Sobe Wine and Food Festival: Burger Bash Slide Show

Hey! So last we spoke I was at the pool here blogging away with a bottle of bloody mary mix as my companion. I got up to head up to my room and get ready for the Burger Bash and ran in to the burger man himself ...Bobby Flay and that's my girl Aarti! She was just coming from the beach with her husband. We all chatted briefly then Bobby had to head off to make I think he said "five hundred fifty thousand" burgers lol ... Bobby is hilarious I can't wait to see him as a judge on his new show America's Next Great Restaurant.

Ok, here are some pics from the night ...

That's Burger Bash is held in that huge tent and every packs in like a night club, it's packed!
Rachel Ray is the host and architect of the evening and Lee Schrager got up on stage to make some welcoming remarks as well. The band really made the night great. They covered songs from Kool and the Gang to Ke$ha and it was allllll good! Here's Bobby Flay's burger ...made with his signature Crunchafied chips and a nice slather of goat cheese. It was pretty tasty!! Then, I headed over to Spike Mendelsohn's booth only to find him in a Hamburglar outfit ... this dude is crazy!Spike is really a cool guy, he always has some kind of gimmick involved, good thing his burger is slammin'!!! This time around he offered his Coletti Smokehouse Burger, here's the namesake of the burger, Mike Coletti ...
That BBQ sauce was something serious. I want a jar right now for a night I get lazy and don't make my own. I stepped away from Spike's burger spot and bumped into Robert Irvine hanging out at Michael Symon's offering ...

Robert and I chatted for a quick second, then I got to business by stepping to the man and asking him for everything he had to offer, in turn I got a burger I ended up calling "meat on meat on meat, a meaty burger" ...

Look, I don't know what to focus on with this burger, but let's start with the with fried salami. I saw about a jillion little crisps sitting on a wire rack in his staging area and immediately got excited. Then he layered on a really good shacha sauce, provolone cheese, pickled onions and there was fresh basil involved ... very tasty! He won the big prize and I'm not surprised I walked away and thought to myself, geez, he plays dirty ... all that MEAT! That just ain't right! Crazy!! Check out who I ran into on the way out of the tent ...

Duff Goldman hosts tomorrow night's Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Beach event. I also have a booth there and I can't wait to share with you the best thing I've ever had at the beach! Stick around for that and if you are here, I also have a cooking demonstration tomorrow, Saturday in the grand tasting village at 3:15. Come on by and hang out!! Here are the culinary students that prepared all my ingredients today for the event tomorrow ...

Alright! I'm heading out again tonight, hope you had a good week, if you are here and you see me, stop me and say hi!!

Chili, Nachos and Things ...

Hey there! I have ingredients waiting to be turned into chili for tomorrow's big game, so this will be quick. Just wanted to give you some behind the scenes from yesterday's activities. For the second day in a row I set my alarm for 4:30AM so I could get up in time for a visit to The Today Show. Seems early, but getting my face spackled for the high-definition cameras takes about an hour or so, then getting dressed and over the Brooklyn Bridge through NYC morning traffic takes time, as well as getting mic'd up and briefed by the segment producer.

Friday morning's segment was all about The Today Show's Homemade Chili Cook-off finalists. Three competitors from across the country were flown into town to enjoy the city and possibly get a trophy along the way. A couple of days ago I found out I was judging alongside Man Vs. Food host Adam Richman. I watch that show plenty and just love his energy and my fave part is the fake press conference at the end after he defeats or fails at the food challenge. I was really excited to meet him and turns out he watches Cooking for Real, read my articles when I edited and wrote for Hip Hop Weekly and even listened to me on HOT 97 when I was on the air years ago. Pretty crazy! And he's from Brooklyn! Who knew? We spent plenty of time exchanging local places we like to eat and hang out in our borough. I Love, love, love a food conversation! He has a new book out called America the Edible and continues to shoot his show. Here we are with the finalists before we went on the air yesterday ...That's Michael, me, Kyle, Rhonda and Adam. We all had plenty of time to meet and say hi, then the finalists had to head out to the set to shoot previews for the competition. Here's how it all went down ...

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Rhonda was super sweet and I didn't catch it live, but my boyfriend pointed out to me when we watched it on the DVR later that she made a heart shape above her head for me. Sooooo sweet. Thanks for all the kind words backstage Rhonda! Like I said, you are just like me. Someone experiencing life through food among other things! Michael had his sister on hand for support and Kyle, well he brought the fun with his pig call. Pretty unexpected because he was so quiet backstage! Must have been the nerves!! Both Adam and I really loved all of the chili. Kyle's was smooth and delicious, but we wanted more of the apple and maple flavor. Then Michael's was equally good. It smelled like BBQ sauce, but tasted like a big ol bowl of hearty chili. Plus, it was healthy with the turkey and chicken. I think Rhonda's won because it was so unexpectedly powerful with flavor. Both Adam and I were blown away by it instantly. There were big chunks of tender beef and the spice level was so that it was just hot enough to make you want more. Really hard to judge them all because they were the best of the best. Catch their homemade chili recipes on the website.

After having chili for breakfast, I snatched a few bowls of Rhonda's chili recipe (thanks to the friendly crew at The Today Show!) and took it to Martha Stewart Radio for a chat with Betsy and Kim at Morning Living. They loved it too and I shared my recipes for my Southwest Quesadillas w/ Cilantro Lime Sour Cream and my Game Day Chili.

Then, after talking chili, quesadillas and more chili, I headed over to Chelsea Market where Food Network is located for a nacho competition among my co-workers! The internet departments of both Food Network and Cooking Channel along with Food.com put their game day thinking caps on and prepared several snacks for judging ...That's plenty of nachos for lunch, eh? I was judging again and this time around my co-judges were Kelsey's Essentials host, Kelsey Nixon and Food Network Kitchens chef Claudia Sidoti. Claudia develops recipes for Food Network online, cookbooks and the magazine. She was recently at the helm of one of the cool 50-recipe pullouts Food Network Magazine has every issue. Her theme? Nachos!! Here we are all ready to snack and judge ...Take a look at a sample of our lunch ...Those are some serious muffins! Very pretty too!
Those were carnitas nachos, made by a self-proclaimed bachelor! Pretty and tasty!
Some BBQ inspired nachos with pickles never hurt! We liked how they were individual servings, instead of the traditional pile-up with naked chips on the bottom. Then check out something that took me back to cafeteria time ...
Tots!!! Did you know they make hollowed-out tater tots now?? I'm looking on my next browse in the freezer section! Many people made original recipes and some made recipes from Food Network hosts. The muffins were 3 recipes in one, pretty crafty! Here's my paper plate pile-up after all the tasting ... Chili for bfast, nachos for lunch, pretty exciting Friday! Check out who won the competition on FN Dish (bookmark it!), it's Food Network's blog. WHAT?!? You didn't know we have a blog?!? Yup!! Get acquainted by visiting the Super Bowl Nacho Showdown for the winner and more behind the scenes pics! Cooking Channel has a blog too!! Here are the spectators that do all the work to keep our online presence well, present. :-) ...

Thanks for feeding us in more ways than one guys!! I hope I'm counted in for the next eating holiday judge's table!

Also, don't forget the showtime change for Cooking for Real! It's still on weekdays at 4PM and I've moved to Sunday's at 11AM for the debut shows. This weekend it's a big pot of my Chicken in a Pumpkin-Mole and teeny pots of my Molten Chocolate Cinnamon Pots on an episode I call Pots of Gold.

Alright, I'm off to make a pot of chili today, cuz it'll be better tomorrow! Check FoodNetwork.com/BIGGAME for all your last minute tips, recipes and instructional videos. Goooooooo team lol, I can't pick sides really, but I will say that I don't want the JETS to have lost to a loser, so the Steelers better take this one home!!!

We're done taping!

Hey! Taping got the best of me and I wasn't able to keep up with the pace and post blogs at the same time for the last three days, but I still have pictures and videos from shooting the 9th season of Cooking for Real. We just wrapped today and just in time for another snow storm! Look who joined me on the show yesterday ...
It's AARTI!!!!! And please believe, we had a PARTY! She came on a show I title "It Takes Two to Salsa" and salsa we did :-). She is such a ball of sunshine and having her on felt like the thing to do. We met when I was taping NFNS: After Party and have been online chat buddies ever since. I can't wait for you to see us in the kitchen together!!! She a blast and really brought some crazy flavor!! We taped the first show of the day together and I still had another to go. So, she headed out to get some things done, but not before leaving me a sweet note in the green room ...Sweet huh? She's the best and I hope you are catching her show, it's such a nice departure from the norm and the flavors she can brings into your kitchen without any new shopping, is so valuable. Trust me, you have these ingredients or can get them in your grocery store.

Between shows I chatted with the crew at AOL DayBreak and the video is up now, no need to click away though, I've got the code ...

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Pretty fun, thanks to the team from AOL! Such pros!! Oh wait, before I forget ... I also had some other studio guests! If you hang out in the comments here a bit you may know of Charles. A few months ago I met him in Philly at an event I hosted for Aetna Healthcare and he asked if he could visit the set. I never say no to a visit! I don't have a studio audience show, but I'll set up a chair and hand out some candy :-). Here we are right before a quick tour of the Food Network kitchens and my set ...That's Charles next to me and his guy Tremaine, next to Aarti. Pretty cool they got a bonus with the visit from Aarti, eh?! I can't wait for you to see this new episode! I don't know how we got any cooking done, it was all laughs and chatter. Love her!

Then today, I decided to have my parents stop by and hang out with me! The production team worked hard to plan a funny surprise for them on my show. I'll save what it is until it airs, but check out just a small part of the team hovered around the surprise trying to figure out how to make it work within the show on my set ...I mean ... for the better part of an hour more than 20 or so people were brainstorming and working on the staging of the surprise. They discussed at length the hows, whens, how fast, where, everything, you could imagine for what will end up being about 2 minutes of television. Total group of pros, this hard work has nothing to do with a paycheck, this is dedication to doing the best. Pretty cool to watch them work it out. The hard work was worth it because the surprise went off without a hitch and it's pretty funny. I can't wait for you to see me catch my parents off guard when it airs. This episode is called, "Fish n Grits". As soon as I get new airdates I'll let you know.

Ok, one last thing before I fall asleep to the sounds of American Idol ... I went to Columbus, Ohio this past weekend to hang out at Giant Eagle Market District and cooked for a crowd of smiling people. If you were there thanks so much for turning out to have fun and eat, for real! I'm glad you stuck around for dessert :-). Here's a pic of the culinary team that helped everything go off without a hitch ...Giant Eagle is a huuuuuuuuuuge superstore and each time I go, I feel like big time grocery shopping is the one thing I miss living here in NYC. We don't have football field grocery stores in the city. That means you have to go all over the place to get many things. I don't mind because I end up finding so much more than I'm looking for, but I truly envy you if you are close to a Giant Eagle. I mean ... dry-aged beef, gelato and Cap'n Crunch for sale under the same roof?? Sign me up and upgrade my membership please. Teeheehee, for real.

Ok, last, but not least. A special huge hello to straight A student Zamarius from FAIRMOORE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL!!!!! WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!! Sorry it took me a few days to post, but I'm a woman of my word Zamarius! Hug your mom!

Ok, I'm heading to Los Angeles to tape Access Hollywood with Kit and Billy Monday, stick around for some California love :-).

Pull up a chair!

Hey there! Day two is over as we continue to tape the 9th season of Cooking for Real and it was just as fun and exciting as yesterday. Well, I finally got my act together and between the action caught a snap of the newest addition to my set ...Chairs!!! Also if you look close I have a new extension to my counter for guests to lean in and have a bite! This season we decided to have some people come and hang out with me while I cook, for real :-). It looks like a bar or better yet a diner counter!!! Which reminds me ...
Teeheehee, totally showing my age. That show was so funny! Ok, then I got a picture right before we finished the last show of the day ...That's Wendy Waxman looking over her selections for the final dishes I'll plate everything on. Each time I go back to tape a new season she has a new additions to my "show cupboards". This time around I'm noticing some really pretty textured and painted bowls and plates. Can't wait for you to see them all! Ok, stick around for more stuff! Day three on the way!

... And we're back!

Hi there! Today we started taping season 9 of Cooking for Real and I think I slept maybe 4 hours last night. I'm just too wired, excited, anxious, everything! Here's a shot from the end of today ... I call that picture "Lights Out!". A split second before we took it, the stage lights were dimmed because it was the end of the day for us. That's Jeff and Des, they've worked on so many Food Network shows, to list them would be silly. That's 2 shows down and 11 more to go! Can't wait for you to see them!!

As usual, I can't share all the details, but I can give up some goods. Remember how I mentioned the kitchen set got an addition? Well, I saw it today and I really like it. I'll take some pictures and post them up. I only thought to get that picture from above at the very end of the day. I was so focused on work I completely forgot most everything else. Has that ever happened to you? Maybe a full day and you notice at the end you forgot you even own a cell phone because you never thought to use it? Focus is something crazy, it just takes over everything doesn't it? Love, love, love the human body and how it works. Well, I am just so happy to be back and I love the recipes this season, plenty of comfort and ease. Easy for me to say, right? Can't wait for you to see them and give some things a try! I can tell you the names of the shows from today the first was "Smother and Hover" and the second was "Diner Breakfast". Tomorrow it's "Don't Scrimp on the Shrimp" and "Much Ado About Stuffing" :-).

I really have fun titling the shows and recipes, it's kind of an added bonus. I get to flex my corny side and it feels good teeheehee. Ok, I don't have much more except here's a picture I took while we were planning my shows. A sign of things to come ...That's Santos holding out my Caprese Steak, quite like my Caprese Burger, but you need a knife for this one. I let him do the honors of slicing it up so we could all take a bite! Can't wait for you to give it a try if you like a good steak with a twist! Then, this next one allows me to end on a sweet note ..
It's my Easy Blueberry Apple Pie, and although I love a shortcut of the ready-made pie crust, this is homemade, just as it will be on the show. I was planning these episodes around the holidays and I didn't really want to "phone it in" for holiday meals, so now I get to share with you a quick and easy method to perfect, flaky and buttery pie crust. It's easy, trust me! I'm not a pastry chef!! But guess who is?!? Another way to end sweet ...It's Anne Thornton, host of Food Network's Dessert First. If you haven't already, you have to check out her show! She is so much fun and she was planning her next season of the show when I happened upon her heavenly creation. She's holding it, but it's so far away, lemme give you a close-up ...Click on the picture, I beg you. It's totally worth a 30 second day dream! I stopped in my tracks when I saw it. You can't even really see what's beneath the whipped top, it's deep and decadent. I don't know what she calls it, but I can't wait to see it on her show!! Alright, time to get ready for day two! Stick around for some behind the scenes stuff!

Trivets aren't trivial!

Hey there! I'm currently taping season 8 of Cooking for Real in Food Network's Chelsea Market studios and yesterday I shared a picture of my favorite dish so far. I go so much response to the plate, I thought why not show you another neat addition to my repertoire ... two pretty trivets!That's Jamie and she styles my set along with Wendy. Today when we were ready for the final act of the show we realized we needed a few more trivets than the tiles I usually use and a few seconds after the request, Jamie waltzed over with those beauties! I gasped a bit, so simple, but very pretty to me. They were reminiscent of nautical rope, but sweet. I did the flip to see if there was a tag or identifying mark and I found none. Pretty neat though. Then right before the show ended, I made a drink I can share with you here because I've already served it plenty of times this summer at events. It's my Brooklyn Iced Tea. 6 ounces of lemoncello, 3 ounces dark rum, 3 ounces tequila, 24 ounces sweet tea. Pour it in a pitcher of ice and lemon wedges, stir, then pour in a highball glass with ice ... way better than a Long Island Iced Tea, of course I'm biased :-). Here it is on set today ...It was tasty, but I couldn't sip too much because I was only on my first show and needed to finish my second show of the day! In the background you can see my purple door ... tomorrow I'm going to attempt walking through that door on the show for the first time. I am super excited about it because if I do it right, it'll be a nice tribute to Mr. Rogers. If it doesn't look good we'll scrap it, but just wanted to tell you so you have the inside scoop! Wish me luck pulling it off, I am so corny that I've wanted to do it from the start, hope it works :-)! Ok, have a great evening/day. I'll do my best to keep posting while I'm taping, but I do find my time crunched a bit. Thanks for all the comments! BTW, the website redesign is going very well, hope you guys like my new home!

I'm back in the studio!

Hey there! First, some business ... I posted a TV alert Monday here for that evening's Best Thing I Ever Ate: Slices. Myself and the guys at Difara's thought my fave slice would be featured in that episode. It wasn't, but it's not bad news ... the good news is the segment is on the way in a few months. The heavenly slice is featured in Best Thing I Ever Ate: Crazy Good! Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! The way these things work is the production company sends us a list of the next season's themes and asks us if we have any suggestions that fit each category. Many times I don't have something that fits into each episode, so I just pitch what I really love. Sometimes they look at my list of places and menu items and decide it better fits in another category. So, the cool thing is they decided after having a slice themselves, it had to be recognized as "crazy good"! Love it! It airs far from now and I'll remind you when it gets close, but just so you know it's November 22, 2010. Sorry to the RSS feed peeps (fnf), I deleted the post and you may have clicked a link to nowhere.

Ok, on to today's business ... I'm back in the studio!! I am so happy to be back with the crew cooking and eating for real :-). This is my 8th season and it still feels brand new. I get just as excited to go to work as I did on the first day back in February 2008. What a joy to work with the pros that I do and it's been a great ride these couple of years traveling and meeting you. I'm nostalgic a bit, but the funny thing is life never let's you forget. For example, during taping various media outlets ask for permission to visit the set an get an interview. This time around I have a few visits planned, but the first one put every thing in perspective. Take a look ...

That's SSgt Bates, SSgt Ofiara and TSgt Davis from Airman Magazine. The cool thing is I knew Airman Magazine was on the the schedule to visit the set, but I didn't put two and two together until we chatted in person. Turns out they work in the same building with the some of the very same people I worked with while in the Air Force! Many departments have moved around since my time in the military 13 years ago so I guess I didn't think some things would remain the same and it's cool that they have. I still call and keep in touch with my former commander and immediate supervisor and actually just talked to them a couple of months ago. The crew from Airman Magazine work right across the hall from where my cubicle was and they reminded me so much of my time there. I found out my favorite taco place right next to base is still open and just received a Blue Ribbon award from the city!! I could've told the judges that years ago!! We also had some of the same stories and jokes and SSgt Ofiara actually was sent to South Korea for her first assignment just like I was as a radio broadcaster, so we had plenty in common to talk about. I talked and talked and talked to them, all the while I was thinking in the back of my head, wow ... I can't believe I made it through the military and how life is pretty amazing when you choose to truly experience all it has to offer. I grab it every day and it hugs me back. The military was a great time filled with plenty of travel, but plenty of hard work. It really set me up for everything to follow and I didn't even approach it for that. Life is pretty cool. So suffice it to say it was great going waaaay down memory lane my first day back in the studio. Here's my view from the set as the crew from Airman Magazine blend in to the background in their camouflage ...Can you see them? It was pretty cool to chit chat between acts and we all exchanged information because I plan to get back to San Antonio soon for some good food and friends. Can't wait!

Well, as I mentioned it was my first full day back today, but yesterday we shot one episode to kind of shake off the cobwebs and work out new elements. Today was full steam ahead with 2 shows to shoot. So far we've taped episodes I call "Wonton Be Startin' Somethin' ", "I Have an App for That" and "Chow Down". I can't tell you what I made, but I try to be descriptive and fun with my titles, so hopefully that'll help. :-) It's all easy comforting food for the late summer early fall and winter, so I hope you tune in when they start airing! What I can show you from today is my favorite plate so far ...
It is soooo pretty to me! I almost didn't want to cover it! Our set designers Wendy and Jamie are the best. I just watched Aarti's Party and LOVED her set, I LOVE Guy's set and I really love my set as well. They do them all and find a way to let the dishes and things surrounding us look like us. Wendy delivered this plate to the set for my first show today and I instantly fell in love. I took a closer look and noticed it was signed by "Andy Warhol". I thought ... nooo couldn't be, could it? Then, I flipped it over to check it's provenance ...It's truly an Andy Warhol collection! I don't even know how old it is or where she got it, but that's another part of Wendy and her team's brilliance. Have you ever seen the video about her on FN's website? Take a look at the video on FN Dish

Hope you enjoyed the video, that was from a few seasons ago. Ok, time to study my shows for tomorrow and call it a night! Stick around, I still have a couple of pictures to share from my stint co-hosting with Betsy on Martha Stewart Radio. I had such a great time and look forward to returning in the future.

Week-at-a-glance

Hey there! I looked up and realized halfway through the week, that it's almost over! Last time we chatted I was on the way to a secret taping for a show. Look who I shot the show with ...
Look familiar!? It's Kelsey Nixon and Adam Gertler, former finalists on Next Food Network Star, Season 4. That's at rehearsal last week. We are working on a new show for the Cooking Channel called Next Food Network Star: After Party. It debuts in just a couple of weeks on Sunday, July 18th. I am really excited about this show, basically each week after someone is sent packing on NFNS, they'll arrive on our show over on the Cooking Channel to talk about getting sent home and how the competition was for them. I cannot wait! Only thing not so fun is that I know who gets the boot before it airs, which as a television viewer takes out the fun, but rest assured, I won't tell you a thing! You'll have to catch the show and then hopefully ... :-) watch our After Party. A program note, it is designed to air right after NFNS, just switch over to the Cooking Channel and we'll be waiting at 10PM eastern ... except for July 18th, the night it debuts. That show airs at ... 11PM, 1 hour later. I know, pretty late for a school night, but totally worth it! One of the judges on NFNS stops by ... I won't say who, but they have a chat with the person they voted off, good stuff. I mean even if I weren't on the show, this is right up my alley of viewing, really happy to be a part of it. I hope I ask the questions of the finalists and judges you want to know as a viewer, if you have any along the way, feel free to post them here! Hope you catch it live, or on Memorex :-). (showin my age, 35) I'll surely give a reminder here before the show begins to air. If you want to check out a new blog, give a Happy Bday over at the Cooking Channel's blog, they're 1 month old!

Remember how I told you about taping The Best Thing I Ever Ate a couple of weeks ago? Well, yesterday was the follow-up taping here in Brooklyn at the actual restaurant that serves one of the best things everrrrr. I can't tell you what it is or where to get it ... but I can share this picture. They brought it out while I was eating a smaller version as a surprise ... I immediately whipped out my phone for a pic!
What a mammoth of a ... well, can't say can I? So many secrets today, huh? Sorry. Let's see what can I tell you ...

I'm wrapping up my menus for the next season of Cooking for Real! I tape in August and the shows begin to air in the autumn months, so I'm doing plenty of off-season eating at home while in the final recipe testing stages of the process. I like to make sure that when the shows first air, they are in season. Plenty of stews and roasts and ...
Meatballs!! Like my fine china? Teeheehee. I am soooo over dishes when in recipe testing mode, sorry for being a bit too real ;-). As soon as the website gets relaunched, I promise I'll try to class it up a bit. This is in an episode I'll call "First Date Spaghetti". I can't tell you how many times over the years I've heard about a friend or someone making spaghetti for someone on the first date at home. It's an easy sell to a date, easy to prep and not a wallet buster. My version has mega meatballs I flavor up and sear in a pan then finish off in the oven and the sauce is so easy and tasty, I hope you give it a try. If things go as planned, I'll tape this episode along with 12 others in just a couple of months. I can't talk about this without an emotional knee-jerk response to tell you thank you. You with those eyes reading this. Thank you so much for the support and for watching Cooking for Real if you have already or intend to do so. Because my parents raised me, I know I am capable of anything, but because I am always chasing dreams and sometimes landing them, I also know nothing is done alone. Thank you so much for being here. I wake up every day happy and thankful.

On to today in my week-at-a-glance ...

Ever learn a new word or hear about something and the next thing you know it keeps popping up? Well, just after doing my first ever SMTea a few weeks back, I got up at 5am this morning and headed to the city for my second SMT. It was at a completely different studio and this time I was there to talk about cool recipes for the 4th of July weekend. Look who I ran into!
That's Jack, he was at my very first SMTea and if you caught the blog he's also in one if the pictures I shared, hooking me up with some audio. Today he was running the camera behind us. When I walked in and saw him I was too excited! Nothing better than a familiar face from my first go at it. Look at what time it is! 107PM. We started around 8AM and just after we took this picture I did one more interview and we wrapped. Then I headed out to another meeting about my website. I can't wait to launch it! Looks like a few months at the most and I'll have new bells and whistles.

Hey speaking of new ... I learned a new trick from Kersti Bowser and her Gourmet Butterfly crew today ...
That's my Blackberry Gin Fizz Float with blackberry sorbet ... or is it, take a closer look ...
All morning the drink sat on set and that 'sorbet' never melted. I guessed and it was right, it's vegetable shortening, lard really, blended with black berries. Smart, eh? Reminds me of one of my favorite posts here on the blog; Making food ready for it's close up. Give a read if you are in to food photography or just interested in how food is made to look so yummy on camera. Here are the ladies that pulled off the lard trick today! Chef Kersti is on the left ...
What a day! I have tomorrow off and plan to spend it in the kitchen! Then I get up early on Friday to hang out with Good Morning America in Central Park for their Summer Concert Series!! I have a great 4th of July spread ready to go and I'll post the recipes from the show on Friday. Now all I have to do is find something festive to wear! If you are in NYC, it's a FREE concert with Mary J. Blige!! Come on out and have some fun in the park! If you are elsewhere, I hope you tune in. Click the link above for all the details. Here is a map to Rumsey Field if you plan to join. I'll try to take pics and post them as well! See you Friday!

One day @ a time - #3 Lipton Calls - June 1 ...

Hey there! I'm in the middle of a blog-orama, just catching up after some time off due to technical difficulties, so I hope you enjoy and if you've missed any, please scroll down... btw, my burn was from an All Clad handle. I got it two weeks before that picture at a charity event. A chef took a pan out of the oven and rested it on the counter top, it looked to have been there for some time. I was one of the judges and the chef neglected to tell us he took it from the oven. In the chaos I lifted it to catch the aroma ... and well ... you can see what happened. Pretty much my favorite burn scar right now ...


Tuesday, June 1, 2010

So this day I got up early and headed over to New Jersey to hang out with Lipton. They called a couple of months ago and told me they wanted people to "drink on the bright side" and thought I'd be the perfect person to help get the word out. How nice, eh? I grew up on Lipton! As I navigate this area of my career, companies call to partner, but not all of them are products I use or even trust. Actually, it happened plenty in my radio career too now that I think about it. I remember telling a company I wouldn't help promote a product because I'd never used it and still didn't want to use it. The company actually didn't care if I used it or not and also didn't mind if I lied about it, that was a quick no. Good thing ... months later the product was pulled from shelves nationally because it wasn't safe and people were having health problems. I didn't make the sales department at the radio station happy when I said no at the time, but in a few months time we all were happy. So, it has been easy to say no and just stand on principle alone in this new chapter because of past experiences, but it's easy to say yes when it's something I love. That being said, and I hope you take this the right way ... you have my word, I'll only do business with companies I actually use and trust. I'm so not here for the wrong reason. I really love what I do and it's so neat that you share the same passion as I do, which is food, eating and of course ... cooking. So I'd never betray your trust like that. Not my style ...

Wow, so now that I've said that ... how bout some tea and pudding? :-).
That's a tray of vanilla pudding, graham crackers and swedish fish, made to look like the beach! A little fun for the kids during summer, my fondest memories are of playing with food and helping around the kitchen ... and yard, but that's another blog.

This is Marni n me.
She finds all the jeans that fit my crazy shape, colorful and bright shirts I like and even some of the accessories I wear on Cooking for Real. I like how she dresses me up there, so anytime I can, I ask her to help me with other television stuff. Many of you have asked in comments about my clothes, I promise to finally ante up and interview Marni for the blog the next time I tape in August.

It took a few weeks of planning, but Tuesday was the day I'd tape some fun segments for Lipton with some local foodies. Here I am with two of them ...
That's Matt and Nikki. They are young, married and new to NYC. We all laughed when we looked at this picture, Nikki said Matt always finds a way to make a funny face in pictures. They were lots of fun and really cool to hang out with. They remind me of when I first moved to work in NYC, I was fresh and excited and open to everything the city had to offer. Nothing really has changed for me and it was great seeing myself in them. There's truly something about moving to NYC to chase a dream. They have friends over plenty and wanted to know how to entertain in a tight space during the summertime. I was more than happy to help because counter space and square footage is hard to come by here and with summer on the way, it's hard to have a cookout without any outdoor space.

Lipton put up a website with some of the tips I gave them it's www.CoolestSummerCookout.com. Check it if you are feeling lucky because there's a sweepstakes to enter! There's money! A trip! And you and I can spend time cooking here in NYC!

Speaking of websites ... I am totally aware that my website is a mess lol. I have been looking for a company for a couple of years now and finally think I've got it! Plans are being made and I hope to soon relaunch with a better site. I have fun stuff planned too if you are like me and like to play and stuff online on a boring day. Let's be bored together, eh? So stick around for news on my relaunch of www.SunnyAnderson.com and ...

For the next post I'll show ya what happened to my garden ...

Grillin' with my girls ...

Hey there! I hope you are enjoying your Memorial Day weekend so far. A special thank you to all the military members, veterans and family members. As a veteran from a large military family and a person living the American dream you make possible, I thank you for your sacrifices.

If you happen to be grilling this weekend I have plenty of stuff to let you know about ...

A few months back I taped an episode of Food Network Challenge and the week was so busy I took pics and didn't have time to share. Well now I can because I'm chillin' on a lovely weekend with time to spare and the show airs tomorrow night! Food Network Challenge - All Star Grill-Off airs Sunday, May 30th at 8pm. It's a battle of the sexes with Melissa d'Arabian, Aida Mollenkamp and myself for the ladies and Aaron McCargo Jr., Adam Gertler and Michael Symon for the guys ...
Ahem, yes, if you'll notice I did fashion the chef's coat they had for me into a cook's apron. I'm not a cop, I'm not wearing a cop uniform. Teeheehee. Plus it was hot and stuffy! I don't know how you chefs do it. That's like a whole other layer! We taped the show in California a few months ago and the weather was warmer there than it is here today in NYC.

Nice right? That's the evening before the shoot, all the crew was working hard to set everything up in time. Even better, the company that produces Food Network Challenge, also produced How'd That Get On My Plate? and it was such a great surprise to see some of the old crew from those road trips!
Those are my guys! Road trips like the ones we took are bonding adventures and it was so great to see them again and talk about the funny stuff. I even talk about them on Cooking for Real here and there. Bruner, second from the right is the reason I did my Sunny Lomi Salmon. Read about the story here. Ok, so then we got to grilling and the judges got to judgin' ...
I can't tell you the outcome of course, but I can tell you who I was sooooo excited to meet!

Yaaaay Keegan!! I am such a corny fan. When I met him, I told him how much I loved watching the show and like what he brings to the table as well. I think at first he thought it was just lip service, until I began listing episodes and specifics. I have to tell you, there's nothing better than the marathon of FN Challenge when you can catch it. I've sat and watched a whole day seems like. Anyway, Keegan was really cool and if you are a fan, hopefully you can live vicariously through me a bit because I totally gushed for him. To the point where I had to nonchalantly bring up that I had a boyfriend because I didn't want him to think ... "this girl has an eye on me!" lol! Ever do that? Ahh good times, well that's all I can tell you and show you because it's a competition. I can tell you that the money that usually goes to the winner is donated to charity! Hope you catch it ... Food Network Challenge - All-Star Grilling, this Sunday at 8pm!

Speaking of charity, remember a couple of weeks ago when I was in Providence, RI for a charity event? The final tally is in and Miriam Hospital raised $443,000 for their expanding cancer center. It was such a nice event with an auction and dinner, capped off by a cooking challenge with local chefs. Robert Irvine hosted and I judged along with Miriam Garron, restaurant critic Linda Beaulieu and food journalist Gail Ciampa. Gail actually reported on the event as well and it's on Providence Journal's site. Thanks for the link Jacob! Not the Jacob I usually refer to here on the blog, but a co-worker that buys all the food at Food Network. His dad is related to the cause and was a great host to the city. We had a super satisfying meal the night before the event at Al Forno, if you are ever in the area, I suggest the pizza for an app, everyone kept asking the next day if I'd had it and I was so glad I did. Obviously the locals know. It's super thin, crispy and the ingredients are premium, just real smart and good. We had one plain and a pepperoni, both to a thumbs up from the table. I also recommend if they have a special and it's a steak, just get it. The wine sauce alone was worth it, it had a nice molasses flavor and I plan to make a lil batch of my own at home now.

Ok, now for the other grilling news ... If you are up on Monday morning, catch me on the Today Show! I'll be on late in the 9AM hour and I can't wait!! I've been on before, but can you believe I haven't 'cooked' yet? Nope, just showing products and giving tips. So, now I get to step behind a counter and work! Hope you can catch it. If you've read my blogs from my first and second visit to The Today Show, you know they love to rehearse the day before (if not, check the links. I share pics and little stories). So, I'll take pictures tomorrow and share if anything interesting happens.

Aaaaaaand now the last bit of grilling news ... LOST? No, not the series that just wrapped and left everyone just that ... lost. I'm saying, do you need more brainstorming help for your cook out? We have a cool grilling site over at FoodNetwork.com/grilling. There's plenty of new videos with Bobby Flay and the Neely's, recipe links, sample menus, grilling guides and tips, just plenty of stuff. Take a look.

Ok, have a great weekend and I hope you get a chance to enjoy your friends and family. I'll post a few pictures of my visit to the Vice Presidential residence next week, but I just wanted to get you some grilling news.