an eco-chic hostess gift

When we spotted this Chef’s Monogram Bamboo Cutting Board, it was love at first knife. Admittedly we were a little shocked that such a chic gift came from one of those personalization websites. But the quality is first rate. We love it as a hostess gift alternative to the usual wine or flowers. Attractive, durable, modern and eco-friendly, you’ll want to keep it for yourself. (Consider ordering two, since each cutting board is personalized for the recipient!)

For ordering and additional information, visit http://www.personalizationmall.com/Personalized-Bamboo-Cutting-Board-Chefs-Monogram-i29822.item?productid=10414&sdest=Search&sdestid=19521410

sex up your pancakes

In celebration of America’s National Pancake Month, we wanted to share Chef Annette Tomei’s secret for turning an average plate of pancakes into a little aphrodisiac feast.

First, make pancake batter according to your favorite recipe like this Basic Pancakes recipe from Martha Stewart or, our favorite, the Buttermilk Pancakes from Romancing the Stove. If you’re short on time, you can also reach for your favorite mix. Just use whatever batter you can whip up with confidence.

Then, add in:
A couple tablespoons of your favorite granola (the amount depends on the size of your recipe and how crunchy you like your pancakes–figure on about 1 tbsp/cup of batter).

Stir in a kiss of sweetness with chopped dates (about 1 date, coarsely chopped/cup of batter or more if you like it sweet). The aphrodisiac history of dates stretches all the way back to the Kama Sutra, so don’t be afraid to load up on this libido-boosting ingredient!

Last, add a little fiber and crunch of flax seeds, about 1 tsp/cup of batter.

Stir the mixture thoroughly and cook according to your recipe’s instructions.

The resulting pancakes can be served with a seductive drizzle of warm syrup, however they’re delicious on their own with nothing more than a smear of butter or perhaps a handful of Valentine-red raspberries sprinkled over the top.

Halter Ranch Vineyard Cotes de Paso

The Wine of the Week
by Amy Reiley

amy reiley2008 Halter Ranch Vineyard Cotes de Paso
The 2008 Côtes de Paso is a blend of Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Counoise and Cinsault inspired by Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The nose offers berry and espresso with underlying herbal aromas of sage and thyme… Read the full review at Gayot.com

read a good food book lately?

We’re always looking for a good food book to sink our visual teeth into, so we asked our contributors if they’ve read any good food books lately. Here’s what they recommend:

Editorial Director and Woman on Wine columnist Amy Reiley likes:


From the same author as EatSomethingSexy product of the week The Zen of Fish, this book does admittedly explore one rather odd and very specific subject. But it does so in a manner that will make you love lobster, lobstermen and anything related to this luxury ingredient’s industry. And trust me, once you get through the chapter on lobster sex, you’ll never look at a crustatean the same way again.


I’ve read several tales on the topic of waiting tables and while they’re all been easy reads told with a spicy sense of humor (it must take a certain personality to succeed in fine dining service) this one stands out for the quality of its writing. The memoir of the only female captain (at the time) at Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Service Included was penned (more likely typed) by a writer who just happened to be fortunate enough to fall into the world of food while, “waiting for life to happen.”

Web Editor Ronie Reiley recently read:

Although it is a novel, this book made me realize just how little we truly understand about Chinese culture. Written by Nicole Mones, author of Lost in Translation, this beautifully written work of fiction offers a glimpse into the world of Chinese gastronomy, its intricacies, layers and time-honored traditions.

Diva Dish’s Diane Brown loved:

Single, thirtysomething, working as a writer in New York City, Kristin Kimball was living life as an adventure. But she was beginning to feel a sense of longing for a family and for home. When she interviewed a dynamic young farmer, her world changed. Kristin knew nothing about growing vegetables, let alone raising pigs and cattle and driving horses. But on an impulse, smitten, if not yet in love, she shed her city self and moved to five hundred acres near Lake Champlain to start a new farm with him. The Dirty Life is the captivating chronicle of their first year on Essex Farm, from the cold North Country winter through the following harvest season—complete with their wedding in the loft of the barn.

Blogger Sarah Goss was absorbed by:

The compelling story behind the years of Chef Grant Achatz’s life during the time of the opening of Alinea makes for one of the most interesting tales in recent food history. While climbing to the top of his profession, Achatz was diagnosed with tongue cancer. Rather than a story of survival, Life on the Line is the story of a restaurant and how Achatz’s life-threatening experience helped shape Alinea into one of the most unique and successful fine dining establishments in America.

What food books have you read lately? If you have a suggestion, email it to info@lifeofreiley.com.

Astrology Lover’s Cookbook

While it might not help you get lucky with a Leo, Lobster for Leos, Cookies for Capricorns by Sabra Ricci takes a fun look at what happens to be one of the food world’s hot topics. Both Grub Street and The Huffington Post recently wrote on the perceived link between astrological sign and food preference. So if you’re one of a growing audience interested in combining your love for astrology and cuisine, this is the book for you. With a chapter dedicated to each sign, recipes include an Acai Berry Smoothie for Aries (who need “brainiac food”) and “nerve-settling” Creamy Five Onion Soup for Libras. And maybe, if you whip up some Ahi Tartare on Wonton with Wasabi Cream for that “make-the-beat-go-on” loving Leo, you might just get lucky!