Author Archives: Cathy Thomas

Tweet Mayacamas Winery’s entrance. Some evidence of fire, but the over-100-year-historic winery building remained unscathed. Before my recent four-day Napa Valley wine-tasting trip, many friends voiced concern about my itinerary. They perceived the Napa area to be a totally devastated … Continue reading →

Tweet Owners of BELOVED ORANGE COUNTY FOOD TRUCK, CREPES BONAPARTE, have opened a Brick and Mortar location in downtown Fullerton. CREPES BONAPARTE, a concept Christian Murcia developed while in college and grew in Orange County with his wife Danielle, opened … Continue reading →

Tweet Dining at Brick Restaurant is always worth the drive to San Clemente. I live in Huntington, so it takes some time behind the wheel to savor the palate joy of chef-owner David Pratt’s cuisine. David’s house-crafted pasta. His pizzas. … Continue reading →

Tweet My cough was so nasty, it could take paint off a wall. Like so many, my flu-cold misery lasted and lasted. Christmas. New Years. Beyond … Determined to cure it before Groundhog’s Day, I called Kaiser’s on-call nurse. I … Continue reading →

Tweet Branzino That Is Delectable Artwork from Chef Alessandro Pirozzi Branzino has become an everyday staple on upscale restaurant menus. The delicate, white-fleshed Mediterranean seabass (called “loup de mer” on French menus) tastes almost sweet when cooked correctly. Orange County … Continue reading →

Tweet Rachel Klemek, executive pastry chef-owner of Blackmarket Bakery in Costa Mesa, Santa Ana and San Diego, loves the whimsy of whoopie pies. She says the name connotes party-like fun. And the treat is a cake that is portable; it … Continue reading →

Tweet Fifi Chao, much respected and beloved food writer for the Orange County Business Journal for more than three decades, recently passed away. In this photo, Fifi embraces her much-adored husband, Patrick. Some of Orange County’s best chefs gathered at … Continue reading →

Tweet It’s hard to believe that it could get any better because it was absolutely exquisite in the old spot.   When the news hit that the star culinary couple Amelia and Florent Marneau were uprooting their highly successful Marche … Continue reading →

Tweet Blueberry Betty is a one-dish wonder, easy to prepare and scrumptious to eat. Watch this quick how-to video and see just how quickly it comes together. When serving this for company, I assemble the dish before guests arrive. When … Continue reading →

Tweet   I’ve tasted some very-so-so blueberry pies. The fillings were a snooze, too sweet and a little mushy or sometimes too loose. Yes, some are gummy, others runny. My favorite recipe is from Cook’s Illustrated magazine, the periodical for … Continue reading →