Monthly Archives: October 2011

Semana Numero 43

First stop on a bike ride around San Francisco exploring different coffee bars and local roasters. The caffeinated day included: 1 Cafe con Leche, Bicycle Coffee, courtesy of my French press at home 1 Macchiato, Four Barrel Coffee roasters on Valencia St. 1 Espresso, 49th Parallel at Mavelous on Market St. 1 Capuccino, Verve Coffee at Frog Hollow Farm in… Read more →

Cocktails 101: Pisco Tres Amigos

This Pisco cocktail pays homage to Peru, Spain, and the grape. The grape that arrived from Spain to the Ica Valley of Peru 400 years ago, where Pisco was born. The grape that in Spain is used to make Sherry, wine, and Cava. And in the Tres Amigos, three versions of the grape play beautifully — Pisco, Cava, and raw… Read more →

Peruvian Donuts (Picarones)

My grandmother had magical hands. Big, beautiful, strong hands that for many years cooked my favorite dessert as a child — Picarones, or Peruvian Donuts. I can almost hear the hot oil sizzle as she tossed a ring of dough with a flick of her wrist into the large pot. And I remember standing on my tippy toes to look… Read more →

Cocktails 101: Prickly Pear Pisco

After a conversation about Pisco cocktails with a friend who recently celebrated her birthday, I was inspired to make a new Pisco cocktail and name it after her. The possible permutations and combinations for a cocktail are of course endless. And that’s what makes mixology so fascinating. But my style is to make recipes accessible and to focus on simple… Read more →