Join me, 6 p.m. June 25 at Macy’s Valley Fair in Santa Clara, when I’ll be hosting a cooking demo with Chef Robert Sapirman of Citrus restaurant.
Sapirman, head chef of the restaurant at the Hotel Valencia in San Jose’s Santana Row across the street, will be dropping by to cook up a storm with local, sustainable ingredients. You may remember the long-time South Bay chef from his years at Parcel 104 in Santa Clara, too.
Cherries and oats galore in these hearty muffins by Pastry Chef Joanne Chang.
These muffins are loaded. With oats, cherries and a whole lot of goodness.
They fill the pan with an avalanche of batter, rising up with bountiful domes.
Joanne Chang, the Harvard grad-turned-baker extraordinare with four Flour bakeries and the Myers + Chang diner, all in Massachusetts, has done it again. If you loved her first cookbook, “Flour” (Chronicle Books), you’re sure to treasure its follow-up, “Flour, Too” “Flour, Too” (Chronicle Books). The second cookbook, of which I received a review copy, includes 100 recipes, not just for sweets, but savories, as well, including apple-wood smoked BLT, “Mama Chang’s Hot and Sour Soup,” and mushroom and leek lasagna.
Of course, having the sweet tooth that I do, I couldn’t resist zeroing in on the pastries first.
“Brown Sugar-Oat Cherry Muffin” is like a nourishing bowl of morning oatmeal — only in muffin form. Which means it’s just a little naughty, as a result.
(Photo courtesy of La Boulange)
All through June, La Boulange bakeries throughout the Bay Area will salute PRIDE month with a limited edition box of rainbow-hued macarons.
What’s more, La Boulange will donate $1 from each box sold to the Richmond/Ermet AIDS Foundation, which raises funds for AIDS service organizations through the production of entertainment programs.
The limited edition box of seven macarons is $12.50.
And you thought a library card was only good for checking out books?
Not the Santa Clara City library card.
Now, show that library card at participating local businesses to reap discounts such as 10 percent off at Athena Grill, $10 off a tab of at least $50 at Justin’s Restaurant, 10 percent off at Fuji Florist, free coffee with purchase at Stan’s Donut Shop, 10 percent off Mission City Creamery and many more. For a full list, click here.
StarChefs will salute its 2013 “Rising Star” award winners 6:30 p.m. June 13 at AT&T Park in San Francisco.
Boneless leg of lamb gets the Moroccan treatment.
Creating the exotic flavors of Morocco in your own kitchen just got a whole lot easier, thanks to Chef Mourad Lahlou of San Francisco’s Aziza restaurant
His new line of gourmet spices, mixes and sauces for Williams-Sonoma transports you to this faraway land with its heady fragrances and flavors. Recently, I had a chance to try out a sample of his “Mourad’s Moroccan Roasting & Grilling Rub.”
Open the lid to reveal the golden curry-hued powder pungent of turmeric, cumin and ginger. Just smelling it makes you hungry.
Yes, now here’s your chance to try a mini version of my Food Gal “Ultimate Guide to Bay Area Dining” — for free.
Available at the iTunes store, the free version has 21 recommended restaurants on it. If you like what you see, you can download the complete app with 70 more restaurant write-ups for a mere $1.99. It’s just like trying a cookie sample at the supermarket. With that first bite, you’re sure to enjoy it so much that you’ll want the whole shebang.
The map feature cleverly lets you find my recommended spots closest to you no matter your location in the Bay Area. Also new to the app is the ability to make reservations through OpenTable.
There might be no such thing as a free lunch. But now you can partake of my delicious mini app for free.
Chef Cindy Pawlcyn’s pioneering Mustard’s Grill in Yountville will celebrate its 30th anniversary in a very sweet way.
We’re talking cake — a different one featured daily for 30 days, from now through June 15.
Chef Cindy Pawlcyn celebrates a mega anniversary. (Photo courtesy of Alex Farnum)
The cake will be available on the dessert menu daily not only at Mustard’s Grill, but at Cindy’s Backstreet Kitchen in St. Helena and Cindy Pawlcyn’s Wood Grill & Wine Bar in St. Helena.