Honoring the memory of Marlena Spieler, bon vivant

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Marlena Spieler passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on July 6th, 2023 in her Hampshire, UK home with her dear Alan and Lambchop by her side.

Obituaries:

We are sharing our memories at her online memorial. Please join us.

If you would like to attend the Bay Area memorial on September 13 or the UK celebration of her life (Spring 2024, either London or Edinburgh), please use the “Contact Marlena” form.

In lieu of flowers or gifts please make a donation in her name to your favorite doggy rescue organization.

Going to Gourmand Cookbook Awards in Macau!

By | Uncategorized | No Comments

Screen Shot 2019-06-12 at 17.52.52

 

World Gourmand Cookbook Awards are in Macau this year, and my book A Taste of Naples is nominated for a Best in the World Award. As part of the festivities I am doing a cooking demonstration and have been wracking my brain trying to think of something to make where I could find the ingredients, do it i the time allotted, everyone could have a taste and because it is on the fourth of July, it would be very American.
If you haven’t gotten your copy yet click on the book to order yours today!


But what would it be? What what what what what. Finally it hit me: GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES. very American, even though its eaten in various guises all over much of the world.

And also: I wrote a book about it! Chronicle Books, 2012!

click on the foto to order from amazon

I will bring bread! Many types of bread! Many cheeses, lots of condiments and fresh things too, and we’ll layer and brown and fry and melt, and I’ll cut everything up and we can nibble and nosh to our hearts content!

We won’t leave until everything is melted!

July 4, Macau, Gourmand Cookbook Awards, Macau Bookfair

taste naples book

Taste Naples- New book is released

By | Uncategorized | 4 Comments

Am so pleased to share my lastest book with you, Taste Naples.( my amazon account, and yes, i get paid a small amount for each sale.).  I have long been in love with this vibrant, boistrous Mediterranean ode to life.

It is many contradictions: cultured, noble, and opulent; also poverty stricken tenements.  Whether its wide boulevards and narrow alleys, the streets are filled with the chatter of life and interaction; the air is filled with the smell of delicious things cooking.

And the people are so lively you might not even recognize them as the same species but once their entusiasm rubs off onto you, you will never be the same.Plus there are 26 traditional recipes to get you started tasting Naples

So take a bite: a big fat joyful bite. And maybe just maybe we will hear opera in the street, and smell tomatoes cooking on a pizza, as we scamper through the pages. Gotta go, I smell the garlic and tomatoes of a marinara pizza, on via Toledo, and I can wait no longer.

(remember: this is the amazon link:  Taste Naples).

taste naples book cover