Memorial Day Weekend BBQ

A light simple menu for Memorial Day BBQ this year.

Jalapeño Goat Cheese Crostini

New York Steaks with Black Truffle Thyme Sea Salt

Fresh Cherries

New York Steaks with Black Truffle Thyme Sea Salt topped with Ají, served with
Corn on the Cob and Herb Buttermilk Coleslaw

Mandarin Sorbet on Sugar Cone

Foodzie Frenzy

I'm in a Foodzie frenzy! I just received my first Foodzie Tasting Box and it rocks! It's going to be like my birthday every month. Foodzie Tasting Box is a subscription service, so ou get a box on your doorstep filled with six artisanal food goodies from around the country. My first box to arrive is for the month of May.

May's box includes:

• Dried Pineapple from Peeled Snacks in Brooklyn, NY

• Traditional Alfajores from Dulce Caramel Co. in Buffalo Grove, IL

• Lemon Poppyseed and Almond Biscotti from Biscotti Bari in Petaluma, CA

• Assorted Fresh Herb Sea Salts from Woody's Gourmet in Campbell, CA

• Pure Southern Ice Tea from Pluff Iced Tea in Bluffton, SC

• Classic Seaweed Snack from SeaSnax in Los Angeles, CA

I'm not even sure where to start. When I get the urge for a snack, I'm going to go for it. I'll be sure to let you know how each treat is. Come back for updates on these snacks later this month.

Taste of Gilt

The Gilt Groupe, famous for deals on luxury clothes and vacations is getting into the world of food. Today they launch the new website, Gilt Taste. The website offers a market of high-end artisanal food products, recipes and stories about our favorite topic: Food.

Santander Single Origin Chocolate

Santander Chocolate Bar

I enjoyed this milk chocolate bar in Colombia for a snack and I ate another one today. Santander makes single origin Colombian chocolates. I brought back a couple to the states, including a dark chocolate with coffee beans.

Growler spotted at Silver Lake Farmers' Market

A fan sent in this image of the Growler seen buying produce at Silver Lake Farmers' Market.

Like the Sasquatch, you can sometimes spot a Growler. A fan of our blog captured the Growler this weekend shopping for produce at Silver Lake Farmers' Market. 

Sign of the Times

A sing of the times for many people who are very hungry. I spotted this sign scrawled by a homeless person while walking through Los Angeles the other day.

Frappy Hour

It's Frappuccino Happy Hour at Starbuck's. Beginning May 6 and running through May 15, Starbucks will be hosting a happy hour - All Frappuccionos will be half-price from 3pm-5pm.

Today's Harvest

Italian Arugula and Romaine Lettuce form my garden.

Italian Arugula

Romaine Lettuce

Cue: Disgust

I'm back at work designing food packaging. What's that mean? Flavor Cues! Flavor cue is a term used in marketing to help the consumer immediately identify the flavor. This weekend I was with some friends in the store and was pleasantly pleased to see Tapatío Fritos corn chips! I love me some Tapatío or Cholula hot sauces. My friends called me out on it, but I wasn't embarrassed.

Then, next to the Fritos, I saw one of the biggest design atrocities ever – Ruffles. I have an idea of what kind of guys they are trying to sell to, but this packaging is so terrible, I love it - but. I'd never eat those Ruffles! Loaded Chili & Cheese or Molten Hot Wings potato chips? No thanks. The horrendous photos and over-the-top flavor cues almost made me nauseated. I think I threw up a little in my mouth. It tasted like chili.

I Brake for Boiled Peanuts

"I Brake for Boiled Peanuts" reads the bumper sticker.

After seeing this bumper sticker, I've come to think that boiled peanuts must be bangin'!