We live in a place and time where we are accustomed to words, photos and concepts being transferred in seconds around the world. Last week I discovered that this level of technology transfer had not made it to the world of high quality butchers.

Fall is the ideal time of the year to find a wide assortment of colorful gourds. Gourds are used not only as an ingredient for soups and stews, but as serving bowls. Gourds as serving bowls are a unique, healthy and colorful way to brighten up autumn’s cold and rainy evenings.

The three wine cellars featured have two things in common. The first is that each of the couples “found” the space for the cellar as they were adding on to their home. The second is that each of these wine cellars is for more than just storing wines; they are an extension of the hospitality offered by the hosts.

The challenge presented to me for this first article was to select four local restaurants and give them the same vegetable, in this case, asparagus and then see how each kitchen would prepare it.