After cookbook recs, here’s my holiday gift guide 2016. Just a couple weeks left until Christmas! While I’ve been crossing names off my Christmas list, I’ve also been adding more and more items to my own wish list – occupational hazard of shopping? Does this happen to anyone else? So much for being virtuous and […]...
{Cookbook Review}:Dorie’s Thanksgiving Bars from Dorie’s Cookies
Thank goodness for Dorie Greenspan. What else is there to say? When you’re feeling down and out, in swoops Dorie with a batch of cookies to make everything seem a little brighter. Her new cookbook, Dorie’s Cookies, comes at a perfect time when I’m looking. It’s the book equivalent of a big warm hug. By […]...
Passion Fruit Milk Chocolate Tart
{San Francisco}: Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival
Whenever first-time visitors to San Francisco ask me about sweets and dessert, it’s near impossible not to list Ghirardelli Square. The iconic brick building looking out over the bay and Ghirardelli’s little chocolate squares are synonymous with the city itself. Besides a tour of the chocolate factory and their famous ice cream sundaes, the Ghirardelli […]...
Vanilla and Chocolate Choctal Ice Cream Review
Taste tests are one of my favorite things to do: the scientist in me loves comparing and contrasting, quantifying the differences between similar items, finding my personal choice that I like best. Choctal Ice Cream thus appealed to me instantly. All of their ice creams are made with single origin varieties of vanilla beans or […]...
There’s Always Room for Cinnamon Chocolate Monkey Bread
Isn’t it lovely when some inspiration shows up in your mailbox? King Arthur Flour sent me a care package containing their White Whole Wheat Flour, Active Yeast, and some ground cinnamon. Perfect timing as I was looking for some inspiration for Father’s Day. While the hubby has always been an enthusiastic and game taste tester […]...
Anita Chu, also known as pastrygirl, is a baker, writer, and photographer with a passion for pastry. She trained at Tante Marie's Cooking School and is the author of Field Guide to Cookies, Field Guide to Candy, and Lollipop Love. Anita lives in San Francisco with her husband, daughter, and dog Max. 
