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THE DIET RETURNS

Posted: October 7, 2026 in Uncategorized
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Getting back on my diet required some changes. Here a few things that I’ve tried that have pleasantly surprise me.

RELISH TODAY

Posted: October 6, 2026 in Uncategorized
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What “live the live” means.

ONE LAST GASP…

Posted: October 4, 2026 in Uncategorized
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…of summer.

TIS THE SEASON

Posted: October 1, 2026 in Uncategorized
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Looks like the Halloween vibe is in full swing at the food store!

SIGNS

Posted: September 30, 2026 in Uncategorized
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I love traveling by car. I’ve been to 25 countries and I’ve driven in 16 of them. And I love the signs that I see along the way. Here are a few that caught my attention.

Pittsburgh, PA: Someone had some time on their hands to create this one!

Christchurch, New Zealand

Long Island, NY

Cayman Islands

One for “Ted Lasso” fans. I took this in Richmond, England, at the pub where the show was shot.

Tiverton, Rhode Island

Doune Castle, Scotland. (Where they shot “Monty Python and the Holy Grail.”)

Gloucester, Massachusetts (OK, I cheated and added the top line. I’m a Queen fan.)

Dummerston, Vermont

BEEN COOKING…

Posted: September 28, 2026 in Uncategorized
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Whole red snapper. I almost always order a whole fish when I see it on the menu at a restaurant. But I’ve never tried cooking one at home until now. My fishmonger cleaned and scaled the fish, so I just rubbed it with extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and put it on a sheet pan in a preheated 350° oven. I cooked it until the fish registered 140° on a thermometer. And in a pan on the stovetop, I made a variation of aglio olio: extra virgin olive oil, lots of chopped garlic, chopped parsley, and some scallions. Fried it up until the garlic was crispy and poured it on top of the fish.
That may not look like ribs in the corner, but it’s a nice, fat, Berkshire pork rib with my homemade barbecue sauce. Smoked it with hickory for about five hours. Found some organic collards at Whole Foods, so I cooked them down, throwing leftover chicken parts into the pot, to give it some flavor. When it was time to serve, I reheated them, seasoning with salt and pepper. Kept it simple. And finally, what they call ‘fava” in Santorini, Greece. It’s actually yellow split peas that I boiled in a pot of water and chicken stock, with an onion thrown in. Cooked it all down until it became a porridge, and then I put it in the blender to whip it up. Served with capers.
And let’s talk cocktails. I’ve been a fan of Vesper martinis forever, but I’m getting tired of Lile’s, and since I don’t use it that often, it goes bad in the fridge. Same thing with Cocchi Americano. (Those are the two fortified wines that most people will argue back-and-forth about when it comes to what belongs in a Vesper.) But I have more use for an excellent vermouth so my “faux” Vesper is three parts gin, one part vodka, and just a rinse of the glass with the vermouth. Twist of lemon.

MONHEGAN ISLAND, MAINE

Posted: September 27, 2026 in Uncategorized
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About 10 miles off the coast of Maine lies Monhegan Island, a small artists’ colony with about 70 year-round residents. For the most part, you walk the island. There are a few pick-up trucks that will carry your luggage to your hotel or rental. And there are golf carts for the older folks. But it’s an art and nature lover’s island.

Day trips from either Port Clyde or New Harbor, Maine, are the way most people go. But overnights are even better. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to stay on this island for a week or more, and its rugged beauty is quintessential Maine.

It had been quite a few years since my last visit, but my daughter and I went this past July, to see her mom, who teaches art classes on the island in the summertime. Sure, there are a few more golf carts than before, and it seems that there are more people that have discovered this well-kept secret, but it’s still a very special place to visit.

The Island Inn, where I stayed.

Finding great food on Monhegan Island is not a problem, especially if you like lobster! A couple of the hotels serve dinner (BYOB…there’s no booze served on the island, though beer and wine are available in the grocery store and there is a brewery.)

Lobster at the Fish House.

If you like hiking, there are plenty of dirt roads and trails in the woods to walk, and the views on this island are really quite spectacular, especially if you get to spend the night.

Ice Pond. In the old days, when the water was frozen, they’d cut ice out of this pond and use it for food storage.
No deer on the island, but you will run into pheasants!

There’s also a crepe stand, something new since my last visit, and you can choose sweet or savory. I chose one with smoked salmon!

Hangin’ with the chef, who spends his winters in Morocco and summers here on the island!
Sunsets from the rocking chairs on the deck of the Island Inn, are spectacular!

For fancier fare, The Monhegan House reigns supreme for wonderful, thoughtful dishes. Here are a few…

My daughter and I stayed on Monhegan for just a few nights, but it was a wonderful, relaxing trip. If you’re planning a coastal Maine vacation next summer, be sure to include a full day (an overnight is better) on Monhegan Island! But do what I did, and bring your own martinis!

HELP WANTED

Posted: September 26, 2026 in Uncategorized
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CAV IN PROVIDENCE

Posted: September 25, 2026 in Uncategorized
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I had Sunday brunch with friends last weekend at CAV in Providence, Rhode Island, for the first time in over a decade. I had forgotten how much fun this place is.

An awesome bar. Excellent food and service, and you’re surrounded by antiques… Which you can buy!

I will be back soon.

Caesar salad with grilled chicken…and asked for bacon!
Smoked salmon platter.
Crab cake.

FALL IS HERE

Posted: September 23, 2026 in Uncategorized
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Time to open the vat!

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