The flood gates are open!!

Hey there! That's me and my bestie Natina taping some segments in Brooklyn last Wednesday for an upcoming promotion on Food Network. Can you guess when this may air?? We taped at place I go for a good beer and something ... ANYthing fried to perfection, Chip Shop. Here I am with one one of the owners, Suzanne.

If everyone needs a Cheers, Chip Shop is mine - complete with a visit from my parents that started sober and ended hilarious. Can't wait for you to see what we shot, of course I'll give more deets when I can, but being here promises that you've got the scoop already!

Well, looks like from comments while I'm thinking I'm saving you from the stereotypical boring vacation slide show, I'm actually holding out on ya! I also took counsel from a former blogger and friend, and he too agrees with you in comments, sharing is caring teeheehee. I now feel so bad I didn't post that 15-lb lobster tail last year! Someone asked in comments where I got the Jurassic Park-sized tails ... I got em in Eleuthera, an outer island of the Bahamas that is an inexpensive, must-stay with a jillion empty and beautiful beaches. I just didn't want to over share, as I actually do in person. So, I promise from now on to post pics from vacay, but since everyone has been so encouraging ... how about a VIDEO??!!

Hope you liked my first video. I haven't edited video since I was in training for broadcasting for the Air Force. Back then one of the pieces of equipment was so big we called it a "toaster" and now I'm editing on a tiny laptop. No cords, board or speakers needed. Crazy.

Anywho, the vacay was to Paris, France. Here's a picture from the day we landed ... in the middle of a blizzard!

Here are a couple more food shots ...Far East in France ...There's a huge and growing Asian immigrant population in Paris and we took advantage of it. We ate all over the place, even at the Louvre. This is a cream of asparagus soup I got at the museum. It had the crunchiest little, oil-laden croutons ...

Very smooth and balanced, see the saffron? Then a vegetable terrine at a place on the Champs Elysees ...
It needed salt, but I tend to think that about many things. And finally a bowl of rummaged through mussels. The frites were served in a little cup on the side and happily throughout dinner, as I ate them, fresh and hot new ones arrived like a refill of tap water. Loved it!

We ended up in Paris because while I was planning a sunny beach vacation I ran into a really cheap apartment rental in Paris. It was actually cheaper to go to Europe than hitting the Caribbean. Another thing, just in case you are a tripper ... it's WAAAAAAY cheaper to rent an apartment or house on vacation if you are planning. Only difference is no room service, but I actually enjoy cooking and dining out on vacay, as I call it. Plus no crazy hotel and tourist taxes added on to the bottom line of the lodging bill. Even in the lean times I've scrounged and taken a vacation at least once a year since I left home at 18, refueling is important for the battle (military ref. lol), but seriously ... growing up moving around all the time, kinda turned me into a "change of scenery" seeker. So, we booked the trip and immediately began to work on our French. I'd been a few times before in my pre-teens, but it was my guy's first time. All I really wanted to know how to say was, "one more please" and "please can I have some more" lol ...

And now, in the new spirit of sharing ... a final note from my babies ...Meow, meow. :-) That's Truffle on the left and Cheddar on the right. You can buy your cats toys, but they always end up playing with other stuff, the laundry basket is the new thing all of a sudden. Both are rescue cats. Cheddar, or "Ched-rock" was taken to our local vet for boarding and her owners never picked her up and the number they left was fake. I found her 4 months into her extended and caged stay when I made my boyfriend take his cat, yes HIS cat to the vet for a check up. His is a rescue as well, found his on the street years before we met, and very nasty. I keep telling him it's feral lol. Cheddar has a super protruding chest bone, not all of her teeth and when we got her she was a bit ill and in need of some TLC. She's just fine now and she brings me joy everyday, can't believe someone would leave her :-(. Her biggest worry these days is which treats she gets, how many and when. Then my Truffle or "Truffle-duffel" as I tend to call him was at the right place at the right time, I got him from an ASPCA truck during NY Pet Week last year while waiting to meet friends for a trip to Coney Island. Truffle, a Maine Coon, talks allllllll day everyday, very loudly. Cat owners know what I mean. We think it's why he's a rescue, some owners just don't see the beauty in quirks like that, I rather like my kitty alarm clock :-). I mean he is up at 7AM everyday, just talking. To whom? We have no idea lol. If I wanted a quick million I'd record him saying "Hello" and send it to AFV. He also does this very human-like stand on his hind legs when he wants to be picked up, and like a baby he also prefers to be held over the shoulder. Really cute. I know, this totally puts me in the running to be a cat lady, but I'm not, I grew up with dogs and look forward to adding some to the pack soon. Trust me though, rescues are hard to pass up, just ask Lindsey in comments... she was there when I rescued Truffle, he was undeniable.

And in true form, I bury the lead ... My show air times are on the move!!! Until I letcha know, catch new episodes of Cooking for Real, Sundays at 11AM, then catch repeats weekday afternoons (Monday-Friday) at 4PM. Catch it live or set your DVR for the series, or season and let it do the work! This week's episode is "Phonin' in Flavor", I have a tasty frozen drink, I'm grilling some pork and I'm making broccoli shake what the cook is givin' it. :-)