What a treat! We ate at D’Anna’s Cafe Italiano for lunch today and left with huge smiles and happy waves to Patti. Who’s Patti? She’s the BAKER, man! And D’anna’s is open read the full restaurant review…
October 29, 2008
October 17, 2008
I only need 2 cookbooks
I love cookbooks as much as I love to eat. I have too many, so now I take them out of the library. My girlfriend just shakes her head and says: Another one? But, the 2 cookbooks I have used since I began cooking (and I won’t tell you when) are:
The Joy of Cooking (of course) and The Twenty-Minute Low-Fat Gourmet by Karen Levin.
The Joy of Cooking is my cooking dictionary. If you don’t already know, it was written by a mother-daughter team from St. Louis, Marion Becker and Irma Rombauer, whose first instructions to the cook were “stand facing the stove.” Right up my alley. The Low-fat Gourmet’s recipes are tried and true winners and simple.
How about you?
October 4, 2008
Ralf’s Pretzel Bakery Bellingham
There is one vendor NEVER bypassed at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market: it’s Ralf’s Bavarian Pretzels. How can you choose? -salami/swiss/cream cheese on a pretzel bun, a Nutella sandwich stick, a cheese stick and pretzels big and small. My daughter discovered Nutella at the store and pleaded I buy some (of course I’ve known about Nutella all my life – I was just trying to keep it out of the house).
For the past few years I wished they had a storefront open during the week I could go to with my children. This month my wish came true! Ralf’s Pretzel Bakery is open in the Market Depot and looks great.
I wonder if they’ll get a liquor license so I could have some beer with my pretzel…
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September 23, 2008
Torre Caffe Italiano
Mary, I chose Torre Caffe Italiano as my birthday breakfast treat.
Beautiful Italian music wafted through the air outside the caffe; a traditional draw for street passerby. I sat outside in a wrought iron chair in the sun waiting for Wendy to share the experience.
We both ate the veggie breakfast meal: toasted rosemary english muffin with egg cheese tomato and pesto (no pesto for Wendy). It was simply the perfect taste and portion for breakfast (served by my mother, oops, Mary’s mother). I had a pot of Numi tea and Wendy had the best cup of coffee she’s ever had in Bellingham.
That should say it all.
The caffe is clean and cozy with warm earthy colors throughout. The best part for me is the owners’ Italian accent. I am in NYC again. Amen.
I will be going back to sample LUNCH (lasagna) and dessert (cannoli).
119 N Commercial St
360-734-0029
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September 13, 2008
More On Pie
BelleWood Acres is an apple farm in Ferndale, Washington. They have a booth at the Saturday Bellingham Farmer’s Market and it’s not just apples you’ll find there. Oh, no. You’ll find peanut butter, ground fresh on their farm, honey, jams, cookies and homemade PIE. Taste test time…
Their pies are made by Heather using BelleWood Acres apples. She slices them thin and layers them with spices sandwiched between a very good crust. The pie is good hot or cold (of course I’ve had more than one piece). So many ways to make pie.
I’ve been told Heather is the dessert queen for Book Fare. Book Fare is the cafe upstairs from Village Books. If you haven’t treated yourself to a date there, you’ve been amiss. The view alone is worth the trip: water, islands, boats and sky.
Now that I know the quality of those desserts, I’ll eat those along with the delicious all day fare.
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