This column on Apartment Therapy may be one of the best things I’ve read about home cooking. The author, Maxwell Ryan, who started the awesome site Apartment Therapy years ago as a design service, found no matter how he helped clients redesign their homes, if they never cooked in their kitchens, their homes lacked coziness.Continue reading “Cooking at Home”
Author Archives: The Next Dinner Party
Kissing in Spain
There is a lot of kissing in Spain. From young people passionately making out in the streets, to kissing new and old friends hello, to signing off emails with “besos” (that’s kisses in Spanish), kisses here are everywhere. There is no sense in resisting. Every walk in the park reveals intertwined couples rolling around inContinue reading “Kissing in Spain”
Why Do Americans Refrigerate Eggs?
I remember the first time I went to the grocery store in Yemen. I was surprised by a number of things: That there was no cheese section, that there was a separate place to pay for bread and produce, and that I was followed around by a gaggle of curious boys. But I was mostContinue reading “Why Do Americans Refrigerate Eggs?”
Best Bites: A Meaty Restaurant with Something for Vegetarians
You probably wouldn’t think that a longtime vegetarian would swoon over a restaurant with a name that translates to “Chop Room.” Yet, here it is. Mr. Dame in Spain and I were tipped off to the existence of this new foodie haven by the excellent 36 Hours in Madrid article in the New York Times.Continue reading “Best Bites: A Meaty Restaurant with Something for Vegetarians”
Great Hikes Around Madrid
City living got you longing for some fresh air and open spaces? Lucky for you, Madrid is situated near some great hiking trails that can take you over mountains, through forests and quaint old towns. Here are a handful of stand-out hiking areas near Madrid, all of which offer a number of hiking trails. 1.Continue reading “Great Hikes Around Madrid”
What’s the Story Here?
When I was twenty and working at a newspaper in Michigan, I was assigned to cover a belly dancing class at the library. I arrived to a henna-haired women in her late fifties whooshing colored scarves around and instructing the four children who were participating. Four children. How was I supposed to write a storyContinue reading “What’s the Story Here?”
Okay, I Get It. I Think.
I’ve said previously that I am no fan of running. But if I really remind myself of it, it’s true that I’ve been a reluctant runner at various points in my life. There was that time in college when I had a dog and ran up stairs to the mostly abandoned East Campus at WesternContinue reading “Okay, I Get It. I Think.”
Three Days in Barcelona
Back when I used to tell people I was moving to Madrid, one out of three times they’d respond with “Barcelona is amazing!” I started to get a an inferiority complex about my soon-to-be city. So when my parents visited back in May coincided with my 30th birthday, I thought “What better place to celebrateContinue reading “Three Days in Barcelona”
My Favorite Appetizers
A have a rotation of truly delicious vegetarian appetizers that I go back to again and again. These tried-and-true crowd-pleasers and wow-eliciters range from an easy bowl of nuts to the special occasion savory stuffed mushrooms that recall the flavor of Thanksgiving stuffing (with none of the dryness). There is a magical place in WashingtonContinue reading “My Favorite Appetizers”
The Case for Books. (Okay, a Bookcase).
I’m one of those stodgy people who refuses to own a Kindle. I know e-readers are super practical and all, but “I just like the feel of an actual book,” I’m known to say. (“I know an automobile is super fast and all, but I just like the feel of an actual horse, you know?”Continue reading “The Case for Books. (Okay, a Bookcase).”