Lets build a fresh fruit platter.  First decide what shape you want to use as a platter or base for your creation.  I like to use a large rectangle  for my creations.  Ovals and round platters are okay but they tend to abbreviate the amount of different rows of colors you can achieve.  Using a thin… Continue reading

I just purchased a copy of "The Great 20th Century Cookbook", the publisher's page had been cut out so I am not sure of the exact date of publication. Suffice it to say the book is very old probably 1900-1910; it has some fascinating recipes. The primary assumption was that all of the cooking would take place on a cook-stove, you know the kind where you lift up the burner… Continue reading

How much does a cup of coffee cost these days? 

What was the saying years ago? "Hey Mister can you spare a dime for a cup of coffee?"

Hi! My name is Mike and I am a "coffeeholic"  I drink coffee from the time I get out of bed in the morning until an hour or two before I go to… Continue reading

Dear Uncle Al

I heard that you were vacationing in the south of France.  And i was just wondering , since you and Liz are out and about in the Rolls, if you wouldn’t mind taking a little detour to Laguiole.   It is only about 250 kilometers north of Montpellier, just hop on the E11 and go north to Antrenas… Continue reading

The Kai company has been in existence since 1908.  For the Japanese market they manufacture a number of products.  The foremost of which are shaving razors, beauty shop and personal grooming supplies.   Another division handles medical cutting instruments as in scalpels.  Along the lines of cutting equipment there are also shears and scissors.  They are known in the western world for their Shun “Classic” knives.

In 1977 The… Continue reading

I have been fascinated with Japanese culture since the 60′s. I spent time on the island of Okinawa in the Vietnam war and fell in love with the culture and the people. Many years later in my professional career I began to see Japanese knives show up in the kitchens where I worked. At first it was just an occasional Santoku, and then one day a fellow chef brought in… Continue reading

The next time you need a quick garnish to go on top of your bowl of yummy guacamole or fancy tapenade for your bruchetta bar consider using a tomato rose. All you need is a ripe red tomato and a sharp paring knife. This is one simple garnish to give eye appeal when you want to add a flourish to your platters. Rather than have you read twenty lines of… Continue reading