Margaret’s Blog - Upfront and Personal

Follow Margaret with her up close and personal stories of her life, events and the adventures she has with her friends and family.

Margaret's Blog - Upfront and Personal

Follow Margaret with her up close and personal stories of her life, events and the adventures she has with her friends and family.

Executive Pastry Chef Riccardo Menicucci: A Taste of Luxury, History and Hospitality at Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel

Thanks to Executive Pastry Chef Riccardo Meniccuci and his team, Beverly Wilshire is a sweet destination, especially during Oscars Week. This year’s amenities included a film projector made of Valrhona Manjari, a luxury chocolate, in addition to a thoughtfully designed and braided croissant representing the team of talented people required to create a film. And…
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Three "Gifts That Give" for Mother's Day

Sunday, May 11th is Mother’s Day. Here are some great gift ideas that everyone will love. And the best part is that these gifts give back to the community and world! 1) Flame of Life Dinnerware by Barbara Lazaroff • It’s a limited edition design by Barbara Lazaroff, ASID, co-founder of Spago and this week’s guest…

Three "FAB"io Cooking Tips

What a blast to attend a Fabio Live event at Siena Tavern in Chicago with my friend Pamela.  Chef FABIO is genuinely a nice guy.  He even took this selfie of us! It was also a delight to meet Chef David Blonsky, Executive Chef at Siena Tavern. Chef Fabio and his lovely co-host, Cheryl Scott…

Kitchen Chat – “I Quit Sugar” with Sarah Wilson

Did you know that sugar – not fat – makes you gain weight? Sarah Wilson provides insights and an 8 week plan on how you can “quit sugar” too. Tune in as she discusses delicious recipes from her new cookbook http://iquitsugar.com Savor the day!.

Kitchen Chat – Kitchen Chat with Lorraine Pascale

From runways to ramps (the spring onions), Chef Lorraine Pascale is delightful. Tune in for some great cooking tips from the host of England’s My Kitchen Rules. Discover some delicious ways to trip the fat but keep the taste with Chef Lorraine’s A Lighter Way to Bake. Savor the day!.

Kitchen Chat with Chef Carla Hall

Don’t miss this fun show! Co-host on ABC’s The Chew and “Fan Favorite” on Bravo’s Top Chef All Stars, Carla Hall chats about her new book Carla’s Comfort Foods: Favorite Dishes from Around the World. She also answers Kitchen Chat listeners’ questions about great tips for meals in a hurry and easy family recipes. Visit…

3 Things You Should Know about Molecular Gastronomy

In March, I took my first bite of molecular gastronomy at  moto restaurant with fellow IACP members.  Located in Chicago’s trendy Fulton Market District, Michelin-starred moto is one of the nation’s premier dining establishments in the U.S and around the world. Celebrity Chef/restaurant owner Homaro Cantu (Iron Chef America winner) and Richard Farina (Top Chef Season…

Kitchen Chat – Kitchen Chat with Christina Currie

Do you want to plan the perfect party or event? What are the five mistakes that party hosts make? Tune in to this week’s show with event planner extraordinaire, Christina Currie. She will share some practical tips to make sure your party is a great celebration. Savor the day!.

Chef Jaime Laurita's Gift

What a delight to watch culinary rock star/homemaker/designer Chef Jaime Laurita make duck tacos in his kitchen. His celebrity clients have included Madonna, Sting, Steven Tyler, Sara Mclachlan and many others. I am neither a celebrity nor a chef; however, Chef Jaime made me feel special as I sat at his kitchen counter. As many…

Healthy Cooking at Le Cordon Bleu with Chef Suzy Singh

As I stepped into the kitchen of Le Cordon Bleu Chicago, I must admit that I had a little “Julia Child” moment. I had never been inside such a prestigious place steeped with the richness of culinary history. My heart raced with the anticipation of actually having the opportunity to cook with Master Chef finalist…