A schlemmertope? No,  that isn't just a finger spasm that caused me to grossly misspell another word. A schlemmertope is a German clay baking contraption, similar to a Dutch oven, that allows you to slow cook and steam food in the oven. I had the pleasure of playing with a Schlemmertope in my German friends kitchen the other night, when we decided to make our 2nd Annual German Christmas for a group of friends.



A few years ago the tradition of German Christmas was born, when my German friend was missing home and the cooking traditions of her childhood. I thought the first adventure in German food was a hoot, when we set off the smoke detector. However, this second journey did not disappoint, as it was complete with getting the lid of the schlemmertope stuck, a visit from a coyote on the patio and very educational and lively discussion about men, marriage and life.

For the second annual dinner, we decided to make some German comfort food and let me just say I fell in love with the Schlemmertope because it is easy, cozy, low maintenance and looks impressive.

To begin with, soak the top of the schlemmertope in water. This helps with the steaming process once it is in the oven.





Next layer the ingredients of the meal in the dish. This can be used to cook just about anything, however we decided to roast vegetables and chicken. I would love to share the actual recipe with you, however it is in German and I can't tell you what it says at all, so this is my interpretation.



We did a layer of onions, we used 4 of them, that we cut into quarters. We also added 6 Roma tomatoes, that we also quartered. And 6-10 Yukon gold potatoes,the small ones, that we cut in half. We tossed the veggies in salt, pepper and paprika. However, you could easily add some fresh herbs, other veggies like red peppers or cauliflower or artichokes, and it would all cook beautifully.



On the top of the veggies, we layered boneless, skinless chicken thighs, that were also seasoned in salt, pepper and paprika.

Place the top on the schlemmertope and place it in the oven, on the lowest rack. One of the things to make note of is the fact that you always want to put a schlemmertope in a cold oven, as this eliminates the possibility of cracking the clay, which is never a good thing.

Cook the chicken and veggie mixture in the oven for 2 hours in a 395 degree oven. Ok to be exact the exact oven temperature is 392 degrees as it was translated from German into English, however we were crazy and rounded up to 395.


And that is it. The chicken was cooked perfectly, it was tender, juicy and fell apart on the fork. The veggies were steamed to perfection and there was a broth that was created at the base of the schlemmertope from the cooking process that was awesome spooned on the veggies or the chicken. 

This is a perfect dish for entertaining as it looks exciting and original, doesn't require you to be lost in the kitchen while your guests meander around your house and it is the perfect conversation piece. Our 2nd Annual German Friend Christmas was a true success, starting with mimosas while we prepped, German language lessons on how to say Santa in German (aka. Weihnachtsmann) and a lot of laughter, good wine and friendship. We truly embraced the spirit and traditions that embody Christmas, sharing and being grateful for what is truly important-health, friendship, joy and love. Merry Christmas!

Do you ever have those moments in time when you are just straight up grateful? I am not sure if it is the time of year, the turquoise blue water of the Pacific Ocean, the company of one of my best friends, incredible food and wine or just the fact that I am getting older or more sentimental, however whatever it was, the few hours I spent at Malibu Farm yesterday made me grateful. This restaurant is truly one of the best kept tucked away secrets in Southern California. Malibu is known for high end big named restaurants like Nobu, which don't get me wrong has incredible food, however if you want to sit and enjoy the sun, surf and the beauty of the West coast, Malibu Farm is my choice any day.




I have lived in Southern California for 10 years now, this week is actually the anniversary of my move. I remember moving down here like it was yesterday, the long drive from Nor Cal to So Cal, the rain on the windshield of the Uhaul truck, moving on the 23rd and realizing that after 30 years it was my first Christmas away from home and unpacking the Uhaul truck in 80 degree weather in December in shorts and a tank top. I moved down here to chase love and to chase a career, but at the end of the day my life has turned out nothing like I expected and for that I am grateful. The love and the career have changed and the last 10 years have been a roller coaster of life lessons, heart breaks, celebrations and those moments like yesterday that just leave you grateful.


Malibu Farm is on the Malibu Pier. Yes, Malibu has a pier. It is often an overlooked pier as it is overshadowed by the more famous piers like Santa Monica or Santa Barbara, however it still juts out into the beautiful Pacific Ocean.


The restaurant occupies the two buildings that are located on the pier. There is one at the start of the pier and one at the end, both with incredible views, amazing food and a relaxed, beachy and classy vibe.


One of my best friends and I decided to escape the holiday craziness yesterday and spend the afternoon enjoying each others company, a bottle of wine and exploring some good food. Malibu Farm specializes in farm to table ingredients, local sources, organic fruits and vegetables when possible and whole ingredients. The food is simple yet creative, decadent and comforting all at the same time.

We started the afternoon, after walking the pier, with a bottle of local wine from Malibu. We decided on the 2013 Dolin Chardonnay and it was perfect for a warm sunny winter afternoon. It was crisp with a hint of citrus and light oak. We sat on the patio, yes in December, which has glass to shield the wind, heaters although they weren't necessary until the sun started to set and blankets.


The waitress gave us incredible food recommendations and we pretty much let her dictate our menu. She was super relaxed and allowed us to soak in the ambiance, talk about life and still not feel neglected. We started with the smoked salmon lahvosh, which was kind of like a giant pizza cracker with salmon, capers, arugula and some type of cheese. It was perfect with the wine and it was fresh, flavorful and light. The waitress also recommended the Swedish Meatballs, although we didn't try them, as she said the owner was from Sweden and they were her specialty.


The next thing we tried was the Veggie Paella, however we added some grilled steak. The paella was not made in the traditional fashion as it was made with Israeli couscous instead of the traditional rice. It also had incredible grilled veggies such as sweet potatoes, beets, artichoke and green beans. It was topped with a combination of tofu and grilled steak, which was cooked perfectly. The flavors were perfect, not overpowering, but exotic.


Finally, we ended the meal with lattes and Lavender Coffee Cake and yes that is actual coffee on the top of the cake. The lavender was subtle, however the coffee cake was heaven as it was served with a side of toasted pecans and whipped cream.


It truly was the perfect ending to an incredible meal. Actually I should say we ended the meal by watching the sunset over the ocean, celebrating our friendship and recognizing all that we have to be thankful for during this holiday season.


Here is the info on the restaurant. I promise you will not be disappointed! https://www.malibu-farm.com/about-malibu-farm/

Thank you to all of those people, places and things that touch my life on a daily basis. My life has been filled with an incredible family and friends, an ongoing life adventure, moments that capture my heart, places that make me celebrate being alive and for that I am just grateful. Happy Holidays!