this is my favorite restaurant in vallauris, france. the food and the owners are equally exquisite. and perhaps the best part of it all is that it is literally 10 feet from our apartment !

this was my meal there last night. it was perfectly cooked (or rather, not cooked).

mexican food is definitely one of my favorite food groups ! here are some of the beautiful meals i have had here in mexico . . . 

it’s no secret that i LOVE food. i was raised in a household where food was extremely important and celebrated every day. it didn’t hurt that my dad was a master chef and took great pride in preparing elaborate dinners for the family every night. so how lucky am i to live near chez panisse ?! yesterday i met some of my favorite friends there for an impromptu lunch. it sounds so decadent in a way, as i usually reserve chez panisse for special occasions, but it really is just the best simple food made with the freshest ingredients and love,  served in a homey environment. sans frills. just like it was growing up. so simple + true.

and here was my said lunch:  housemade bucatini + clams. sensational.

a stack of my plates used by the fabulous food stylist erin quon. we worked together YEARS ago at the slow club and became fast friends. the whole gang of us that worked the slow club in the mid 90’s all went on to do BIGGER and more creative things. it’s really quite amazing.