The directive to ChezHelvetica for the amazing “Ladies Who Lunch” get together was the creation of a pre-lunch nosh or nibble using Fig (or Date) and Rosemary. Given that this occasion fell on Rosh Hashanah, the serendipity was finding a recipe for Roasted Figs With Honey and Rosemary. Honey is a traditional food for Rosh Hashanah to evoke a sweet new year. With Rosemary freshly cut from the ChezHelvetica garden, Mission Figs from CalMart and Wild Mountain Raw Honey, the roasting commenced. 
Just learning that this holiday commemorates the creation of Adam and Eve, images of a Fig Leaf started swirling in my mind! This dish, served with Goat Cheese and Crackers, along with Marinated Fennel and an intoxicating Peach Cocktail made the perfect opener to three delicious Italian salads – Cantaloupe with Proscuitto, Watermelon with Arugula and Tomatoes with Mozzarella – and “Googlie-Eyed” Strawberries. Between the Peach Cocktail, Pinot Grigio, Chianti and fascinating conversation, all the honored guests left somewhat Googlie-Eyed as well! 
Yearning for a dry rub? Spice with heat? Sweetness?
Enter the world of ChezHelvetica food fantasies. A San Francisco Chronicle recipe for Dry-Rubbed Flank Steak with Spicy BBQ Sauce truly defines sensational, wowing taste buds with the heat of Smoked Paprika and Cayenne Pepper and the sweetness of Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup. Rubbed and grilled, the Flank Steak later swims in BBQ Sauce along with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes and Broccoli with Garlic. Organic Pain de Pascal from Trader Joe’s and scarlet Zinfandel from deLorimier Winery in Alexander Valley completed this course. Another summer dream appeared with a luscious Blueberry, Raspberry and Peach Dulce De Leche Crisp, thanks to Tory Farms, the VAMC Farmers’ Market and the magic of making Dulce De Leche from a can of sweetened, condensed milk. Fantasies fulfilled!
What a Fool!
Lest you think this is about a jester, harlequin or someone with poor judgement, ChezHelvetica presents the food fool. From mid-17th century England, desserts with fruit were so named Fool. Similar to a Trifle, the original “Foole” consisted of custard and stewed fruit. Today’s recipes most often include whipped cream as this Blackberry Fool from Martha Stewart Living. The incredible Blackberries from Florin Gardens provided the inspiration for this delicious dessert and a Heavenly Healthy Banana Bread. By adding a half cup of the Berries to the mixture of Whole Wheat Flour, Bananas, Honey, Eggs and Roasted Walnuts and then crowning the whole loaf with a half cup more, the angels were singing indeed!
A Cobb To Covet
Brown Derby, Hollywood of the ‘ 30s meets ChezHelvetica more than 80 years later in the creation of Cobb Salad. While this classic American salad was first pulled together on a whim by Robert Cobb, the one on this table was a focused study on the finest ingredients available. 
Hunting and gathering ensued with the juiciest Rotisserie Chicken and sweetest Campari Tomatoes found at Costco and Organic Romaine at the VAMC Farmers’ Market. Blue Stilton jumped the pond from England, imparting its sophisticated Blue Cheese taste to the salad. Hot from the frying pan Applewood Smoked Bacon, creamy Avocados and hard-boiled Eggs completed the entree, accompanied by a warm Sunflower Seed Mini Loaf (all aforementioned from Trader Joe’s). The final flourish: a dressing of Balsamic Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Dijon Mustard and touch of Sugar. A dessert of hand-picked Blackberries from the Florin Gardens, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Carob Honey from Cyprus and Mint from the ChezHelvetica Garden evoked the ultimate pleasure!
“You Can’t Always Get What You Want …
But If You Try Sometime You Just Might Find You Get What You Need.” These Rolling Stones lyrics precisely capture the scene at ChezHelvetica. Early in the day, discoveries abounded with Butter Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Green Beans, Yukon Gold Potatoes and Acme Bread from the Ferry Plaza Farmers’ Market. Although seeking Tuna for a Tuna Nicoise Salad, beautiful Wild Salmon ended up being exactly what was needed. With Hard-Boiled Eggs, Capers, Red Onion, Olives and a Vinaigrette using my newly planted herbs: voila, the iconic summer salad appeared. Paired with a Coppola Chardonnay, this reception was indeed the hot ticket. The final embellishment, Michael Recchuiti‘s luscious Malted Chocolate Sauce over Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Cannonball Cabernet Sauvignon.“In Her Glass Was A Bleeding Man.”
When Thanksgiving is in July . . .
. . . the reasons to be thankful explode like beautiful fireworks *!*!* Behold the ChezHelvetica garden display – new Sage, Rosemary, Mint and French Tarragon juxtapose vibrant Lavender and orange-hued Dahlias, Zinnias and Geraniums. 
This burst of life, and the bounty of summer produce, inspired the creation of a Thanksgiving-like feast. The perfect recipe – Ina Garten’s delicious Herb Roasted Turkey Breast – was the centerpiece, accompanied by Roasted Sweet Potatoes and a Green Bean Salad from Real Simple. A Balsamic Vinegar, Shallot and Tomato Dressing doused sauteed Organic Green Beans and Garlic for a savory taste that leaves the traditional casserole in the last century. As the first Thanksgiving was celebrated in a town called Plymouth, the bold Renwood Zinfandel enjoyed this evening also came from Plymouth – this in Amador County. And finally – if life gives you Meyer Lemons, make Neiman Marcus Lemon Squares, you will indeed by thankful!
ChezHelvetica Marquee: Rockfish Redux
The final performance of the Rockfish Roll Out (read: the last of the three pounds of fish) took the form of a show-stopping summer salad. A refreshing Celery Salad – also starring in an encore performance – topped the Rockfish and Red Lettuce, with both stalk and leaves in play. Organic Radishes, Parsley, Capers and Artichoke Hearts completed the cast, all drizzled in Lemon and Key Lime Juices. In the supporting role, warm Whole Grain Sunflower Seed Bread from Trader Joe’s simply dazzled with its topping of Affi’s Aubergine (Fire Roasted Eggplant and Garlic) spread. A final nod goes to Kunde Family Estate Wines. Like the award for Best Choreography, their Chardonnay made the whole show move. Final credits: Saveur Magazine, Costco, Nunez Farm, Gump’s (for the $5 platter from the employee sale) and to Mom for the Denby Dinnerware!
In The Limelight
Fog-filtered super moonlight illuminated the beautiful round citrus center stage at ChezHelvetica on this Saturday evening. Limes originated in India or Malaysia, and then were grown on large scale in southern Iraq and Persia. The path of this variety proceeded to Sicily, Andalusia and the West Indies including the Florida Keys. West Indian, Mexican or bartender Limes garnered the Key Lime name in their association with the Florida Keys. A Saveur recipe for Grilled Prawns (posted on Facebook by my friend Phyllis) called for Finger Limes but aromatic Key Limes were a delicious understudy. Basil accented Lemon and Lime Juices drizzled the Gulf Prawns (from Safeway), delightfully spilling over the Roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes and Organic Broccoli (from Nunez Farm). Rich Kunde Chardonnay from Sonoma Valley accompanied our entree and also dessert of Tory Farms incredible Peaches and Roasted Inzana Ranch Walnuts. Spilling over – definitely the key words for this evening!
Rock & Roll
At ChezHelvetica, that translates into a Rockfish Roll Out. With nearly three pounds of Rockfish from Costco, what does one do with all of this Sebastes (a genus of fish in the family Sebastidae)? The first answer leapt from the pages of BigOven in Grilled Rockfish with Garlic and Basil. The luscious Butter Sauce (spiced with the heat of Cayenne Pepper) transformed this very basic fish into a gourmet dish, further embellished by Roasted Organic Red Potatoes and Broccoli from Nunez Farm of Watsonville in Pajaro Valley. Candlelight, the golden hue from Hess Select’s Chardonnay and new Chilewich place mats from the deYoung Museum further elevated this Saturday night dinner. Following a beautiful day at Stern Grove listening to Michael McDonald and Boz Scaggs on Sunday, the next iteration was Fresh Fish Tacos. Whole grain Las Fortunitas Tortillas cradled the Rockfish, Black Beans, Avocado and Cheddar Cheese as Salsa happily dripped on to our fingers. The Rock & Roll weekend ends with the rest of the Rockfish now chilling in the freezer, awaiting the next show to begin!
Parmigiano-Reggiano
For over seven centuries, Parmigiano-Reggiano has been delighting the world; celebrating the individual with its own unique inconsistencies. At the Fancy Food Show, ChezHelvetica acquired The Seasons of Parmigiano-Reggiano and selected two recipes from “Summer” for this weekend’s sumptuous repast. Like the painstaking, hand made process of the cheese (made in the controlled district of the Conzorzio del Formaggio), these dishes required a similar effort. Melanzane in tortiera (Baked Layered Eggplant) consists of three layers of sliced, broiled Eggplant, Tomato Sauce (made from Italian Plum Tomatoes that have been seeded and grated to pulp with Garlic, Red Onion and Marjoram), Bechamel Sauce, and Fontina and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheeses. Panino ai funghi (Portabello Mushroom Sandwich), smeared with a Savory Parmigiano-Reggiano Spread made with Artichoke Hearts, accompanied the Baked Eggplant. Trader Joes’s wonderful Tomato-Olive Focaccia sandwiched the Grilled Portabellos from the Richmond Produce Market. A Hess Select Chardonnay paired perfectly with the rich, velvety dishes and Tory Farm Peaches (offered naked or with Butter Pecan Ice Cream) made the ideal dessert. A surprise, anniversary visit by “Just Joey” sealed the occasion!