I love cookbooks. Like so many of you, I harbor hundreds of them, a trove of gems, each sparkling and shiny and waiting to be my next gleefully consumed novel. They sort of call out to me from my shelf, like a pretty vintage handbag that surprises me each time I dig it out from the back of my closet.

Some of my cookbooks are handed down from previous generations, thank goodness for a mother-in-law that saved everything. I have an original 1969 copy of Betty Crocker’s Cookbook held together with some grey electrical tape, and a 1971 print of Playboy’s Host and Bar Book which is kind of more than a little sexy, filled with quick cocktail recipes (quick = my favorite kind) and photos that would be considered quite hipster today.

So I love cookbooks. And I knew that when the Eat Boutique Local Markets finally got into full swing, cookbooks just had to be involved somehow. It just makes sense to have people who craft amazing food and people who create amazing books about food in the same space. I guess it felt right to you too, because you came, you bought and you left with signed books from some great local authors.

Thank you for that, really. The cookbook authors thank you too.

But what did come as a surprise was how the authors and publishers have embraced our little event. And now I’m invited to participate on a panel at next month’s Cookbook Conference. Believe me, I’m still rubbing my eyes in disbelief. I’ll be in the same room as Judith Jones, Melissa Clark, Barbara Fairchild, Dorie Greenspan, Amanda Hesser, Molly O’Neill, and so many others. Did I mention that I’m still rubbing my eyes?

I’ll be sure to share a conference recap and specifically how the “Working with Bloggers” panel unfolds. I’ll be in New York City next month, probably freaking out, so pass me a cocktail to ease my nerves and wish me luck!

By the way, Harvard Common Press is sponsoring three scholarships to the Future of the Cookbook case study on Thursday, which means a free ticket for a few lucky folks. Spread the word.

The lead photo was taken by Heidi Murphy/White Loft Style. The two wide open cookbooks were shot by Wendi Dunlap. The photos in the center montage were taken by Kristen Bonardi Rapp and shinzui.

Eat Boutique is an online magazine + market for food enthusiasts to celebrate the best pure, local and comforting handmade foods. We call it: food that hugs you back. Looking for the perfect gift? Eat Boutique sells gift boxes filled with handmade sweet and savory treats. Send a gift box of handmade food today.

I’ve worked for too many big companies to know that small companies truly rock. (I’m not sure if I mentioned previously, but I work here now!) Certainly, small companies come with their requisite downsides – like way too much work for far too few people – but the upsides are beyond words, really. It’s fabulous to work with three other fabulous women who care about doing what’s right, who prioritize delivering the highest levels of service and who are seriously in love with their gigs. Trips to Paris don’t suck either.

Earlier this summer, most of us (sadly, absent our fearless leader) gathered in New York City for lots of work and a touch of play. We also said good bye to one of us, a fearless young lady heading off to business school. To toast her new challenge and weep for our loss, we gathered at The Harrison in Lower Manhattan for a perfect send-off dinner.

Luckily, the New York City heat wave hadn’t yet set in and we grabbed a table outside right on Greenwich Street in Tribeca, but not before being welcomed by a friendly hostess and the wonderful Amanda Freitag, executive chef at The Harrison. We were all a little surprised to see her at the front door but after reading up on her a bit more, I learned it was quite in her character to stand at the front door, smiling at guests.

Like Joanne Chang of Flour Bakery in Boston, Amanda realizes that food is only one part of the dining equation and puts a lot of weight into crafting an experience for her guests. Eat Boutique is all about the experience behind the food, the story behind the meal, and how old-fashioned hospitality can transcend your life. Amanda totally gets this.

Thanks to Amanda and her amazing staff, the entire evening was full of fun. The menu is incredibly fresh, served with a light, expert touch – think no weighty sauces or heavy deep fries but amazing flavors seasoned exceptionally well. The octopus salad won all of our hearts, as did the lightly deep-fried troutlings. I challenge anyone to make their troutlings, beautiful tiny trout, taste better.

We practically inhaled our meal, scooping up every last morsel of octopus. Each of our bites were alternated with fun personal stories, giving us a great chance to get to know each other a bit. We also became familiar with the locals and giggled when Maggie Gyllenhaal stood by our table, trying to get a taxi. We thought only in New York City would it be practically impossible for Maggie Gyllenhaal to hail a taxi cab. In any other U.S. city, she might be recognized and helped quickly. But it was rush hour, and while she’s totally cute, New Yorkers don’t really care about celebrity.

Several factors made the night fairly perfect: gorgeous fresh food, a corner table in hip Tribeca, a few unique cocktails, kind new colleagues/friends, and absolutely lovely view of a sliver of the ocean as the sun set just behind it. We toasted hello and toasted good bye, and looked forward to our next amazing meal with each other. Hopefully, in Paris next time.

Our first rosé in 2010!

If you’re like us, there are few things more exciting than the first few outdoor rosés of the year. Nothing screams summer and good times
like rosé. Last Saturday was the perfect day for that. It was sunny and warm in NYC and it was the kind of day that makes you think “With spring days like this, who needs summer, really?”. We went out for a bike ride and opened this French rosé on the roof of our building when we came back. The bottom of the air was still cold, as the French saying goes, but it was definitely warm and sunny enough for a rosé, especially when we’re talking about the spring version of this Mas de Gourgonnier wine.

We paired it with a sandwich we picked up on our bike ride: organic turkey and cheddar from Foragers’ Market in Dumbo. It was good but, to be honest, this wine would have been much more at home along a fruity, crisp salad like this pomegranate seeds and fennel salad Jaclyn serves alongside her crab cakes or maybe even this fennel and apple salad from Not Derby Pie. Venison pâté would also be a great pairing for this, ideally the caribou and figs one Chloe’s parents tend to buy in Quebec City – a must buy from the awesome Epicerie Europeenne in Old Quebec if you’re ever around.

The wine smells of peaches and strawberry – did we say summer wine? – but is by no mean overwhelming. It tastes very full in the mouth while remaining well-balanced. There are some smoky flavors as well as some woodsiness. It is a very food friendly rosé and is very savory as opposed to many sweeter rosés who tend to be on the fruity side. It would be perfect with a platter of meats and cheeses, bruschetta or young olives – the perfect aperitive for a sunny afternoon, really!

We cannot wait for the next bottle.

Mas de Gourgonnier 2009, Nicholas Cartier et ses fils| $16 at Dandelion Wines, Greenpoint, Brooklyn NY

Last night’s pairing surprised us more than anything we’ve experienced so far this year. It involved Italian wine, a homemade pizza and a CD we hadn’t heard in years. It all started back in 2005…

We used to be regulars at – what we still consider to be – the best wine bar in New York. It has a fantastic selection of Italian wines and the kitchen consistently turns out great pastas and outrageously delicious pizzas. The atmosphere is always buzzing too, with an eclectic range of music that we always really enjoy.  So although we often tried to recapture the bar’s magic at home, we never did… and for the longest time we pretty much gave up on Italian wine pairing.

Fast-forward 5 years…

On a recent shopping spree, we asked the owner of a wonderful Brooklyn wine shop to recommend some of her favorite wines. Without hesitation, she grabbed a bottle of Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2008.  Gasp – the dreaded Italian wine pairing challenge!  She told us the wine’s grapes were from the slopes of Mount Etna (home of the Sicilian volcano of the same name).  Even more interesting was that 2008 was the first vintage to be certified organic.  At $21, it wasn’t the cheapest bottle in the shop but hey, it’s organic wine grown on a volcano.  Sold!

Smelling this wine is like walking into a flower and herb garden in late summer. Basil and chive are the primary aromas, with the smell of candied cherry in the background. The color is a pale, brick red, much different from the deep almost purplish color that some southern Italian wines can be.  On the finish, there’s a lingering taste of ash, which sounds terrible but it’s really quite amazing and definitely reminds you of the wine’s terroir.  And much like a Ferrari calls for the open road, this wine screams for food.

In the spirit of going all out, we decided to make homemade pizza to go with the Tenuta. Deb’s Broccoli Rabe and Roasted Onions Pizza recipe seemed like it would be a winner (we cheated by buying fresh dough from our corner pizzeria). It was definitely a good choice.  The bitterness of the rabe and the lightness of a yellow pepper thrown in at the last minute added another tasty layer to the wine’s delicate balance of flavor and structure… neither one overpowering the other but playing nicely together.

As we sat at the table talking about how great the pizza and wine were, a CD started that we hadn’t heard in a LONG time… and then it happened. We were transported back to that wine bar.  The combination of this wine, our pizza and some great tunes finally did the trick!

So if you’ve been searching for a simple, great tasting, authentic Italian meal at home – this is a great one to try.

Tenuta delle Terre Nere 2008, $21 at Dandelion Wines, 153 Franklin Street, Brooklyn.

My pals Dennis and Chloe just relocated to New York City and all their stuff is still in London. Ugh. It’s made for a bit of a tough holiday cooking season.

Dennis asked for some help: “Okay – we have a cooking challenge for you! Our stuff still hasn’t arrived from London, so we have 1 small mixing bowl, a large wok, a 2.5Qt casserole dish and a small baking tray. We spent the last few days making cookies and mac & cheese over and over… so we REALLY need a change. Any thoughts????”

Dennis makes it sound like they have nothing when, in fact, they are already doing a lot with those tools. Still, I put together a short list of recipes that would take advantage of the bounties of the early Winter and their limited tools, but also make them feel like they were still experiencing the holidays like a gourmand. Here goes:

- Rachel Ray does a play on Pizzoccheri (a northern Italian dish) called Cabbage and Straw. You should be able to boil this stuff up in your walk and toss it on a plate with cheese, or throw it in your casserole dish with a little broth and bread crumbs to mimic the more authentic dish.

- The girls at Big Girls Small Kitchen did a nice play on this dish that’s more like a gratin. Mmmm.

- I do also adore Mushrooms on Toast as a quick, low-effort dinner. Smitten Kitchen’s version is fancy but you could keep it simple w/any good local New York City bread.

- For dessert, try Giada’s Espresso Brownies. Hopefully, your baking tray was low sides to it. If not, you could line your casserole dish with parchment paper.

- My favorite holiday dessert is Mascarpone and Espresso. It’s so easy too. I make a version of this (with eggs) each Christmas and pour it on top of toasted pandoro or pannetone.

- Instead of cookies, why not try brittle? I made some Salted Pistachio Brittle this weekend. It was easy and made me feel all fancy. Alas, it’s not so easy on the teeth but… it’s the holidays!

- Or you could forgo food altogether and just shake up some Homemade Baileys in a jar. (Make sure to whisk the eggs first if you go that route…) Drink liberally and often!

What would YOU recommend they make with the tools they have?

I learned about big LITTLE Get Together, a personal chef service based on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, a few weeks ago. Founders Flannery Klette-Kolton and Lauren Gerrie are the ultimate hostesses, putting their big hearts toward creating contemporary urban cuisine with amazing ingredients. They shared these lovely recipes, recipes that made me want to hug them, with GOOP. Check this out: Eggnog popsicles? Yum. Spiced kettlecorn? Perfect for the holidays. And their recipe for Prosecco with Cherries and Thyme made me smile.

These lovely ladies graciously offered to answer a few questions for Eat Boutique readers. Thank you, ladies! And we all wish you the best of luck with your wonderful boutique business.

EB: What’s your favorite, easy holiday hors d’oeuvre?

The West Village of New York City is my favorite neighborhood in the entire world. Really. And this new little gastropub solidifies the neighborhood’s standing with me.

The Highlands is a Scottish-owned and designed boutique restaurant that has stolen my heart. Now if only I could get me to NYC to give it a try. Most of the reviews on Yelp are dazzling, though some claim there’s a bit too much hype around the spot. Regardless, the design is divine. Look at the darling interiors over at Remodelista. Highlands, 150 West 10th Street (at the corner of Waverly), NYC, 10014.

If the Highlands hype is too much for you, aim to hit Extra Virgin. They have consistently great reviews, and a very sweet bar. I’m in love with their wine list, and sampled quite a bit of it when I visited with my fabulous cousin Jessica last year.

HIGHLANDS, 150 West 10th Street (at the Corner of Waverly), NY, NY 10014 – Tel: 1 212 229 2670Hig

HIGHLANDS, 150 West 10th Street (at the Corner of Waverly), NY, NY 10014 – Tel: 1 212 229 2670

I am in love with food businesses that come to life because of an appreciation of the simple life and a respect for culinary traditions. As a home cook and supporter of all things “boutique,” I totally understand that need to bow to how food was made and shared decades ago. Emma Bowen started Dulcinea this past summer, to spread her passion for baking. Each week, she bakes and delivers “six generous portions of a handcrafted baked good inspired by the best seasonal produce and ingredients available that week.” Think scones, tea cakes and breads. Think delivered right to your door. Think you never have to visit your local bakery again! I expect all my gal-friends in NYC will be ringing Emma to get on her dance card. If only there was a similar little food business up in Boston… Hmm… Good luck, Emma!

I’ve been debating how to honor the new Sex and the City film as it hits theaters this week. Why honor such a silly movie on a food blog? Well, duh! If you don’t know, SATC didn’t just bring fame to fancy shoes and pink drinks. SATC brought recognition to the West Village, its eateries and to my favorite community cupcake joint, Magnolia Bakery. (Magnolia is the cupcake joint that started cupcake joints. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Seriously.)

Last month, I was at a fabulous conference in New York City. As part of the conference, I signed up for an authentic foods tour around the Village. We ended the tour in this beautiful spot, Jefferson Gardens. These quaint gardens, which once housed a woman’s prison, was the set for Miranda’s wedding to Steve.

Our tour host, Sarah Endline, was quite gracious as she explained the connection between this authentic garden and all the sweet little food shops we had hit along the way. Sure, SATC is a crazy, big, silly movie, but it did bring love back home to NYC and specifically called out the glory of all these little boutique locations across lower Manhattan.

Sarah walked us through several great spots. We hit the highest volume Whole Foods in existence, the Union Square location on 14th Street. Their head of marketing walked us through the store and gave us perspective on how they deal with such crazy demands. We then strolled down to City Bakery, a great local spot bringing green design and building methods to coffee and cake. As part of our tour, we got to sample a large cup of hot chocolate. I’ve only experienced a comparable taste in Paris!

After City Bakery, we took a long, long walk further down the isle to Birdbath, a tiny neighborhood cafe that is little sister to City Bakery. We sat through a great talk by Birdbath’s manager who explained how the entire focus is 100% green. Their site explains it all. But the photo of cookies along the back wall shows it all.

The food tour wasn’t perfect. It was a bit long, and the day was quite warm. But that said, I felt very special to experience these sweet little spots. I lived in NYC for years, and grew up just outside Manhattan – so I’m no stranger to the city. But it’s a privilege to be able to experience brand new spots year after year, especially the ones that remain despite economic downturns, exoduses from the city and major explosions. When I watch SATC this week, I will fall in love, all over again, with Manhattan – a spot I consider both home and brand new each time I visit.