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 »
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 »
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 »
I’ll admit that I’m the first person to fall for a good cocktail. All that artisanal mixology stuff? Love it. Homemade bitters, aperol, muddled herbs and veggies? Sign me up. Here’s the thing (or things): I love the artistry and ritual. But speciality cocktails are also gonna run somewhere between 10 and 20 dollars (depending in which zip code you ... Read More »
I was really psyched to write this blog entry as a result of a freshly stocked bar and a garden that’s a-blooming, but then I read this parody of trendy menus and thought, err, maybe this an unnecessary entry into a world already saturated with cocktails infused with herbs and artisanally made bitters. Spoiler Alert: the cocktail I’m going to write about ... Read More »
Last week I was spending some much needed quality time with a friend and as is de rigeur for quality time amongst friends, a beverage or two was included. As we lifted our cups of Upstate Brewing I.P.W. (India Pale Wheat, natch), I said “Sláinte,” to which my friend replied (with obvious confusion), “Did you just say ‘cilantro?’” Que laughter ... Read More »
There are many wonderful feelings: the first cold beer on a hot day, walking barefoot in freshly mown grass, unpacking your summer (or winter) clothes and discovering money in the pockets, falling asleep in a hammock . . . oh, the list could go on and on. And, speaking of lists, one of my favorite feelings is that quiet sense of ... Read More »
I’ve discovered in recent months that Instagram is a great way to cull interesting culinary ideas and discover new beverages to imbibe. I follow Dogfish Head beer to learn about their latest collaborations (and to covet their bocce court). Smitten Kitchen and Ida Garten are always making me drool. But even outside professional Instagrammers, I’m finding new ideas with the ... Read More »
This past weekend was a BIG one. Saturday morning my little sister (yes, she’s 28 and probably should’ve been the oldest, but birth order’s a bitch and she’s the baby of the family) graduated from Plymouth State University with her Masters in Counseling and School Pyscology. And Friday night, as my brother and parents and I were staying in a hotel ... Read More »
Neither overly technical nor horticulturally-centric, Jay McInerney’s The Juice: Venous Veritas is a collection of essays centered around the joys of drinking wine that even someone who is more likely to order a Guinness than an old-vine Grenache will enjoy. McInerney came to fame in the 80s with Bright Lights Big City, a novel that made him the un-official spokesperson of his generation, ... Read More »
Sauced In New York Sometimes the food is in the sauce, sometimes we are