tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-298399032012-02-01T09:36:41.390-05:00An Orlando food writer, restaurant critic, consultant and personal chef answers the age-old question, "Who's hungry?" with an enthusiastic, "I could eat!"hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-90754728162086748102011-10-08T23:05:00.002-05:002011-11-25T00:38:21.608-05:00

It's been a while since I've posted. it's not altogether accidental. I made a conscious decision to take a little break from all this craziness for fear of being lumped in with the  other food bloggers in Orlando (and there are SO MANY all of a sudden). It's not that they're not fab, because many of them are, it's more to do with the fact that writing about food is my profession, not a hobby, and

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-89495668055262119092011-08-20T20:41:00.001-05:002011-08-20T20:44:14.417-05:00

This is what happens after a 90 minute soccer game.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-32622190889950147112011-06-29T13:33:00.000-05:002011-06-29T13:33:01.501-05:00

Remember Coldstone Creamery? The Moe's of the ice cream world - 1,500 calories stuffed into a single serving? Faux-healthy versions of decadence like "Sinless Sweet Cream" made with Splenda? Sigh. My favorite Coldstone memory? Being the rebel in my dorm and ordering Irish Cream and Cappuccino flavors in my ultra-Mormon college town where coffee is grounds for damnation. Pun intended. Coldstone

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-85017361943466142322011-06-26T18:41:00.000-05:002011-06-26T18:41:47.148-05:00

Well, I thought I would take the time I had off from working (read: I actually did work, just not in an office, which made it feel way more like fun than it should have been) to blog more, but it just didn't happen. I was too busy starting my own business (The Gourmet Girl), a home-delivery gourmet dinner service, working freelance as a writer and editor (thanks Orlando Weekly and Tupperware for

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-88692665470649944282011-05-07T23:17:00.004-05:002011-05-07T23:51:51.514-05:00

My girlfriend, The Sushi Snob, and I went to the opening of the Funky Monkey wine store "Vault" this Friday night, opening just down the street from the original Funky Monkey Wine Company on Mills and Marks St. Let me tell you something about Funky Monkey: they've grown immensely in a small amount of time. I've eaten at both restaurants, Funky Monkey Wine Company (FMWC) and Bananas: A Modern

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-757636857006413182011-04-27T13:04:00.001-05:002011-04-27T15:05:57.736-05:00

 About a year ago, the new chef on the street was Michael White and his baby was an Italian spot in the posh Columbus Circle/Central Park corner. It's name: Marea. We'd had reservations to eat there the last time we went to the City, but, feeling more sustainable and Greenwich Village, forfeited our reservation to eat at Dan Barber's Blue Hill instead. This time, we made it a point to go for it

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-77244706405021309752011-04-12T11:47:00.001-05:002011-04-12T11:51:00.213-05:00

The great thing about starting a new job is that there's a TON of new restaurants to try. Well, hello, East Orlando. I'd almost forgotten how delicious you are. Welcome to my new favorite crave. The sweet corn fritters at Keller's BBQ on University and Goldenrod Road in Orlando are oh, so sweet. These little fritters just scream, "EAT ME! EAT ME NOW!" And then you do. And it's magical. The

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-76045931660786069432011-04-04T12:35:00.000-05:002011-04-04T12:35:41.678-05:00

I'm not sure when this happened, but Starbucks has finally jumped on the mini-dessert wagon, leaving their 490 calorie Iced Lemon Pound Cake crying in its 23 grams of fat. Now, Starbucks has three varieties of cake pops (the dessert that took the food world by storm in 2009) in (from left to right) Rocky Road, Tiramisu, and Birthday Cake, as well as red velvet whoopie pies (the state dessert of

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-20010862031997628242011-04-04T09:11:00.000-05:002011-04-04T09:11:32.469-05:00

Don't eat these. Seriously. The gas money to Cocoa is worth it. They've only been open three weeks, but Jimmy Hula's Fish Tacos, Burgers and Beer had enough buzz around it that I thought it would a be a remedy for my fish taco hankering. My Cliff and I usually head out to Cocoa Beach at times like these when the breeze blows at a few knots and all we really want is a Landshark Lager. The Sand

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-18222818733779419032011-03-17T08:48:00.001-05:002011-03-17T08:49:34.526-05:00

Photo courtesy of Orlando Weekly Tony Adams and Tim Lovero, chef/owners of Big Wheel Provisions have been toying with the idea of opening a food truck for a while, and his dreams have finally rumbled up to the corner of Washington and Orange Ave in downtown Orlando in the afternoons as of yesterday. Bringing his local, farm-raised fare to the streets, Tony joins the arepas truck, the crepe guy

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-91186437179619987322011-03-15T11:16:00.002-05:002011-03-15T12:03:04.329-05:00

Photo courtesy of SteamyKitchen I called it - pie is the new cupcake. You thought cake pops were cute; have you seen these adorable pie pops? I can't wait to make them this summer with fresh blueberries and blackberries from the U-pick place next to my parents' house in Webster, Florida. Orlando got its first cupcake place, Bluebird Bake Shop on Corrine Dr. last year, and I'm just waiting for

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-49682861004310850242011-02-17T11:00:00.000-05:002011-02-17T11:00:59.791-05:00

It's James Beard Foundation Awards season again, and the semi-finalists for the Restaurants and Chefs category were announced this week. It's the Oscars of the food world, so as many film buffs tend to hold marathons to watch the films nominated for Best Picture, I'm going to attempt to eat at all the Florida-nominated restaurants for Best Chef - South before the awards ceremony and gala on May

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-53581603765438990282011-02-06T16:32:00.001-05:002011-02-06T16:53:43.173-05:00

Picture blog time! It's been about a month since I was in Key West, and I've finally had time to "digest" my time there. I ate some wonderful food and some seriously disappointing food, too. Here we go. I'll describe as we go along. As part of the Flavors of Key West dinner, we chose a prix fixe menu at Banana Cafe, a French resto on Duval St. The dinner was lovely; I've heard the breakfast is

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-76011654284479700442011-01-10T15:25:00.000-05:002011-01-10T15:25:36.949-05:00

The view from Louie's Backyard, from Dining Out Key West Ever since I met Norman Van Aken, I've wanted to eat at the place where Floribbean cuisine was invented and the phrase was coined: Louie's Backyard in Key West. To say that the place is beautiful would be an understatement. It's breathtaking, and one of the most beautiful spots on the island. The restaurant is a big, open Key West

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-31657104316736072982011-01-09T14:49:00.000-05:002011-01-09T14:49:02.103-05:00

Most of you know that I'm attending The Hungry Muse, a food literature-themed seminar in sunny, breezy, cool Key West. It's a beautiful time to be down here, with jasmine in the air and a bicyle with a basket. Even if I didn't make my living as a writer (lucky me), it would be a wonderful excuse to leave the confines of my coporate cubicle to spend a few days reading, writing and listening to the

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-13890991588272872312011-01-03T19:39:00.001-05:002011-01-03T19:42:39.685-05:00

Happy 2011, readers! I wish you all the greatest and most delicious eating experiences throughout the year. I always struggle with what to make that's super special on New Years Day. By then, we're all sick of the glazed hams and roast turkey (full disclosure: we didn't have either of those this year) from Thanksgiving and Christmas, cranberry sauce seems superfluous and I can't eat another bite

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-57293672210119318752010-12-28T16:48:00.000-05:002010-12-28T16:48:16.139-05:00

My last post was in October, and the subject matter was totally indicative of how my life has gone since. Unbelievable excess and full-till-bursting, and then a huge THUD when I reached the bottom of my stress, moving into survival mode with time for nothing other than the essentials. But! Never fear, readers. I'm back. This food blog has been my "exercise writing" since 2006, and I don't intend

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-39179496935738782982010-10-18T13:21:00.001-05:002010-10-18T13:26:07.543-05:00

Last weekend, we (my Cliff, my chef friend Jen, and I) were invited to attend the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Food & Wine Classic, aka: the food festival with the longest name in the history of food festivals.  Tuna tartare "nachos" with sriracha aioli  This is the first year of the event, and it's definitely not going to be the last. We had a wonderful time eating and drinking for

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-10747560044864371982010-09-08T09:27:00.001-05:002010-09-08T09:30:19.690-05:00

There's a new condiment in town. He's sweet, he's fiery and he's ready for all the food you can put him on. He's sweet chili sauce, and he's in it for the action. Photo courtesy of Sweet Sensation I rarely blog about specific sauces, but this particular condiment is a real favorite. Sweet chili sauce is a Southeast Asian wonder. Combining my three favorite characteristics of SE Asian food (

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-23115422119252509232010-08-24T13:51:00.000-05:002010-08-24T13:51:17.377-05:00

It's raining in Orlando, and the cooler air is moving in after weeks of 105-degree days. I've been getting excited for Fall during the past few weeks, dreaming about wild mushroom risotto, butternut squash tagines and all the earthy and delicious things that the new season will bring. Mind you, I'm not trying to push summer away with its squash and tomato bounty that I've feasted on without

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-91752655767306164902010-08-07T14:15:00.001-05:002010-08-07T14:17:06.988-05:00

When I lived in Birminghan, my roommate and I went to the farmer's market at Pepper Place every Saturday morning before coming home to listen to Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me on NPR and fry up some fresh Alabama eggs for breakfast. One dish that came out of that beautiful kitchen, once featured in a home-improvement store do-it-yourself brochure, was a quintessential summer salad, marinated lady peas

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-42900179433076759082010-08-01T16:46:00.001-05:002010-08-01T16:49:21.808-05:00

Yesterday, Blue Bird Bake Shop made its debut in Orlando's ViMi corridor to open arms and open mouths. Whether you use a fork and knife, lick off the frosting and then eat the cake, or gobble both cake and frosting all at once, Blue Bird is, simply put, delightful. The bakery has been well-known in Orlando for a few years, supplying Pom Pom's Teahouse and Sandwicheria with their crave-worthy

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-33736530455400437872010-07-27T13:16:00.000-05:002010-07-27T13:16:35.746-05:00

Again, my favorite food makes it into my life: ceviche peruano topped with sweet-sour salsa criolla (that's the red onion part). My Cliff's father makes it better than anywhere I've paid for it, but this place, Ceviche House, comes pretty close. It's really just too bad it's not a romantic food. Everyone knows when you've had ceviche peruano.  Especially the people you want to get close to.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-41112022972321090072010-07-20T08:35:00.001-05:002010-07-20T08:40:04.884-05:00

Preliminary praise for Blogger: Blogger keeps adding such great little plug-ins.  Now I can put in page breaks and video?  These people are amazing.  Thank you, Blogger, for keeping up with the times (slowly but surely). Since I last wrote, the World Cup has ended quite anti-climactically and to my dismay. Iniesta was offsides for that quasi-goal Spain scored.  Otherwise, that game was such a

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-35366392866741685462010-06-25T17:34:00.000-05:002010-06-25T17:34:56.537-05:00

Today was the final of the group stages and we have the Round of 16 participants, which kick off tomorrow.  Needless to say, I'm stoked for US v. Ghana.  Ghana plays a super-defensive game, but they've never scored more than 1 goal in a World Cup Match, so the first point is incredibly important for the US to score.  If we can score one, we can win. That being said, I promised photos, and here

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-35697651806969768832010-06-24T13:06:00.004-05:002010-06-24T13:40:20.798-05:00

Looks like I'm not the only one using food as a comparison in this World Cup.  "Danish pastry or Sushi?" asks Univisionfutbol.com. Italy and France are out.  I'd say that makes it a pretty good shot that someone else can win the World Cup this year since two of the seven countries who've won the title in the past aren't even going to be competing the Round of 16 knock-out phase.  I'm looking

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-57527984488809363442010-06-14T20:51:00.001-05:002010-06-14T20:51:58.103-05:00

I've gotta hand it to Germany, they served up Australia on the barbie last night, 4-0.  It was a bloody bloodstained blood bath, it was.  A little sad for the team with the most ridiculous nickname: The Socceroos. I'm going to have to get over my feelings about Germany.  In my head, WWII has stained the country forever as a fascist, racist place.  Their players have names like Schweinsteiger (

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-5108811422781629072010-06-13T12:28:00.001-05:002010-06-13T12:31:02.315-05:00

Not many people would characterise me as an ultra-patriot.  I'm a Democratic Socialist, a Francophile and an advocate for free information and health care for all.  But when the US plays those bloody blokes, I'm proud to be an American. For all our faults (picking fights with countries we have no business invading, FOX News and Texas), I think I'd like to live no where else.  America is for

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-74047883174962767522010-06-11T11:02:00.001-05:002010-06-11T11:03:47.766-05:00

I have to admit, I got a little choked up during the opening announcement of the World Cup.  Africa has so many problems that the world just ignores  most of the time.  It's unbelievable that for one month, all eyes will be on Africa.  I hope that the World Cup brings to light how much Africa needs the rest of the world. I'm excited to explore food from all over the world during the next month,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-22764467197870085322010-05-26T13:45:00.002-05:002010-05-26T13:46:24.023-05:00

Annie and I went out for sushi at Shin last night.  Since I'd written that post about Wa, I'd been craving raw fish.  Kinda like how going to food-voyeur site Tastespotting makes you want every dish on there.  Including the Nutella biscotti I spied this afternoon.  Anyway, Shin was delightful - a real diamond right outside the mine.  Orlando has a bunch of really good sushi places, Saikyo, Amura

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-14173788056856463442010-05-24T14:21:00.000-05:002010-05-24T14:21:50.958-05:00

I'd heard glorious things about the toro sushi at Wa.  I'd also heard that it was unbelievably hard to find (the restaurant, not the toro, although both are true).  I'd also become acquainted with the wife of the man who owns Wa.  Let me just tell you that this place is a gem.  It is an insane journey to find, tucked away behind the backstage area of Universal Studios in a basically vacant

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-89051016832184032582010-05-24T13:51:00.000-05:002010-05-24T13:51:16.129-05:00

Yes, I do actually have a breadbox.  It's blue, okay? For a while, I'd been wanting to make bread.  Bread is so homey and warm and comforting and it makes your house smell so amazing.  I tried a formula for Pulla bread (a Finnish sweet cardmom bread) and it was a complete disaster.  Of course.  The yeast I used was who-knows-how-old and I'm pretty sure that's what doomed me from the start. 

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-52967399273721178182010-05-05T13:55:00.002-05:002010-05-05T13:57:00.875-05:00

There's a new froyo joint on the block... It's called Menchie's and it's a delicious by-the-weight frozen yogurt paradise. If you have enough willpower to get through the candy mix-ins and can get to the fruit (I wish they'd reverse the order you encounter them...), this is a great way to indulge without indulging! I can't wait to go this weekend. The great thing about the by-weight price is

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-84618883066927940102010-04-06T15:32:00.000-05:002010-04-06T15:32:54.991-05:00

I found this, while doing some research on foods introduced throughout the decades for a work project. Apparently these were HUGE in 2009. Guess I missed the memo on this one. If you find these little nuggets with ketchup faces all tucked into their crescent dough beds cute and hilarious, rather than disturbing and hilarious, you can find the recipe HERE.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-43112952709941438022010-04-06T10:04:00.001-05:002010-04-06T10:30:12.071-05:00

On Day Two, we exercised our street food muscle.  As many fine dining restaurants as I've been to, I have to admit, my heart belongs on the street.  Street food is cheap, portable and usually tucks big, satisfying  flavor into a small package because when you're so pressed for time that you can't duck into a deli or sit down for supper, you've still gotta feel like you ate something. I had a

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-30568974617037266962010-04-01T10:19:00.001-05:002010-04-01T12:16:30.040-05:00

Day 1: When we got off the bus from LaGuardia, we didn't waste any time.  La Casa del Pollo Peruano, 87-07 Roosevelt Ave, Jackson Heights, Queens This chicken was perfectly seasoned with a blend of special spices I could never figure out, fluffy rice, beans and a fragrant purple-corn chicha morada.  The great thing about Peruvian chicken is that while it's on the rotisserie, the fat and juices

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-67522009125699350712010-03-31T10:46:00.002-05:002010-03-31T10:47:43.650-05:00

After begrudgingly returning to Orlando after a dream-like weekend of gustatory bliss,I'm in the process of compiling all of our food photos from New York—some of which are good, some of which are not-so-good—and in the next day or so, I'll be gradually posting all of them with some captions.  No real writing - just some gloating.  To whet your appetite in the mean time, here's a photo of the

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-22957814320925824652010-03-23T14:05:00.016-05:002010-03-23T14:46:52.189-05:00

We've picked our poisons for our long weekend Spring Break in New York. Here's the rundown: Thursday: Blue HillExecutive Chef: Dan Barber Noted for: Basically inventing the farm-to-table movement. They grow pretty much everything (animals included) at the Stone Barns property upstate. Next trip, we'll be visiting the farm. Website: http://www.bluehillfarm.com/** Friday: Katz's Delicatessen

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-91548127821182146182010-03-18T13:43:00.009-05:002010-03-18T15:22:58.951-05:00

Fair warning: this post has little to nothing to do with food.I've been in an incredibly pensive mood. I'm not sure why. It might be the uncharacteristic chill in the Florida air or the impending stormclouds or the unrectified longing to carefree days on the beach eating coconut shrimp tacos. It might me any one of those things that has me thinking about Salvador Dali, the artist and his

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-84146964343180943002010-03-09T14:54:00.009-05:002010-03-09T15:46:58.531-05:00

It's soccer season again. This means two things: hurriedly scheduled trips to random MLS cities (Salt Lake City, Chicago, Kansas City, Houston, Dallas, San Jose, etc.) and one or two amazing trips to the city where my heart and appetite reside— New York City. For the record, I have never lived there, but my stomach, yearning for street food and drippy pizza, has always been a New Yorker.The New

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-90704470674285484082010-03-08T11:01:00.012-05:002010-03-08T11:47:16.456-05:00

Last weekend, my Cliff and I returned to Birmingham, Alabama, for a wedding. A friend of mine, with whom I interned with at Cooking Light magazine, was marrying a guy I told her she should marry a year ago. I told you so, MaryAnne. We stayed with my roommate, Donna, senior food writer for Southern Living magazine. Her intern roommate now is a chef - and this is how our delicious weekend

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-64727308069798177362010-02-10T10:55:00.003-05:002010-02-10T11:01:35.411-05:00

This just in...Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia/Spiaggia Cafe in Chicago and Downtown Disney's Portobello was just announced as one of the cheftestants on Top Chef Masters: Season 2. Thank the gods he updated and revamped Portobello at Downtown Disney. It's finally a worthy restaurant again. He'll be up against Marcus Samuelsson (rowr!) and others in the culinary firmament. Norman Van Aken and the

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-18420911127752134982010-02-05T15:15:00.004-05:002010-02-05T15:24:40.286-05:00

It's so appropriate that this is my 100th post!I’m not one to let a faux-holiday pass (see also: National Punctuation Day; I made a cake), especially not one that has to do with food. And especially not one that celebrates the wonders of Nutella! I’ve posted my recipe for Nutella Soufflé on my blog before, but this time, I shared my love of Nutella with my coworkers at Tupperware. This year,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-36138817009653335922010-01-21T14:37:00.006-05:002010-01-21T15:11:30.009-05:00

One time, I took my boyfriend to Dandelion Communitea. It's a vegan restaurant in Orlando. My boyfriend is Latin American. He eats vegans for breakfast. After dinner, a salad and a cup of vegan chili, we went to Wendy's for a Baconator. Vegan restaurants don't get a second date with us.When our friend and favorite vegan Marissa asked me to accompany her to Pizza Fusion on Sand Lake Road this

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-47647649741352951032010-01-20T14:21:00.007-05:002010-01-20T15:38:51.893-05:00

photo borrowed from www.devilandegg.comOkay, I've sung the praises for French yogurt long enough. I do miss the simple clear glass jars with noisette (hazelnut) flavored creamy goodness made from unpasteurized sheep/cow milk blend, but man, I found some yogurt to knock your socks off - or at least to knock your khaki-colored safari hat off.I'm usually one to head to Whole Foods first as part of

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-22357107746684877982010-01-18T10:36:00.005-05:002010-01-18T11:13:12.637-05:00

Here's a bit of news: there are almost no decent restaurants open in Orlando on Sundays. This is what we went through to go to dinner last night.White Wolf Cafe - Closed at 3pm on SundaysThe Ravenous Pig - Closed Sundays and MondaysK Restaurant and Wine Bar - Closed Sundays and Monday afternoons (open Monday for dinner)Taste - Closed SundaysVirgin Olive Market - Closed SundaysWe ended up finally

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-1158679021756292362009-12-12T22:20:00.005-05:002009-12-12T22:53:29.920-05:00

I've got the bug. The Christmas cookie bug. Actually, I take that back. I have the anything-flavored-peppermint bug. I forced my sweetheart to go to the store and fetch me Peppermint Mocha Coffee-Mate (since we all know Peppermint Mochas are the most amazing, most-worth-$4 coffee beverage on the face of the earth but I'm still unwilling to pay Starbucks $4 for them) for my coffee every

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-60915024530868603572009-12-03T15:50:00.005-05:002009-12-03T15:59:53.342-05:00

It's officially December (though it's still 75 degrees in sunny, ever-so-sunny Orlando)! This, of course, means that it's time to up the baking ante and turn on that oven. I mean, it's not hot enough outside, clearly. After spending a year as a pastry chef, I still return to baking as a retreat from daily stress. Somehow all that measuring, worrying if the butter is properly creamed, whipping

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-39963315875655098572009-11-28T21:59:00.007-05:002009-11-28T22:31:51.340-05:00

No, that's not a typo. Oh, how it's not a typo.After a mildly disappointing Thanksgiving rendered my culinary faculties too tuckered out to produce anything worth talking about, I came home today (to do the laundry, mostly) and had to figure out what to make for dinner.UPDATE: I'm still on my "foodie" diet. I log my calories every day on Livestrong.com's The Daily Plate website and have to

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-46254905712593381082009-11-27T15:07:00.003-05:002009-11-27T15:21:17.090-05:00

It’s impossible for me to undergo an ordeal as epic as Thanksgiving without writing something about it. Most gourmands plan for weeks their Thanksgiving meal. Most are expected to cook for large numbers of people and most take their game plan unbelievably seriously, as if the exclamations of “Oh my God, this turkey is amazing!” are directed at them, not at the Almighty. Usually, I’m one of

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-72826218571190896512009-11-07T20:10:00.003-05:002009-11-07T20:20:35.912-05:00

Apparently, this is how I feel about Japanese Steakhouses.I have no clue why I'm making this face. It looks like I just found a turd on my plate. That didn't happen, btw. In other news, I was totally underwhelmed by dinner at Benihana at the Disney Hilton. Go to one of the Kobe locations instead.Thanks, Ms. Rochelle, for capturing this priceless moment on your iPhone. I didn't even know my

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-30417565488267888022009-11-03T17:08:00.005-05:002009-11-03T17:26:12.920-05:00

My life-long friend Rachelle (whose beautiful daughter is the princess you see below)tipped me off to this page she ran across in Departures magazine, the travelers mag brought to us by American Express. It's a great ode to the pig, a fabulous animal. I will say, though, that I have grown more socially-conscious about where my food comes from after having read the book, Animal, Vegetable,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-88067960972137033602009-10-14T14:08:00.019-05:002009-10-14T14:53:33.229-05:00

One of my best girlfriends has an adorable child who is turning 1 in January. Rachelle picked out this adorable cake for her daughter's birthday and asked if I would duplicate it and show a step-by-step for her. Luckily, it was my mom's birthday last week, so I had a great excuse to try out the cake. Here is the photo she showed me:Cute, huh? Butterflies are always a good choice for tiny,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-60338773732389454422009-09-16T13:59:00.004-05:002009-09-16T14:14:51.531-05:00

Okay, Summer, you and I need to have a little talk.It's September, alright, but it's about time to start getting chilly. Now, don't mistake me, I love the afternoon thunderstorms and never having a good hair day as much as the next girl. But as the conversation at the water cooler turns from beach days and grilling to cinnammon brooms and chili, I start to get antsy.It's okay, Summer, I realize

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-30829323739371327402009-08-18T10:25:00.002-05:002009-08-18T10:28:00.768-05:00

Here's my review of Norman's for Orlando Style Magazine. The Aji Amarillo Butter-poached Lobster made me cry. It's that good.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-36217771729730380192009-07-15T12:55:00.004-05:002009-07-15T13:03:53.886-05:00

I was just tipped off to this blog by a friend who writes for Health magazine.Hello, irony. It seems you're well, today.You have to see this. The blog accepts photos from people who have taken fast food to the haute level. The rules:1. Buy a fast food meal.2. Reconfigure it, using no additional ingredients.3. Take photos and send it in!This is a great challenge. I can't wait to try it and

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-87043196452638663132009-06-22T14:17:00.003-05:002009-06-22T14:20:34.369-05:00

My friend Jenn just clued me into this blog by one of her favorite artists. Apparently, she just spent two weeks in Peru, studying art and eating. This is one of the best blog posts on Peruvian food I've seen, and it makes me want to hop a flight.Beware - the photos on this blog may cause involuntary and excessive drooling.READ IT HERE!

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-60033596056833988612009-06-21T17:42:00.006-05:002009-06-21T18:06:52.946-05:00

My father loves orange-flavored desserts, due to his Italian upbringing. Put a little orange extract or a little almond extract (or both!) in a batter and he'll demolish every little crumb. Biscotti, amaretti cookies, pignolis, cannoli (is the singular of cannoli "cannolus?), any scented Italian pastry or cookie is fair game. Instead of trying the mocha cake again, I decided to make the orange

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-403996891897349722009-06-19T14:07:00.006-05:002009-06-19T14:39:16.027-05:00

For the longest time, about four months, I've been hankering to make a tall, fluffy chiffon cake like the one I made in Birmingham while I lived with Donna Florio (Senior Food Writer for Southern Living, and a good friend). The one I made there, as you can see, was nearly perfect. Tall, lemon-scented, and very moist.Chiffon cakes are pretty close to angel food cakes, which you've probably seen/

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-91224565224015571322009-06-15T11:53:00.004-05:002009-06-15T13:19:08.527-05:00

Before I begin with my thoughts on the mini-season of Top Chef:Masters, I have to say, I'm starting to think that Top Chef really jumped the shark last season when they name Hosea (mediocrity) Top Chef instead of Stefan (perfection), mostly due to the fact that Stefan was completely unlikable as a character. They compromised skill for character, and that's not what cooking is all about. Cooking

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-76912529773924510132009-06-08T10:55:00.006-05:002009-06-08T11:45:33.217-05:00

Time for some unfortunate news. Three decent (not fabulous, decent) restaurants have gone the way of the economy and shut their doors: Strollo's Cucina Due in Winter Park, Beluga in Winter Park, and all of the Central Florida What-A-Burger restaurants (3, I think). I'll offer eulogies for these establishments now.I only went to Strollo's once, but I was so impressed with their array of artisan

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-24155765677269611312009-05-29T13:51:00.006-05:002009-06-30T12:38:14.872-05:00

For my post today, I thought I'd let you all in on a little secret. As a chef in Paris, it wasn't all wine and les fleurs.Oh no. In fact, I had some pretty serious disasters. For this installment, I'll copy some of my writing from my journal I kept while I worked as a personal chef for Mme. Lavigne. I think it'll give some greater insight into where I have been in my career, and even into my

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-58891237040123276202009-05-12T14:58:00.004-05:002009-05-12T15:10:53.526-05:00

It's about time I got back in the blogosphere, and I have some pretty exciting things to talk about.First off, I picked up a new freelance gig at MyCityEats and Entertainment magazine here in Orlando. I am very excited to be their new restaurant reviewer, excited to get paid to eat and to share my opinions on the burgeoning food scene here in Orlando, and hope that this is just another stepping

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-16134253921963357862009-03-18T13:39:00.009-05:002009-03-18T14:28:32.121-05:00

Yesterday, I spent far too much money at Clemon's Produce. I spent my entire week's allowance on things like Indian Eggplants, tiny cucumbers, three boxes of strawberries (ripe for the ice cream maker, now that it's finally stable weather here in CenFlo), a massive basil plant, gargantuan beets, and too many more things to count.It's time to eat down the fridge, my friends.Cliff and I are still

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-56410966174059193662009-03-16T13:06:00.002-05:002009-03-16T13:12:38.547-05:00

I found this on Scott Joseph's blog. Scott Joseph was the food and dining critic for the Orlando Sentinel for 25 years and was recently relocated (read: laid off) to Orlando Style Magazine, whom I also work for as the Contributing Food Editor. Now, I don't necessary agree with many of Scott's reviews, nor do I really like his style of writing - but with what follows, he was right on the money.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-17441086705585648752009-03-03T15:54:00.003-05:002009-03-03T16:05:24.545-05:00

This is what my kitchen used to look like.This is what my NEW kitchen looks like.An upgrade, I'd say. :)

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-28652843163351318412009-03-02T09:49:00.007-05:002009-03-02T10:31:16.501-05:00

I'm not exactly sure what happened to Top Chef this season. Unlike past seasons, I really didn't care who won, or have any real emotional stake in the outcome. I didn't mind that I didn't have time to watch the finale until 5 days after it aired. I didn't particularly like Carla (a little nuts, if you ask me - Hootie who? Really?), nor did I like Hosea (I have to admit that I was pretty happy

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-25407054101086511052009-02-20T11:10:00.006-05:002009-02-20T11:25:16.952-05:00

Fair warning: this post is a passionate and vehement call to action in disguise as food writing. Read on, readers.Since coming back to Orlando, I have found that one of the great joys of living in Florida is its abundance of locally cultivated produce. In Utah, few things actually grow, so the choices for shopping are severely limited to maybe the poor excuse for a Farmer’s Market in Salt Lake,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-22155197319079105142008-11-13T21:39:00.002-05:002008-11-18T16:36:02.825-05:00

Occasionally, I crave Peruvian food. I crave its soft textures, its rich sauces, its bright colors, and its ability to justify the eating of rice at any given moment. Living away from my boyfriend has meant more than one hardship in my life for the past three months, not the least of which is the fact that I don’t get to see his parents very much now. No more weekends in the stifling

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-7181713972988701742008-10-13T10:16:00.002-05:002008-10-13T10:23:01.529-05:00

I've been noticing a pattern sneaking up in my posts. I'm obsessed with comfort food.Since I started this blog in 2006, I’ve posted 7 entries on the subject of comfort food. Here they are (with links), from most recent to oldest:1. Stock Market Crash Comfort2. Paula Deen and Me: The Lady & Sons Review3. Beyond "Baby Food": Comfort Restaurant Review (Richmond, VA)4. Catfish Johnny’s Review (Lake

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-56815590211689910692008-10-04T20:06:00.006-05:002008-10-04T20:42:32.494-05:00

Sometimes I wander aimlessly around my kitchen deciding what to put in the food processor. And sometimes, I end up putting a million things in the food processor.And sometimes, it tastes amazing.This happened today.I was flipping through my favorite cookbook, Jamie Oliver’s “COOK: With Jamie,” and I found an interesting combination of anchovies and rosemary pureed together with lemon juice and

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-71914991497121950732008-09-30T14:12:00.002-05:002008-09-30T14:56:22.183-05:00

The easiest way for me to say this: we're in trouble. After Congress, led by the House Republicans, voted down the $700B bailout proposal, the stock market plummeted yesterday, losing more points in one day than ever in history - almost 10%. Granted, the stock market isn’t the economy, but it sure as hell isn’t completely disconnected to it. I left work yesterday channeling Wall Street – in a

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-13621053767576971432008-09-20T15:30:00.004-05:002008-09-21T00:38:32.381-05:00

I can't help it. I love blogging, and I can't stay away from it. I recently (5 seconds ago) found this deep, deep in my My Documents folder, tucked away where no one would find it for years. 7 years, to be exact. It's an assignment from my Humanities class in high school (Go Wildcats!) that my friend Jennifer and I wrote to show the world how funny and smartassy we were when we were 17. I

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-91574775221230699872008-09-15T19:50:00.002-05:002008-09-15T20:00:51.608-05:00

I can’t help but be saddened and disturbed by David Foster Wallace’s suicide this past weekend. Wallace hanged himself on Friday at his home in California, found dead by his wife, at the age of 46. He was one of the greatest writers of contemporary fiction to date. One of his novels, Infinite Jest, a sprawling work over over 1,000 pages (which I haven’t read, but which is on the never-ending

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-2517246972638072182008-09-02T16:12:00.001-05:002008-09-02T16:14:06.392-05:00

Hello everyone! For the time being, I’m suspending On Food and Eating from new postings. I know you’re all devastated, but it’s for a good reason. Before December ends, I need to have a book written. Yes, my friends, my Master’s thesis. It’s in the developing stages right now, but I need to get some words on paper, which means focusing my attention on my thesis and its attempt to make sense

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-65312404486225989602008-08-26T13:56:00.005-05:002008-08-27T13:51:38.017-05:00

Every once in a while there’s a magazine cover that I can’t stop looking at. It’s provocative, risky, eye-catching – not your typical O: The Oprah Magazine cover with a curly-haired black woman laughing back at you, mouth gaping, eyes twinkling. It’s not your typical food magazine cover either, the sliced pie or the cross-sectioned sandwich overflowing with cheese, meat, some kind of heirloom

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-76478432594322739202008-08-19T09:11:00.002-05:002008-08-19T09:39:09.226-05:00

from Chocolate and Zucchini blog:"The Omnivore's Hundred is an eclectic and entirely subjective list of 100 items that Andrew Wheeler, co-author of the British food blog Very Good Taste, thinks every omnivore should try at least once in his life.He offered this list as the starting point for a game, along the following rules:1. Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-83670029685246038572008-08-15T12:41:00.002-05:002008-08-15T12:41:53.725-05:00

My dad is Italian. By no means, however, does this mean that he has any special ability whatsoever in the kitchen. He can eat like an Italian, but put my father in front of a stove, and he’ll probably open it up and figure out how it works rather than light it up and make food. So when my mom was in the hospital for a few weeks when I was seven years old, our diet was limited to two things:

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-21358424740665785442008-08-13T10:51:00.003-05:002008-08-15T14:51:15.939-05:00

I was just privy to a tri-cubicle debate on the semantics of Reddi-Wip whipped cream. The problem: we can’t actually use the brand name “Reddi-Wip” in the recipe. It’s not like Reddi-Wip is one of those brand-name-turned-proper-name issues like Kleenex or Xerox. In those cases, any photocopier could be a Xerox or any light paper used for the ejection of nose monkeys could be called a Kleenex.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-60494757658394579322008-08-04T12:07:00.001-05:002008-12-09T22:36:57.013-05:00

On a blistering Saturday, a few weeks ago, my roommate Donna and I were strolling through the Birmingham Farmer’s Market. Among the verdant (ha!) baby zucchini, the flimsy white boxes overflowing with field peas, and the slices of buttercup yellow watermelon being passed around, my eyes latched on to one of my favorite fruits of summer. The elusive fresh fig. They were round, plump,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-35054632724413521112008-08-01T10:46:00.004-05:002008-12-09T22:36:57.197-05:00

While I'm preparing for: 1. My boyfriend to come visit me this evening from Orlando so he can eat more than just eggs and sausage.2. My next blogpost on my new obsession with fresh figs,I'll just post a link to my first full-length review that was published in Orlando Weekly on July 23, 2008.http://www.orlandoweekly.com/dining/review.asp?rid=13778Enjoy, and stay tuned!

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-41254579926444786842008-07-28T11:08:00.003-05:002008-12-09T22:36:57.381-05:00

This morning I was listening to Morning Edition on NPR (National Public Radio, aka the source of my daily cup of delight) and I heard an announcement of support from The MacArthur Foundation. Their tagline is “to help build a more just, verdant and peaceful world…etc.” Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m all about the “Green movement.” My top five food-related favorite things about it:1. More

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-56155640928411063582008-07-26T17:59:00.004-05:002008-12-09T22:36:57.931-05:00

Here is one of the best falling-in-love stories I’ve ever heard: A woman and a man were at a party. Not together. They were both just there. Fate put them there. The music blasting a rhythmic salsa, pisco sours being passed around, the part is rip-roaring. The woman, stunningly beautiful with almond-shaped eyes and jet black hair, ducks into the kitchen to escape the din of the chatter. In

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-78061135174213190902008-07-01T17:14:00.003-05:002008-12-09T22:36:58.141-05:00

The first good thing to come out of our failing economy was announced today: Starbucks is planning to close 600 stores, a hike from its original announcement of 100 stores. It seems that the coffee giant has taken a hit from our monetary downturn, and people are turning to homebrewing rather than drinking the abomination that comes from the Starbucks spout. Here's the whole story, a blog from

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-64268910794861793942008-06-15T16:15:00.004-05:002008-12-09T22:36:58.756-05:00

On Friday, June 13, teams from France and Netherlands played for a spot in "The Group of Death" in the UEFA European Cup soccer match. The Netherlands' team, known as the Mechanical Orange, beat the pants off the French team, runners up for the World Cup championship in 2006, 4 goals to 1. At the 90th minute when the game was over, ESPN commentator Andy Grey (a portly man with an amazing

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-89941033147073712362008-05-30T22:29:00.003-05:002008-12-09T22:36:58.983-05:00

Tonight for dinner, my father and I went to an Italian (snooze) restaurant called "Trattoria Alberto." Not a bad place (for an Italian restaurant, of which there are SO few creative ones), somewhere between F and G Streets on SE 8th Avenue in Washington, D.C.Washington D.C. may be our nation's capital, but I can safely say that it's not a food capital. Not even close. That's all I have to say

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-68883995259886232192008-05-29T19:26:00.001-05:002008-05-29T19:28:19.197-05:00

The idea of a roast conjures images of Sunday evenings when a hunk of fragrant meat emerges from the oven in a transparent Pyrex dish, surrounded by potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery, then placed on the countertop to both rest the meat to retain the juices and to permeate the air with the smell of home, calling all to the table to feast. Once rested and sliced across the grain, the juices

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-88927362128051061282008-05-10T19:48:00.001-05:002008-05-10T19:50:10.631-05:00

A few things have sparked my interest in cheaper cuts of meat and the best ways to get bang for your few measly bucks. 1. My aunt and I had a discussion about skirt steak today. She regaled me with an anecdote about how she wanted to make authentic fajitas for Cinco De Mayo, which feature skirt steak as the meat component. The steak, she lamented, was “as tough as nails.” Understood.

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-16905691132072340452008-04-23T09:25:00.000-05:002008-04-23T09:26:41.101-05:00

This Is Just To SayI have eatenthe plumsthat were inthe iceboxand whichyou were probablysavingfor breakfastForgive methey were deliciousso sweetand so cold - William Carlos Williams

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-13197311547117842312008-04-10T16:56:00.001-05:002008-04-10T16:58:13.543-05:00

“I’m not an alcoholic, just a big personality,” says the woman behind the bar, as she pours us a basket of Funyuns and Bugles. Though she looks and sounds like an off-kilter version of Paula Deen, her endless supply of conversation livens up the quirky, art-fill bar in Sanford. Little Fish, Huge Pond is full of that personality, and, hopefully, will be full of patrons just as quirky and

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-73755875315287183852008-03-25T09:09:00.002-05:002008-03-25T09:26:21.300-05:00

It's really unfortunate. You discover a great new place and the next thing you know, it goes under. Doors locked, maybe a going-out-of-business sale, dust starts collecting on the once-polished bar, a gem of the culinary skyline dies softly in the night. Recently, Old Vines Wine and Food Bar in the Waterford Lakes Towne Center in Orlando folded. I was excited to find this wine bar on the UCF

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-44643590166478497232008-02-22T19:16:00.002-05:002008-02-22T19:24:17.609-05:00

On first glance, Melbourne, Florida might look like the sleepiest of sleeper towns. The antique shops line New Haven St., displaying their collectible rocking chairs and Hammond B3 organs and terra cotta planters, beckoning couples and groups of Red Hat ladies to browse a little and pick up a 1904 copy of Jude the Obscure. An elderly woman exits The Village Ice Cream Shop holding a

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-77606339207219134072008-02-22T18:28:00.003-05:002008-12-09T22:36:59.785-05:00

It’s hard to believe that under this sedan-driving, Ann-Taylor-frequenting, champagne-guzzling exterior, that there’s a true GRITS inside of Holly Kapherr. It might take a little bit for the “ya’ll” to come out, but one sure way to uncover the hidden Southerner in me isn’t a trip to the mud pit, or a tractor pull, or a livestock auction. It’s a steaming plate of slow-braised

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-70617387806234256062008-01-02T21:31:00.000-05:002008-01-02T21:33:28.506-05:00

“Did you bring workout clothes, Holly?” my darling aunt asked. From across the grandiose table laden with festive holiday candles and knick-knacks, her question sounded like a shout from the bottom of the Grand Canyon to the lookers-on above. Work out? I’ve been known to sweat a few drops here and there, but it’s mostly from a ten yard sprint to the refrigerator to make sure my

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-45875826744991754752007-11-28T03:16:00.000-05:002007-11-28T03:24:39.218-05:00

This is the worst excuse for a blog post, but I wanted to share with everyone the work I've been doing for the Orlando Weekly. Here is the link to the On The Side column that I write. It's a short column (250-400 words) that is usually a restaurant review, cookbook review, or festival promotion. This week's column isn't posted. It's called "East Eats West," and just in case it isn't posted,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-77582501633329729472007-10-12T12:30:00.000-05:002008-12-09T22:37:00.875-05:00

There was no application required for Top Chef: Miami contestant and fourth-runner-up, Chef Brian Malarkey. Bravo TV called him at the Oceanaire Seafood Room in San Diego, where he spends long days listening to Bon Jovi and Bob Marley in front of the stove as executive chef. They asked for his participation in the third season of the most highly-rated food show on television. For Brian, the

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-84578215544604784872007-10-04T20:50:00.000-05:002008-12-09T22:37:01.079-05:00

My whole body yearned for it; I had to have it. I ached to feel its touch, to understand its delicate sweetness. I heard that it could be rough at times, that it’s an acquired taste. But the truth is, when you’ve had it once, it’s like a drug. It makes your tongue tingle with excitement and heat. It makes you want to scream. You learn its intricacies and its contrasts from person to

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-29563558009736459492007-08-24T16:02:00.000-05:002007-08-24T20:22:59.157-05:00

I hate to sound like a snob, but I can’t eat at Subway. Every sandwich, from the Chicken Teriyaki to that damned Classic Italian B.M.T. (does anyone really know what B.M.T. stands for? I don’t think so) tastes exactly the same. Even Subway’s lame attempt to be artisan by offering specialty breads like Parmesan Oregano and Honey Oat fails miserably in trying to up the flavor

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-72860627288932980662007-08-19T22:43:00.000-05:002008-12-09T22:37:01.314-05:00

Comfort foods have gotten a bad rap in the past. Unsophisticated, mushy, and invalid are all words I’ve heard to describe foods like meatloaf, macaroni and cheese, and mashed potatoes. In a piece included in the Best Food Writing of 2001, William Grimes denounces comfort food as “baby food for adults” citing its universally soft texture and neutral color scheme (usually brown, white, yellow,

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29839903.post-15223004368488243332007-08-18T22:22:00.000-05:002007-08-19T11:32:06.965-05:00

“There are shells in my pasta!” I exclaim to my dinner partner over the din of French slurred by too much wine and through the fog of cigarette smoke from the 15-year-olds at the next table. She smiles back at me over her heaping salad and pushes her sweeping blonde bangs out of her sea-foam eyes. They sparkle under the Tiffany-style lamps with as much anticipation as my voice portrays. We eat

hollywoghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13262243082001795758noreply@blogger.com1