La Vie en Magenta

Oil on canvas, The Holy Virgin of Rescue, by artist Giovanni Francesco Ferri (Pergola 1701-Urbania 1775) In one of my favorite films...

Renata and me in La Rochelle, summer 2023, on the upstairs horsies of our favorite carousel. In the gorgeous medieval town of Gubbio, my...

Not really what you’d expect from this Chef living in Italy at the moment? I hope you’ll love this surprise.   When I had the idyllic...

On a glorious sunny April Saturday, my sister Lisa, our friend Gina, and I ventured out to explore a little neighboring city called Fano....

In 2007, when I returned from an entire idyllic month of May in Italy, I wrote a sweet story called  A Sense of Home  for an...

This week I had a profound experience, regarding my identity ... just about a week after I wrote a story about my seemingly lost identity...

“With freedom, books, flowers, and the moon, who could not be happy?” – Oscar Wilde   Today, 20 March, is both the first day of spring...

There was an hour, many moons ago, when I dreamed of being such a great Chef that I could just open my fridge, and know exactly what...

Ahhhh .... my sister Lisa and I arrived safely in Italy just a few days ago.   My lead foto is the view from the dining room of our...

Once upon a time, I shared an exquisite Mexican Chocolate Soufflé with a romantic date at a cozy dessert bar in Old Pasadena. We closed...

After 26+ years, I will be leaving my beach apartment that has been home  for all this time.   I am moving to Europe. My sister and I are...

La Vie en Magenta will always chronicle the precious hours that I spend with my little goddaughter Renata, who turned 6 in December. One...

This recipe is one of my most popular ever . I first made it when I was brand-new as the Spanish Tapas Bar Chef, back in 2011.   My own...

At this very end of 2024, I’m reflecting on, for three years running now, how profoundly blessed I have been to spend December in France....

When my niece Sally was little, she loved for me to tell her about things that we had when we were little, that weren’t around anymore.  ...

Having had a few of what-I-call Crap Moments last week, I was delighted beyond measure to be surprised by a peacock sighting! In my...

Late summer a couple of years ago, I spent a long, very wonderful weekend in Seattle. I rented the sweetest guesthouse close to my dear...

In time ;), I intend to publish my second cookbook, which is titled Angel Food 2nd Edition: Love Made Visible on the Plate.  Until then,...

La Vie en Magenta will always chronicle the precious hours that I spend with my little goddaughter Renata , who is now 5 1/2. The time we...

One of my very favorite spiritual teachers told a story of how powerful it is, to ask the Universe (whomever you call your Source) to...

In time ;), I intend to publish my second cookbook, which is titled Angel Food 2nd Edition: Love Made Visible on the Plate.  Until then,...

In one of my French study courses at the moment, our July topic is Les Jeux Olympiques , which are hosted in France this summer; it’s...

It seems like those two things ought to equal a match made in heaven. For me, they’ve kind of been exactly that. In spring 2007, I took a...

Foto, above, circa 2015, for the 70th birthday of Kip's Toyland at the Original Farmers Market, LA. It was the hottest October day ever,...

Last Friday in our Heroines’ (Lady Writers) Salon, the word sloth was casually uttered. I like this word, and using it as a verb calls to...

In my story Foodsick, I confess that I am happiest when I eat pasta regularly. In my forthcoming cookbook, my department for this type of...

Once upon a time, I fell truly, madly, deeply in love with an Australian man. Andrew and I met not even a week after I’d arrived in...

My mom’s sisters were always my favorite aunties, especially Aunt Sally, for whom my niece is named. Mama’s best friends felt like...

Even before you read this story, notice in the foto above of my espresso in Paris on 23.12.23, that ONE makes the difference. Keep that...

The other week I was having what I call a Melancholy Monday. On Tuesday morning, I journaled alongside a wonderful coffee and croissant,...

A couple weeks ago, I refined one of my last cookbook recipes, for Jamaica Quinoa. In my book, this gorgeous, magenta, hibiscus-infused...

Each morning, I read from a daybook by Alan Cohen. Titled A Deep Breath of Life, it really is just that. I love this book! Even though...

Sarah Millican is one of my favorite British comediennes. I recently found a new short video of hers titled, The Seven Signs of Ageing ....

It is my pure joy and privilege to be part of a writers’ group of ladies, divined and hosted by my dear friend and mentor Debby Handrich....

Later this year, I intend to publish my second cookbook, which is titled Angel Food 2nd Edition: Love Made Visible on the Plate. Until...

Last winter, at the very beginning of my extended stay in Bayeux, I felt a little off-center. One morning I took a walk to explore my new...

For the third time in one calendar year, it has been my privilege to spend time here in Bayeux (Normandie), France. This tiny, medieval...

Ah, oui. Foodsick. It’s a thing, like homesick. It happens. The first time I ever heard of foodsick was in Italy. My local friends told...

This post is really just one of my winter love letters. Since this is the second year I’ve spent January-February in Bayeux (Normandie),...

La Vie en Magenta will always chronicle the precious hours that I spend with my little goddaughter Renata, who turned 5 in December. Our...

I’ve been wintering in France ;) for over a month now and have only blogged once. Maybe let me please explain. Since I arrived, there was...

This last June, I spent an idyllic month in La Rochelle, known as the Atlantic Riviera, about 3.5 hours southwest of Paris. It was bright...

A few days ago, just before I flew to Paris, I had the joy and privilege of being a guest on StoryU Radio, for a show titled Expecting...

Alors ... today is a famous day on the calendar of The Dolls, and that is the day before Thanksgiving. We three usually meet at Suz’s...

Our grandmother’s “stuffing” for Thanksgiving turkey is probably one of our most precious family heirlooms, so I’m sure you understand...

The foto above is what my precious little Renata did for Halloween. This is not an occasion in France, yet she is familiar with the...

This week I made a list of what I call my Boatload of Inspired Actions that I would like to complete, easily and effortlessly, before I...

Years ago, I was told by a psychic that I had had many past lives by the sea, in Greece. This may have explained why, when I was very...

In 2024, I intend to publish my second cookbook, which is titled Angel Food 2nd Edition: Love Made Visible on the Plate. Until then, I’ll...

When I was in France this summer, my little love Renata was often by my side at my homes in La Rochelle and Les Sables d’Olonne. One of...