Have you ever smuggled delicious pancetta home from Italy? Yes, smuggled. As in, broken the law. At the end of this month, your actions may be retroactively legal. (No, I am not a lawyer, so I actually don't know if you are absolved. So don't go calling the feds and confessing, okay?) The ban on importing salumi, at least some of it, has been lifted.

When I was facing a significant birthday a few years ago (one that ended in a "0") I began my celebration at SFMOMA, specifically at the Blue Bottle Cafe with a slice of Thiebaud Cake: a chocolate cake covered in strawberry buttercream and filled with Lillet- and vanilla-poached strawberries.  Clearly it was going to be a good decade!  So when the cafe's co-owner Caitlin Freeman published Modern Art Desserts, a cookbook based on the art-influenced creations she sells at the SFMOMA cafe, I was very excited to learn more about these amazing desserts.

To capture the entire sense of a place between the covers of one cookbook is no small task. Yet, here is a photo of bobbing fishing boats that feels so close that I can practically smell the salt water. And a woman making fresh couscous that I want to scoop with my hands, and a basket of silvery fresh-caught anchovies for dinner, and spirals of yellow pasta, and...and...and. Sicily is one of those cookbooks that transports and inspires. If Sicily holds a special place in your traveler's heart, this is a book you will cherish. If visiting Sicily is dream of yours, this book might just transform your "some day" into "right now." 

For serious mixologists and cocktail kings and queens, Cocktail Kingdom is the dream. From high end Japanese barware to exotic and unusual bitters, this New York store (which also has an online shop) offers an impressive selection of beautiful, functional, and high-quality bartending tools and supplies. The store also carries its own line of tools and ingredients, designed by founders Don Lee and Greg Boehm:

Take a look at this cup of coffee. It looks like a good little cup of espresso, doesn't it? Looks are deceiving in this case; there isn't a bit of coffee in this photo. Want to know what it is? 

Brian Solem and Cyndi Fecher are the co-editors of Graze magazine, "a food-oriented lit mag dedicated to the food on your mind and the thoughts on your plate." The two met in college and lived in the same building in Logan Square for several years. Over time the kitchen has seen many dinner parties between the first and second floor. Cyndi now lives right down the street, but that hasn’t put a stop to their kitchen collaborations.

Wine of the Week: 2011 Esporão Reserva White
Region & Country: Alentejo, Portugal
Price: $19

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a lunch and tasting with the winemaker in charge of white wines at Esporão, the very talented and charming Sandra Alves. More

Julie Morelli and Andy Schwegler are the witty and creative minds behind Chicago based print shop Nourishing Notes and boutique design firm Letterform. Their mission is simple, "We believe there's nothing better than food, family, friends, and laughter." The two met in in design school and have been together for ten years, and married for two. A truly collaborative pair, they share a business, home and love for cooking. I was so excited to be invited to brunch where the couple divided and conquered to cover the table with warm, homemade bread, muesli and a delicious frittata. Our friend designer, Valarie Craig, joined us for a sunny, mid-day meal which truly paid testimony to the company's philosophy.

Sandwiches are a natural lunch box item. They're easy to make and eat, they keep well, and people love them. But it's also easy to get into a sandwich rut, making the same roast turkey/swiss/mayo/mustard day in and day out. Sometimes you need a little inspiration to kickstart your sandwich routine. What's the easiest place to find new and interesting sandwich combinations? Read on for my free and easy hint! More