cooking

recipes

life

youtube

where the chef & Wife
elevate your dining experience at home

Read more

Spring brings with it a sense of renewal and transformation, marking the perfect time to refresh our homes, gardens, kitchens, closets, minds, and bodies. As nature awakens from its winter slumber, we too feel a surge of energy and vitality, inspiring us to make positive changes in our lives. Setting the Stage for a Fresh […]

Spring Refresh: A Time for Renewal and Transformation

Life

Read more

Entertaining

You’re probably wondering what festive cocktail ideas you can infuse in your holiday gatherings. It’s that magical time when family reunions, friendly laughter, cozy fireplace chats, and yes, even some intense football matches fill the air. And let’s not forget those precious vacation days, where the only agenda is relaxation. While Toni has her 3 […]

Five Festive Cocktail Ideas For Your Holiday Party

Read more

Are you excited about hosting a festive winter winter cocktail party that your guests will be raving about? You’re in the right place. Imagine a cozy winter evening, soft, warm twinkling lights, and the sweet sounds of laughter filling the air as everyone enjoys the perfect winter cocktail. It’s a dream come true, right? In […]

Hosting a Festive Winter Cocktail Party

Entertaining

thanksgiving table with pumpkins and the words cook like a chef host like a pro

Read more

Entertaining

Imagine the anticipation and excitement of the the most memorable Thanksgiving dinner party, filled with delicious meals, captivating sides, and warm decorations that will leave your guests in awe. You envision a feast that not only satisfies their taste buds but also creates cherished memories. We understand the journey you’re on, and we’ve all had […]

5 Steps to a Memorable Thanksgiving Dinner Party

Chef Rafael and event planner wife Toni in Wow Worthy Food Workshop sharing the joy of cooking and art of entertaining

Read more

We thought we’d be teaching, but we learned so much from our students in Wow Worthy Food Workshop.

Inside Wow Worthy Food Workshop

Cooking

Read more

Cooking

Vietnamese Bo Luc Lac, or “Shaking Beef,” isn’t just a dish; it’s a Vietnamese flavor bomb. Imagine succulent beef cubes sizzling in a hot pan, creating a dance of flavors. This blog post spills the beans on making this Vietnamese classic—from picking the right beef to whipping up a killer dipping sauce. Let’s dive in […]

Bo Luc Lac “Shaking Beef” with Lime Dipping Sauce

Read more

Over the weekend we enjoyed Shiitake and Crimini Mushroom Risotto at home on a crisp autumn evening. Earlier in the day we hit our gourmet grocer, armed with our shopping list for a date-night-in. We set a warm and cozy ambiance in our dining area and the delightful aroma of a gourmet dish was sizzling […]

Shiitake & Crimini Mushroom Risotto with Aged Parmesan and Chives

Cooking

Read more

Cooking

Our restaurant-inspired Thyme and Garlic Basted NY Striploin with Roasted Potatoes and Slow Braised Mushrooms is just the ticket for such a delightful dining experience. In the world of dining, there’s something undeniably special about a restaurant-inspired steak dinner that you can whip up in the comfort of your own kitchen in 30 minutes or […]

Steak Dinner: Thyme and Garlic Basted NY Striploin with Roasted Potatoes and Slow Braised Mushrooms

Read more

Picture a warm summer evening, and you’ve gathered your closest friends and family for a long-awaited dinner. The table is set, candles are flickering, and there’s an air of anticipation. The food and cocktail pairing you’ve planned is about to be served… First course arrives—a delicate appetizer that hints at flavors to come. As you […]

Food and Cocktail Pairings

Entertaining

Starbucks-pumpkin-cream-cheese-muffins

Read more

Recipes

Would you like to learn how to make light and fluffy pumpkin muffins just like Starbucks? Starbucks makes pumpkin cream cheese muffins every year that are only available from September to November as part of their fall menu. However, if you enjoy pumpkin and cream cheese flavors as my wife and kids do, you don’t […]

Starbucks Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

fAVORIte THINGS

 Enjoy some of our go-to biz resources (and favorite things!) to help you in your journey. Some of the links below are affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you love something as much as we do... but we only recommend what we actually like and use ourselves! 

go shopping

5 RECIPES YOUR KIDS CAN MASTER BEFORE AGE 13

read it now

blog post

my essential kitchen tool list for 2022 

get it now

FREEBIE

BLOG FAVORITES

Join our community of aspiring home chefs and passionate entertainers. Elevate your cooking skills and host like a pro!

No spam. Just inspiration.

weekly-ish Newsletter
cooking & Hosting inspiration