Ice Cream with a View

The Amateur Gastronomer spent the month of August in Provence, France.  This is one of a series of articles on the region. I’m going to let you in on a secret: the best ice cream in western, or perhaps all of Provence.  But you have to promise not to tell anyone so it won’t get [...]

Chocolate: Seed to Sweet Opens at the Atlanta Botanical Garden

Bring your sweet tooth to the Atlanta Botanical Garden this fall for Chocolate: Seed to Sweet! The new exhibition is fun for chocolate fans of all ages.  After passing through a giant cacao pod visitors learn how chocolate is made, starting with the cacao tree and ending with candy factories. At this weekend’s grand opening [...]

Cup-Free Inhalable Coffee

There’s a new way to get your coffee fix any time of day without burning your mouth or staining your teeth. Introducing Le Whif, a coffee that you drink by breathing.  With Le Whif you inhale the coffee into your mouth (in the form of hundreds of milligrams of tiny particles), and taste it without [...]

An Interview with Chef Eric Ripert

Chef Eric Ripert needs no introduction.  A French native and world-renowned chef, Ripert is truly a master in the kitchen.  Just one visit to Manhattan’s Le Bernardin where Ripert is executive chef will turn you into a passionate and devoted fan.  You may not need an entire meal — I was hooked after a few [...]

The Ultimate Valentine's Day Chocolate Indulgence

Give that special someone the ultimate chocolate gift this Valentine’s Day — an entire buffet dedicated to the delicious aphrodisiac! Cantina Beach, the coastal Mexican-inspired restaurant at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, is bringing back its lavish Valentine’s Day Chocolate Buffet.  This year’s feast will feature more than 100 pounds of chocolate spanning the entire 20-foot [...]

Meringue Kisses

Put off that New Year’s resolution to eat healthier for a little bit just so you can enjoy these delicious meringue kisses!  Light as air with a nice crunch, these cookies can almost pass as a guilt-free treat. This recipe from my mom has always been a hit with family and friends.  Just be careful [...]

Have Your Cookie and Eat It Too

Imagine a cookie chock full of your favorite candy, dessert or nut, with no baking required. Already heading to the fridge for a glass of milk? You’ll find this perfect snack at Cookie Monkey, an website for Miami’s cookie fanatics where you can customize your own cookies and have them delivered to your door. Owner [...]

Banana, Pecan & Chocolate Chip Muffins

Banana muffins are a tasty way to make sure those overripe bananas don’t go to waste.  Once I started making banana, pecan and chocolate chip muffins I found myself buying extra bananas, just so I had an excuse to make them. This muffin recipe is an easy treat for weekend mornings.  There are no milk [...]

Wine and a Performance at Aureole

For a unique wine experience in Las Vegas dine at Aureole, where you get dinner and a show. At the heart of the restaurant is a four-story, temperature controlled wine tower.  Bottles are retrieved by “flying wine angels,” women clad in black spandex who soar up and down the tower using an elaborate pulley system. [...]

Champagne Brunch Buffet at the Wynn

You can’t visit Las Vegas without checking out at least one buffet.  My pick: the weekend Champagne brunch buffet at the Wynn. For me, buffets can be dangerous — no matter what I tell myself beforehand I always eat way too much and leave uncomfortably full.  I never seem to learn that my eyes are [...]