Birthdays beg us to ask ourselves big questions. Another year older and what have I learned, lost, accomplished, given up on or gained? Besides pounds! Last Saturday was my 33rd birthday, and I’ve noticed that as the years tick on, the questions begin to feel more acute. The stakes get higher, though my desire to […]

As Valentine’s day approaches, I’m thinking about my number one man, the guy who’s always there for me and makes our house a home. When I wake up in the morning, I’m grateful to find him sleeping by my side, cocooned beside my belly in a lovers’ spoon; when I come home at night, he’s […]

I’m drawn to all things Italian, and not just in the kitchen. But when news broke that Mario Batali was opening an Italian mecca for tutto Italiano, I was hesitant. Why did I doubt the master? I guess I was worried that Eataly would be like every other consumer haven in the city, just another […]

21. Best Macaroni and Cheese: The all-American wonderfood seems to get more decadent from year to year. Lobster, truffles, prosciutto, crème fraiche…but my all-time favorite remains the relatively simple, smoked gouda-and-optional-bacon version dished out by Westville as an “appetizer”. Rich but not overpowering, creamy and delicately smoky from the cheese, it’s the perfect plate to […]

11. Best Place to Assemble Your Own Party Spread: When throwing a party, there’s no place like home. When assembling the pre-dinner spread, there’s no place like Murray’s. I asked Beth Ann Coulton, Wholesale Rep at the venerable cheese store, for her advice on how to put together the best party plate. “When making a […]