I’ve often been curious about the chocolate shop at Lake Anne Plaza. It’s always great to see a locally-owned business succeeding in Reston, but this one is particularly intriguing to me, because it’s such a charming little neighborhood store. And let’s be honest: anything involving chocolate is going to catch my attention. Probably yours, too. I’ve bought several…

‘Tis the season for cocktail parties! What better way to celebrate the holidays than with nostalgic, retro libations? These classic (and classy) drinks are guaranteed to impress your friends and take your party to the next level.

This week we’ve covered turkey, wine, side dishes and vegetarian options for your Thanksgiving meal. Hopefully, you’ve saved room for dessert because today it’s pie time! We’ve explored Reston and surrounding areas for the next best thing to homemade. Pumpkin, apple or pecan — these pies are sure to loosen some belts and make you the hero…

Tired of the same tired dry turkey year after year? You are not alone. Much to the chagrin of family members, I feel no sentimentality towards a plain old roasted turkey. This year, with a slew of houseguests, I have decided to push the envelope and have gone in search of unconventional recipes to blow…

Hosting a crowd of people for Thanksgiving? Tasked with bringing wine to someone else’s house? Then this article is for you! We asked longtime Restonian and resident “Wine Guy” Andy Creemer to select a few wines that best pair with a beloved turkey and all the trimmings. Andy has worked for MacArthur Beverages in D.C. since…

The bounty of summer is long gone but fall brings its own special harvest to the table. Squash is in full-force right now at grocery stores and farmers markets. These nutritional power-houses are packed with vitamins and fiber. They can be used to lighten-up recipes by replacing starches such as pasta and potatoes. They can also be the…

It’s bivalve season! Huh? you ask. Months that end in an ‘r’ are commonly believed to be the best months for oysters, mussels and clams. Cooler waters have less of an occurrence of algae blooms which can lead to high levels of toxicity in bivalves. These shellfish also spawn during warmers months and don’t taste as…

Candy apples and fall go together like summer & watermelon, like winter & hot cocoa, like spring &… spring onions. You get my drift. This weekend, we found ourselves with an abundance of apples from a recent apple picking adventure but no desire to bake or mash them. Even though we love them plain (I’m looking at you, Honeycrisp),…

These cookies are an October tradition for my family, and I look forward to them at least as much as Christmas cookies. The world needs more fall cookies! These pumpkin treats are absolutely delicious, with a soft, fluffy texture and decadent butterscotch frosting. I got this recipe years ago from my sister-in-law, who got it from her mother,…