Tasting Guide | Odette Estate

Welcome to Tasting Guide!  A new blog series highlighting some of my favorite wineries.  I can travel to most wineries within 75 minutes or less; so why not point a spotlight on these beauties of wine country.

BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp | Friday Night Bites

Hello ASG friends!  I have been a bit M.I.A. lately.  A lot has gone on in the last month and half.

Deviled Eggs with Bacon Potato Chip Dust | Friday Night Bites

There is something extraordinary about a perfect deviled egg.  This week's Friday Night Bites certainly hit utopia in the deviled egg world for me.  Literally for months, I have been working towards perfecting the hard boiled egg.  After many, I mean many tries at getting the peel to not rip away the egg white layer or have small dents, I believe I have finally hit that plateau.  

Grilled Corn and Avocado Crostini | Friday Night Bites

One of the best things about summer approaching is the white sweet corn from Brentwood!  It is simply the sweetest and tastiest corn in the Bay Area.  You know how I love a good crostini - well this week, I have a super tasty one that has the sweet white corn and avocado with a Mexican twist throughout.

Goat Cheese and Radish Crostini | Friday Night Bites

I got the light just right.  Yeah!  I am practicing a new set up to take my food photo shots - in my living room.  I have two large windows that I raise the blinds and reposition the furniture to set up my board and props.  Last weekend we had rain off and on, which then darkened the sky.  A dark sky is not good for photoshoots. Luckily for me, the rain passed and the light returned.

Bloody Mary Deviled Eggs | Friday Night Bites

There is something completely satisfying about a deviled egg.  Not quite sure what it is.  It is an old school treat that has come back into vogue.  I was chatting with a friend the other day and she said that one of her friends hosted a cocktail party with a deviled egg bar .... how cool is that?

Roasted Beet & Yuzu Ponzu Crostini | Friday Night Bites

Happy Friday Peeps!  Life has been busy lately and trying to catch up on my blogging.  Recently my friend Jean from Lemon & Anchovies was kind enough to host a photography meet up at her lovely home.  I have long admired her photography skills and she generously offered to teach me some tricks of the trade.  I learned about shooting manual mode and all about adobe lightroom.  I must say that I was invigorated after spending the day together.

Roasted Golden Beet Salad with Grilled Lemons

An inspirational trip to the farmers market resulted in this sublime roasted golden beet salad.  Do you all get inspired when browsing through the market?  Depending on the time of the year, different yields of types of vegetables and fruits.  The winter has more rustic hearty vegetables that simply warm your heart and belly.  I have always loved beets where I know others that simply can't stomach them.  I believe it is how you prepare them and the recipe you use that creates a tasty dish.

Grilled Honey Glazed Tangerine & Prosciutto Crostini | Friday Night Bites

Friday Night Bites - woo hoo!  A perfect bite with all of the tasty elements wrapped into a 2 to 3 bite wonder.  It has smoky, salty, sweet, creamy, crunchy, savory and herbaceous goodness.  The other beauty to this appetizer is that it is easy to make.  Trust me.

Charred Za'atar Cauliflower & Romanesco Salad

Happy 2019!  I know it has been a while since I have posted.  Been a bit more active on Instagram and plan to make an authentic effort to blog more in 2019.  Blogging still brings me joy and that is what it is all about.  Speaking of joy - this salad brings me tremendous happiness.  The combination of earthy, smoky, sweet and crunch is a perfect bite of joy.