My homemade pesto, goat cheese, sun-dried tomato strata is always everyone’s favorite h.o.d. (that’s hors d’oeuvre, for the unitiated…)

I can’t believe I’m sharing this recipe!!!

New York Daily News: Full Plate

Gotta love my family’s Christmas Eve dinner invitation.

A bottle of red, a bottle of white make mandatory extended family time go down a bit more easily…

New York Daily News: Full Plate

My sweet editor, Tracy, sent me a screen grab of my holiday food story positioned  FRONT AND CENTER on the front page. Getting your hands on stuffed mozzarella, standing prime rib roast and whole-poached salmon is serious, breaking-news-kinda-business this time of year. 

Dating advice of the week: Single girlfriends, do not fall for Mr. Amuse-Bouche. Go for the man who roasts you a chicken and shucks you a dozen oysters.

New York Daily News: Full Plate

My very Southern mother thinks that a good holiday host(ess) walks, talks and poses a certain way. 

(At left, Mom’s 1960’s aesthetic in action. “Extend your forearm, sweetheart. Now the match… Yes, yes… Now position chest over plate…”)

I, on the other hand, think that a good host(ess) merely knows where to shop for the best holiday goodies. 

As the New York Daily News’ hostess with the mostess, I’m directing New Yorkers to the best chocolate, cheese and capon (aka castrated rooster) in town. ‘Tis the season for overeating.

New York Daily News: 14 Holiday Must-Haves For Your Holiday Spread