Food & Wine — Christina Coulourides

Yule logs, also known as Buche de Noel can be traced to Europe.  Now it is a popular Christmas dessert or pudding in a shape of a log and traditionally eaten in France. A quintessential dessert that is usually complex to make but our founder Christina Coulourides recommends this Food Network recipe to create a miniature versions called Yodels and does not require baking.  Best paired with Sauternes. Photo Credit: Food Network

This simple but impressive dish is excellent for entertaining or enjoying any day of the week. Very easy to prepare and oh sooooo tasty accompanied with Chateau Saint Martin de la Garrigue, Picpoul de Pinet 2021 or your favorite dry white wine from Bottle Shop.   For the Sauce 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil 1 Medium Shallot, minced One 8.5 oz jar Dalmatia Fig, Orange Spread  Available in Whole Foods cheese section or online   (or substitute you preserves of choice)                                   2 Tablespoons White Wine, preferably the wine you with enjoy with this meal Instructions Heat olive oil in a small skillet. Sauté...

The olive, weather referring to the tree, oil or the delectable fruit of the Olea europaea, has had a stately history through out many centuries. Originating in the Mediterranean Basin (currently representing 95% of global production), cultivation of the olive has widely spread to the Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, North and South America and even Japan. California, as a quality producer, is a relative newcomer to the global scene despite an early introduction via Spanish missionaries in the 18th Century. There are many varieties of table olives which are considered a basic ingredient in the trinity...

  Credit: Flickr Dates, that sweet, soft or semi-soft edible fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is the secret, subtle ingredient in sticky toffee pudding and the base of many modern-day energy bars. Other not so subtle, in fact sometimes yucky, date experiences can be in Christmas fruit cake or date desserts. Like them or not, I dare you to try our Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates appetizer recipe this Fall as you gather with friends and family. As a not entirely convinced date consumer myself, I found them amazing. (The second best way to use dates, I...