lorinarlock

What we like so much about lorinarlock is that her dishes and aesthetic have a way of transporting us to her home base of Napa Valley -- she embraces seasonal ingredients that pair perfectly with a wide range of wine selections. And her talent isn't just limited to the kitchen. Something of a Renaissance woman, she's a prolific writer and cookbook author who also runs Hang Time Press, a small new media publishing company with a focus on ecookbooks, with her husband.

Her recipes are breezy and fresh, perfect for entertaining friends (preferably outdoors, in the summer) while plenty of wine is flowing. Take, for example, her gorgeously light appetizers: Heirloom Tomato Salad with Capers and Golden Balsamic Vinegar, No-Cook Swordfish Tostado Taco Bites, or Faux Fava Spread. She dazzles with her more substantial fare as well, from Butternut Squash and Roasted Garlic Galette and Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce. And make sure to save some room for her Peach Skillet Tart (with a couple of sips of moscato, of course).

Read our profile Q&A with lorinarlock below, and then check out her blog, Wine Country Cook, where she helpfully provides wine recommedations for each dish she features.

• What's the strangest food you've ever eaten?
  It was something white and soft, kind of spongy-like in a beautiful kaiseki ryori tray served by kimono-clad women in a Ryokan on the top of a mountain near Mt. Fuji.
• 
  
• What do you cook when home alone?
  Lately, anything with a fried or poached egg.
• 
  
• Your most treasured kitchen possession:
  My pepper grinder!
  
  
• The ideal number of guests for a dinner party is:
  Six to 10