APPETIZERS | Sweet Leisure

Category Archives: APPETIZERS

SAN SEBASTIÁN, PINTXOS, AND THE GILDA

For those who have never been to San Sebastián, Spain, put it on your bucket list. If you have already been—then you know. You’ll return. What makes the city so appealing? Food, glorious food, and more food. Of course the setting is lovely. Once a small fishing village, San Sebastián now spreads from the sea […]

LUSCIOUS RECIPES FROM THE BEST OF THE BEST KITCHENS

The very best (no fooling), the most divine (really) recipes from people and places (all totally superlative) to make for gift giving. (Marvelous to the max!) COFFEE RUB SEASONING MIX A coffee and spice and everything nice recipe from Jim Leonardo, chef of Vinology, the spiffy wine-bar and restaurant in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Recipe HERE. […]

¶ Posted 21 December 2017 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ANN ARBOR § BARBECUE § BEVERAGES § CANDY § CHOCOLATE § COCKTAILS § COFFEE § CONDIMENTS § COOKIES § DESSERTS § DRINKS § GIFT GIVING § GLUTEN FREE § LITTLE ROCK § MICHIGAN § RECIPES ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: cakes, candy, cookie, Gluten-free, grapefruit liqueur, Hotel Colorado, pecans pompelmocello, Savory Spoon Cooking School, seasoning mix, The Capital Hotel, The Living Room, Vinology, Zingerman's

ASIA AT AMERISTAR CASINO AND HONEY WALNUT SHRIMP

One can gamble on any restaurant that is run by Don Yamauchi being terrific and Asia, at Ameristar Casino in St. Charles, Missouri, is a sure winner. Chicago born Yamauchi grew up with a love of fusion food fed by his second-generation Japanese-American father and Filipina mother. After attending culinary school, he worked in a variety of […]

¶ Posted 03 February 2017 † Susan Manlin Katzman § DESSERTS § ENTREES § MISSOURI § RECIPES § RESORTS § RESTAURANTS § SIDE DISHES § ST. CHARLES § ST. LOUIS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Ameristar Casino, Asia Restaurant, Don Yamauchi, Hai-Ying Bushey, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Missouri, St. Charles

CÁCERES, CULINARY CAPITAL OF SPAIN, 2015 & MIGAS

The food of Cáceres rocks! The restaurants are rad! The take-home edible souvenirs are wicked and wow! No wonder a jury composed of top representatives from Spain’s hotel, restaurant and publishing industries, declared the city “The Culinary Capital of Spain, 2015.” The city, in the province of the same name, sits in the sparsely populated […]

¶ Posted 09 November 2015 † Susan Manlin Katzman § BEER § BEVERAGES § BREAKFAST § CACERES § CHEESE § COFFEE § CONDIMENTS § DESSERTS § DRINKS § ENTREES § PRODUCTS § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SIDE DISHES § SPAIN § TRAVEL § Uncategorized § WINE ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Atrio Restaurante, Caceres, Convento de San Pablo, Culinary, Culinary Routes, Extremadura, Ibores, Ivan Hernandez, Jamon Iberia, migas, Olive oil, Restaurante Cayena, Ribera del Guadiana wine, smoked paprika, Spain, Tono Perez, Torta del Casar

FARMSHOP AND AVOCADO HUMMUS

It’s sunny and bright, hip and happening, and loaded with celebrities. We could be describing Southern California and Los Angeles in general, but instead are telescoping in on Farmshop, an artisan market and restaurant that perfectly reflects the cool vibe of both the region and the city. Actually, there are two Farmshop restaurants—one in L.A. […]

¶ Posted 27 March 2015 † Susan Manlin Katzman § BREAKFAST § BRUNCH § CALIFORNIA § CHEESE § CHOCOLATE § COFFEE § LOS ANGELES § PRODUCTS § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § TRAVEL § WINE ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Brentwood Country Mart, Brian Reimer, chickpeas, Farmshop, hummus, Jeff Cerciello, Los Angeles, Marin County, pistachios

PARADISE COVE MALIBU CALIFORNIA

Nice is a word that applies. Easy-going too, and comfortably uncrowded (except on gorgeous-weather weekends and holidays). In fact, Paradise Cove on the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, just might be the best-kept-secret sunshine place for L.A. families and friends to enjoy a beach/cafe experience without the razzle, dazzle hoopla of Hollywood or a touristy […]

¶ Posted 06 December 2014 † Susan Manlin Katzman § BARS § BEACH § BEVERAGES § CALIFORNIA § CONDIMENTS § LOS ANGELES § MALIBU § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § SALADS § SAUCES § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: 1003 Island Dressing, beach, Bob Morris' Paradise Cove Beach Cafe, calamari, California, Cobb Salad, Malibu, Paradise Cove

D’Chez Eux and Perfect Roast Chicken

“Plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose,” an epigram coined in 1849 by French journalist Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, has traveled through time, been translated into different languages (English: the more things change, the more they stay the same) and morphed into a proverb. Used by a variety of people around the world, including statesmen, writers, moms […]

¶ Posted 08 August 2014 † Susan Manlin Katzman § ENTREES § FRANCE § PARIS § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: D'Chez Eux, France, La coucou de Rennes, Paris, Poulet rôti, Roast Chicken

Fredericksburg Part Two

Oops, my last post mentioned good things tourists find in Fredericksburg (a terrific museum, interesting National and State parks; super shopping, a thriving wine industry), but I didn’t mention the art scene. This Texas Hill Country community positively overflows with art galleries, showcasing and selling a eclectic mixture of visuals, including sculpture, glass and all […]

¶ Posted 14 March 2012 † Susan Manlin Katzman § COOKIES § RECIPES § RESTAURANTS § TEXAS § TRAVEL ‡ Comments Off ° Tagged: Fredericksburg, shortbread, Texas

TEN REASONS TO LOVE TAOS, NEW MEXICO

Let’s be frank. Some visitors just don’t get Taos. Others fall in love at first sight. Taos is strange that way. The town speaks a different language to different people. Always has. Probably always will. I’m in the love-it category. Why? Let me count the ways: 1. TAOS PUEBLO Both a National Historic Landmark and […]

¶ Posted 13 February 2012 † Susan Manlin Katzman § NEW MEXICO § RECIPES § RESORTS § RESTAURANTS ‡ Comments Off °

Tel Aviv Impressions and Great Hummus Recipe

In the beginning, God created heavens and the earth. Jaffa came later—according to archeologists, around 7500 BCE. And Tel Aviv, founded on the outskirts of Jaffe, claims April 11, 1909 as its birthday. That’s when 66 Jewish families purchased 12 acres of land on the mosquito infested, barren sand dunes outside of Jaffa, divvied up […]