, I will. Even hot chocolate isn’t safe. What I love about this version is the mint is from fresh mint. It tastes clean and unlike the candy mint – which I also love – fresh mint gives a clean earthy punch that really suits the chocolate well.

If you have more will power than I, bottle up some of this mix and give it as a gift. It will be well received – I assure you.

1 cup cream
1/2 cup whole milk
4 sprigs fresh mint
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chopped dark chocolate

Bring the cream and milk to a simmer. Add the mint, turn off the heat then let sit for 30 minutes. With the back of a wooden spoon carefully bruise the mint in the cream mixture to release some of the essential oils.

Add the chocolate to a medium bowl.

Stir the salt into the cream then bring back up to a simmer over medium-low heat. Remove the mint.

Pour the hot cream over the chocolate and let sit for one minute. Whisk the cream and the chocolate together. If some chocolate remains unmelted, simply place the bowl over a bain marie or gently microwave at 15-30 second intervals. Stirring after each heating.

Add the ganache (chocolate and cream mixture) to a container and refrigerate until ready to use. Will keep in the fridge for at least 2 weeks.

When ready for a cup of hot chocolate add a couple of spoonfuls of ganache to a cup of heated milk.

The amount is really based on taste. I like mine nice and rich so I add roughly 2 tablespoons to 6 oz of milk.

Homeward Found: Coffee

Happy Monday lovelies!

Today, I am excited to bring you a beautiful guest post by my good friend Kara of Homeward Found!

Each of her posts is named after a culinary word that she feels represents her state of mind (or whatever is simmering / brining / baking / roasting in her delightful kitchen!). Kara writes, "Food is a touchstone and a medium for me. As I’ve moved deeper into my culinary career, I’ve let my written words fall by the wayside, where they were once my sincerest form of expression. As much as I may not want my creative voice to rely too singularly on food, it is my first language: it comes naturally to me, it is a way in which I challenge and sooth myself daily. Finding the first ripe thorned berry, steeping rose geranium in cream, it’s these moments, discovered or architectural, where I find confidence in the unknown. And I feel that there is a food for every moment, just as an aura has a color (so I hear) or every mood a song. So may the one source lead to the other: food as a form of literature, of meaning."

I find great joy in reading each of Kara's entries and I hope you do too!
SO. Grab a cuppa something warm, nestle into your desk and let's get this Monday started!

Coffee.

I’ve never been much of a coffee drinker. When in South Africa I accidentally weaned myself off of caffeine altogether, mistaking the classic rooibos tea for something more breakfast-y in its intentions. Returning to work at my San Francisco restaurant, spoiled by an old Italian espresso maker, I treated myself more and more to frothy macchiatos made on the fly. For me it’s like chocolate: only worth it if it’s dark, aggressive, a treat.

These mornings I’ve had either more time at home or more of a social craving for the stuff. Being back in a kitchen work environment, coffee is a communal mainstay, a promise we make to ourselves to ease through the day, however fast our feet fly. It is the first thing shared, paired with inquiries of what was for last night’s supper, how our weekends were. On my mornings off, I sit down and write. I’ve committed to three blogs now, this one and two others, and I wake to traipse out to the stove and set the pot to simmer, scald the grounds with water, gather my senses and stretch my legs while I wait to plunge the french press. Then a little jersey milk and a favorite mug and back to my desk. It’s routine: comforting, familiar, an awakening collaborator to mornings both lazy and charged.

I love mornings. It has become more and more important to me to savor them, allowing extra time each day before heading to work, legs limber and breath alert before I leave home. Time spent with the pup, a barefoot circle tread around the yard, the bed made and the house ready to be returned to when the day’s work is done. Especially now, living on my own, my mornings are entirely my own, and I adore the rawness of feeling my senses set in, my muscles strengthen with gentle use, the depth of my sigh. I love guessing at the day by the shade of the sky. Washing a quick dish while peering out the window, gauging the breeze. Tucking a toe outdoors to decide how many layers to wear. These little meditations, the companionship of early hours, the mystery of a day.

About Kara:

Kara studied creative writing and art history at Sarah Lawrence College before moving to San Francisco, where she attended Tante Marie Cooking School and began her foray into a culinary career. For the past six years she has worked as a pastamaker, line cook, baker, pastry chef, cheesemonger, and wine buyer in both San Francisco and Portland, Maine. She moved to Austin, TX. in November 2011, where she will work for the ever-inspiring Dai Due. Kara has held tight to her love of writing, however, and in addition to creating Homeward Bound is a regular food+drink editorial contributor for Culture Magazine and The Austinist.

Witty Eats: Ricotta Gnocchi

This lazy Sunday afternoon was the perfect time to try out this recipe for light, pollowy ricotta gnocchi, the perfect accompaniment to Lucca's pesto.

Home.

Did I mention how amazing Thanksgiving was?! Well it was, and I've been thinking about it a lot. I may have been an utter sloth (I'll admit it, I'm not above it. I think it's well deserved after this month, thank you!) but some quiet time at home with my parents and my love was just what I needed. I am incredible thankful for the health of my family this year.

The highlight (beside the spontaneous dance party in a dive bar downtown) was most definitely the culinary adventures my mom and I undertook over the break... We had a pretty marvelous time in the kitchen together! I think I could cook all day, every day. I love it, and I owe that wholeheartedly to my mom.

... Chicken pot pie is undoubtedly the most highly demanded home cookin in the Wilson household; it would not be a trip home without it! It just so turns out that it is also pretty amazing with turkey (thank goodness, we had tons left over!). We riff on this recipe, do you have a favorite?

Scenes from the Weekend: Oenotri.

Had a fabulous dinner in Napa at Oenotri to celebrate the birthday of a friend...

Witty Eats.

Girls night in!  Whipped up some apple, onion crostini and lemon shrimp pasta, and opened a bottle of sparkling wine. Perfect evening.

(Apologies for the *raw* footage.... the light had passed by the time these little guys had marinated and the dinner was served.)

Brunchin.

Brunch in Santa Barbara (a few weeks back)... in true rancher style.

Can you tell that I'm becoming one of those annoying people who pulls out their camera at the table? Yep. (This wasn't even my plate... Sorry love.)

Starr Ridge.

Nestled in Healdsburg, on Westside Road, is a special place that we have come to know as our favorite venue to gather with family and friends over good food and fabulous wine... And that is none other than Thomas George Estates.

The following snapshots are from the Starr Ridge Vineyard Picnic, where thanks to the amazing Sean and Adrienne, we were treated to a lovely afternoon among the vines where we learned all about the unique terrior from the winemaker and enjoyed an incredible estate lunch. 

Photographs by Whitney Wilson.

Writer's Block.

Hello Friday. Two more hours until you set me free. Perhaps then I'll have one of these...

A Writer's Block cocktail, reportedly served at Palihouse in West Hollywood (how appropriate)... I could use one right about now!  Via Apartment34

Brunchin.

Tomales Bay.

Continuing to sift through photos from Lake Huntington, but thought I would share this foodie adventure in Tomales Bay from the previous weekend in the meantime...

I swear we ate more than juuuust oysters (well, sort of) but these little suckers made for the best photographs!

Summer Sweetness.

Witty Eats: Quiche.

Quiche is hands down one of my favorite things to whip up and share with friends, at all hours of the day.  This just about sums up my lazy Saturday morning this past weekend...  After a week of travelling, I was ready for a little time in the kitchen!

Scenes from the Weekend: Raclette.

Enjoyed a fabulous raclette dinner party with friends on Friday night!

Scenes from the Weekend: Memorial Day

Hats off to chef, Rich!

Scenes from the Weekend: Bottega

I spent a lovely Memorial Day weekend in wine country, and was lucky enough to share a beautiful meal at Bottega with friends.

More culinary adventure documentation from the weekend to follow!