Last week we posted the first steps for throwing your own weekend bike riding adventure with friends. We were dogged with rain for what felt like weeks, but the clouds finally lifted yesterday, leaving the perfect weather for a team bike ride. Between our visits to Peter Pan Donuts and delicious sandwiches at No. 7…
The weather has been looking up lately. Lots of days with nice sun, not too hot, have made me start to think about day trips I can take just to soak it all in. My husband always jokes with me that I’m like a Neapolitan mother because whenever we go anywhere I always pack lots…
I woke up this morning to walk Hope and was shocked to feel that it was already warm and sunny at 6am! I checked the weather on my phone and nearly fell over when I saw that, after two utterly depressing days of rain and gloom, we’re finally back to sunshine and 75 degree temperatures!…
This week’s recipe in celebration of mother’s day is long, but worth the effort. It is a tropical banana pudding, with coconut pudding and rum-spiked whipped cream cozying up to the bananas. It was concocted by Faith Durand, executive editor of The Kitchn, a home cooking and kitchen design blog. I was inspired to ask…
It is pure coincidence that on the food and drink columns today we have ice cream based recipes. I guess it shows a craving…! This recipe for avocado and coconut ice cream comes to us from chef Gaby Dalkin, also author of the What’s Gaby Cooking blog. In trying to keep as closely as possible…
Am I the only one who thinks of Stuart Little when I hear the word sarsaparilla? Maybe so… And ever since I read that book as a little girl, I have always wanted to know what it tasted like. I think root beer became my favorite soda when I was little because it was explained…
April 25th is ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand Army Corps) Day in Australia and New Zealand. It marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War, and is a day of national remembrance of the military campaign and those who have fallen in…
Earth Day may have been last Monday, but in our eyes, it’s always Earth Day. Making responsible and sustainable decisions shouldn’t last just one day, it should be a guiding principle throughout our entire lives. Earlier this week, I shared some helpful tips for recycling just about anything. Recycling, though, is only party of the…
Pauline Boldt, Tina Jones, and Maria Curatolo bring their collective expertise in photography, wine, and food together to form Le Tre, a one-stop resource for visual stimulation, recipes, restaurant recommendations, and more. You will have seen a few recipes from their stable, like the cornmeal cake with candied lemons, roast pork, and holiday gin and…
I hope it’s safe to say that spring is here or really truly just around the corner for most of our readers in the northern hemisphere. We’ve been squeezing the last little bits of winter from our past few recipes. And now I thought it would be nice to highlight some of our most popular…
I used to be one of those “red wine gives me a headache” people. Then a good friend and my personal food authority suggested that I make the switch to organic wines. She was right! Headache disappeared. I hadn’t realized how many chemicals are often added to mass produced wines. Since then when I buy…
Ever since 1853, when Japan re-opened its ports to foreign traders after an almost 200-year trade embargo, the country has had a massive influence on western design and culture. From the Japanese-inspired decor of Christopher Dresser and the “Japonisme” style of Impressionist painters to the minimalism made famous by Japanese brands like Muji in the…
There are tons of dishes I have learned to make well over the years. I’ll never ever win a Masterchef competition, but I am pretty good at following a recipe and producing a desirable outcome. When at first I don’t succeed, I try and try til I get it right. Remember those rum babas by…
From my childhood, the only cocktail I ever remember hearing people talk about was a Bloody Mary. To this day, I associate it with a serious adult drink. The closest I’ve ever gotten to one, though, is the spicy version of V8, to which, for a certain period in life, I was addicted. Fast forward…
Santa Barbara Photographer Nancy Neil’s home has remained one of my favorite peeks I’ve ever worked on. There was just something about the rustic family home that tugged at my heart strings. As a frequent wedding photographer, Nancy works with a group of talented Santa Barbara folks. She and chef Ayda Robana decided to create…
This week’s recipe for Carolina Gold Rice and Harissa Chickpeas is a simple but great dish from one of my favorite radio hosts, Nicole Taylor. You may already know Nicole as the host of Hot Grease on Heritage Radio Network, a program that highlights rising leaders in the good food world, from chefs to bloggers…
This week’s recipe for a ginger and orange spiced teacake, by food creative and cookbook author Rachel Khoo, is perfect for those of you who live in places where winter is lingering longer than usual. It is a fancy version of the American poundcake, with the addition of ginger and orange zest which provides a…
Although the gifting of decorated eggs is typically associated with Easter, the tradition dates back to before the birth of Christianity. Originally meant as a symbol of springtime rebirth and fertility, the decorated egg has witnessed a long and culturally diverse history. It’s no wonder why. As a form, the egg is one of nature’s…
This week’s recipe for a Pecan Salty Caramel Tart comes from blogger and cookbook author Ellise Pierce, also known as the Cowgirl Chef. Ellise mixes elements of Texan and French cuisines to make her own fusion cooking. The pecan salty caramel tart draws on the pecan from her home state and the tart, a cornerstone of…
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned from preparing for St. Patrick’s Day at the Design*Sponge office, it’s that beer can be quite a divisive drink. Some of us love the occasional grain-based beverage. Others, however, simply can’t abide by the drink’s heavy, earthy taste. For those in the latter camp, St. Patrick’s Day can…
