Cuisine
Going off campus
The location seems a bit out there, but Off Campus Cafe was there when we needed it...
Rest easy, wine lovers
One glass of cabernet sauvignon was described as “powerful and heavy.” Another was described as “subtle and refined.” The only difference? The music that was playing while people drank the wine...
Beef goes upscale
At the Belcampo Meat Company in Larkspur, Calif., the primary merchandise is presented almost as fetishistically as the iPhones at an Apple store. Sirloin tip cutlets, whole rabbits, Chateaubriands, and a dozen or so other varieties of raw meat rest on white platters...
Choose your festival
It’s just like some fake mom referenced on a sitcom used to say: “If you make that face too much, it will stick that way.” And if you’re here in Boulder, that face might be a smile from all this sunshine. Boo! No one wants to look like The Joker. Sounds like you need...
Rethinking the tasting note
This first wine is a fighter; he’s loud. The second wine is pensive; she has a dark side.” As I led a recent seminar,...
Craft Sabbath
Beer and heavy metal are pretty obvious bedfellows. When one pictures the average headbanger, there’s usually a tall boy in his or her hand. While wine and spirits often have a pretentious veneer around them, beer is refreshing, satisfying and cures what ails you...
Keys to a healthier diet
New Year’s resolutions usually go something like this: Pay off all debt. Quit smoking. Shed those 25 pounds that don’t seem to budge...
Niwot’s gourmet pizzeria delivers
This is the sort of place you’d find in the Northeast,” declared Kurt, a Massachusetts transplant, as we took our seats inside Lefty’s Gourmet Pizza and Ice Cream. We had been bicycling for the last few hours on the back roads north of Boulder when this homey Niwot...
A dining discovery — and a good deal
For some foodies, exploring new restaurants is a sporting activity, and one of the top trophies is stumbling across a hidden gem before anyone else does. If the place is affordable, so much the better, and unique menu items score additional brownie points, although ...
Southern Indian seasonings
One of my more ill-advised college misadventures involved a midnight competition with a classmate to see who could consume the most Tabasco sauce straight. While I prevailed, I learned a valuable lesson (actually one of several) in that heat for heat’s sake isn’t a ...
Classic Italian in Lafayette
As someone with too much time on my hands, I’ve recently been preoccupied with seeking out classic, if not downright iconic, meals. These repasts don’t necessarily have to be pricey or complex, and can be as simple as a grilled cheese accompanied by tomato soup. ...
An authentic Mexican taqueria
Whenever I go back to the Bay Area for family visits, it’s inevitable I stop by San Leandro’s Taqueria Los Pericos with one or both of my brothers. I suspect our visits are equally driven by the quality of the food as well as having us be seen in public for the ...


















