Archive for the ‘About me’ Category

My last meal

Filed Under: About me, Pictures, Recipes, summeron June 2nd, 2011

Morbid right? But it’s one of my favorite dinner party questions, “What would your last meal be?” That’s if you knew it was “time” … Maybe that crazy Staten Island man who predicted the world ending on May 21st at 6:30 PM was polishing off a Porterhouse topped with crab or shrimp around 6:15?

For me the question is simple, it would be summer (if we’re already fantasizing I might as well choose the season too) and it would be either a tomato, basil, mozzarella sandwich made on Joe Leone’s semolina roll, followed by ice cream OR a grilled pizza.

I love pizza, it’s my comfort food. My mother might as well be Italian. Pizza and wine are like air and water for my family. Here’s a summer version of the classic, prepared on the grill and unbelievably delicious. You won’t ever make a pizza inside again if it’s warm out, I guarantee.

Grilled Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Pizza
(serves 2 for dinner, 4 for appetizers)

Grilled pizza has a completely different texture that oven pizza – better in my opinion. It’s lighter and more doughy. If you pick doughnuts over bagels (tough choice) this might be more your style. It’s also a great vegetarian option to a barbeque menu. Forgo supermarket pizza dough and visit your local pizzeria, typically they will sell you fresh (and real!) dough for a couple of bucks

1/2 a pizza dough
2 roasted red pepper (chopped)
1 large tomato (chopped)
1 c. mozzarella cheese (cut into small cubes)
1 glove of garlic
Olive Oil
sea salt
basil leaves

Preheat the grill using the medium setting on the grill. Stretch the dough into desired shape, square or circle, using extra flour if dough is sticky. Prepare vegetable and set aside. Meanwhile to “infuse” oil, place glove of garlic and enough oil to cover in a microwave safe dish and microwave for 30 seconds, this will create a garlic olive oil.

Place dough on grill and allow side to cook for about 3 minutes, until slightly browned. Flip over and brush oil on pizza, topped with veggies and cheese and cover grill. Lower settings to low and allow the cheese to melt and bottom to brown. Remove from grill and top with basil and sea salt.

Best enjoyed with a crisp and cold white wine!

Tags: grilled pizza
Posted in About me, Pictures, Recipes, summer | Comments Off

Menu Masters

Filed Under: About me, Lifeon March 13th, 2011

I’ve been blessed with having many great friends over the years, but I love learning something new about someone I’ve known forever. Kinda similar to rediscovering a recipe you haven’t used in years. There have been many times late-night in a hometown bar when someone comes up to me and starts talking about my blog or a new ice cream spot I have to try, or learning that some of ex-boyfriend(s) actually follow my blog. What’s even better is when a friend-of-a-friend OR a friend of my sister comes and says, “Hey, I love what you do, I’m doing the same thing.”

A fews weeks ago a friend of my sister approached me about doing an interview for Menu Masters, a website designed to help solve the question, “What’s for dinner?” The site offers a week’s worth of menus and recipes to fit your lifestyle. Overall, a pretty smart idea.

Here’s a sneak peak at my interview. To check out the full coverage, click here.

What is your daily schedule?

No two days the same! Which is odd, because strangely enough I’m a person that craves routine. Alas, not in this lifetime. Most days I wake up super early and either answer emails or food shop – getting two of the nitty-gritty things out of the way. Then sometimes it’s cooking, meeting, menu proposals, testing recipes, doing research of running events.

So what time do you eat dinner?

Again, never the same! When I am home I try to make sure to stay on a schedule and eat at regular meal times. Sometimes I go out with people, if the expense account and schedule permits, but if it’s on site often times dinner isn’t an option, breakfast the next morning will have to do.

Do you ALWAYS enjoy cooking?

You know I do. It is crazy, but even after a long day at work or cooking I still put effort into my meals for me or entertaining for friends. I never just pour a bowl of cereal. If I make scrambled eggs I make them look good, taste good, etc. In a business that isn’t always pampering, it’s nice to treat myself with a nice meal that I put thought into, and it doesn’t have to take forever.

Tags: Interview, Menu Masters
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Charleston Wine and Food Festival

Filed Under: About me, Thirsty Girl, Travelon March 11th, 2011

Last weekend I had the pleasure of covering the Charleston Wine and Food Festival on behalf of Thirsty Girl and boy, did I have fun.

The weekend in itself was hectic, not only because of its’ brevity, but because of the bizarre occurrences that kept happening throughout.

On my way to the airport (on the lovely NJ Transit), I was scrolling through my Twitter when I came across a tweet from Sara Moulton, who was also heading down to Chuck. I replied gushing and hoping to see her, harmless right?

Standing in the security line at Newark Airport half asleep … I see her! Better yet, she’s on my flight! What do I do now, say “Hi!” or ignore her? I sound like a stalker. Seriously, it was a bit odd. After introducing myself, exchanging small talk about our matching “Chucks” (again, bizarre), she couldn’t have been a nicer or more sincere.

I spent the rest of Thursday transitioning into what I call “Southern mode” – walking slower(er), removing my puffy winter coat, shutting off my computer, and overall relaxing into a much less hectic lifestyle. It took me a bit of time to achieve this – my family would argue it didn’t happen at all.

Friday I brought my sister, to the “Sneak Preview” of the Tasting Tents, where we sipped (her more than me) and interviewed some of our favorite booths (me more than her). Truth be told, with all the “tasting pours” we fared much better with the male vendors.

Later that day my sister had the pleasure of doing the public Tasting Tents and met many of what she calls “Bravo-lebrities.” I think she actually told a former Top Chef, “I’m a Bravo whore.” Suffice to say she had been drinking, and this is my shy sister. She will also not share pictures of her and her Bravo family with me or this blog, saying “I don’t look good in them.”

Friday night was calm and relaxing and Saturday followed with another round at the Tasting Tents, a wine tasting, a beer dinner, and a little roof hopping for cocktails. Not to shabby.

The following morning we (the BC and I, I’m just going to refer to him as BC for “Boyfriend Chicken” from now on) headed to The Blind Tiger – a shabby looking bar, tired from the late-night fraternity function. We planned on not drinking a lot … until we realized the drinks (and all drinks at brunch) were $3.00 each. Three bucks! You have no idea how thrilling this is for a New Yorker. You might as well drink because it’s so cheap. So by 1:30 PM suffice to say, we were more lit than we had been all weekend. And we were at a Wine Festival, go figure.

From there we felt buzzed, and looked … well, buzzed … so any food option that serviced a church going crowd was out of the question. And any bars that had seen college crowds the night before made us feel old. So, we ended up at Moe’s, where BC knew the bartender … as if he needed another reason to believe that “all things come back to Baltimore.” After several more beers and passing around Girl Scout Cookies (that we had bought, while walking from one bar to the next) to the rest of the bar-rats on a Sunday afternoon, we headed home.

It was a fun day – a fun weekend. I’m extremely jealous of all those Charlestonians who get to live in warm(er) weather than I do … but I’m sure I’ll be back soon. Thank you to all the people that helped make this possible at the Charleston Wine and Food Festival and the people I met.

*Disclaimer: This post may make me and those with me, appear like lushes, which we weren’t and are not at any point in our lives. Facts may have been exaggerated for comedic purposes.

Tags: beer, Charleston, Charleston Wine and Food Festival, Thirsty Girl, wine
Posted in About me, Thirsty Girl, Travel | Comments Off

Party in the City Where the Heat is On

Filed Under: About me, Travelon February 21st, 2011

Sometimes a girl has to get away. Take a little time to regroup, center herself, and get a tan. There’s nothing like a last-minute trip to a sunny destination to cure the winter blues. It’s been three years since I’ve taken a vacation – a full on, no work, no schedule, no obligation – vacation. Complete with sun, surf, sand, and tropical drinks.

Shockingly enough, I went alone.

Not that I wouldn’t mind a companion or partner in crime, actually, I tried my very hardest to grab a buddy last minute, but often times last minute vacations, planned spontaneously and without much thought don’t really work into other people’s schedules. So I went alone.

Traveling alone is rewarding for so many reasons, you can sleep when you want, eat when you want, do what you want, the itinerary is set by you. So when you need to recharge, this might not be such a bad idea.

Here are my tips of traveling alone:

Own it! Don’t be afraid to embrace your inner adventurer. Just with everything in life, walk tall, smile, and be yourself, embracing the act of traveling alone and enjoying your own company is half the battle.
Be SAFE! Safety comes with numbers and since you’re alone be extra careful. That doesn’t mean that around every corner someone’s coming to get you but always try to blend in (no tourist t-shirts!), carry ID, and be aware of your surroundings. It also doesn’t hurt to lie a little when someone asks, “Are you alone?” Simply respond, “I’m meeting a friend, thank you” and be on your way.
Just because you’re alone doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy meals. Choose bistros, outdoor seating, and bars, which usually accommodate solo diners more than fancy romantic restaurants. Talk up the bartender, bring a book, or just enjoy people watching. Dining alone isn’t scary!
Keep in touch with people at home, always let someone know where you are, what you’re up to, and where you’re staying.
Dress conservatively. Try not to drawl attention to yourself with a plunging neckline, short skirt, or over the top outfit. That’s not to say you can’t look nice, but modesty goes a long way when you’re alone.
When you see a family, stick close. Choosing a seat on a bus, sitting on the beach? There’s protection in family, even if it’s not your own.
Let yourself be on vacation. Relax. Take some “me” time to read a trashy novel (The Lincoln Lawyer - so good, can’t wait to see the movie, my image of the protagonist while reading on the beach was Matthew McConaughey – as you can imagine, this was good), drink a fruity tropical drink out of a coconut shell, sleep in, stay on the beach until dusk, you name it, do it. After all, you might not get another chance to for a while.

Here are seven tips for making your vacation, solo or not, more enjoyable.

On my plane ride down I happen to be sitting next to an Amish couple, who impressively, packed a full supper for the flight. I kid you not, roast chicken, carrots, mashed potatoes, you name it. I admit, on first glance, this was a little odd. After they started pulling out the spread, I was rather impressed. Needless to say my glasses of cheap airplane white wine for dinner didn’t receive the same enthused glances I was giving them …

When we were about the land, the woman with complete sincerity looks at me and says, “I am so grateful to get to do this.” I smiled back at her and said, “I know, so lucky.” And I couldn’t have agreed more.

Tags: Miami, Traveling Solo, Vacation
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I’m a healthy person right?

Filed Under: About me, From the Kitchen, Living Healthyon January 4th, 2011

Then why the hell do I hate oatmeal?

I’ve tried on numerous occasions to embrace my inner flower-power-hippy self and love oatmeal as the rest of my fellow bloggers and health freaks do, but I just can’t. The pre-packed Quaker oats, the flavored oatmeals, old fashion steel cut oats, gluten free oats, you name in.

I just can’t get over the texture. It’s something about the warm creaminess that reminds me more of baby food rather than breakfast. Risotto, I’m in! Ice cream, even better! Yogurt, the thicker and more Greek, yes sir. But why this utter hatred for the healthiest of healthy breakfast foods?

See even the picture LOOKS amazing, yet to me, doesn’t taste so. Compliments of Canadian Family.

In a Serious Eats article contemplating the best places to eat oatmeal in New York, I fall under the category of “the kind of people that will never understand why someone would order oatmeal in a restaurant.” I also have another category for myself, “why would anyone ever eat oatmeal at all?”

Granted, I come from a crunchy-family. That’s a term I just made up, and it basically means, those related to me prefer the snap of a pretzel over the creaminess of yogurt during snack time. The cardboard taste of dry cereal (yes, I’m odd and eat my cereal dry) than the warmth of oatmeal. I’m going to blame my genetics on this one, as I know there are raves about oatmeal from everyone I talk to.

If you feel so inspired, send me your pics, recipes, and posts at the bottom of this and I will promise to experiment. Although there are no guarantees I stop eating my cereal dry …

Tags: best places in NYC for oatmeal, eating healthy, oatmeal, Serious Eats
Posted in About me, From the Kitchen, Living Healthy | 2 Comments »

I Admit It

Filed Under: About meon November 30th, 2010

I don’t like Thanksgiving food. AH! Declare a State of Emergency, holy hell, what did she just say!?

Yes, I admit it, I don’t like Thanksgiving food. Not that I hate it, but I wouldn’t choose it on any given night. Not. Even. On. Thanksgiving. Gasp.

Now that the sacred holiday is over, I can say it, there is such a pressure to love Thanksgiving food it’s insane. All the Today Show cooking segments, blogger postings, and newspaper devotion to the holiday make me wana pass the stuffing and make a pizza.

The only thing I truly love is the wine and the pies. Other than that, save the turkey for your Monday bagged sandwich, and give me a roast chicken.

Despite my exhaustion towards Thanksgiving Day food, I love what the holiday itself represents. Giving thanks, being with friends and family, relaxing all weekend, and embracing Fall. Those are things I can deal with, things that don’t happen (and should happen) for all us crazed people … everyday.

So instead of giving thanks just on Thanksgiving, I’m giving it today, and everyday, as we enter this holiday season.

December is upon us, and not only is when I was born but one of my favorite times of year. Jingle, Jangle, bitches.

Tags: Thanksgiving
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Busy Week

Filed Under: About me, French Culinary Institute, Life, Workon November 16th, 2010

Until Thanksgiving (gobble, gobble!) I’m a little busy. But “busy” is a bit of an understatement. Here’s my piece of advice for anyone who wants to learn how to cook, get better at cooking, or find an outlet to relax: buy onions.

Yeah I bet that sounds weird …

I was told by a chef during my first weeks at school that to perfect your knife skills buy onions, sharpen your knife, and go at it. Peel, slice, dice, do whatever you please. Perfect your craft.

TIP: The sharper your knife the less you’ll cry; a sharp knife cuts straight through the onion and less juice is released, no onion eye. OR, you can buy goggles and make the whole experience just that much more hilarious.

I don’t know if I was “perfecting my craft” last night so much as “releasing tension.” So now, on my list of “stress relievers” I consider myself a “sweet tooth, runner, vino, and … onion cutter.”

It can help that after a few, onions can make your eyes water, but maybe you need a good cry? At least it’ll distract you.

Then I indulged in City Bakery’s Bourbon Apple Sauce Cake (which only appears once in a blue moon, RUN and get one before they’re gone) and read O Magazine which features my former boss, and dessert sensation Amy Atlas. (Fun Fact: I was part of the team who put the dessert table together behind her.)

Onions, sweets, what more could you ask for to relieve some stress??

Tags: Amy Atlas, City Bakery, dessert, O Magazine, Onions, Stress Relievers
Posted in About me, French Culinary Institute, Life, Work | 1 Comment »

I’m officially a year old!

Filed Under: About me, Life, New York Cityon October 6th, 2010

Plus one week and one day … guilty, I forgot.

I think I’m probably the only female in the history of the world to forget a birthday and anniversary. Eh, I can make croissants, I know not every girl can do that.

I’ve rounded up my five favorite stories of the past year (all are equal, I couldn’t decide!):

The comedy of my everyday life. While I was still living down in Financial District I ran into some cops, watching me, rather than being on “high alert.”
When pastry gets dirty. Cannot tell you how incredibly hilarious this moment at school was, yet only one other person got it.
Not your mamma’s burger. No one on this planet loves burgers more than my mother, before they became part of pop culture. This is my favorite NYC (and all time) burger.
Because this is the point. Go get something sweet.
It’s official. How could I not include this one?

There are many, many more, including, “Boyfriend Chicken” which now has left my “boy” referred to by people as “You’re boyfriend chicken?!” at bars. As well as, “New York Moments,” “I Heart NY” and “Hangover Cures.”

Now I must warn you, and to give you a window into what my life is like on a random Saturday. This picture is me, eating my favorite ice cream, after eating brunch at my favorite spot and too many beers, attempting to sober up in order to cook for an unexpected catering gig that night.

I’m not sure ice cream can cure a buzz, but hell, it sure tastes good. And I was raring to go in the kitchen.

I want to thank everyone I’ve worked with over the past year and for all the experiences and skills I’ve been taught including the faculty and staff at The French Culinary Institute with special consideration of Gina Novak, MaryKate Roberts, and Phil Gutensohn. Kimberly Belle, Erin Fritch, Amy Atlas, the test kitchen and editorial staff at “Everday with Rachael Ray,” Sarah Pease at Brilliant Event Planning, Chef Jeff Starr and the team at Sutter Home Winery, Lauren Braun Costello and Erin Merhar, and Leslie Sbrocco and fellow Thirsty Girls.

Thank you to my family and friends for being constant readers and supporters!

Be serious and efficient in the kitchen and at work, learn to laugh at yourself when things go wrong. As you can see from below, I haven’t lost my love of working … or sweets …

Posted in About me, Life, New York City | 2 Comments »

Come From a Place of Yes

Filed Under: About me, French Culinary Institute, Workon May 12th, 2010

This will sound very Oprah of me, but it’s true; if you want something, you have to constantly be thinking positive thoughts and creating an ora of acceptance. If you open yourself up to the universe and keep saying, “yes” you will reach your goals.

I read this great quote, and I can’t remember who said it, but it goes something like this, “Cynics are just failed romantics.” I think I’m both at times!

Despite my cynicism towards the job market the last couple months, I’m trying to look at things in a positive way. I’m trying to “open myself up to the universe” and let things come my way. Granted, lots of hard work, sleepless nights, and a do-anything attitude are needed to have things come my way. The best part is, I don’t mind working hard for a goal, I just have to keep reminding myself to say, “yes.”

Yesterday was one such instance where I was given the opportunity to say “yes.” A marketing employee from The French Culinary Institute was having a baby shower, and at the last minute I was offered to be the chef to cater the event.

By last minute, I mean I got the email at noon and I had to be there at four.

But what did I say … yes! Duh! Not only do I need the money more than the Greeks, but I’m always looking to network.

Low and behold when I show up, the party is being thrown by a very important, high powered, and incredibly lucky woman, who by chance used to work for one of my idols … an idol I’m struggling to get an interview with.

I passed out my card, did the best I could, cleaned the apartment until it was spotless, and PRAYED to God that this woman liked me. Best case scenario, I can connect with her later on. Worst case scenario, I got to cater another night and walked out with a little cash.

Not too bad for such a little word as “yes.”

Tags: catering, The French Culinary Institute
Posted in About me, French Culinary Institute, Work | 6 Comments »

Culinary Guilty Pleasures

Filed Under: About meon May 9th, 2010

I’m all about being bad … at least when it comes to food. I eat too much, I drink too much, I work out too much (to counteract points a. and b.), and I definitely have eyes that are bigger than my head.

I love healthy lifestyle blogs, and tend to lead a pretty healthy life myself, but I’m not one to preach. This blog is about enjoy the “sweets” of life. When there are so many sours to everyday, why don’t indulge a bit?

Here’s a list of my culinary guilty pleasures, what are yours?

I drink full-calorie dark beers in large quantities and convince myself they’re not worse for me than the Amstel Light drinks of the bar-world. You will never catch me with a Michelob Ultra.
I spend hours in the supermarket. Sometimes I visit several a day. Perusing the aisles, wishing I could buy everything, and generally walking out with items I don’t need and/or can’t afford.
When I cook for people, I don’t just cook, I entertain them. That means that everyone eats with real silverware and plates, I make every part of the meal (sometimes even the bread), and always make sure no one has an empty wine glass.
I use more butter and salt than any healthy lifestyle blog would allow. Sorry.
I make sure that every plate I make or eat not only tastes good but looks good. Why would you want to eat something that didn’t look good?
I enjoy eating breakfast alone. It’s my time to recharge and get ready for the day. While eating breakfast alone is refreshing, eating lunch and dinner alone is sad, and hence always have plans!
I try and eat out at one new joint every week, my list of “places to try” is over two pages on a Word Document. Sometimes I do two in one week .. and on weeks such as this, the rest of my week’s meals consist of either cereal or scrambled eggs because of my lack of funds. It’s worth every penny.
Sweets always taste better when they’re made by someone else. Maybe it’s because I’m a perfectionist, maybe it’s because I think that more than any other food, baked goods are best enjoyed fresh.
I buy organic produce and cage free/grass fed meat. It’s expensive, but, to me, it’s literally a moral obligation I have to myself but to the planet. I believe in the process of food before it hits your kitchen as being even more important than the process inside the kitchen itself.
I eat dessert after every meal. Yes, I do. I know that sounds crazy, ask anyone. I mean this is the Diary of a Sweet Tooth.

Now, go and indulgence, life’s too short.

Tags: culinary guilty pleasures
Posted in About me | 6 Comments »