Does anything scream warm weather more than a day at the racetracks? Even though I've never had the privilege of attending the Kentucky Derby, I look forward to the horse race, as I've always seen it as something of a Southern rite of Spring. The sun's out in full force, the air smells like horses and hay, and there's the buzzing energy of chatter throughout the stands. I love visualizing my Read more

If warmer weather leaves you craving something slightly sweet and fizzy, then whip up a cocktail with Dry Sodas. We don't just love them on their own, but they also make the ideal base for an adult beverage. This particular cocktail will take you five minutes to prepare, yet the flavors are intoxicating. Lavender Dry Soda and Meyer lemon give the drink a floral tang, the Vanilla Bean Soda adds Read more

When it comes to cocktails, sometimes simplest is best. Don't get me wrong; I love a libation with celery bitters or creole shrubs as much as the next person, but often it's nice to enjoy a drink that's satisfying in a simple, understated way. I have a couple rudimentary bar refreshments up my sleeve: for taco nights, there's the tequila and tonic; for celebrations, the Prosecco cocktail. The Read more

It may be my obsession with Downton Abbey and the BBC's Sherlock, but lately I've been craving classic English cocktails: gin and tonics, for example. The problem is, tonic water is not diet-friendly. Most store-bought brands contain corn syrup and just as many calories as a sugary soda. This gin and tonic variation substitutes zero-calorie soda water for the tonic, and the splash of Read more

The idea of a cocktail made with canned pumpkin both fascinates and frightens me. But since we love pumpkin around here, this Thanksgiving, I set out to design a cocktail that was easy on the palate and slightly sweet but not dessert-like, with the pumpkin pie flavor I love. After much searching, I stumbled upon a pumpkin pie cocktail that sounded almost perfect, so I made a few tweaks, Read more

San Francisco has seen some of its warmest days this year in the past week. And in what I'd like to call exceptional timing, a rather generous shipment of gelato arrived at my doorstep. It was as though some frozen dessert fairy godmother heeded my call for a bracing heat-quencher. I could've simply dug in with a spoon, but my happy hour spirit got the best of me. I took Ciao Bella's advice and Read more

It's technically been Fall for several weeks now, but weather-wise in the Bay Area, it's still Summer all around. For Northern California dwellers, it's easy to be seasonally confused, staring at pumpkins, Halloween candy, and Thanksgiving newsstand covers while wearing shorts and flip-flops. In this transitional period, I'm a big fan of provisions that delicately toe the line between late Read more

Most of us like a little something sweet after a good meal, whether it's a decadent dessert, a piece of candy, or a glass of dessert wine. I'm a sucker for creamy, sweet after-dinner drinks, like a white russian or a sip of Adult Chocolate Milk. Lately I've been getting creative with my dessert drinks, starting with this honey roasted martini. I tore the recipe out of a Grey Goose ad a while Read more