The Times - Serving Waitsburg, Dayton and the Touchet Valley

It's the season of backyard barbeques and neighborhood potlucks, a time when small gatherings can quickly turn into large parties. Amongst the various salads and grilled meats of your summer spreads,...

Julia Child is famous for noting that the quality of a cook can always be judged by how well they roast a chicken. In my quest for poultry perfection, I have tried countless variations and recipes...

In our garden, the nightshades have gone into the ground, and the countdown to tomato season has officially begun. There are few things about summer that I look forward to more than the first...

Too often, uninspired versions of this dish are slapped on restaurant menus, overdressed with bland mass-produced dressing. Originally created in 1924, by an Italian immigrant at his namesake restaura...

During my first spring living in Waitsburg, I quickly fell in love with the vibrant-green rolling hills, the abundance of flowering trees, and the discovery of what the locals simply call “salad...

Truth be told, I have always been one who craves savory over sweet. So perhaps it is of little surprise that my favorite desserts are those that include ingredients which act as a counterbalance to...

As a transplant from the west side of the state, I am often overwhelmed by a strong craving for ocean air and fresh seafood. This past weekend, I made an escape to the coast to satisfy such a...

As the days are warming up and getting longer, grilling season is officially here. Concurrently, our edible garden is coming alive and ushering in the season of fresh herbs in everything we cook. We...

While I am firmly an omnivore, there have been moments, albeit brief moments, when I have dabbled in vegetarianism. Blame it on my childhood, surrounded by West Coast hippies and artists, but I have...

Over the years, certain spices have become such well-loved staples in my kitchen that I have learned to make great use of buying in bulk. Housed in neatly labeled mason jars, and taking up several...

Spring is here! Birds are chirping, daffodils have finally brought some color to our garden, and fresh local asparagus will soon come into season. While I often serve asparagus simply with just a driz...

Being the proper Anglophile that I am, my television viewing leans heavily towards programs from across the pond. A long favorite is The Great British Bake Off, which, with its charming pastoral...

Long before the current food truck craze, my earliest culinary discoveries were made as a kid in Los Angeles, sampling what was available from the city's ubiquitous taco trucks. With the variety of...

My love for sampling the diversity of foods from around the globe is likely rooted in my multi-cultural background. As my last name implies, the ancestry from my father's family is Mexican, while on m... Full story

Hunting for a classic Researching recipes often feels like traveling to me, and one of my favorite destinations to explore is Italy. Rich in history, this relatively small country is made up of 107...

For me, cooking has always been about more than just sustenance alone. The foods we eat tell a story, and I am always listening. Every ingredient and technique used in modern kitchens are a daily...

While it often feels controversial, I have always been a lover of the winter months. Watching the snow gently fall while tending to a simmering pot is one of my favorite simple pleasures. During snow...

Pepper-crusted love This year, perhaps more than usual, many of us are planning Valentine's date nights at home. Beautifully sauced steaks served with a nice bottle of wine will surely impress while... Full story

Spread the love I have always believed that a heartfelt homemade gift outshines one mass-produced. The childhood joy of cutting and adorning perfect hearts out of brightly colored construction paper...

Flemish weekend delight After a busy week of making quick afterwork meals, there is nothing I love more than spending some quality time in the kitchen over the weekend. Taking my time creating a meal... Full story

While the country I love feels painfully divided, I have been focusing on what unites us, and to my mind, food has always been the great unifier. Our nation's rich diversity makes it hard to define a...