by Chrysa Smith 'Faire thee well.' That's one of the lost phrases you'll hear at your local Renaissance Festival. And for me, that's the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire: http://www.parenfaire.com/. I haven't gotten there yet this year, but I will--as soon as my son heads off to college. Because an afternoon spent at a Renaissance Festival is equal to a mini-vacation; entering an ancient world filled with queens, knights, beggars, jesters and of course, those [...]
by Chrysa Smith Would you look at that? Who wouldn't want to eat there. It's got it all. A sensational view, great location, combination of formal dining and casual outdoor setting. And you could be there for the price of a ticket to Tanzania. Yes--not a quick dinner out. It is the Ngorogoro Crater Lodge, situated on the African Plains--volcanic land. The closest I've been is watching The Lion King or Madagascar on [...]
by Chrysa SmithBefore the magazine business dropped like a sunken souffle, my love for food writing began with some celebrity chef interviews. One of my favorites: Eric Treuille, pictured to the right in apron. http://www.dorlingkindersleyuk.co.uk/nf/Author/AuthorPage/0,,1000056407,00.html. If you've been reading since the beginning, you may already know this. Besides being cute (right?) he is one genuine, down-to-earth guy whose life is food. Situated in the UK, the French chef, who has authored dozens of [...]
by Chrysa SmithWe were on a nice family outing to a nice family party about three hours from home. My mother, now 88, reminisced about the days spent up in that area of NY; the younger days when the family would meet up for the day at a park, grill, swim, chat and generally enjoy each other's company."You know," I said, "whatever happened to picnics? Nobody does them anymore." The car was quiet.Is [...]
by Chrysa SmithThirsty?I bet. At some point this summer, most everyone in the US has turned up the AC, turned off their oven and kept the supply of ice tea, lemonade and H2O flowing.But what if you want something more? A special treat that goes beyond ice cream, water ice, sorbet or gelato? Of course, you could buy those frozen drink or margarita machines, but let's face it, you don't need another electronic [...]
by Chrysa SmithWhether it was Al's from Happy Days or Mel's from Alice, one of the tastiest pieces of American culture has got to be the 'Great American Diner.' The authentic ones--with vinyl floors and formica tabletops are increasingly difficult to find. But if you're a child of the 50's, 60's or 70's, you know nobody does breakfast better or cheaper---or with that slap it on the table action served up with a [...]
by Chrysa SmithMy husband is very complimentary--especially where my cooking is concerned. And it is why he believes, it's harder and harder for us to find a restaurant where we can enjoy a meal more than we do at home. So when two of our favorites recently disappointed (not on food but on service and a bad experience), what to do? Is my apron forever tied to my oven door? Do we drive [...]
