Debra C. Argen

If you love chocolate, and love to bake, Chocolate Baking – The Ultimate Guide to Cakes, Cookies, Desserts and Pastries by Edd Kimber published by Quadrille and launching on March 10, 2026, will appeal to bakers and chocoholics. Edd Kimber’s recipes are inspired and easy to follow with stunning photography by Matthew Hague, and as a dedicated baker, I cannot wait to make all of the recipes in this gorgeous 255-page book. Why not bake something special and create lasting …

After an exceptionally long, and seemingly endless winter, I am so looking forward to Spring and enjoying my gardens bursting with colorful blooms. As I looked out my windows and still saw snowdrifts on my lawn and my gardens sleeping under fluffy white blankets, I was in desperate need of garden therapy, which I found in the book, Growing Bulbs in the Natural Garden – Innovative Techniques for Combining Bulbs and Perennials in Every Season by Jacqueline van der Kloet, …

As someone who has light eyes, I wear sunglasses everyday whether it is sunny, cloudy, or gray out, year-round, to protect my eyes. Edward and I just returned from the gorgeous beach of Praia de Itamambuca in the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil, where beach wear is an art form, and I fell in love with wearing the stunning sunglasses from Tony Brown Design – “Revolutionizing the Way You See The World”. Whether at the beach or in town, I …

I grew up baking with my mother, which is what attracted me to the beautiful award-winning cookbook, German Heritage Baking Time Volume I: Honored Recipes, Traditional Techniques, and Culinary Secrets by Heidrun Metzler, as she also learned from her mother, as well as from her aunts and grandmother, all very accomplished bakers. It is important to note that Heidrun’s recipes are easy to follow whether you are an experienced baker or a novice, and the photos are mouthwatering stunning. The …

Shopping on Greenwich Avenue in Greenwich, Connecticut just became even more delicious with the opening of 365 Collective by Abigail Fox + Serendipity, a gorgeous “bijou” of a boutique curated by its owners, Abigail Fox and Suni Unger. I went to the VIP Launch Party on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, at the woman-owned shop and totally loved all of the boutique’s offerings, especially the hand-crafted jewelry, the adorable hand-knitted baby items, and the vintage barware and cocktail glasses that would …

The Lorgeril Wine Tasting Luncheon hosted by Miren de Lorgeril at Upland restaurant in New York City, provided the perfect introduction to the famed winery in the Languedoc region of France that has been producing high-quality wines since 1620. Family-owned and independent, these lovely wines express the best of the region. Tasting their delicious wines is like tasting 400 years of family history. Six wines, paired with elegantly prepared food by the Upland chef, provided the perfect balance of wine …

Colin James has a new album out titled, Chasing The Sun, released on the Stony Plain Records label, which features 7 great songs co-written by Colin James, and 4 songs written by the multi-talented Lucinda Gayl Williams, who wrote and lends her incredible vocals on the opening track, Protection, Paul Butterfield’s In My Own Dream, Devilment written by Colin Linden and Paul Reddick, and the John Hammond song, Come To Find Out. Colin James – Chasing The Sun: Protection (featuring …

Some things are worth waiting for, like veteran Bluesman Duke Robillard’s latest release, Duke Robillard – Roll With Me, released on the Stony Plain Records label. Interesting to note is this release should have happened back in 2005, however it fell by the wayside when Duke was working on another project. It finally hits the streets on August 30, 2024, however, I gave it an early listen, and this release cooks with all the right Blues genres: Jump Blues, Swing …

Foodies have a new reason to celebrate with the opening of Kappo Sono restaurant, at 39 East 13th Street (near Union Square) in New York City, as it is the epitome of the art of dining well. Chef Chikara Sono is the creative culinary talent at the helm of the 12-seat counter space where elegance begins with the attractive ambience and continues with his impressive cuisine and impeccable service by the team. Located on the sixth floor of the Westerly …

The intimate wine cellar at the fine-dining restaurant Aretksy’s Patroon in New York City was the perfect setting for the Château Malartic-Lagravière and Bodega DiamAndes Wine Tasting Dinner with Véronique Bonnie, co-owner of Vignobles Malartic. Over the course of the evening, I, along with a handful of invited guests, experienced seven different wines, two from Château Malartic-Lagravière in France, and five wines from Bodega DiamAndes in Argentina to pair with the delectable three-course meal. It was a memorable evening of …