June 28, 2011

Happy Blogiversary

One year ago today I started my blog.  One year, 49 posts.  On one hand it seems like only yesterday, but when I look back to all the food, the photos, and the memories a year hardly seems long enough to hold them all.



I started My Food Life after I saw Kitchen-Em, a blog written by a friend and fellow dietitian.  I was mesmerized by her beautiful photos and immediately knew it was something I wanted to do.  In fact, I was sort of disappointed in myself that it hadn't occurred to me earlier.  I love all things food, and I especially love talking about food, so what better hobby could I find?   What I didn't realize at the time is what a huge impact blogging would have on my life.  I know that sounds dramatic and very cliche, but it is true.  Here is why....

First of all, it is fun.  My blog helps to chronicle my food adventures and serves as a momento of good times with friends and family.  It is a creative outlet that allows me express myself, share my experiences, tell stories and sometimes even educate on a topic that is near and dear to my heart.   It is very gratifying for me to put time and effort into something I am passionate about, in a manner that is productive and meaningful.  Actually, as I'm writing this I realize that my career in foodservice allows me the same thing, but this way I get to include pictures.  :)

Blogging has pushed me deeper into the culinary world and has encouraged me to do more with food.  It tempts me to try new recipes, experiment with ingredients, explore restaurants and find unique ways to share my love of food.  I follow many food blogs, and perusing through their photos and stories is both inspirational and educational.  Through them, I have learned so much about cuisine and capturing the essence of food and eating.  I always enjoyed cooking, but now I find myself creating in the kitchen as much for the blog as for my desire to eat.  It's actually a bit of a circular cause and effect.  I love food, therefore I blog about food.  Through blogging, I learn new things about food, blog about it, and I end up loving it even more....  

The other outcome of food blogging is that it has rekindled my interest (though underdeveloped) in photography.  Inevitably, simply taking pictures of food wasn't enough and it led to me wanting to truly learn about photography.  I've taken a few courses, both live and on-line, and my evening television viewing has been replaced with hours pouring over websites and blogs devoted to mastering the craft.  Looking through the lens has caused me to see the world differently.  I pay more attention to my surroundings, and I am constantly seeking the best light and angles as I'm composing photos in my mind.  It is a beautiful art, and I am humbled by the many wonderful photographers whose blogs and photo sites I follow.



Thank you to my wonderful boyfriend for always being the first one to read a new post, for encouraging me and for believing in my talent and abilities right from the beginning.

Thank you to my Mom for always contributing comments on my posts disguised as Teranga, the family cat.  

Thank you to my Dad for giving me the photographer gene and engaging in lots and lots of shop talk.

Thank you to my friends and family who are brave enough to dine with me and my camera, and who patiently wait to touch the food until I have gotten the perfect shot.

Thank you to my co-workers for indulging me and being loyal followers (especially because I stand over their computers and watch them as they read my posts.)

And thank you to my fellow food bloggers, my foodie friends, who have inspired me, who teach me, and who have let me into their virtual kitchens.

Time to start another year of living the food life.
Bon appetit!






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June 19, 2011

Eat, Drink, Banff

This is one of many gorgeous views in Banff National Park in The Canadian Rockies.  


Not bad, eh?


And this is the view down Banff Ave, the main street in the alpine town of Banff, Alberta.    If you look closely, you will find the t-shirt store and various restaurants where my friends at I worked during our summer breaks from university just a few years ago.  


OK, I'll admit it.  It is actually 19 years ago.  Where did the time fly to?   Barely 18 years old, my girlfriend Dodo and I went to Banff with a one-way ticket and a sense of adventure.  Once there, we met  a Russian cranberry, and the three of us were inseparable.  We got jobs and a place to stay and spent our summer working, playing and having the time of our lives.  


After this many years, we were due for a reunion so the three of us met for a long weekend. We set out to do all the things we never did when we actually lived there, having neither the time nor the money to take advantage of all the area has to offer.  


First stop?  Beautiful Lake Louise. 



We visited the Chateau Lake Louise, where Ms. Cranberry and I actually met and worked very briefly.  This time, we chose to eat in the lobby lounge instead of the staff cafeteria.  


We started with a flight of wine, appropriately named A Taste of Canada.  Think Global, Drink Local.


Feeling the mountain vibe, we ordered the Rocky Mountain Antipasto Platter.  It was a plate overflowing with locally air dried beef & duck, venison salami & chimney sticks along with grilled artichokes, pickled beets, mushrooms, Appenzellar cheese, and hazelnut crusted goat cheese. It just seemed like the right thing to be eating at that moment.  And it was.


We also ordered the Red Quinoa Tabouleh Salad, flavoured with mint and Italian parsley relish.  


And the Local Hot House Tomato Bruschetta with roasted red peppers, vine ripened tomatoes and Alberta feta cheese.


 Next stop was for drinks at Earl's, the restaurant at which we most coveted a waitressing job. Back then, it was a fun, lively, brightly painted hangout with parrots hanging from the ceiling.  It was always busy, especially on Margarita Mondays.

This is how it looked 19 years later.
I guess we weren't the only things to mature. 


It didn't stop us from settling in and ordering some Sangria and appetizers.


We snacked on warm spinach and feta dip, with aged white cheddar and artichokes.  We also sampled the shrimp and ginger goyza, served with Japanese mustard and spicy ponzu sauce.


We threw in a few edamame beans for good measure. 



We then set out to explore the "new" hotel, the Rimrock Resort.  In reality, it has been there almost 20 years but since it opened as we were leaving town it is the new kid on the block as far as we were concerned.  


We made ourselves comfortable in the lobby, complete with floor to ceiling windows, and overstuffed old leather chairs.


We selected from the spring cocktail menu, and enjoyed Mandarin Breeze martinis.  


We have fond memories of eating nachos in Banff (at a restaurant that sadly is no longer there), so we wanted to re-create the experience. 



Even though we were spending most of our time in the upscale gorgeous resorts, we hadn't forgotten how we lived back in the day.  That would be in local bars drinking our favourite Rocky Mountain beer, Kokanee.  We stopped in at The Rose and Crown for a mid afternoon drink on the rooftop patio.  


Cheers!


Have you heard of a Bloody Caesar?  It is similar to a Bloody Mary but made with Clamato juice instead of tomato juice.  I didn't realize until that weekend, but the Caesar is a Canadian specialty, and was actually created nearby in Calgary.  Although I haven't attempted to, it is difficult to find this cocktail in the states.  One more reason to love Canada!


 No visit to Banff would be complete without the late night eats.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that is when the majority of our "dining" occurred.  The only meals we can remember eating together (while not at work), were late snacks after the bars closed.    


We were thrilled to discover that Aardvark's is still open and serving up pizza slices and subs until 4am.  Exactly how we remembered it.


It was a fabulous weekend trip down memory lane, and I'm glad we got to experience our beloved Banff with a more mature set of eyes (and pockets).  I don't think we will wait another 19 years to visit. 

Why would we if we could meet for a drink here...  



Editor's note:  All the "u"s were included in words such as flavour and favourite as an tribute to my Canadian roots.  If only my spell checker would stop fighting me on it.  


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June 13, 2011

Pasta, Pronto

Sometimes the best dishes are the quickest and easiest.   
Sometimes quick and easy gets it done.  Even in a food blog.  


I started with some grape tomatoes.


Threw them in a pan with some olive oil, garlic and basil.


Tossed in some lemon pepper pappardelle, and a little of the pasta water (a trick I learned to help thicken the sauce.)


Dished it up.


Added some parmesan cheese and freshly cracked pepper.


Twirled and enjoyed.  It was delicious.


It doesn't get much simpler than that.  And today, that is just what I needed.  

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June 09, 2011

Grilling in the Rain

We haven't exactly had nice weather here in Northern California.


 There has been way too much rain for my liking.  Despite the fact that I grew up where rain is perfectly normal in the summer months, I now have very little tolerance for wet weather after May.



I wasn't going to let it interfere with my desire to BBQ, or grill out as my boyfriend says.  There actually is a difference between bar-b-quing and grilling, but I'd like some poetic license to use them interchangeably.  


Speaking of the boyfriend, he informed me the other day that he would like a nickname for my blog instead of being referred to as "my boyfriend".   So here goes.

Starting today, the part of my boyfriend will now be played by Captain McBlack.

 You are probably wondering where that nickname comes from.  Well, he is half Irish, was an infantry officer in the US Army, has the word "black" in his last name in another language and eats Captain Crunch for breakfast.  The last one is a lucky coincidence.  I really didn't want to call him "snap", "crackle" or "pop".  

Anyhow, back to grilling... I bought Captain McBlack this book to kick off our summer grilling and inspire us to try some new recipes. 


We poured a drink (a delicious new discovery of wild tea flavored vodka and lemonade) and perused the grilling bible.   It was the kind of refreshing cocktail you would want on a hot summer day.
Whenever those arrive.  


The first fascinating tip we learned was that adding ice cold water to the hamburger meat will increase juiciness.   I don't eat bacon, but the captain added it along with grated cheese to his burger.  I'm pretty sure that just increases yumminess.  



However,  I do eat turkey bacon.  I've never tried it wrapped around hot dogs, but it sounded like a perfectly good idea. 


One with regular bacon, one with turkey bacon.  I sense that we will be needing a larger fridge for our diverse tastes.  


Since I love brussel sprouts, I decided to try grilling them.  Why not?  I've cooked them every other way.


Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper was all I added for seasoning. 


Let the grilling begin!










By far, this was one of the juiciest burgers I've ever had.  I'm willing to give credit to the ice water, and will definitely be trying that trick again.




And the bacon wrapped hot dog?  Fabulous.  How is it possible that I didn't think of this trick earlier?


As soon as we were finished grilling, the rain stopped and the sun came out.  


Maybe summer is here after all.

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