Years ago, I did a cooking class event with a special menu titled "Lunch from the French Quarter." I taught a gumbo recipe from my book, The Sharper Your Knife. I developed the recipe below based on a dish that I had in New Orleans during a rushed trip to the Crescent City during … [Read more...] about Recipe: Spicy Creole Shrimp with Pasta
The great flood of Paris
One hundred years ago, Paris suffered one of the worst floods in its recorded history. The Galeries des Bibliothèques has compiled an online exhibit to show off some of the striking images from the flood, including an interactive exhibit with more than 1,300 photos. At one point, … [Read more...] about The great flood of Paris
Chocolate destinations
Latest gig for Bing Travel focuses on destinations for chocolate lovers. The slide show/story focuses on a dozen yummy places, from a spa in Argentina that will literally cover you in chocolate to decadent martinis in Manhattan.The irony, of course, is that I don't actually like … [Read more...] about Chocolate destinations
Argggghh! Gasparilla
I spend the last weekend of January each year dabbling in theater makeup. My friends and I rise at 5 a.m. to get tarted up in pirate gear and head down to the Tampa Yacht Club helping to turn upstanding members of the area's business community into scar-riddled pirates. My … [Read more...] about Argggghh! Gasparilla
Recipe: Pasta with olives, tomatoes and tuna
This is a cheap and easy meal to craft from pantry staples. The tuna bumps up the protein quotient, but it's optional. You can use fresh or canned tomatoes, but if you use the latter, be sure to drain them well. Cook the pasta in liberally salted water, and then reserve some of … [Read more...] about Recipe: Pasta with olives, tomatoes and tuna