I absolutely love olives - black, pimento or cheese stuffed, in a martini, or crushed into a tapanade - they are simply delicious. While I knew that they were a Mediterranean treat, I didn't realize the percentage that come from Spain till I had the chance to chat with Paula Sanchez, responsible for promotion and marketing at Olives from Spain!

Buffalo wings are one of the most popular snacks for football parties - or even just snacking anytime. However, they tend not to be very healthy. Even when grilled vs fried, there's a lot of fat in the chicken skins. As a healthy alternative though, why not try cauliflower instead? These Buffalo Cauliflower Wing Bites are not only a more healthy alternative to traditional wings but they taste great and provides an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, vitamin B6, dietary fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids among other nutrients.

Las Vegas has some of the best bars and some of the best restaurants in the world but no matter how much talent and desire to be the best... most are good at one or the other, not both. During a visit last night to Libertine Social inside of Mandalay Bay, I was treated to an experience that frankly I wasn't expecting based on the relatively unassuming entrance.

Typically when we think of summer grilling season, the featured meat is steaks, burgers, sausage - and maybe chicken. Rarely though do I hear people talking about grilled buffalo-style party wings but these are amazing on the grill and a bit healthier than frying or even baking in the oven. Of course, that health benefit typically goes out the window when you cover them in sauces. It's all about personal responsibility though and I love options that allow people to make choices.

For most of you, winter is in full swing right now and that means it's time to warm up with a steaming bowl of hearty soup. I've also found that for some reason there seems to be a lot of spiral cut hams on sale right now. Perhaps it's just that "after the holidays" inventory close out, but who am I to complain. My only problem was that I end up leaving an awful lot of meat on the bone after eating the slices. So, instead of throwing them out - let's make soup!

To many people "turkey" is just basic - bland, dry, and not that exciting.  but I like to take things over the top and experiment a bit. So that's what I did here with an innovative twist on the classic breakfast sandwich.

This recipe might seem a bit odd at first, but it ends up being a delicious way to eat your veggies in a whole different way. It's quick and simple to make these Curry Roasted Peppers, Peas, and Carrots and they make a fantastic "movie snack" too!

Vermont is surprisingly a pretty awesome state for foodies and while I knew of Ben & Jerry's factory tour I was surprised to find oh so much more. From maple syrup to apples to dairy, this state has a lot to offer anyone seeking a different sort of food tour experience. Here's some of our favorite stops...

Blue crabs are a delicacy that is often synonymous with Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay areas of Virginia. In reality though, pretty much everywhere along the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States where you can find coastal marsh land there will be crabs. This includes the Peace River in Punta Gorda Florida where Peace River Seafood is found. As I sat there with the owner shucking oysters, popping tails off shrimp and picking meat from crabs fresh caught that morning, it brought back childhood memories of doing the same. Unfortunately, not everyone is as privileged as I was to have grown up with fresh crabs, so here's a primer on how to eat blue crabs...

You might know that lobster is delicious, but how much do you really know about this creature of the sea? Lobster has made a long journey from being a "throw away" food suitable only for the poor to a delicacy enjoyed by kings. Here's some more stuff you might not know about it though. 

There are two things in life that I love the most (outside of my wife of course!) - Traveling and Food. That's really one bigger thing: exploring new cultures. That's why I love trying new restaurants that work hard to transport you to new times and places like Havana 1920 does. Havana 1920 is a new Cuban-themed cafe and bar in the heart of San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter - very close to the convention center as well as most of the bigger hotels. Here's what we loved about it!

One of my favorite things about visiting Las Vegas is the food scene. There's always something new and fun popping up and because of the competition, innovation is constant. On this most recent trip, we were invited to check out Rice & Company, a pan-Asian restaurant located right between Blue Man Group and Carrot Top's theaters inside of the Luxor resort at the south end of the strip. It's the perfect spot for pre/post show drinks as well as a complete dinner to keep you going all night long.

I love making stir fry because it's generally a healthy, fun, and colorful way to get a great meal quick, with relatively little mess. Generally all you need is a knife, cutting board, and a wok or stir fry pan and away you go!

Islands is one of my favorite restaurants to take my friends and that's because the food is always good and while the classics never change, they always have new offerings to switch stuff up too. On our recent guys weekend to Palm Desert, California they invited us to stop by and fuel up as well as taste their new Islands Golden Ale brewed in collaboration with Karl Strauss Brewing.

Birds Eye has some new Veggie Made pastas that they asked me to check out. So while looking at the freezer case I had a challenge - do I go with the probably really good on it's own pasta with alfredo sauce... or make my own? I think you know what the answer is here and that's because I love to innovate and create new recipes. So here it is, Spicy Cajun Alfredo with pork chops served over Birds Eye® Steamfresh Veggie Made™ Zucchini Lentil Pasta!

While Vegas has trended away from lavish buffets, the tradition of a casino buffet being the crown jewel of a resort is alive and well in San Diego. Last week we were invited to check out Viejas Casino Resort's buffet during their new Friday Crab Legs feast and we were not disappointed!

We've got a few more weeks of summer left and that means that we need to use these warm sunny days the best that we can. For many of us, that means taking one last family vacation somewhere fun. However, as important as spending time with the family might be, it's also important to spend time with your wife or partner. Especially during the summer, it can be a challenge with all the other distractions. Don't let that deter you though, it's worth it and so is she!

Last night I had the opportunity to not just visit a fantastic new brewery but also meet with five of the best chefs in San Diego. We were assembled to help raise money for Feeding San Diego, while also celebrating the launch of Flesh & Blood - Bitter Brothers new Golden Sour that has a stunning color and flavor of tart cherries and raspberry. Each of the five courses was inspired by and paired with one of their beers, for a culinary experience that I wish could be shared better than just my words and pictures.

One of my all time favorite comfort foods is shepherd's pie. It's easy to make and relatively easy to clean up too, plus it's cheap and very filling. The folks at Birds Eye^® though asked me to check out their new Mashed Cauliflower product and see how I liked it as an alternative to mashed potatoes. Years ago when my wife suggested this I laughed - and then learned that it is super tasty, in some instances even better texture and taste than mashed potatoes themselves. So, with that in mind I decided to switch up my shepherd's pie recipe and use Birds Eye^® Veggie Made™ Mashed: Original Cauliflower instead.

Eastern Europeans drink a lot of vodka - that's no secret. However, if you've ever been to a party or had a long dinner with someone from Russia, Poland, or Ukraine then you've probably also noticed that they are generally able to hold their alcohol better than their American counterparts. While some of that comes from years of practice and a generally high level of consumption, there's another secret too. Salo! Salo is a salted pork fat that is sometimes referred to as the Ukrainian national dish and was served at nearly every meal that I had while touring the country.