Appetizer Recipes

My neighbor Mark wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a ladder—a deeply unglamorous Tuesday errand—and the smell of butter and seared … Read more

There used to be a little wine bar tucked into a brick corner on the north side of town—The Bramble, it was called—that made the … Read more

There used to be a tiny wine bar tucked behind a bookstore in my neighborhood called The Gilded Grape. They had this charcuterie board that … Read more

This was supposed to be a simple dinner. I had a pack of chicken breasts thawing on the counter, a block of cream cheese softening … Read more

This was supposed to be a simple baked brie. You know, the kind you throw together in ten minutes flat when guests are on their … Read more

My neighbor Carol wasn’t trying to impress anyone. I’d stopped by to borrow a cookie sheet—mine had mysteriously vanished during the holiday baking chaos—and the … Read more

This was supposed to be a fancy baked brie en croute—you know, the kind you see at holiday parties that looks like a golden gift … Read more

There used to be a tiny wine bar tucked behind a bookstore on Main Street in my old neighborhood that made the most perfect charcuterie … Read more

My neighbor, Mrs. Gable, watched me struggle with a too-heavy butternut squash soup one October afternoon. I’d been peeling that squash for what felt like … Read more

There used to be this tiny, unassuming restaurant tucked away on a side street in Portland, Oregon, called The Gilded Pear. They made a persimmon … Read more