An expatriate of New Orleans – and professional chef – who has lived in Los Angeles since her childhood, blogs about the journey from New Orleans to Los Angeles back to New Orleans, and points along the way.

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My Mexican Adventure – Part 2- Valle de Guadalupe

Posted by on Oct 3, 2018, 12:32 pm in Food and Drink, Recipes-Savory, Travel | 4 comments

Our day started with a stop at Dona Esthela’s for a hearty Mexican breakfast, a trip to a tiny local farmer’s market, then it was off to find the wineries.

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My Mexican Adventure – Part 1 – Arriving in Baja

Posted by on Oct 3, 2018, 12:03 pm in Travel | 3 comments

I didn’t set out to have a Mexican themed month, but I had been hearing about the Valle de Guadalupe- Baja’s wine country-for several years. Around the same time, I found myself suffering from Mexican food lack…

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Uncle Manuel Perez

Posted by on Aug 11, 2018, 3:14 pm in History, Personal Reflection | 6 comments

I was in high school, and had just joined the band and selected my instrument – the trumpet – when learned that Manuel, my father’s uncle, had been a trumpet player, and a very influential one , at that.

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How to Spend a Wintry Afternoon in Oakland

Posted by on Jan 31, 2018, 9:48 am in Restaurants, Travel | 0 comments

Spending a luxurious wintry afternoon in Oakland at Piedmont Springs and Ninna Thai.

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Crab and Sausage Stew aka Gumbo

Posted by on Dec 18, 2017, 5:17 pm in Books, Gift Suggestions, Recipes-Savory | 0 comments

When the temps dropped last week, it was time for gumbo – this time John Besh’s Crab and Sausage Stew, basically a variation of gumbo.

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Black Eyed Peas with Mustard Greens

Posted by on Nov 10, 2017, 12:37 pm in Recipes-Savory | 0 comments

The discovery of Melissa’s Produce pre-cooked black eyed peas led to a updated dish for the New Year’s tradition, where the sum is better than the parts.

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Visiting Natchez, Mississippi

Posted by on Nov 2, 2017, 3:50 pm in History, Travel | 0 comments

An easy drive from New Orleans, Natchez, MS offers a perfect getaway with river views and the nation’s largest stock of antebellum homes.

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Visiting the Whitney Plantation

Posted by on Oct 9, 2017, 3:23 pm in Historic Places, History, Personal Reflection, Travel | 0 comments

I returned to River Road this past weekend to spend an aptly cloudy afternoon visiting the Whitney Plantation, the United States’ only plantation dedicated to the enslaved.

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Margarita Cheesecakes- and My Best Cheesecake Tips

Posted by on Jul 23, 2017, 11:22 am in Recipes-Sweet | 0 comments

A great Margarita Cheesecake recipe with tips for baking the best cheesecakes.

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A Visit to Washington DC – and the New African American Museum

Posted by on Jun 28, 2017, 4:00 pm in Historic Places, History, Restaurants, Travel | 0 comments

A summer escape to the Washington DC area with a visit to the new National Museum of African American History.

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