I often hear people refer to autumn as their favorite holiday. They wax poetic about the leaves changing color, the crisp cold air that’s “good sleeping weather,” apple picking and making hard cider, and how much they love pumpkin spiced lattes. Uggh. Give me flip-flops and sultry nights, ice-cold drinks sweating in their glasses and tomatoes warm from the vine. ... Read More »
Author Archives: annabowers
SUMMER STAPLES
Even though it’s August, it wasn’t until last week that I had two summer staples: rootbeer floats and B.L.T.s (although, in my case it was a B.A.T. – bacon, avocado and tomato). They’re nostalgic, to be sure, but still deeply satisfying as an adult. Modifications may be made to accommodate more mature palates, perhaps better (or more exotic) ingredients are used and yet ... Read More »
PERFECTLY IMPERFECT
There’s a photograph that was taken on Monday of my sister and me. We’re sitting on the stern of a vintage 1950s Chris Craft boat and it captures a moment of extreme privilege: a warm, sunny day on Lake George, a boat occupied by some of our nearest and dearest, nothing to do but talk, drink, swim and tan. Sarah ... Read More »
KEEPING YOUR COOL
Although I was born in British Columbia, Canada I would say that I grew up in the heat of Delaware summers, where the temperatures routinely spiked upwards of 90 and the humidity ensured that everything was soft and limpid by 11 a.m. In Harper Lee’s novel To Kill A Mockingbird (do not even get me started on Go Set A ... Read More »
HERE COMES THE BRIDE
My sister got married on June 27th. Last week, my Facebook feed informed me that she had changed her name from Sarah Bowers to Sarah Ellsworth. There had been some teary-eyed moments preceding Sarah’s wedding, not to mention during the ceremony (apparently, you could hear me sniffling all the way at the back of the church) and afterwards at the ... Read More »
SPRING CLEANING
It’s that time of year when allergies quickly morph into head colds and then back into allergies, resulting in a lethargic week or so where I haven’t wanted to do much of anything except veg out to one of Anthony Bourdain’s travel and food shows – too sneezy and tired to even really be envious or inspired by his very cool, very ... Read More »
PURL ONE, KNIT ONE
I can distract myself a thousand different ways depending on what actually needs to get finished. Paperwork for barVino? I guess I should clean. Vacuuming and mopping on the to-do list? Then obviously I need to organize the kitchen pantry instead. Piles of laundry to iron? Definitely time to start test baking desserts for the restaurant. Need to get back to writing ... Read More »
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
This is not the all-inclusive list of my favorite things (which would include reading in bed with a cup of coffee, reading in a hammock with a glass of wine, reading, coffee and wine). Rather, it’s a list of my favorite kitchen things. Sharp knives are a must, obviously. But I don’t have any pots with fitted lids (I use a sautée ... Read More »
MAPLE SYRUP & COCKTAILS
I have written about Bixby’s Best maple syrup before – in Sauced in New York’s earlier incarnation on the Times Union website – but with sugaring season upon us once again, it seems a fit topic to return to as material for this blog. After all, what says spring in the Adirondacks better than maple syrup? Well, other than a ... Read More »
COME ON AND TWIST
More and more of the wines that I serve at my restaurant barVino are arriving in twist cap format. Pascal Jolivet’s Attitude Sauvignon Blanc seems to switch each vintage, arriving one year in the more traditional cork format and the next showing up in my wine cooler with a twist cap. Recently, the Milbrandt Merlot switched it up. As did the Ca’Donini ... Read More »