{I recently had my first of what will be many weekend escapes to Missouri wine country. We toured and tasted our way down Highway 94, sampling and purchasing vidal blancs, nortons, fruit wines and ports. While we relaxed at Balducci Vineyards with a bottle of its Natalia and juicy strawberries, the buzz of St. Louis was wonderfully far away. I almost put my phone away for the afternoon — except then I wouldn’t have been able to Instagram those lush, rolling vineyards.}
{As previously mentioned this week, I love meat. Yet, to this day, no rib offered at a restaurant or a backyard barbecue compares to my dad’s. Vacuum-sealed overnight in a time-tested marinade, they are slow-smoked all day, achieving the perfect deep red hue. He always prepares a few extra slabs, as the smoke attracts every neighbor on the block to stop by for a visit and a beer.}
{I stumbled across Aussie Tori Haschka’s blog a year ago, and I’ve been hooked ever since. She and her husband (adorably dubbed The Hungry One) set out to conquer an ambitious Baby Bucket List of travel and dining before their first child was born. Almost on cue, her Stowaway announced his appearance on the return flight from one of the last items on their list, prompting a new series of simple and creative recipes. I’ve never been more excited for a woman I’ve never met – on the other side of the globe, no less – to have a baby because I know this kid’s going to inspire more great, tasty ideas for me to create.}
This article appears in August 2013.