| We're offering a recipe for success
Home cooks, you'll recognize this scenario: You're baking a dish that you've never tried before for a party. It bombs. Completely. And you're left trying to save it.This happened last week after I was seduced by a photo of Stareos, the star-shaped chocolate shortbreads from the old Stars in San Francisco. Paired with sweetened mascarpone cheese, these cookies are " 'gourmet' Oreos," Emily Luchetti writes in her latest cookbook, "Classic Stars Desserts."Luchetti, Stars' former pastry chef, offers a simple recipe. And I've cranked out shortbread before with no problem. So what went wrong?Read this section carefully because I've posted my tweaks to the dish at centralvalley.com. I'll tell you below how you can improve it -- and get help for your own recipes.For starters, a double batch of the thick cookie dough nearly broke my KitchenAid.
Friends share dinners in all seasons
The word "progressive" can have many meanings, usually related to "progressing, advancing or moving forward, making progress." But how many people in today's busy world connect the concept of "progressive" to a gourmet meal, unless maybe it's moving to new and different restaurants for various parts of one meal? Bernie and Dolores Fiegel of Lewes were both career workers in the Washington, D.C. - Maryland area employed by a company that had defense contracts. They also had three children. They were busy but still, because of their mutual lifelong interests in good food and good wines, they shared, from time to time, gourmet meals with friends. .
Lifestyle notes from coffee
This is according to Eric Lim, vice president of Conlins Coffee Co. during an intimate press luncheon at the SM Mall of Asia. We are now living in what he calls the coffee culturea lifestyle that is slowly developing in the country but already popular in other European countries such as Switzerland and Germany. Before, people just wanted their caffeine kick, says Lim, Now they want to learn more about gourmet coffee, its different tastes... Coffee has become as diverse as its many varieties. Aside from providing us our instant java fix, it has become the perfect conversation piece, the relaxing companion to a quiet morning or a leisurely afternoon, and more importantly, a wellness champion. The road to wellness For example, coffee beans can actually serve as ones emergency home-made spa.
Loudoun Calendar
Send announcements, which are open to the public at no or minimal cost, to The Loudoun Connection, 7913 Westpark Drive, McLean, VA 22102, e-mail to loudoun@connectionnewspapers.com or fax to 703-917-0991. Deadline is Friday, two weeks before the event. Photos/artwork encouraged. For more information, contact Matthew Razak 703-917-6457. For additional listings, visit www.connectionnewspapers.com.
Wednesday/April 18
Museums Trip. The Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace will take a trip to Washington, D.C., to visit the Brewmaster's Castle and Woodrow Wilson House. Lunch on own. Cost: $18 members, $20 nonmembers, includes transportation and admissions. Call 703-430-2397 for departure/return times and locations.
Senior Movie. 1:30 p.m., Senior Center at Cascades Marketplace, 21060 Whitfield Place, Sterling.
Enjoy the best fine food and wine
The globally renowned Cape Gourmet Festival will return from Friday May 18 to Sunday May 27, giving locals the opportunity to sample culinary fare from various countries across the world. The festivities kick off with Restaurant Week - a fortnight of designer menus offered at many of the Cape's top restaurants. The opportunity to sample tastes ranging from Thai to Italian, and Cajun to Greek will be presented in the form of two courses. A complimentary glass of wine will also be included at venues across the city. Those with a decidedly sweeter tooth will also have their confectionary needs catered to with the Coffee Route, taking place throughout the festival. Apart from experiencing different brews in cafs across the city, many varieties of cakes and other delicacies will be on offer as well .
Tasmania's high-water marks
COASTING across Hobart's deserted five-lane Tasman Bridge late on this Sunday afternoon, I can see the sharply raked bow and racy, elegant lines of my ship, the German-built MV Orion. The taxi driver has already checked it out earlier in the day. "Mate, she's more mega-yacht than cruise ship, especially compared to that soulless floating block of flats," he says, waving at the gargantuan Sapphire Princess moored on the other side of No.2 Wharf. "They reckon yours has got an ice-strengthened hull, a stabiliser with retractable fins, and bow and stern thrusters for top cruising dexterity," he adds with a boating aficionado's enthusiasm. I tell him I'm more interested in cold-climate rieslings, Bass Strait's remote islands and indulgent dairy products because I'm accompanying a gourmet food and wine expedition around Tasmania with Serge Dansereau, celebrity consultant executive chef to Orion.
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