Welcome to Saffron Lane, a blog dedicated to seasonal food, celebration and life. I'm Elizabeth, a chef, food writer, recipe developer and food stylist.
My culinary career began at an early age. While other ten-year-olds were setting up lemonade stands, I was meticulously crafting gourmet chocolates and picking fresh berries from the backyard (to pair with them, of course) for my stand. Among the many lessons that summer, I learned that chocolate doesn't sell very well after hours melting in the sun, no matter how great it tastes.
Raised in a passionate family full of inspired cooks and culinary entrepreneurs, food was always the focal point at family get-togethers. With a bi-coastal upbringing, I was exposed to a wide variety of cuisines and quickly learned the importance of eating locally.
After years of study and hands-on experience in various culinary styles, my focus came full circle when I moved to San Francisco in 1999:
Simple, seasonal, style-driven and beautifully presented food, recipes and photography.
Channeling my energies towards a career I love proved to be the right choice. I was chosen as a finalist on season two of The Next Food Network Star. I've also appeared on Dining Around with Gene Burns and have been featured in The James Beard Foundation's JBF Notes. My work has appeared on Shape.com, SFGate, Slow Food Marin, MoreMarin and in Edible Marin & Wine Country. I'm also a regular contributor to the innovative recipe-search site, Gojee.com and a featured author on Glam Media's Foodie 100.
My goal with this blog is to inspire you. I’d love to get you in the kitchen more often (because you want to) and ignite (or reignite) a strong sense of curiosity about food. After all, good food evokes memories, pleasure and emotions -- the fun and most essential things in life.
I’d also like to invite you to celebrate more often. Throw parties for the people you love, celebrate the milestones and savor life ... with a big dose of passion.
To connect: inquiries[at]saffronlane[dot]com
All of the content on this website is original content produced by me, unless otherwise noted. All content is under copyright and may not be used without permission. If you’d like to use a photo or recipe, please just email with your request. I’m usually more than happy to share.
Tag Archives: chilled summer soups
August 9, 2011
  Much like the economy, life has its ups and downs, detours, roadblocks and periods of time where massive growth occurs. If we’re lucky, we’ll experience moments where we’re able to take full inventory and fine-tune. With even more luck, we’ll be able to go through a complete process of reinvention on a path to greater... 
Tags: American economy, American politics, chilled soup recipes, chilled summer soups, gazpacho, gazpacho recipes, healthy soup recipes, healthy summer entertaining ideas, peach and tomato gazpacho, peach recipes, recipes using peach, reinventing, Spain, Spanish cuisine, summer recipes, summer soup recipes
The peach/golden tomato combo is a great idea! My mom always talks about living in your strengths…any good trait (like being sweet) can turn into a weakness if not kept in balance. This is true for ourselves and in cooking. 
I like this. It kind of amazes me to think how much I’ve changed since my 20s. Feels good to take stock. And I love what you’ve done with gazpacho. As much as I like the *idea* of gazpacho, sometimes I feel like I’m eating a cold sauce. 
Elizabeth
Kimberley, I completely agree with you. If blended too much it feels like you’re eating a cold sauce. If not blended enough, a shot of salsa (no, thanks). There’s definitely a delicate balance. 
Brett
Thanks for the reflection … and the refreshment. 
A beautiful post! It is important to self-reflect and hopefully with age comes the maturity to realize this. It’s good to feel comfortable in your own skin! I love the sound of this fresh gazpacho and it’s so very pretty, too.
Elizabeth
Thanks, Brett and Nicole. Yes, while it’s sometimes fleeting, feeling good in your skin is one of the best feelings there is. 
Ahh… I can exactly understand many of the sentiments you wrote about in your post! I am also a perfectionist, and I couldn’t agree more that it can sometimes be exhausting. My sweet nature has definitely gotten me into sticky situations sometimes, but nonetheless, I am who I am, and I love it.
Elizabeth
Amanda — you’re entirely right, it’s just best to completely own it (whether it gets you into sticky situations or not). 
I do agree with all the ideas you have presented in your post. They are very convincing and will certainly work. Still, the posts are too short for newbies. Could you please extend them a little from next time? Thanks for the post. 
Elizabeth
Many thanks for the feedback, Roni. 
[...] Peach, Basil and Golden Tomato Gazpacho: This gazpacho still relies on tomatoes as a main ingredient, but it adds in peaches, cucumbers, and basil. If you enjoy traditional tomato-based gazpacho, you’re sure to enjoy this modern variation with it’s bright color and fresh taste. [...] |
|
© 2010-2012 | All Rights Reserved | ProPhoto WordPress Blog by NetRivet
13 comments