GourmetGrrl Bites

While mac n cheese or meatloaf may be someone’s idea of comfort food, I prefer rice. Stir-fried, boiled, or baked, rice is my go-to when a rainstorm hits or I’m just in the mood to hunker down by the fire and this gratin is my new comfort food. Put aside any notions you have of [...]

Forget the pumpkin mousse (or the kid’s candy stash); this year serve the grown-ups a pumpkin-inspired cocktail instead. Bourbon, maple syrup, and pumpkin–festive yet classic flavors, and it’s perfect right through Thanksgiving. PUMPKIN OLD-FASHIONED 2 tablespoons pumpkin puree 1½ ounces bourbon 1 ounce maple syrup ½ ounce Grand Marnier Dash orange bitters Orange peel twist, [...]

There’s nothing like wine country during harvest (or crush): trucks of grapes line the roads and wineries bustle (and hustle) to get the job done. Amid the excitement and back-breaking work of crush are harvest lunches. Whether it’s to thank volunteers who come out to help at a smaller winery or a winery chef who [...]

The end of peach season means saying goodbye to Bellinis and hello to another sparkling cocktail. We were desperate for a new sparkling cocktail to serve at brunch and holiday soirees but apples just wouldn’t do. With pears coming into season we grabbed pear nectar and our favorite sparkling Italian dessert wine and voila—a sparkling [...]

Fall is finally arriving in Northern California but we’ve got the last of the summer zucchini. What to do with the last of those squash? Don’t complain about all that squash – if you’re sick of sauteing them then eat them the Grrl way: in pancakes.