I spent the end of last summer in Sorrento on the lido of the Grand Hotel Riviera soaking up the sunshine, salt air and unique chiaroscuro of the Italian louche life. All the hazy days floated by on cerulean blues punctuated by shockingly bright splashes of electric orange curtesy of the Aperol Spritz. The Spritz may not bet the official drink of Italy, but consuming them in vast quantities throughout the Summer months is certainly a national pastime. Returning to Chicago, th

Pimento Cheese has been a staple of Southern picnics and porch lunches since the 1900’s but was relatively unknown to this California girl until a few years ago. Of course I’d heard of the stuff--some strange concoction of shredded cheese glued together by mayonnaise and accented with the red things from the insides of olives. But for someone who hates mayonnaise, it was a no-fly zone for me until it started popping up on menus everywhere! I found it spread on toast and toppe

My kitchen project is finally in the home stretch with the cabinets delivered and appliances on their way. Last week I spent a literally fevered few days trying to settle on countertops and faucets in the midst of a bad flu. I had been going back and forth between marble and quartzite in my mind for the past few months. I love the variety and easier upkeep of the quartzite but there's nothing like the timeless appeal of a huge hunk of marble. I took a trip (actually several t