February 23rd, 2013

Photo Diary: Chinese New Year

The start of the Year of the Snake in photos

A sea of red confetti on the ground as kids set off fireworks in the middle of a deserted Chinatown. Did not know businesses actually closed that day.

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January 20th, 2013

Chocolate Lab

When I think of the Dogpatch in San Francisco I immediately name Mr. & Mrs. Miscellaneous, one of my favorite ice cream spots in the city and Esprit Park, a grassy area with picnic tables, idyllic on a sunny day particularly because the Dogpatch is far enough away from the bay so its always a bit warmer. Now I’ll add Chocolate Lab to the list of places to go. Near the park on the corner of a quiet street, the cafe was opened by chocolatier Michael Recchiuti. His chocolate shop in the Ferry Building has a counter of the most beautiful truffles which I have yet to try, but most certainly will after my visit to the Lab.

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December 11th, 2012

Holidays at the Ferry Building

Here are some snapshots from my go-to Ferry Building spots all dressed up for the holidays. I enjoy going every week but something about Christmas time when throngs of people come to discover all these great vendors makes me all the more excited.

Farm Fresh To You twinkling with lights and colorful fruit displayed in front.

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February 14th, 2012

Valentine Gnome Scene

For Valentine’s Day this year, I was inspired by this Gnome cookie collection and decided to make my own. I first caught on to the ingeniously cookies by Dani Boglivi-Fiori when she appeared on the Martha Stewart Show in December 2010 to demo these Snow Globes. Since then, Dani has gone full steam ahead with her cookie business and continues to amaze with ideas like this year’s holiday work of art, the Nativity Scene and Lovebird Owls. The best news of all… she recently tweeted that her book is tentatively launching at the end of the year!

This is my take on Dani’s Gnome collection. I went with the traditional gnome color scheme and added blue. And a good 8 hours later…..

Gnome couple and the mushroom family

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February 14th, 2012

See, he's her lobster!


And I thought I’d never figure out what to do with lobster cookie cutters. Happy Valentine’s Day!

See the Friends clip here

December 22nd, 2011

Ferry Building Sweet Gift Ideas Under $10

It’s not too late to put together a great gift. The place to go? The Ferry Building. Here are a few of my favorite things, all under $10, that can fill Christmas stockings or be assembled into a basket for a foodie friend (hint..hint).

The only place that I find the crowds exciting.

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December 16th, 2011

Ugly Christmas Sweater Gingerbread Ornaments

When I saw this adorable tweet by Donna, owner of pot + pantry, an equally adorable kitchen boutique in the Mission, I was instantly in the Christmas spirit and inspired to make a whole clan of gingerbread men.

The whole lot in ugly Christmas sweaters!

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March 6th, 2010

Pink is the New Red: Grapefruit Cupcakes

Red roses, red hearts, red boxes of candy. Valentine’s Day is a sea of red. I decided to make pink the color to celebrate with and my ingredient of choice… grapefruit.

Grapefruit heart cakes filled with grapefruit curd

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