If you’ve not heard, the Paleolithic diet is making headway into our consciousness and our stomachs. I don’t know if cavemen ate cookies, but if they did, these would be their snack of choice – something to provide energy, while still being nutritious and tasty. The ingredients include honey, almond meal, chopped almonds, nutmeg and cayenne pepper, making this an all-natural snack at $9.95 per bag for individually sealed cookies so they stay fresh. These are amazingly dense and chewy, both slightly sweet and mildly spicy from the nutmeg and pepper, and the chopped almonds provide the textural crunch you’re looking for. These are small but mighty and offer a variety of differences you will not find in a traditional cookie – namely that these are actually good for you. And frankly, the cavemen never ate processed foods, so why should you? Get some, feel better and eat healthier for 2012.
The Monterey Peninsula is home to any number of fabulous restaurants. From eateries in Pacific Grove to Cannery Row to Carmel, you won’t be at a loss. But what you want is the experience of great food in a great locale. Well, then Fandango is an easy choice. First opened in 1983, Fandango is that mix of a festive, energetic environment and great food well worth the price. The over arching theme is Italian, but there are plenty of terrific dishes. Known for their rack of lamb, it’s one of the best I’ve ever had with seasonings that allow the fresh tender lamb to best express itself. But their specialties also include Duck a L’Orange and Sandabs as well. It gets busy here and popular is good, so certainly consider reservations. Dining while traveling can always be crapshoot, but at Fandango you’ll come out a winner every time. http://www.FandangoRestaurant.com(DEC/2011)
~Everyday Grilling: 50 Recipes from Appetizers to Desserts
I’m a man, ergo, I love to cook things over fire. I don’t know why this is true, but it is. So when Everyday Grilling came my way, I had to check it out. ($15, Andrews McMeel). From grilled corn with chipotle butter to wood planking fish to tropical fruit kebabs, these 50 different recipies give you not only practical information about grilling techniques, but also ideas for grilling things you may not have thought of (asparagus yes, grilling pound cake never occurred to me). The benefit of grilling naturally caramelizes the flavors of the foods, but as they state in the book, “Grilled foods also look wonderful in an unmistakably rustic way, a little char, a few grill marks and even the most plain chicken breast suddenly appears more tempting.” And since we eat with our eyes first (it if looks good it probably tastes better - we tend to judge food immediately), grilling has an immeasurable impact on how we eat. A great book for you, or for the upcoming holidays as a gift, with Everyday Grilling you’ll be king of your backyard. (NOV/2011)
I’ve never been to Venezuela, but fortunately Venezuela has come north to Beverly Hills in the charming, comfortable and casual Coupa Café. They opened their first restaurant in Caracas and have added locations in Beverly Hills and Palo Alto. They also just added three new appetizers, made with Venezuelan cheeses known as Pasapalos. Get the Tequenos with Queso Paisa – which is fried white cheese sticks wrapped in flour dough served with homemade guava sauce (I love the sauce!); Mini Cachpas with Queso De Mano which are small corn griddle pancakes with Venezuelan nata (a cream); and Arepitas with Queso Guayanes –tiny arepas which are wheat and gluten free cornmeal griddle sensations served with guasacaca (a traditional Venezuelan sauce).
You can also buy Venezuelan coffee by the pound which they roast in Venezuela and since they are the only ones able to import roasted coffee, this is your only stop. However I love their Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate made with cayenne peppers, pasilla, cinnamon and Venezuelan chocolate which is a great change of pace for your morning ritual.They have outdoor seating on tony Canon Drive (a block away from Rodeo Drive) as well a small wine bar and booths and tables inside, and free Wi-Fi. There are a plethora of places to eat in Beverly Hills, most of which will cost you a car payment. For a change of pace, and an inexpensive cool place to hang out, visit Coupa. http://www.CoupaCafe.com(Nov/2011)
~Quick-Fix Vegan (Andrews McMeel Publishing, $16.99 paperback) I am not a vegan; I’m a carnivore, there I said it. But having said that, and as the restaurant critic for the Santa Barbara News-Press for the last 5 years, I do consume my share of vegetarian and vegan foods. I do this in part because it is my job, but also in part because we (and I) tend to consume more meat products in the U.S. than we really need, and I routinely have vegetarian and vegan meals a few times each week at home. That’s why Robin Robertson’s 150 vegan recipies contained in Quick-Fix Vegan is a great addition to your cookbook inventory, and the majority of these meals can be prepared in half an hour. From soups and sauces to desserts and main courses, there is a terrific diversity of foods represented here, like pasta with a creamy avocado cream sauce, or the Moroccan pumpkin hummus. If you’re a meat-eater suspicious of vegan and believe that all vegan food is mere sticks and nuts, you will be surprised by the flavor intensity and textural similarities to some of your favorite foods. So add some of these recipies to your weekly meals, maybe supplanting one meat meal for a vegan meal once a week. It’s an easy non-threatening way to change up your routine and to sample some truly flavorful foods. What have you go to lose, except one more lump of meat to digest? (Oct/2011)
~Voodoo Doughnuts: Portland, Oregon. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a doughnut once in a while. In Portland, Voodoo has made a cult following on this very premise. Their doughnuts are, a little unusual, like the Bacon and Maple, which is a maple bar with cooked, crispy bacon on top. Or The Loop, a doughy concoction topped with vanilla frosting and studded with Fruit Loops cereal, or their Voodoo Doll, chocolate frosting and raspberry filling with a pretzel stake through the little voodoo puppet’s heart. I stopped by at 3 p.m. on a Sunday in October and couldn’t believe the line. The buzz was it would be a half hour wait. Most everyone seemed unfazed by this, and people kept streaming out of the small shop with pink boxes laden with doughnuts. The family in front of me was local, the guy behind me from Canada, and the couple behind him were from Japan. The word is out.
As I stand in line for what would eventually be a 40 minute wait, I see a building across the street painted with a sign that reads, “Keep Portland Weird.” Okay. In line one lady was reading (she’d been to Powell’s Books where they carry all 3 of my travel books—shameless plug), one couple was listening to a sports game on a radio, and another guy was eating a corn dog. So, how are the donuts? Thick, big, lots of frosting, sweet, fun and quite good; almost a mini-meal, if sugar and dough are your idea of the food pyramid. Prices range from about a buck to $2.50 per doughnut. Are they worth 40 minutes? Well, that’s for you to decide. But I would suggest if you are in downtown Portland with an hour to kill, you might want to put Voodoo on your hit list. http://www.VoodooDoughnuts.com(Oct/2011)
The success of the new hardcover Italian cook book “Cucina Povera: Tuscan Peasant Cooking” ($21.99 - Andrews McMeel Publishing) is that author Pamela Sheldon Johns lived in the Tuscany region for two decades, so she has an innate understanding of the simple meals presented here. But what is fascinating are the stories of Italian men and woman who share their recipes of simple foods during lean times. Many of the foods here are not fancy, there were brought about due to limited food stuffs, war, poverty and whatever was on hand. The Frittata con Cicoria (eggs with wild greens) for example uses dandelion greens in this basic but immensely flavorful egg dish, as dandelion greens were prevalent along the Italian countryside. Most of the recipies are easy concoctions; a handful of ingredients and a little elbow grease was all that was needed to create healthy food. The Polenta di Castagna con Salsicce (chestnut polenta with sausage) utilizes only six ingredients, yet the result is delicious. Cucina Povera reminds us that food need not be expensive, complicated or rare in order to sustain us. It should however be fresh flavorful and very tasty. (Sept/2011)
life, on the line (Gotham Books, $27.50) The definition of the word irony is the outcome of an event contrary to what was expected. Such is the case of Grant Achatz who discovered at the height of his culinary success he had contracted stage IV tongue cancer. His memoir, gives an unflinching look at the trials, tribulations and ego of a star chef. The book has striking similarities to what Achatz would eventually become known for; his 32 course tasting menus at his restaurant Alinea, in Chicago; it’s long, you need patience to absorb the many facets of the experience, and you need time to digest everything. For serious foodies, this is a terrific deconstruction of what it’s like to be a chef and all its peculiar expressions: ego, dedication, vision, and sheer conviction. The outcome is not the story. Yes, he survives the cancer, continuing to work, winning more awards, learning new things, planning new restaurants. The cancer portion, clearly the draw in the story, is merely the last 85 pages. “I could taste nothing. Eating had gone from embodying every possible emotion for me to only one: loss. I was reminded at every meal that I could not taste, could not cook, could not be a chef,” he writes as he undergoes chemotherapy and radiation. The story is the journey, and that is where life, on the line, takes you, on a path of food, passion, dedication and ultimately, a journey of belief. This is a good read, not just of a chef, but of any life as it’s placed on the line and made to account for itself.
Luna Park ~ Los Angeles L. A. has its share of fine eateries and it’s not like you can’t find good food. But what is difficult to find is reasonably priced food in a comfortable environment which doesn’t miss time after time. Welcome to Luna Park. Residing on South La Brea for 8 years, the interior is wood booths and tables, a capacious room and a cool, comfortable, and convivial spot, and thankfully non-frenetic and trendy. Their menu is market-driven so look for fresh foods as the menus rotate seasonally. Soups and salads, and a good selection of entrees from vegetarian and fish to pasta are presented.
Starters like their Goat Cheese Fondue (above), with campfire bread, or Tuna Poke with Fried Wontons are fantastic ways to begin a meal, then you can slide easily into one of their signature dishes like the Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Moroccan Cous Cous and Bok Choy (pictured), or the Breaded Pork Cutlet stuffed with mushrooms and Gruyere. Both are well-executed, moist and present a diversity of flavors and at under 20 bucks, you won’t go wrong. But save some room for their amazing Peanut Butter Mousse Pie, a stunningly creamy, plush and balanced mousse with a graham cracker crust which is the perfect ending to a terrific meal. They begin to get crowded as the evening progresses, so go early. http://www.LunaParkLA.com
I Love Bacon – The Cookbook The name of this cookbook says it all, and if you’re a bacon fan, even a closet bacon-craving vegetarian (and you know who you are), the recipes in this book are worth considering. I confess a love of salted cured meats and yes, I used to belong to the Bacon of the Month Club. Everyone it seems craves bacon. This 135 page book assembles recipes from chefs across American, therefore there is a wide diversity of bacon-inspired food and drink like the Bakon Mary Cocktail (bacon and Bloody Mary anyone?) bacon wrapped dates, the simple classic bacon Mac and cheese to maple bacon ice cream, and chocolate dipped smoked bacon brittle. Fish, tacos, dressings, and well everything that can be enhanced with bacon is represented here. The few photos are cool to look at, and the recipes are well laid out and simple to follow. Added to this, proceeds from the book go to the Food Bank in New York. Bacon and helping others - way to go!
In the mountains near Appenzell in the north-east part of Switzerland is Restaurant Aescher, where you can sit on the side of a cliff with views of the surrounding mountains. It’s completely amazing, stunning and beautiful without a hint of pretention and you’ll have killer views. Soak up the sun, get a local beer, eat your fill and you can burn off the food by hiking down the mountain.
During hunting season in September, venison, elk and mountain goat can be legally shot within a three week time frame. Often made as a stew with red wine called hirsh peffer, it’s a great dish for the cooler months, similar to a stroganoff. But venison can also be served as a steak, wonderfully non-gamy and tender. And then there is rösti, a type of hash browns, rich in butter, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Get the Appenzeller cheese, local cheese which is rich and nutty, or try mostbröckli a thin smoke and air dried roast beef. http://www.aescher-ai.ch
Panorama at the Peak ~ Berkeley Springs, West Virgina Everyone likes great views when they dine, that’s part of the overall experience. But often views are at the expense of sub-par food. Not so with this terrific spot. Built in 1929 as a tavern, owners Leslie Hotaling and Patti Miller took it over and have created a dining destination. The beautiful wood interior has some of the original polished log booths, as well as a stunning wood and stone fireplace (pictured). The views are killer of the Potomac River, West Virginia and Maryland. George Washington used to roam here as a boy.
Their focus is local and organic. The quiche is farm fresh eggs, locally gown broccoli, onions, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and onions. It’s creamy, moist, rich, and loaded with flavor. For the French toast, Chef Scott Collinash uses fresh eggs, adds a touch of Amaretto, then bathes the bread in the wash, and rolls it in crushed pecans, walnuts and bread crumbs for a crunchy texture. The toast is then pan fried in butter and finished in the oven. Damn, that’s fine French Toast! Or try the Steak Benedict (pictured). Terrific food, fantastic views, healthy food and fine people. http://wwwPanoramaatthePeak.com,
Botin ~ Madrid, Spain It’s the oldest restaurant in the world, first established in 1725. That alone is worth a visit when you’re in Madrid. But aside from the sheer history, this spot near Plaza Mayor has terrific food, though it’s a little pricy. Best known for roast suckling pig, and suckling lamb, they are well executed versions that you need to try while in Spain. Or try the roasted veal Rioja-style, thinly sliced veal with a mash of red peppers, onions and spices and on top. Their house made sangria is a lighter alternative to a heavier wine with lunch, though it is on the sweeter side.
If you go make sure you ask for the seating downstairs, in the old cellar below street level. Here the erratic stone and brick walls will give you the feel of age of the place. The upstairs portions of the restaurant are nice, but there are converted hotel rooms and can’t compare to the antiquarian beauty of the subterranean environment. Just a note: as with most Madrid restaurants, they charge for bread (2-3 Euros) so send it back if you don’t want to pay for it. http://www.Botin.es
Black Cat Bistro ~ Cambria, California The interior is a 1920s bungalow with vintage fixtures and next to the fireplace is the best seating. It’s all dim lighting, mustard colored walls and close tables. Chef Deborah Scarborough’s mom decorated the interior and hand made the cushions. Deborah herself used to be a producer in TV before bolting out of L.A. Her food is replete with lots of textures and flavors from local farms. The soup with roasted corn, crab, cilantro, bacon and crispy potatoes with chipotle butter will make you believe in soups again. So good you’ll lick the bowl…I’m not kidding. The seared yellow fin ahi is served with crispy shallots and shiitake mushrooms. The Meyer lemon goat cheese cheesecake is sensual and decadent. http://www.BlackCatBistro.com, 805/927-1600.
Alchemy Café and Market ~ Murphy’s, California Without a doubt Alchemy Café is the place to visit for the best food in the little gold country town of Murphy’s. With a creative seasonal menu including panko crusted sand dab tacos, and mushroom and artichoke pizza, Alchemy creates suburb food, deftly handled by chef Jason Wright who masters flavorful, creative food at very good prices. They pour a vast selection of local Sierra Foothill wines in addition to a dozen beers on tap from across the globe like pilsners and stouts from Belgium, Germany and France. The restaurant is casual and comfortable and multiple meals here have made me a huge fan. Lunches are all under $15. Friday nights is jazz night. 209-728-0700, http://www.AlchemyMarket.com
RauDZ Regional Table ~ Kelowna, British Columbia Located in the historic downtown district RauDZ is at the forefront of new culinary establishments that focus on locally harvested and sustainable foods. Booths flank the walls and a communal table made from a 100 year old tree sits center. The open kitchen means you can watch your food being prepared.
When dining on award wining chef Rod Butters cuisine, you can look up and see photographs of the farmers who harvested the food on your table. Taste the apricot and wild plum martini, one of their excellent signature drinks. Also try the crab cappuccino and the Artic char. http://www.raudz.com
My travel book, Santa Barbara & The Central Coast is available nationwide at all major Internet bookstores like Amazon, Powells, Wal-Mart, Borders and others. This is the definitive travel guide to Santa Barbara, Ojai, Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo, Ventura and other coastal communities. http://www.Amazon.com
California Wine Country is all the best wine country destinations. From Napa and Sonoma, to Mendocino and Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara and Paso Robles, to Monterey and the Sierra Foothills, you'll find the best information on the coolest wineries, choice places to eat, prime places to stay and fun things to do and see. You can pre-order this book at Amazon! http://www.Amazon.com
My handy 80 page Spotlight: Cambria & San Simeon, including Hearst Castle & Morro Bay, makes it easy to navigate the quaint town of Cambria, Paso Robles, Morro Bay and the Hearst Castle. http://www.Amazon.com
To get a signed copy of my book, Generous Fiction. the anti-poetry book, Click Here: http://www.MichaelCervin.com
Check out the Kitchen Appliance Shop for an incredible selection!
~Fandango, Pacific Grove, California
~Everyday Grilling: 50 Recipes from Appetizers to Desserts
~Coupa Café, Beverly Hills
You can also buy Venezuelan coffee by the pound which they roast in Venezuela and since they are the only ones able to import roasted coffee, this is your only stop. However I love their Spicy Maya Hot Chocolate made with cayenne peppers, pasilla, cinnamon and Venezuelan chocolate which is a great change of pace for your morning ritual.They have outdoor seating on tony Canon Drive (a block away from Rodeo Drive) as well a small wine bar and booths and tables inside, and free Wi-Fi. There are a plethora of places to eat in Beverly Hills, most of which will cost you a car payment. For a change of pace, and an inexpensive cool place to hang out, visit Coupa. 
~Quick-Fix Vegan 
~Voodoo Doughnuts: Portland, Oregon. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t like a doughnut once in a while. In Portland, Voodoo has made a cult following on this very premise. Their doughnuts are, a little unusual, like the Bacon and Maple, which is a maple bar with cooked, crispy bacon on top. Or The Loop, a doughy concoction topped with vanilla frosting and studded with Fruit Loops cereal, or their Voodoo Doll, chocolate frosting and raspberry filling with a pretzel stake through the little voodoo puppet’s heart. I stopped by at 3 p.m. on a Sunday in October and couldn’t believe the line. The buzz was it would be a half hour wait. Most everyone seemed unfazed by this, and people kept streaming out of the small shop with pink boxes laden with doughnuts. The family in front of me was local, the guy behind me from Canada, and the couple behind him were from Japan. The word is out.
As I stand in line for what would eventually be a 40 minute wait, I see a building across the street painted with a sign that reads, “Keep Portland Weird.” Okay. In line one lady was reading (she’d been to Powell’s Books where they carry all 3 of my travel books—shameless plug), one couple was listening to a sports game on a radio, and another guy was eating a corn dog. So, how are the donuts? Thick, big, lots of frosting, sweet, fun and quite good; almost a mini-meal, if sugar and dough are your idea of the food pyramid. Prices range from about a buck to $2.50 per doughnut. Are they worth 40 minutes? Well, that’s for you to decide. But I would suggest if you are in downtown Portland with an hour to kill, you might want to put Voodoo on your hit list. 
The success of the new hardcover Italian cook book “Cucina Povera: Tuscan Peasant Cooking” ($21.99 - Andrews McMeel Publishing) is that author Pamela Sheldon Johns lived in the Tuscany region for two decades, so she has an innate understanding of the simple meals presented here. But what is fascinating are the stories of Italian men and woman who share their recipes of simple foods during lean times. Many of the foods here are not fancy, there were brought about due to limited food stuffs, war, poverty and whatever was on hand. The Frittata con Cicoria (eggs with wild greens) for example uses dandelion greens in this basic but immensely flavorful egg dish, as dandelion greens were prevalent along the Italian countryside. Most of the recipies are easy concoctions; a handful of ingredients and a little elbow grease was all that was needed to create healthy food. The Polenta di Castagna con Salsicce (chestnut polenta with sausage) utilizes only six ingredients, yet the result is delicious. Cucina Povera reminds us that food need not be expensive, complicated or rare in order to sustain us. It should however be fresh flavorful and very tasty. (Sept/2011)
life, on the line (Gotham Books, $27.50)
Luna Park ~ Los Angeles
Starters like their Goat Cheese Fondue (above), with campfire bread, or Tuna Poke with Fried Wontons are fantastic ways to begin a meal, then you can slide easily into one of their signature dishes like the Pan Seared Mahi Mahi with Moroccan Cous Cous and Bok Choy (pictured), or the Breaded Pork Cutlet stuffed with mushrooms and Gruyere. Both are well-executed, moist and present a diversity of flavors and at under 20 bucks, you won’t go wrong. But save some room for their amazing Peanut Butter Mousse Pie, a stunningly creamy, plush and balanced mousse with a graham cracker crust which is the perfect ending to a terrific meal. They begin to get crowded as the evening progresses, so go early.
I Love Bacon – The Cookbook
Restaurant Aescher ~ Ebenalp, Switzerland
During hunting season in September, venison, elk and mountain goat can be legally shot within a three week time frame. Often made as a stew with red wine called hirsh peffer, it’s a great dish for the cooler months, similar to a stroganoff. But venison can also be served as a steak, wonderfully non-gamy and tender. And then there is rösti, a type of hash browns, rich in butter, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Get the Appenzeller cheese, local cheese which is rich and nutty, or try mostbröckli a thin smoke and air dried roast beef. 
Panorama at the Peak ~ Berkeley Springs, West Virgina
Their focus is local and organic. The quiche is farm fresh eggs, locally gown broccoli, onions, tomatoes, parmesan cheese and onions. It’s creamy, moist, rich, and loaded with flavor. For the French toast, Chef Scott Collinash uses fresh eggs, adds a touch of Amaretto, then bathes the bread in the wash, and rolls it in crushed pecans, walnuts and bread crumbs for a crunchy texture. The toast is then pan fried in butter and finished in the oven. Damn, that’s fine French Toast! Or try the Steak Benedict (pictured). Terrific food, fantastic views, healthy food and fine people.
Botin ~ Madrid, Spain
If you go make sure you ask for the seating downstairs, in the old cellar below street level. Here the erratic stone and brick walls will give you the feel of age of the place. The upstairs portions of the restaurant are nice, but there are converted hotel rooms and can’t compare to the antiquarian beauty of the subterranean environment. Just a note: as with most Madrid restaurants, they charge for bread (2-3 Euros) so send it back if you don’t want to pay for it. 
Black Cat Bistro ~ Cambria, California 
Alchemy Café and Market ~ Murphy’s, California
My travel book, Santa Barbara & The Central Coast 
To get a signed copy of my book, 
