SoBe it! P.S.

I got in late last night and the cold air felt great, but as I got up this morning to go into the city ... the wind hit me and I thought ... ahhhhhh South Beach! What lovely weather. Ok, well ... really I won't hold up the flick ... Take a look at Iron Chef Michael Symon's Legs!!!

Nice tattoos huh? I love foodie tattoos! I didn't even know he had 'em. I often do that, I meet people with obvious tattoos and it's like the 20th thing I notice about them. Funny to me. I took the picture in a backstage area before I went to go watch a cooking demo. Michael and I said hi, chatted a bit and then when he turned and walked away, I sat down and I saw his legs. I was like whoa, stop dude, lemme see that! I kindly asked if I could snap away for the blog and he obliged. Nice guy and as I'm sure you've heard he has a great laugh. Here we are before he really walked away ...

Alright, stick around this week, I'll have some new flicks to post ...

SoBe it! V

Hey hey hey! Well, it's over for me. I'm sitting in the airport waiting on my flight. It's a bit delayed, but I'm never the one to get mad at that. Some people are angry! Good time for me to throw up the rest of my SoBe flicks. Boy, looking back, I sure had a great time. During all the cooking demos they had volunteers that from what I understand get a grant from the festival proceeds for culinary education. I gotta say a big thanks to Stephanie for being my assistant on stage. Here we are after we finished.

It was soooooo hot and there I was frying oysters and broiling shrimp in the oven! I was sweatin' to the oldies up there! The Neely's came by to watch and support along with Jacob and a few of my girls from the promotions department at Food Network. Team solidarity! How about in all my years of radio, I have to really search for the great "teamwork moments". They are there, but few and far between. I am so happy to be where I am today. Can't say it enough and hope you know you are a part of it if you've caught the show or tried a recipe. Then to add to that the crowd there was great. Thanks to everyone that joined us under the tents!

After my cooking demo yesterday I headed into the Grand Tasting tentsssss ... yes, plural. So much terrain to tackle, but I made it through both, including the un-tented areas between the two. Everywhere you looked there was something. I just took my time sippin' and noshin' all the way. Here's a look at the scene ...
Can you see the blue waters in the background? Right on the beach, the only way to go.

On the way out, I saw a HUUUUUUGE crowd outside of stage A and knew it had to be Rachael Ray gettin' her demo-on. Here's a flick ... the crowd was boisterous and she gave them so much of herself. That's her hubby on the left ... (click to enlarge flicks)

So, the heat was killing me, I knew if I didn't retreat to the room, I'd probably be found on the beach passed out from too much wine and not enough food lol. Anywho, I went back to the room, but really wanted to get a bite. After I got fresh I headed downstairs to dine at Emeril's Restaurant within the hotel only to find out they'd just closed to reset for dinner. Boy, was that a let down. I really wanted to eat there and Emeril and his chefs all invited me to as I was heading up to my room, but I think it may have taken too long for me to come back down. So, anyway, no worries I thought, I'll make a reservation for later and go find something to eat now to hold me over.

I left the telly for a walk and about 8-9 blocks away I saw a sign on a business that simply said "Hot Dogs" in red block letters. I thought ... ok, I can do this. I have a theory, places that only do one thing tend to do them well and although I'd walked down Collins Ave. passing various upscale eateries, something about the sign caught me. I went in and was very pleased to see this small menu. My other theory is small menus are good, because chances are they really do everything well. I looked up and decided what it would be.

I decided on the "Lincoln Road Dog" with promises like - spicy mustard, onions, relish, tomatoes (a fave on hot dogs for me), pickle, sport pepper (huh?) and celery salt. After I ordered that I asked for some "chili on the side". I quickly asked her if there were beans and she said yes with such confidence that I said to myself, ok ... even though I don't like beans in my chili, I'll give it a go. So, I reiterated, I'd have it in a bowl ... she turned her back to get my order started and when she turned around, she presented me with this ...

I don't see no bowl! (excuse the double neg) But it smelled so good, I really didn't care. Do you see the cheese under there?? What dog did she make me?? So lemme tell you what was on it, and take a look at the menu and please ... tell me what you think happened lol. I had tomatoes, onions, fresh jalapenos, ketchup, cheese and chili. It was flavor overload, so I can't say that I tasted any celery salt nor the 'sport pepper' whatever that is. Lemme tell ya, the dog was BANGIN'!!!! I didn't complain ... I was hungry! I gathered napkins and a plastic fork and knife, but after sitting down at the bar/stool setup outside of the store I decided to have some hand-to-hand combat with the dog. It was finger lickin' yummy.

After that, I was zonked. I walked back to my room and made later reservations for dinner that I would later sleep through. Before I knocked out in the middle of the afternoon, I took this flick out the window cuz I thought the sky looked nice.


Ok, so I knocked out, it was totally one of those naps where your body wants it more than your mind, so it took over and before I knew it I was in dreamland. I woke up and I'd slept so hard, the dark of the room made me think I'd slept right into the next morning. I missed so much, dinner reservations, parties, etc., but my body got it's rest back. I watched television for a bit and ordered room service from the late night menu and went back to bed.

Then, today I headed back out to the tents for my last cooking demo. Before I got started though, I had to repay the Neely's for hanging out during mine. As I sat waiting for them to come on, I got a chance to meet so many people and even met people that have commented on this blog! Take a look at me and Lys, she has her own blog called Cooking in Stilettos and just has such a huge passion for food, so of course the place we'd first meet would be at a Wine & Food Fest!

She drove like 4 hours to hangout and catch the festivities. That's foodie dedication!

Here's the Neely's during their demo, they are such a great team!

The entire crowd was smiling and laughing and along the way we got to see deep-fried deviled eggs, mac and cheese and key lime ice cream courtesy of a Kitchenaid stand mixer attachment! Who knew?? I gotta get that!

Up next, my final demo ... and the cool people that they are, the entire backstage kitchen crew hooked me up with a nice little welcome at the side of the stage ...

It was a huuuuuge zen-garden-raked circle with "Welcome Sunny" in the middle ... it was sweet, I walked around it and threw some rays on it and snapped this pic. Thanks guys ... if you ever happen to stumble upon this blog ... it was a sweet thing to do.

Alright ... this was a marathon post, eh? So, I have 2 more flicks left to post, I'll drop them tomorrow ... and I'll give ya a tease ... Iron Chef Michael Symon's legs! Yes, it is totally worth the wait!

SoBe it! IV

Hey there! I'm still enjoying my first-ever SoBe Wine and Food Festival! I'm recuperating in bed as I type this because boy was yesterday a long day! I have a cooking demo on Stage B today at 2:15 and I am nervous as all get out. That's a phrase my family uses, hope it translates teeheehee. Ok, so yesterday started with a call from my bloggin' buddy Jacob aka the Food Network Addict. He'd just arrived and made a bee line to the beach! He's covering the event on his blog and has some great flicks up. I had some extra passes because I'm here solo ... yes, solo. Which seems normal to me, but to everyone else it seems crazy? When people find out I'm here solo they get the look in their eyes like I'm a 6 year old that just scraped her knee lol. Like poooooor little girl, are you ok? Uhhhh, yup! Just fine! Most people here have a group of people with them and I've never been one for groups and honestly don't think my lifestyle and position calls for one. Right? Let's be real, I'm new and nothing has gotten too complicated yet. Even when it did in my radio career, I preferred the minimalist approach. So anyway, good thing about being here solo? I had those extra tickets to share!

After we linked up, we headed over to the hospitality suite at the Sagamore hotel for free drinks and there was even a little gift suite there. Funny thing is it was divided into His and Hers rooms, but I didn't notice from the start. Right when we walked in someone said something to me and Jacob like "Welcome, we have something for you, you go in here and Sunny this room is for you". Felt weird, like why can't he go into my room and vice versa? So, I go into the room I'm directed into and there are some real pretty shawls. I take one and exit. Just at this time Jacob exits the room he was directed to and me being nosey, I look in and see cigars and stuff. I take a step back to look at what the room says on the outside and realized I totally missed the sign that read "His", so then a glance at mine and it reads "Hers". Next thing out of my mouth was "So chicks don't smoke cigars? Is that what you guys are saying??", then Jacob said he was wondering what the separation was about too, thinking there were better things in the room I went to because I'm on the network. Needless to say, my dude is gonna be happy when I bring him home some cigars and I'll go ahead and enjoy one with him as well.

Here's Jacob, Lisa (Food Network co-worker) and a yummy drink that was missing only one thing ... a shot of vodka, so after the first sip and thinking it was alcoholic, I ordered a shot of "wodka" as I say and stirred it in.


Here's the view from the terrace at the event. Notice the band ... soon, I'd be in a band of my own ...


Look, I'm a gamer, but a PlayStation gamer. In fact, I won't buy a PS3 until God of War III comes out on it. So, here I am at an event that has a room set up with a Wii and everyone looks like they are having fun. I bowled a bit and liked it, but when they set up the band thingy, I LOVED it!!! I can't tell you if it was Guitar Hero or Rock Band, but what I can tell you is I loved it, will buy it as soon as I get home and will fight to the death every time I play to be the drummer. I had too much fun. Really. I just don't think I'll ever be able to do the fitness game though ... very funny to me that the problem with video games is that they keep us indoors and sedentary and their solution to the sloth is to make a workout video game. I'd rather take a walk ... after playing the drums to Livin' on a Prayer and then No Sleep Til' Brooklyn! Boy, can you tell ... I really liked that game!? Check me trying to getting my color-coded drum on!

That's the aforementioned shawl I'm rockin' too ... pretty color huh?

I pretty much hogged this thing until the end of the event once I discovered it, I'm such a kid. My apologies, but the gamers feel me. My PlayStation is all the way back home. I look forward to playing this and having arguments much like I envision a real band when one member doesn't hit the right notes lol.

Ok, then later on Gina Neely and I headed over to the tents for the BubbleQ party. Take a look at the scene...

Me, Ingrid Hoffman and Gina Neely

Red eyes and all, me, Ingrid, Pat and Gina Neely and my girl Sandra Lee. Lemme just say for the record, coolest chick around miss Sandra, coolest chick.

After that, we headed over to Paula's Poker Party, where I linked up with Guy and his crew, then we headed to Rachael's party, then from there many of us walked over to a private party where it seems we were the last to get in. I searched out Jacob and only got to chat to him for a few minutes when were were kindly, and I do say kindly, not rudely interrupted. Seems as though someone wanted Jacob gone, so I stood and watched my buddy Jacob get asked to leave because he was a blogger and this was to be a no-press event ... to that I said to the guy removing him ... "Well, I'm a blogger too, do I have to leave????" I tried for the blogger solidarity, but it didn't work. But like he says on his blog, the fact that he even got in lets you know what type of guy he is. He got the job done! Soon after, I left with a co-worker from the pr department and called it a night. Boy was I tired. 

Back at it today, check in later for more flicks if I get 'em ...

SoBe it! III

Hey! So, got some pics to post later, but I'm already catchin' google alerts from press ... check out this article about the Burger Bash ... one of my quotes is ...

''Bobby Flay just popped my cherry with this burger,''

Nuff said ...

SoBe it! II

Hey there! More pics and stuff from the SoBe Wine and Food Festival.

Yesterday, I had to attend a top-secret event. Lemme tell you how hard it is to keep a secret, but when you sign your life away and accept that talking will mean a hefty lawsuit ... you just keep your mouth shut :-). Now, I wonder if even saying I did something top secret is against the rules??? You'll know if these two lines disappear teeheehee. Ok, so yesterday at said event, I met Chef Marcus Samuelsson. I've lightly followed his work, so I was very happy to meet him, but couldn't take a flick there cuz ... well the secrecy. Cool thing is later when I went to the Burger Bash ... there he was! And here we are ....

Blurry no doubt cuz this isn't just a food fest :-)

The Burger Bash was great. I headed down with the Neely's and soon thereafter we got a bite of Bobby Flay's burger. It was BANGIN! Bacon, chips, burger and a yummy cheese I was too busy to totally dissect, but anyone that puts chips in a burger is alright with me! Take a look at the crowd...


I know it's a wine fest, but I got myself a beer and then someone told me I HAD to try another burger. Like HAD to. So, even though I was full on 2 beers and Bobby's burger ... I walked over to this table and sure did wish after the first bite that I had an extra tummy like a cow. Check the description ...

Ok, here's the deal ... to me a burger is good, but what makes it great is the bun. This was a pretzel bun and then the homemade bacon and the rest just really put me over the top. Plus, I really love a med-rare burger. Take a look at a dissection ... lighting wasn't the greatest, and boy this really is the worst picture of the best burger. I think really the key is, just look at the bun and you'll know how that pretzel bun tasted. The dark color, omg my mouth is watering and it's more than 12 hours later ... omg this was good!!

I'd chew this cud foreverrrrr. If you are in Chicago, I'd check this place out and see if they have this on the menu. Werd.

Ok, that's all for now. TGIF, right?

SoBe it!

Well, I'm here in South Beach aka SoBe and I'm totally annoyed with the great weather! It's beautiful here. All of the places I've been in the world, from Honduras to Korea ... I've never been to Miami. Only really flown through here or connected. What a pretty city so far. I love the colors of the houses, reminds me slightly of Texas and all the colors used in the South West style. Anyway, nice stuff so far.

I got to the airport this morning and just a few minutes after I got in the terminal I spotted some familiar spikes and headed over to make the ticket kiosk and security route with Anne Burrell. It was really nice seeing someone I knew. I think I'm a bit nervous and don't really know why, so familiar faces calm the nerves. We got here and as soon as I checked into the hotel I wanted to get some air and see the beach. Turns out the hotel is right on the beach and I know you are like "how didn't you know where you were staying and stuff?" ... I dunno, see the last post. I can't even tell you how messy January was for me. I just glossed over it, but boy was I busy and not with only work, plenty of personal stuff too. So, I didn't pay attention to the travel details. Pretty cool though cuz being on the beach is a nice, needed surprise!

Anyway, on the way to the beach through the hotel pool area I saw a table full of more familiar faces ...

Clockwise that's Gordon Elliot, producer of Down Home with the Neely's, their director Mark, me :-), Gina and Pat. I stopped to say hi and ended up joining the table for a drink. As I've said before, they are such a nice couple. Nice way to start the trip!

Really, Where Did January Go?

Ok, so that is the total truth ... where did January go? Here it is halfway through February and I can't account for January. Well, during January I shot 13 more episodes of Cooking for Real. The cool thing about this run of shows is we were planning them in the dead of winter, but they aren't planned to air until spring and early summertime. It was some good, light eating for heavy weather times. Nothin' like grillin' inside when the snow is falling.

There's plenty of fish and I even made a classic dish with lamb and some homemade jelly, why buy? That's a show I can taste right now, boy am I going to have to revisit that meal soon. The best part about it is my girl Fiona actually joined me on the show and helped make the meal. That's what we added to the shows this time around ... guests! Not on all of them, but I had three of my best girlfriends come on a show alone with me and help make something on the menu. We had a great time cooking together and I hope you enjoy the recipes and the stories. Here's Fiona and I after taping her appearance.

We usually meet over a meal in the city and actually we only meet over a meal, so it was just a total no-brainer to have her come hang on the show.

This is a flick I took from a monitor off stage while my girl Natina was hanging out between acts.

She was getting fixed because something spilled on her and then it was back to action! I've talked about her before on a previous Cooking for Real episode and she is my gurrrrrrrrrl. Like, I can't even explain. I've known her for years and we have so much in common and can talk for hours. She doesn't live in NYC so to have her come in to tape a show was such a huge treat. We grilled and I also made a really yummy fruit salad. I actually like the dressing the best. Kinda like when you want to drink the juice of something when you shouldn't? Every time I throw the dressing together I made for her on the show, I want to drink it. It is really that yummy if I do say so ... and simple. Can't wait for you to catch that show. I also had a close friend from high school on the show and will post some of those pictures when the show airs.

Right now, I'm in the thick of recipe planning for another 13 episodes! Yaaaaay! So, that is really the reason I've been so busy, I can't fit everything in and on top of that I'm heading off to Miami for the 2009 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.

If you have tickets, I can't wait to hopefully bump into you and say hi. If not, check here ... things are selling out fast!

Check back, if things don't overwhelm me this weekend I'll post some pics from the festivities.

Buffering ...

Hey there!

I have really been lazy over here, huh? Gimme a day or two and I'll get those flicks up from the last 13 shows we taped and I also have some other stuff to share .... 

Meanwhile,  have you been checking URS on Sundays? Then the subsequent viewing party hosted by me on FoodNetwork.com? Check it out ... and check back in soon.

Look at this!

Wait ... before you check the video below ... I found it on the Food Network Kitchen's Blog. Have you checked it out before? Bookmark it! I did a coupla months ago and I'm often pleasantly surprised in a foodie way. Just sharin' some stuff ....