On our trip last weekend to a local farmer’s market in Campbell, California, we were lucky enough to find some organic Moro blood oranges.

Taking the helm of a popular hotel lounge in the middle of economic calamity was not exactly what I had penciled in on the calendar. Lucky for me, however, the bar has withstood more than enough history since its 1931 introduction.

One of the more popular dishes that we serve at La Pastaia Ristorante & Enoteca is Pollo alle Castagne, a great winter dish of chicken paillard, sweet roasted chestnuts, and a savory reduction of stock, …

We have named our fall cocktail (a spiced up play on the sidecar) after Austrian born actress (and scientist, apparently), Hedy Lamarr. How is this fitting? Well, the combination of rum based Austrian …

So both Curtis and I are in agreement that it has been a tough year, new titles, new jobs, new baby (Julian Valdez), new website. It is time for a beer.

For the last days of Summer (well, in California we are not quite sure when that is, the warmest days sometimes show up in late September) we have been trying to squeeze in some more …

This is a great play on the mint julep, mellowing a traditionally stong drink (we are not complaining), with a bit of green tea, and a splash of ginger beer. The addition of a …

for The Pompelmo
1 part ruby grapefruit granita (a heaping tablespoon)
1 oz gin (we used Hendricks)
Prosecco (we used Bele Casel)
In a Champagne flute, add the granita, gin, and fill the remainder of the glass with Prosecco, …

With the cocktail trend back in full force, (this tends to happen when the economy dives into an empty pool) the classic, hotel-bartender-crafted (think The Savoy) recipes have come back into favor. Ultra lounges are losing ground to basement, ‘Speakeasy’ build-outs, and a fructose-filled mixer has been left in the well. Fresh fruit, simple syrups, artisan-crafted liqueurs, and quadruple distilled spirits are now the staple of restaurant, and bar drink lists across the globe…for good reason.

I’m not sure what to believe when it comes to the origin of the Rickey.  I have never been to Wildwood, New Jersey, nor have I ever met the drink’s supposed namesake, Colonel Joe Rickey, …