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Valentine’s Dinner: Inspirations for the ultimate romantic evening
warm heart, full stomach
Valentine’s Dinner: Inspirations for the ultimate romantic evening
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.14.10 | Comment
Valentine’s Dinner: Inspirations for the ultimate romantic evening

“One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.” -Virginia Woolf

Nothing inspires romance like an evening of attention bestowed on your loved one in the form of sushi, chocolate, and champagne. ...

Got munchies!
Super Bowl Party Appetizers: The action that happens off screen with great friends and good food
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.07.10 | Comment
Super Bowl Party Appetizers: The action that happens off screen with great friends and good food

At any Super Bowl party, you know that only half the action happens on screen. The rest is provided by great friends and of course, some good eats. We spent our Super Bowl Sunday with Jay and Judy ...

silicon valley spotting
Coupa Café , Palo Alto: A shot of espresso and venture vibe
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.05.10 | Comment
Coupa Café , Palo Alto: A shot of espresso and venture vibe

Just as I was heading to Lucy Stern Theatre for an afternoon of Palo Alto Players’ ‘Rabbit Hole’, I suddenly had a desire for a hot latte to chase away some of the grey skies and drizzle that ...

A predator's gaze
Hanaichi Sushi Bar, Brisbane Australia: Wide eyes and a ravenous appetite
by Loni Kao Stark | 02.02.10 | Comment
Hanaichi Sushi Bar, Brisbane Australia: Wide eyes and a ravenous appetite

A particular discussion involving avocado and iron chefs prompted me to have visions of sushi and I just had to dig up these photos I took of Hanaichi Sushi Bar, a place I discovered on a Sunday evening ...

cozy hugs in winter
Bridgehead Coffee: Full-bodied lattes worth the flight to Ottawa
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.04.10 | Comments (2)
Bridgehead Coffee: Full-bodied lattes worth the flight to Ottawa

While in Ottawa last week, we dropped by a Bridgehead coffeehouse in Westboro for some hot lattes after our workout at GoodLife Fitness. Bridgehead Coffee is exclusive to the Ottawa area and specializes in 100% fairly ...

Dip, don't drop.
2010 New Year kicks off with family, fondue…and a whole lot of guessing
by Loni Kao Stark | 01.01.10 | Comment
2010 New Year kicks off with family, fondue…and a whole lot of guessing

I hope you and your family had a wonderful New Year’s eve to kick off the shiny new decade. Clint and I spent last night in the wonderful company of the O’s.

Chef Suzy O—, as usual laid out ...

New Year Resolutions
New year, new apple peeler!
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.31.09 | Comment

Celebrating the New Year, I took my new apple peeler on a test drive.

Well, the first attempt ...

The Anti New Year's Resolution
Donut (Doughnut) cravings at Ottawa International Airport
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.31.09 | Comment
Donut (Doughnut) cravings at Ottawa International Airport

My usual ritual when I am in Ottawa, Canada for the holidays is to pick up 6 timbits from Tim Hortons to share with Clint after our morning workout at GoodLife Fitness everyday. I know, it ...

Curious Chinese lanterns
Physalis: Discovering an ‘exotic fruit’ that adds pop to any salad
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.29.09 | Comments (2)
Physalis: Discovering an ‘exotic fruit’ that adds pop to any salad

While shopping for salad ingredients at the local grocery store, I came across pints of these pretty and unusual looking fruit called “Physalis” or ground cherries from Colombia stacked in the middle of the produce section.

The plastic film ...

Dinner before Theater
Sushi Rock, San Francisco: Sushi and bento boxes served at a fast and friendly tempo
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.28.09 | Comment
Sushi Rock, San Francisco: Sushi and bento boxes served at a fast and friendly tempo

I stumbled upon Sushi Rock in San Francisco with an empty stomach and little time before we had to catch a play at a local theater. To be exact, I had about 30 minutes for dinner before we ...

Many ways to cook the bird
Holiday Eats: Another turkey’s journey from deep fryer to table
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.28.09 | Comment
Holiday Eats: Another turkey’s journey from deep fryer to table

Yesterday, I posted an entry on the fate of our Christmas turkey entitled “Holiday Eats: One turkey’s journey from oven to table“. As a follow on, Patterson, a reader and occasional contributor to StarkSilverCreek, sent in ...

All dressed up
‘A Night of Glamour’ Brownie Ice Cream Cake: Revisiting the little black dress of desserts
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.28.09 | Comments (2)
‘A Night of Glamour’ Brownie Ice Cream Cake: Revisiting the little black dress of desserts

A while back I discussed the wonders of chocolate shavings and edible gold flakes for dressing up a brownie ice cream cake recipe.

This recipe and technique was used again recently to create a beautiful sweet ending ...

A family affair
Holiday Eats: One turkey’s journey from oven to table
by Loni Kao Stark | 12.27.09 | Comment
Holiday Eats: One turkey’s journey from oven to table

There is a lot of pressure when you are the star of the dinner table. When it is a traditional Christmas dinner, the pressure of this coveted title goes to the friendly neighborhood turkey. (Okay, if you’ve ever ...