Food: Mything the Point

by | May 28, 2010 | Food + Booze

As much as writers try to cut through the endless BS perpetuated by wine snobs, there’s still a lot of misleading info out there. Take the old story about sniffing corks. This age-old ritual only yields a snootful of cork and no revelation, yet lots of people...

Dining: Kosher Redefined

by | Mar 18, 2011 | Food + Booze

Kosher is about to get an American makeover. Sometime between Passover and Chanukah 2011, a new social responsibility certification—the Magen Tzedek (Star of Justice)—is expected to begin appearing on the labels of selected kosher food products throughout...
Exotic Cuisine to Comfort Food

Exotic Cuisine to Comfort Food

by | Jul 1, 2010 | Food + Booze

Indian cooking, with its allusions to ancient customs and its regional variations, for decades alternately lured and spooked me. There was so much to know. There were so many terms, so many spices, so many nuances. I was intimidated. Then I became the Advocate’s...
My Favorite “Greasy Spoon” is Silver

My Favorite “Greasy Spoon” is Silver

by | Sep 16, 2010 | Food + Booze

On a Sunday morning not so long ago, it was my wife’s turn to sleep in, and my five-year-old son suggested he and I go out to breakfast. We pulled some clothes on and headed directly to the one establishment in the Valley where it seems okay to show up...

Food: Batter Up!

by | Jun 24, 2010 | Food + Booze

There’s a funny thing about my infatuation with pancakes: I almost never order them in restaurants, even breakfast joints that specialize in them. That’s mainly because the standard-issue American pancake topped with butter and maple syrup is too heavy and...