Hot as a pistol, but cool inside.

The Eagle have landed and the fans are going going Guilty.   Watch out NFL. These birds are in the playoffs and looking for victory.  The NFC East Champions have come to kick ass.  Nickie9 is one cool customer and he is going to surprise a lot people on Saturday night.  The Saints should be worried.

Rooting for Chip with a Guiltiful Feast.

There's a big Eagles game tonight and the town is stoked to the max. Win at midnight and the Eagles are in the playoffs. "Chip rules!"  Lose and the fans are devastated. "Chip choked!!" What a dramatic situation. 

We believe in Chip and his innovative game plans.  It's a Big Time moment in a town more than ready for the Big time spotlight.  Can you imagine what the Superbowl is going to be like with an army of Eagle fans a mere 90 miles away? OMG!!! 

Of course down in front, the Guilty Pleasures Club prepares for either outcome with many decadent delights. For the early games, our spread needs to match the passion of the fans tailgating all day in the stadium. parking lot.  Even though the game is in Dallas and even though the weather is miserable.  From the Blackberry Chevre stuffed French Toast with a Pecan encrusted Spiral Ham for breakfast to Kowaloneks' fresh Kielbasa and Juniper Berry Sauerkraut for a pre-game lunch, our GPC team sets the Game Day table for success.  "How delicious does that sound?"  

At 4 pm it's blanched vegetables with a Tzatziki sauce as we put the finishing touches on a  pre-game feast that features the Coho Salmon that we caught this past summer in Oregon . "We miss daybreak in Astoria.  Salmon fishing the at the mouth of the Olympia River is strictly front row. It just doesn't get any better than that." Grazing all day on fantastic food is our Guilty Football Feast .

With Philadelphia's beloved Eagles looking to clinch first place, playoff positioning has begun to take shape. My gut instinct tells me this is the year that the Birds quiet their critics and win the Super Bowl.

You have to pace yourself on Guilty Street. Stuffing yourself is frowned upon while grazing throughout the day is the Guilty Way. "Go Chip Go!!!"

Getting lost in the sauce or finding Culinary Nirvana.

May I please have another ladle of that spicy Rancho Nuevo sauce please on my breakfast. "Don't be chincy.  I am watching you."  As you may have guessed, I like my South of the Border eggs to be swimming in a canyon of  hot sauce. It's called the Guilty Gulch. OMG!!!  It's awesome.  My Culinary Nirvana is reached when the Saucier kicks it into high gear.  It's their deft touch and refined cooking skills that make our Guilty Town cuisine explode with flavor.

Hail to the Saucier and their magic touch,

Cooking Styles among the Guilty. Recipe or not.

Guilty can really cook.  He just cannot follow a recipe.  Everything I cook, I taste in my head before an egg is cracked or a red coconut curry sauce is created.  The great part of my winging it strategy is my food is really innovative and delicious.   Today I am making a Beef Emancee.  Over the next three or four days I will redefine this peasant stew.  This Provincial classic begins as a Day One masterpiece and then morphs into a Day Four Pièce de résistance .  I love that epicurian evolution. 

Are you ready to fly solo in the kitchen?  Excellent! For this culinary challenge we are going to need a full pantry with lots of fresh ingredients.  I know exactly where to go. There is a new International market in Guiltytown.  That's where all the flavor and spice hang out. Going global in the garden is a big time Guilty Pleasure.  I love buying fruits and vegetables that are exotic. Daring and dicey works well at my cutting board.      

Here's an article from food expert Phillip Dundas on cooking without a recipe.  His insight and suggestions will help you prepare for better results. The Guilty may be impulsive, but but not foolish. Take some time this Holiday and have fun in the kitchen.  Nothing is better than making yourself the best omelet ever and reading the New York Times or Bon Appetit 

Dreaming of Festivus Dinner while making a Big Time Holiday Breakfast. Guilty Pleasure x 2 . .

My lofty station as the Patriarch of a remarkable family makes everyday special. Nothing is more rewarding than being a Dad and that's especially true on a Holiday morning.  Everyone sleeps in and Guilty has the house to himself.  I can do a lot of damage before 7 am with a skillet and a dream. My gourmet breakfast will feature Chevre/blackberry stuffed French toast, eggs over easy and spiral ham from the best Ham recipe in the world.  Check it out. Preparing breakfast for the Guilty Gang with our dog on the assist, is a great way to start any day.

I went to bed last evening looking forward to a very Guilty holiday. Great Cinema, Great food and Great company.  AWESOME!!!  After seeing American Hustle, we will be hosting friends and family for a scrumptious Festivus Dinner.  And for all of you keeping scoring, Junior Mint and the Shifster are in charge of board games.  There is always a Scrabble controversy brewing when generations compete.  Love it!
We've asked Shiffie to roll 'dem magic bones first and pass on the knowledge.  No grudges allowed.

This year's feast will be our best secular celebration ever. Some people are Merry once a year. Other people share joy everyday.  We like that second approach to life much better. No exceptions are allowed!  When you start showing up in the front row, you must celebrate Living Well everyday. It's the Guilty Dogma and it's more than just mere words.  Invest in your key relationships and marvel at the results.  Sharing a Primo moment is always a Game Changer.  But don't forget, receiving a Guiltorious present from the family is even better.

It's great to be Dad.

Dapper sheets. Luxury linens make nap time Guiltorious

Wrapping presents?  It's still not too late to add one more gift to that heaping pile. Everyone should be given new bed ware for the Holidays.  It's so important, this gift should mandated by the Guilty Tribunal. And why not?  It's a Guilty factoid that luxury linens make everyone happier. There is no greater Guilty Pleasure than slipping into those cool sheets after a festive night of full plates, second helpings and frosty libations.

It's been ages since the Guilty have set the pace.  2014 is our moment to lead, inspire and rejuvenate. GPC members must rise up and play it forward.  Seize the day and treat yourself to an amazing nap.  Leadership should always be well rested.  It all starts with those dapper sheets.

Dazzling Dinner Parties are back in 2014. Adding an extra course or two is always a Guilty Pleasure.

Now that the holidays are in full swing, it's time to start planning an extravagant dinner party for next year that features a certified Guilty Pleasure or two on the menu? And why not?  You certainly deserve it!  Hosting this well-earned milestone celebration with your best friends is probably long overdue.

LEMON CURD PAVLOVA    With fresh berries and a caramel cage.   

With an improving economy, the timing is perfect for a more opulent approach to intimate celebrations.  Let's start your evening with the pleasure of enjoying pared wines with each course and a slower-paced meal with the people who matter the most.  When your sitting in the front row as you often do, why not dine elegantly with an extra course or two? Having a fourth or fifth course at the ready, is the only way to dazzle in 2014.  There are just too many incredible gastronomic delights to enjoy and for this fabulous feast, you should not forgo any of them.  I ask that you consider last evening's Fourth Course, Chef Ameerah and Thin Mint's incredible dessert.....

I want mine, you got yours

The event calendar has slowed to a crawl with several elegant Holiday dinners going out the door.  As the kitchen begins to exhale, the chefs don their Elf costumes, reroute the sled and shop like it's judgement day. So many gifts to purchase and so much traffic to avoid.  It's like appearing in an episode of Survivor. Making up for lost time is easier said than done, but we do it deftly.  And we do it with love. We have some very dedicated employees with joyous families.  Putting your family first is the greatest Guilty Pleasure of all.  But so is taking care of yourself.  The magic of shopping for others only works if you spoil yourself as well.

Sometimes it's procuring a rare Brazilian Rum like Leblon Cachaca.  That Amazon firewater works for me. If you have not stoked the embers with that Guilty Pleasure, you are missing a special moment. Other times it's a timeless fashion like Thin Mint's hand sewn boots from Portland Oregon.  The quality of her new leather boots is magnificent and the look is sublime. This ability to balance the beam between giving and receiving will always enrich to your good character.  Do not miss out on the opportunity to play it forward.  It's so worth it!

One domain where Guilty definitely knows his good fortune, is the catering kitchen. I may be in charge in the Executive Suite, but once I walk through the commissary doors, everything changes. Thin Mint is the Boss and she's the BOMB .  With a refined pallet and extensive knowledge base, Thin Mint is the keeper of the flame. She is remarkable on so many levels.  Just ask any of our staff or discerning clentele.  With a warm smile or cool refrain, our Executive Chef can teach, motivate, delegate and inspire.

Our staff is always learning new techniques and our clients benefit from that evolution. The need for menu development never stops and our staff knows that innovation can happen 24/7. For a Guilty Soul like me, it's always fun in the kitchen.  It's hard not to be gleeful when there's sweet and savory to explore.  Like a New Year's Day parade, an impromptu Guilty Pleasure moment is always worthy of the front row.  Here's a photo from Thursday's dessert sampling.  It's good to be Guilty.  Every Day!!!

Living Well 24/7 in Malaysia is a Guilty Path

Interest in the Guilty Pleasures Club has never been higher and everyone in the commissary can feel the buzz. We are one humorous article away from stardom and our Guilty vision will not be denied.  The GPC has developed a loyal following that spans the globe and our readership increases everyday. There have been countless requests for online interviews and Podcasts.  And why not, our club members have great self-esteem, big time dreams and excellent taste. It's an awesome vibe to inspire so many overachievers. Guilty may trumpet the message, but the credit goes to our culinary team and event staff.  We have touched a very hot topic.  Living Well 24/7 is our Guilty Mission.

One of the first things you learn in a Guilty Neighborhood is that there are many benefits to having a bountiful pantry and then celebrating your full plate.  However, it's the sharing of your good fortune that really illuminates your Guilty Path to enlightenment. The beacons of light that you exchange along the journey become the jewels you cherish the most.

Nowhere is the passion for Guilty Pleasures more popular than in the island country of Malaysia. With it's British heritage, Malaysia is more of a regional empire than a country. Take a left at Singapore, cross the South China Sea and you have arrived in one of the worlds most incredible nations. Malaysia a booming economy, incredible cities, beautiful beaches, rain forests and lots of Guilty Pleasures Aficionado's looking to share their favorites with Guilty, Thin Mint and the gang. How great is that?


The food in Malaysia looks incredible and so fresh.  The open air markets capture your pallet and enrich your epicurean experience.  Planning our trip is a 2014 project.  We cannot wait spend weeks exploring Malaysia and savoring the many Guilty Pleasures in the Far East.  We love all adventures, but especially tropical adventures.  It looks like Guilty has found his beach.

Traveling globally and then dining locally makes for a wonderful trek.  We are so there!

Food as an aphrodisiac. Guilty Pleasure facts and fantasy....

Many of our club members have encouraged us to discuss food as an aphrodisiac. Of course you get extra credit for creating Sexy Food.  Thin Mint and myself eagerly accepted the challenge of exploring the history, the myths, the secrets and the truth about the connection between food and increased sexual enjoyment. For example, melted Chocolats Valrhona has many life enriching qualities.

Since winter is the perfect to time to rev up your romance, the experts on Guilty Street will be sampling secret love potions, fresh fruit fantasies, spicy concoctions and sexy souffles. Over the next few weeks we will focus on the history of aphrodisiacs, the myths, the facts and the wishful thinking.

We invite personal reflections, creative suggestions and fiery stories. When it comes to researching the mysteries of Amore, who says trial and error is a bad thing.