11/09 |
November 2009. Tis the season for planning the Epicureaders' holiday party. Anticipation is building for this year's theme. Bring on the martinis, champagne and pink holiday cheer. Secret santas will be randomly drawn at the November meeting. |  |
10/09 |
October 2009. This month's featured recipe, Bittersweet Chocolate and Pear Cake was prepared by Lena for the July 2009 Earthy Delights dinner. Sweet tender pears and rich chocolate are an irresistible combination. |  |
9/09 |
September 2009. This month's featured recipe, Grilled Fennel & Tomatoes was prepared by Margo for the August 2008 Enchanted Evening dinner. A perfect dish for late summer tomatoes. Fennel and artichokes round out the flavors. |  |
8/09 |
August 2009. This month's featured recipe, Heirloom Tomato Salad, prepared by Margo, is as delicious as it is beautiful. At its best in late summer when tomatoes are at their peak. A sprinkling of cherry tomatoes and cheese adds interest. |  |
7/09 |
July 2009. This month's featured recipe, Arugula Flatbread, is a vibrant dish made by Stacey for the for the May 2009 meeting. Stacey achieved a perfect balance of healthy and delicious for the "brain food" theme. Sweet pears contrast with the bitter arugula. |  |
6/09 |
June 2009. This month's featured recipe, Mice, is a playful dish from the Epicureaders archives made by Stacey in 2002 for an Australian-themed brunch. The purple licorice tails are especially striking. Who knew mice could be so tasty? |
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5/09 |
May 2009. This month's featured recipe, Dolmas from Julieta is an Epicureaders favorite. Debuting at the Dervishes Delight dinner, the tangy lemon and grape leaf wrappers are a bright contrast to the subtle, melt-in-your-mouth rice filling. |  |
4/09 |
Apr 2009. Our third featured recipe with orange as its main flavor is a stunning yet simple dessert prepared by Stacey for the March 2009 meeting. You will fight over the last piece of this almond flour and agave nectar Clementine Cake. |  |
| Apr 2009. We're thrilled to welcome our newest member, Kelly Roberson. Kelly is a lighting designer and works internationally. She and Stacey met at college at Cornell. We look forward to getting to know Kelly in the coming years. Welcome! |  |
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3/09 |
Mar 2009. This month's featured recipe, Fennel, Tangerine, Purple Carrot Salad was prepared by Kelly for the January 2009 meeting. Contrasting shades of deep purple and vivid orange make this a visually stunning salad. |  |
2/09 |
Feb 2009. This month's featured recipe, Baked Orange French Toast was prepared by Heather for the February 2009 meeting. Infused with orange and plumped in the oven, this is rich and oh so satisfying. The boozy orange sauce was perfect. |  |
1/09 |
Jan 2009. This month's featured recipe, Chez Panisse Herbed Almonds was prepared by Margo for the January 2009 meeting. Crunchy and lightly seasoned with salt and fresh herbs, these almonds are a simple and irresistable appetizer. |
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At the January 2009 meeting (as we do every year), we reflected on the past year and had some ideas for things to do/try in the new year:
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12/08 |
Dec 2008. It's that time of year for the much-anticipated and intoxicating-in-all-ways Holiday Party. The theme is "Cold Winter Nights". This gala event brings together previous and current members to revel in the spirit of the season. |  |
| Dec 2008. This month's featured recipe, Raspberry Charlotte (Charlotte à la Framboise) was prepared by Lena for the December 2008 holiday party. Creamy raspberry filling colored Epicureaders' signature pink. A fairy tale ending to the meal. |  |
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11/08 |
Nov 2008. This month's featured recipe, Mexican Christmas Eve Salad (Ensalada de Noche Buena) was prepared by Stacey for the November 2008 meeting. A vibrantly beautiful salad of contrasts -- crimson beets, pale greens and crunchy nuts. |  |
10/08 |
Oct 2008. This month's featured recipe, Melange of Roasted Vegetables was prepared by Margo for the October 2008 meeting. Tiny peppers, glossy fennel, hearty carrots, earthy beets and eggplant co-mingle in this perfect fall dish. |  |
9/08 |
Sep 2008. This month's featured recipe, Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Pears and Prosciutto was prepared by Stacey for the September 2008 meeting. This succulent dish marries sweet fall pears with delicate salty prosciutto. Simply stunning. |
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8/08 |
Aug 2008. This month's featured recipe, Persian Love Cake was prepared by Lena for the August 2008 meeting. Cardamom and Saffron are delicately infused in the cake and ethereal whipped cream icing. An enchanting dessert fit for a moghul emperor. |  |
7/08 |
July 2008. This month's featured recipe, Pancetta Roast Chicken with Walnut Stuffing was prepared by Margo for the April 2008 meeting. Juicy and succulent chicken with the intense salty tease of crisp pancetta, this dish was truly fit for a queen. |  |
6/08 |
June 2008. This month's featured recipe, Licorice Pudding was prepared by Lena for the June 2008 meeting. Similar in color and flavor to a butterscotch or caramel pudding, it has a pronounced licorice taste. It tastes much better than it sounds. |
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5/08 |
May 2008. This month's featured recipe, Endive with Apple, Blue Cheese & Toasted Hazelnuts was prepared by Heather for the April 2008 meeting. The blend of creamy cheese, crunchy nuts and bitter endive was irresistable. |  |
4/08 |
April 2008. This month's featured recipe, Corn Pudding with Dill and Parsley was prepared by Stacey for our August 2006 meeting. Our dinner theme was clouds, and this dish perfectly embodied the light and fluffy quality of clouds. |
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3/08 |
March 28, 2008. This month's featured recipe, Paella Valenciana was prepared by Julieta for the October 2007 meeting. This is just one of the many luscious dishes Julieta has shared with us from her home country, Spain. |  |
2/08 |
February 2008. This month's featured recipe, Madonna Martinis was prepared (again and again) by Margo for the December 2007 Epicureaders holiday party. This is THE BEST martini and Margo's instructions will make you smile. |
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1/08 |
January 2008. This month's featured recipe, Pork Tenderloin with Cider Glaze and Dried Fruits was prepared by Margo for the December 2007 holiday party. The sweet dried fruit stuffing balanced the rich savory sauce. |  |
12/07 |
Dec 8, 2007. Blessed are the martinis, for they shall start the party...This year's Epicureaders' Holiday Party theme "Madonnas of San Francisco" brought visits by the Virgin Mary-Margo and the party edition of the Virgin of Guadelupe. |  |
| Dec 2007. This month's featured recipe, Blue Cheese Dip with Caramelized Shallots was prepared by Margo for the October 2007 meeting. We found it difficult to step away from this intensely cheesey dip. |  |
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10/07 |
Oct 3, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Winter Salad with Persimmons and Feta was prepared by Stacey for the December 2006 holiday party.This is one of the most beautiful salads of MANY amazing salads Stacey has prepared. Just in time for persimmon season! |  |
8/07 |
Aug 4, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Blue Hawaiian Cocktail was prepared by Lena for the July 2007 annual movie night meeting. This year, we chose our movie-- Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii in honor of this cocktail . It's clear where our priorities are. |
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6/07 |
June 29, 2007. Leslie moved north to Oregon to a fabulous new home with her husband, Dustin and three kids: Lauren, Henry and Sam. Leslie has found the time to be a devoted member through the birth of two children AND her medical residency - and she always has a smile. We'll miss you, Leslie! |  |
5/07 |
May 4, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Strawberry Clouds was prepared by Lena for the August 2006 meeting. A crunchy white meringue forms the base of the cloud and billows of rich whipped cream hide strawberries nestled on top. Margo made a delicious Lemon Cloud dessert. |  |
4/07 |
Apr 8, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Lima Beans with Clams was prepared by Leslie for the November 2006 meeting. This was part of a Tapas Buffet, celebrating the pilgrimage to Santiago in "The Zahir". Leslie also prepared Cauliflower with Serrano Ham and Tomato. |
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3/07 |
Mar 9, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Crunchy Wasabi Salmon with Lime was prepared by Margo for the February 2007 meeting. This outstanding salmon was from CleanFish. The crunchy, pistachio-colored wasabi peas contrasted with the pale pink of the salmon. |
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2/07 |
Feb 23, 2007. Epicureaders celebrates seven years of alluring dinners and scintillating discussion. Let's raise a toast (of bubbly, of course) to our vibrant reading group and the good times we've shared over the years. |  |
| Feb 20, 2007. This month's featured recipe, Caribbean Vegetable Stew was prepared by Heather for the January 2007 meeting. Savory sweet potatoes, tomatoes and okra were combined with a crunchy peanut and cilantro garnish. Heather paired this with pineapple ginger tropical fruit salad. |  |
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1/07 |
January 30, 2007. Epicureaders decided on two themes for this year as inspiration for reading: science fiction and wanderlust. Not sure what book to choose? Think about choosing from one of these topics! |
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12/06 |
See photos of the most eagerly awaited event of the year...the annual Epicureaders' holiday party and reunion. Margo announced a "shoes" party theme. It was a "Babes in Toyland" evening. |  |
| Dec 27, 2006. Epicureaders were photographed for Smart Magazine at Margo's home. An interview with Lena about Epicureaders was planned for the March 2006 issue, but it got shelved. Thanks, Noah for photographing us! | ||
11/06 |
Nov 16, 2006. Welcome to our newest member, Heather! Heather is mother of two young boys, Otto and Kurt, and an Analyst at CDL. Heather recently moved into a new home with her family, where she'll continue her delicious pie-of-the-month baking tradition. Find out more about Heather (and her pie of the month calendar). |  |
6/06 |
Sofia Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine is the Epicureaders' champagne of choice. Yes, the pink cellophane initially attracted us, but we love the flavor. |
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5/06 |
May 31, 2006. Stacey has concluded her many years of dedicated work with the San Francisco Symphony (her work behind the scenes, that is. She will continue to be available to play flute.) She is devoting her full attention to her feldenkrais practice. Refer your family and friends to Stacey!
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3/06 |
Lauren and Henry welcome their little brother, Sam Owen born on March 8 at 9:41pm. He was 7 lbs 8 oz. Congratulations, Leslie!
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1/06 |
Epicureaders introduces a new design for the website. | |
9/05 |
Frith bids farewell. She's moving to North Carolina. Stacey suggested Frith should be a member-at-large. | |
2/05 |
Epicureaders celebrated its 5th anniversary on February 23, 2005 | |
11/04 |
Leslie rejoins the group! | |
10/04 |
Welcome, Coltrane Calder Gowan, born on October 27. Congratulations, Frith! | |
| We bid farewell again to Margarette. | ||
6/04 |
The BookClub Cookbook is now available www.bookclubcookbook.com. | |
2/23/04 |
Margo ordered beautiful sterling silver necklaces in celebration of our 4th anniversary -- each engraved with Epicureaders and our name (2/23/04). |  |
1/30/04 |
"the list" of suggested books has been eliminated. Welcome back, Margarette, who is returning as a member as of January 2004! |
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9/03 |
Epicureaders were profiled for "The Book Club Cook Book", a cookbook on reading groups (under the entry for "Angle of Repose"), publication date 6/04. |
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3/3/03 |
Welcome to our new member -- Frith! | |
2/21/03 |
Due to her busy schedule and new writing class, Larisa has left the group. | |
1/03 |
The group made the following decisions at the annual year-end review meeting in January:
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10/02 |
Rosalie has left the group, but asked us to keep her posted on other fun activities. | |
5/1/02 |
We now have our own domain name www.epicureaders.com; update your bookmarks (5/1/02) | |
2/21/02 |
At the February meeting, Larisa proposed some ideas for themes:
The group decided to try a theme and chose "the beats" for 2 months. We will begin in April with Beat Poetry and in May we will read a book by a beat author (to be decided in April -- everyone should suggest one book). (2/21/02) |
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2/21/02 |
Margo initiated a founder appreciation event. At the end of the February meeting the group presented Lena with a beautiful North Indian Turban Pin and Margo brought champagne (Lena's favorite drink). Thank you very much. I was really touched. (2/21/02) | |
1/23/02 |
Permanent Guest status has been eliminated. | |
1/22/02 |
At the January meeting, members proposed some new ideas, a new deadline for dinner theme announcement and criteria for book selection to add to the existing guidelines:
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10/01/01 |
Lisa has decided to become a permanent guest rather than a regular member due to her evening work schedule as of October 2001. Please remove her from your email list -- she does not have access to email any longer. Margarette has also decided to become a permanent guest due to her busy work and school schedule as of October 30, 2001. |
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4/12/01 |
Lavender sachets with japanese flower pattern fabric were given to all in attendance at the Poetry Interlude by Margarette who sewed them. Thanks, Margarette! | |
3/29/01 |
At the March meeting members proposed letting each member take turns choosing a book. The group has not decided whether to try this method. | |
2/22/01 |
Margo presented all members with a personalized plastic food keeper for dinner leftovers. Thanks, Margo! | |
1/29/01 |
At the January meeting, members proposed a few themes and criteria for book selection to add to the existing guidelines:
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