Fourth of July fireworks in San Diego rival St. Patrick's Day for biggest bang ever! By 5 p.m., you can't ride your bike on the Mission Bay boardwalk, the parties bulge at the seam and people jostle for an inch …

A tip of the toque to San Diego's two James Beard Foundation semifinalists for its 2013 chef and restaurant awards. Grand Del Mar's Addison is nominated for Outstanding Wine Program, home to 3,600 vintages. La Jolla native and owner/Chef Carl …

Hello 2013! My New Year resolution includes more locavore eating, searching out new, nifty spots, going crazy for ethnic eats and cooking farmers' bounty. Tuong Ot Sriracha Thai-Vietnamese chili sauce is my favorite scrambled egg and stir fry enhancer. What …

One of my favorite things was always Oprah's annual giveaway show. The Queen of Talk knew her sweets and savories, so something amazing always appeared that went immediately on my holiday gift list. Without her tutelage, I'm forced to create …

Let's Eat San Diego: Instead of indulging in Kit Kat and peanut butter Snicker minis the day after Halloween, feed your inner candy freak with a visit to the San Diego Natural History Museum's new visiting exhibit, Chocolate, on display …

Downtown St. Petersburg used to be a sleepy burg like the Gaslamp.Season starts slowly in October, when the snowbirds return from Canada, Michigan and parts North. Why not? The water is still 82 degrees, the air balmy, the humidity wanes …

Let's Eat San Diego: First it was cupcakes. Now it's crepes, popping up in restaurants and food trucks around the country. My mom called them blintzes, savory ricotta and farmer's cheese, a dollop of sour cream on top. Get fancy …

Let's Eat San Diego: I'm not going to miss any of the fall festivals that combine music, gifties and culinary tastings of favorite restaurants and food trucks. Sure NYC has Bubby's Pie Social and Shacktoberfest, but who can pass up …

Let's Eat San Diego: Blue and gold Bolt fever grips San Diego, so it must be time for tomato beer, carne asada breakfasts and watering hole specials. Our favorite spots to eat and cheer are Good Time Charlie's, Thrusters, Old …

Let's Eat San Diego: A bazillion years ago in San Diego, broke writers would gather at the Bahia Hotel's restaurant for free hors' d'oeuvres, notably sweet and sour meatballs, cheese cubes and crudites. Nothing vogue in hotel dining, not till …

Let's Eat San Diego: In honor of Cosmo Queen Helen Gurley Brown's August passing, let's all drink martinis this month. Pear, traditional cranberry cosmopolitan ok, as long as it's Grey Goose. After all, "Good girls go to heaven but, bad …