The feeling of renewal and growth so dominate my images of spring that when the chirping of birds, balmy breezes and fresh scents of rain are interrupted by the frigid reality of a winter that refuses to expire, I can’t help but be disappointed.  We in the Midwest should be used to the fickleness of the seasons, but somehow slipping back to frigid weather in spring throws me every time. However, there are only so many times winter can interrupt the arrival of spring before the bluebells poke their perky heads through the melting snow and inaugurate a stunning show of seasonal contrast. G ..read more

Snow dominates the winter memories of my Midwestern youth.  I especially remember those days when big fluffy snowflakes fluttered gracefully from overcast skies covering the ground in a blanket of white, readying itself for the myriad of children that would joyfully use it as their playground to stage snowball fights, to build whimsical carrot-nosed snowmen and to gather like-minded friends to carry their sleds to the highest hill for an afternoon of sheer gleeful terror. Even walking to school sloshing through piles of snow was an adventure. Of all those winter activities, ice skating w ..read more

Driving up Sheridan Road on Chicago’s North Shore is a picturesque journey in any season, but it is particularly majestic in the fall.  The thick canopy of trees lining the road occasionally reveals a peek of Lake Michigan and envelopes one in the warm, earthy richness of autumn.  So many different trees, so many different leaves, all diverse in shape, size, and depth of color, yet in perfect complimentary harmony.   I often find myself absent-mindedly searching my subconscious for the perfect name for each leaf color.  Over the years it has become a game that I look ..read more

Seasonal change has always had a powerful effect on me.  It influences my mood, my wardrobe, my activities and especially what I choose to eat. On the one hand a bowl of hearty beef stew satisfies my winter palate, whereas the earthy, grassy flavor of asparagus perfectly matches the taste of spring.  And though summer offers a myriad of choices, nothing defines it better than sinking my teeth into the sweet and fleshy tomatoes of early August when they reach their peak ripeness.  But when autumn arrives, my taste buds crave the sweet, nutty flavors of squash – butternut or acor ..read more

Loaded up on pizza and Coca-Cola, the six grandchildren of Ray and Thelma Brussat laughed and squirmed in the back of my brother-in-law Jeff’s gold 1972 Ford Grand Torino station wagon during the thirty-minute drive back to our rented house on Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Ranging in age from four to ten, they all hoped their parents would allow them a quick swim before bedtime, but as we pulled into the driveway, Gardner – the oldest – let out a long, painful moan that turned our heads. He had left his prized army-surplus hat back at the pizzeria and was inconsolable. That very tattered hat ..read more

  Loosely translated Al Fresco dining simply means “dining outside” in Italian.  In most places it is especially popular in summer months when skies are milky blue, days are long and lazy and majestic reddish sunsets cast their romantic glow far into the evening.  Dining outside can take place anywhere from parks to cafes to gardens or even in your own backyard.  It can be a totally casual experience like rustic picnics on a blanket or a formal affair atop a fancy city rooftop or poolside under striped patio umbrellas. When I was growing up in southern Wisconsin, dining ou ..read more

Jorge and I The collaborative exchange of ideas I have shared with the many chefs who have worked for me over the years has had an incredibly significant influence on my culinary journey.  While I enjoy the serendipitous ways in which I search for and find recipes on my own (the focus of my previous post “Mixing it Up”), I also love discovering and creating new dishes alongside the professional chefs who work in my kitchens. Since I opened my first Convito 41 years ago, I have worked with over 25 different chefs.  They each had their own style, their own depth of talent and their o ..read more

I watched Paolo peering into my open refrigerator, arm draped over the door, scanning its brightly lit contents determined to select ingredients for the “delicious sauce” he had promised to make for dinner that night.  He had just arrived from Milan to help me get things organized for the opening of my new Italian market and wine shop that we had partnered to create.  After a long day at Convito stacking, sorting, cleaning and making sure the shelves and deli cases were full and neatly arranged for our opening the next day, we decided it was time to go back to my home in Glencoe for ..read more

There is something comforting about following long-established traditions which for me bring a sense of continuity to an otherwise hectic world. Christmas rituals especially seem to capture a certain kind of magic that reminds us of the strength and importance of family bonds.  My own family’s holiday traditions continued to remain relatively unchanged for years – even after returning to the U.S. from three years living in the U.K. But as change enters our lives, traditions can also morph to accommodate it.  Sometimes it’s a move, sometimes a job change, a new family member, a d ..read more

Each November, moments after the Thanksgiving leftovers are stuffed into the refrigerator and the autumnal-themed decorations are taken down, I begin to feel the magic of the Christmas season.  The woodsy fragrance of evergreens, the crisp, cold air of December and the red and green brushstrokes of the coming holiday season fill me with a heightened sense of excitement.  This has always been a cozy time of year for me.  A time where twinkling lights, flickering candles and the glow of burning embers never fail to conjure up warm memories of all the past holiday traditions that ..read more