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: entertaining recipes
October 18, 2011
  My friend Kasey over at Turntable Kitchen recently reminded me of something: the importance of availability when it comes to friendships. She succinctly sums this up in her latest post and it really made me think about my own availability, or sometimes lack thereof, for my friends. In the past couple years I’ve experienced a couple...
Tags: butternut squash, entertaining recipes, fall entertaining ideas, fall soups, friendship, healthy fall soups, healthy soups, healthy winter soups, hearty soups, kabocha squash, soup recipes, soups, squash recipes, turntable kitchen, winter squash, winter squash recipes, winter squash soups
The color of that soup is gorgeous! Friendships can be rather tricky sometimes. Hope your good news brings you back together with the right friends 
What a lovely post, Beth. I know what you mean about feeling hurt when your expectations with friends aren’t met. If you’re a sensitive person (like me) it’s hard NOT to take it personally! But, as you’ve mentioned, sometimes, you still really want these people in your life and in order to enjoy their presence, you have to move on, and rekindle. Really lovely post (and thanks so much for the kind words about mine!) 
Elizabeth
Thanks Nicole and Kasey (and thanks for the inspiration, K!). I wish I were much less sensitive, but they say it’s the curse of the creative, so I’ll happily take it.  If it isn’t glaringly obvious, few things excite me more than a really good food find. It doesn’t necessarily have to be something eccentric or exotic like, say, grasshopper kidney. Anthony Bourdain can captain that league. An heirloom fruit or hybrid vegetable is much more my speed. The Flamingo Pepper, for example, is a... 
Tags: bell peppers, black beans, chicken recipes, entertaining recipes, flamingo peppers, full belly farm, grilled chicken, grilled chicken recipes, healthy summer recipes, hybrid vegetables, kid-friendly recipes, kid-friendly vegetables, recipes with black beans, smoked mozzarella, stuffed pepper recipes, stuffed peppers, summer appetizers, summer bell peppers, sweet pepper varieties
15 comments 
Amazing! I love the dynamic presentation of the process. And fire-roasted anything. And the slaw!
Elizabeth
Thanks, Kimberley + Jessica. It was definitely a fun (and tasty) one to make! 
Oh my gosh, incredible presentation! And amazing combination of flavors! Also, saw your soup on Shape.com – congratulations!!
Elizabeth
Thanks so much (on both fronts), Kathryn. I’m completely honored that they included two of my recipes and this post was so much fun to pull together. 
Wow, Elizabeth, I love you presented that. Beautifully done, magazine ready, if you ask me. I adore roasted peppers, but I don’t do it nearly enough. Thanks for the inspiration — the pumpkin seed slaw is fantastic, as well!
Thanks, Liren! I don’t roast peppers often enough either, but the result is definitely well worth it. 
Brett
I love the slideshow and the embedded instructions! The recipe is seriously amazing. How hard is it to find those peppers? I want to make this recipe this weekend. Thanks for the inspiration, for keeping it fresh and healthy, and for the great pictures!
Elizabeth
Thanks, Brett! I don’t have a problem finding them when peppers are in season (beginning in mid Aug. in CA) so you may try your farmers’ market. If you can’t find them, you could use another bell pepper variety or even a poblano. The method is still the same. Good luck and enjoy! 
Christine
Absolutely beautiful! And I’m guessing quite scrumptious. I’m glad to be reading this right before the Sunday Farmers’ Market. I now have a mission…
Elizabeth
Thanks, Christine! Good luck at Devil’s Gulch this weekend, too. 
How gorgeous is that! I’ll be on the lookout for Flamingo Peppers. On my grow list for next year! Just found seeds! thanks, Elizabeth
Elizabeth
Thanks, Annapet! I’d love to know how well they grow for you. I have a variety in my garden this year that are just now starting to resemble any form of a pepper. Could be the cooler summer, I guess. Good luck! 
Lisa
Beautiful and inspiring! I just got flamingo peppers in my CSA box in northern California and googled to find a recipe…so now I’d like to print your recipe but can’t seem to find instructions…help! xoxo 
Elizabeth
Hi Lisa, I hope you really enjoy your flamingo peppers. They’re so fun to work with. Since this recipe is embedded in the photos, there isn’t a print function, unfortunately. A smart phone or tablet propped up on the kitchen counter is probably a good bet. I hope you enjoy! |
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3 comments