Primo Pairings!
/I hope you try one of my pairings with your favorite glass! Let me know how it goes and which wines you selected with each dish, I would love to hear from you!
In the meantime...
e-Newsletter Blog and Gigi's Hot List
I hope you try one of my pairings with your favorite glass! Let me know how it goes and which wines you selected with each dish, I would love to hear from you!
In the meantime...
I've been celebrating Pumpkin Day all month long, creating fun new recipes and enjoying preparing and updating some of my old ones. For breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, I've selected a few of my favorite pumpkin delights to share with you...enjoy!
Simply click on the highlighted dish names for the recipes.
I hope you enjoy preparing these simple pumpkin recipes as much as I enjoyed preparing for you! Please feel free to share and don't hesitate to reach out with your comments! I would love to hear from you! Wishing everyone a safe, healthy and Happy Halloween!
Okay, so you’ve been with the kids all summer, taken your family vacation, and enjoyed every moment. Now, it’s time for a little romantic getaway just for the two of you! Of course, when I’m looking for a getaway, I always look for a great place to recharge, but it’s really about the food for me, which makes for the perfect all round getaway experience. Wining, dining and romancing is what this getaway is all about! Here are a few of my favorite Romantic Getaway spots that offer a comfy, cozy environment and fabulous cuisine.
Auberge du Soleil, Napa Valley @AubergeSoleil
Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley @CalistogaRanch
Twin Farms, Barnard, Vermont @TwinFarms
Blackberry Inn, Walland Tennessee @blackberryfrm
Post Ranch Inn, Big Sur, California @Post Ranch Inn
Little Palm Island, Florida Keys @LittlePalmFL
Inn at Little Washington, Virginia @InnatLittleWash
This week’s feature, one of our favorite romantic spots, and my recommendation for your fall romantic getaway, Post Ranch Inn and the Sierra Mar Restaurant. Check out their website Postranchinn.com. We have visited Post Ranch and Sierra Mar many times and it has to be one of my favorite dining experiences. The food and wine are fabulous and the view simply spectacular. With the quaint and wonderful town of Carmel just minutes away, and of course, beautiful Pebble Beach, there is so much to do and see close by, or you can just stay on the cliff of Big Sur and enjoy each other! My recommendation for a fall getaway.
The vistas at this most magnificent spot are spectacular. Enjoy your romantic getaway, whether traveling near, far, or just having a special staycation at home!
Located on the Monterey Peninsula, 140 miles south of SF, 94 SanJose 25 Monterey 20 Carmel, down State Route 1 through curves and cliffs and the most incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, rugged CA coastline with the Santa Lucia Mountains bordering the east and the Pacific bordering the west. Activities include hiking, bird watching, wale watching and beaches. High in the cliffs, site the most beautiful hideaway, Post Ranch Inn and the Sierra Mar Restaurant.
This week's feature, Aspen. Though known for being a great ski town, Aspen is also filled with a rich history of early settlers and miners heading west. Check out Jeff's historic walking tour of Aspen, you will find this little western town's history fascinating!
One of the first things you'll notice in Colorado in the summer is the incredible flowers everywhere you look, in all shapes, sizes and colors of the rainbow. They just make me smile!
A few of my favorite restaurants are right here in Aspen. For lunch it has to be Ajax Tavern @thelittlenell right at the base of Ajax Mountain, and The Wild Fig, just across from the famed Wheeler Opera House. My favorite dinner spots Casa Tua for Italian @casatuaaspen for a super great menu, Ellina @ellinaaspen and a clubby Steakhouse, Steak 316. Don't forget to check out what's happening at Belly Up Bar @bellyupaspen, for an intimate look at fantastic entertainment.
When breakfast comes into play, I can’t resist the Lemon Soufflé Pancakes at Element 47 @littlenellaspen on the pool terrace. They are delicate, light and spongy with a sweet raspberry sauce. Here is my version of this favorite breakfast dish, I think mine are pretty close!
Shopping in Aspen is nearly as much fun as hiking the beautiful Maroon Bells! From elegant designer boutiques to home decor and cowboy boots, not to mention stunning art galleries featuring exquisite collections, there is something to appeal to everyone!
I shot this beautiful landscape on the way back from Aspen. Colorado truly is God's Country! Hope your summer travels bring you to the Rockies sometime soon! Send me your travels and photos from your favorite summer trip! I would love to post them on the blog!
Live well, love well, eat well...travel safely!
Summer is here... Some say finally...I say already? But ready or not, it is upon us, summer! It is time to start thinking about summer travel planning. I hope our summer travel series leads you to a great summer trip, destination, restaurant or even just a new fun recipe. I want to hear from you! Please send me your summer travel questions and your feedback! If you choose one of our recommendations, send me your photos, I'd love to post to the blog! Wishing you a safe, happy and healthy summer! Bon Voyage!
Practice makes perfect as they say, and after many years of doing it, I pretty much have it down to an art. Summer vacation travel is exciting, but seems to bring with it an added level of stress by nature. Summer travel is meant to be fun…so let’s see what we can do to help keep it that way!
First make a packing list of the types of items you will need, depending on your destination and planned activities. Packing smart is the key to stress free travel.
Pack light! Lighter weight summer clothing makes this even easier. Choose knits and cottons, fabrics that don’t wrinkle easily. I can actually go for two weeks in a carry-on bag, I know what you are thinking, impossible right? Stick with me here. Pick a color and plan around it using the Rule of Three. No more than three bottoms and/or 3 tops that are interchangeable among each other, this is where your color selection comes in, plus it really makes choosing what to take so much easier! Pack layers and ladies don’t forget a little black dress, the most versatile item in your closet. Dark fabrics don’t show stains and can be worn more often. If you roll clothes, place those items on the bottom of your bag and folded items on top. Pack small light colored clothes and undergarments in Ziploc bags, squeezing all the excess air out.
Think what you can do without, and don’t pack it! Only take jewelry that you are actually wearing to travel, which not only keeps is simple, but also helps to prevent leaving a “little” something behind.
Shoes: Rule of Three. Pack one pair of dress shoes and one pair of casual shoes, and of course, if you plan to visit the gym or hit the tennis courts, one pair of tennis/workout shoes. Of course, you will be wearing one of these for travel, so you really only need to “pack” two. Stuff shoes with sunglasses, charge cords, other smaller items that will fit inside. If you are taking your golf clubs, don’t forget to utilize extra space in your golf travel bag for items that would take up unnecessary space in your suitcase, shoes in particular, tennis rackets, etc.
Pack liquids and cosmetics in small travel containers and place in sealed Ziploc bags, which helps with organization and prevents leakage. Place vitamins and supplements in Ziploc bags avoiding bottle bulk.
There you have it. Stress free travel…just in time for your summer vacation!
If you haven’t made summer travel plans as yet and you are still looking for a fabulous destination for you and your family to spend time together in an amazing setting with incredible culinary…my summer dish list recommendation – Sea Pines Resort, Hilton Head Island. The best family vacation spot in the world! Happy Traveling! And if you are in my neighborhood, please reach out!
Preparing your home: Turn off toilets, or water altogether. Pour a little bleach in the toilets. Turn off the icemaker and remove the all but a couple of ice cubes. This way you will know if you had a loss of power while you are away. Chances are if the cubes have melted, the food in your freezer has also thawed at some point. Remove foods and condiments from the refrigerator that will be spoiled by the time you return. Leave closet doors ajar for air circulation and in summer or warmer climates, leave AC turned on to 78-80 (F) degrees.
If you are traveling by air, ladies, always carry a wrap or sweater on the plane. And children should pack (with supervision of course) and carry their own bag! I see some of the cutest roller bags being pulled by the most proud children when I’m traveling.
The best thing about spring is renewal! The transition from winter gray skies to bursts of spring color brings beautiful spring flowers, budding leaves on trees, all signs that life on earth begins again with a fresh spirit of youth. "April hath put a spirit of youth in everything." -William Shakespeare
Fresh and colorful spring vegetables add a vibrant kick to spring entertaining. Asparagus, baby carrots, sweet peas, scallions all bring fresh flavors and beautiful presentations. My Penne with Spring Vegetables is a beautiful combination of all of these spring vegetables in a light and aromatic pesto sauce. A wonderful lunch on its own, or a perfect compliment to a spring rack of lamb. Give these simple recipes a try and let me know your thoughts!
Live well, Love well, Eat well!