Basilic Restaurant: Swiss Precision on Balboa Island
By Mary Frederiksen On a recent trip to Newport Beach, California, we happened on a wonderful dining spot on Balboa Island. We had done some research prior to our trip and were intrigued by a highly rated restaurant named BASILIC. This intimate… Read more
Mad For Marche Bacchus
By Mary Frederiksen Last week, Glen and I dined at another top restaurant here in Las Vegas. We feel it is our mission to try as many great restaurants as we can before we become too old to enjoy them. It is a tough assignment, but someone has to… Read more
L’Atelier: Pricey… But Perfect
By Mary Frederiksen One of the many advantages of living in Las Vegas is that there are so many world-class dining establishments. Since moving here in 2009, we have adopted a fun and exciting tradition of having the natal-day celebrant select… Read more
Holiday Gift Ideas for the ‘Happy Cookers’ on Your List… or for Yourself!
BY MARY FREDERIKSEN With the Christmas holiday shopping season entering the home stretch, you may be looking for some gift ideas for the cooks on your list… or perhaps for yourself, in case the gift givers in your life are clueless. This… Read more
Last-Minute Thanksgiving Meal Advice
By Mary Frederiksen Happy Thanksgiving Day! You made it to the big day of dining with family and friends! Okay, now that you’ve done your shopping, set your table and cleaned the house, it’s time to do the cooking. My “assignment”… Read more
Fine Dining in Flagstaff? We’ve Got Just the ‘Place’
By Mary Frederiksen During the planning stages of our recent trip to the Grand Canyon, we searched the internet for a fine dining restaurant in the Flagstaff area. On past trips, we just “drove by” this town on our way to “somewhere else”… Read more
The Happy Cooker Updates Central Coast Dining Blog
Mary Frederiksen, a.k.a. The Happy Cooker, has just updated her blog on mostly under-the-radar places to eat in Central Coast wine country. The two new entries (or should that be entrees?) are a wonderful spot for tummy-filling breakfasts and… Read more
Eating My Way Through the Central Coast
By Mary Frederiksen It’s time for some quick reviews of some of the restaurants we have enjoyed on our trip to the Central Coast. Our favorite place remains Jocko’s in Nipomo. They have the best steaks we have ever tasted, all grilled on an… Read more
Farming sponges? You bet!
By Mary Frederiksen Have you ever wondered where luffa sponges come from? While on our summer trip to the Central Coast, we happened upon The Luffa Farm in Nipomo, California. Open to the public Wednesday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,… Read more
A Savory Polenta Recipe
By Mary Frederiksen This is one of my favorite appetizer recipes. It is trendy, delicious and requires minimal kitchen work. Gotta love that! POLENTA WITH SAUSAGE AND MUSHROOMS Ingredients: One pound flavorful ground pork… Read more
