From Market to Table at BLT Market

I'm going to tell you something that may shock you. Despite being a food blogger/foodie/food enthusiast, I don't plan my dining adventures around the latest "It" restaurant. I also don't put my name on the list for a reservations months in advance in order to secure a table at one of the trendiest establishments in New York. If I let myself get sucked in by the hype and wind up not having an experience that lives up to the high expectations, then I find myself feeling let down and disappointed. File the meal under "okay, but nothing special."

A New Better Homes and Gardens Website (and Giveaway!)

Image Credit: BHG.com

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite hobbies was to gather up all of the magazines in the house, sit in my favorite spot (in the fort I built out of the kitchen table and a couple of blankets), and look at all of the pictures so I could plan for being a grown-up. From the fashion magazines, I picked my wardrobe, and from the lifestyle magazines, I picked my house, including the interior design, furnishings, and perfectly landscaped yard. (When I got a little older, I'd also pick my husband based on the models featured in the ads.)

One of the magazines in that stack was Better Homes and Gardens. We weren't subscribers, but, every now and then, my mother would bring an issue home. I was instantly a fan. Fast forward about twenty years to an age where everything is digital. Now, it's vitally important for print publications to maintain an online presence for the purpose of sharing information with their audiences and for staying current.

It Happens To Everyone

They say it happens to everyone, but I didn't want to believe it. At least, I didn't think it could happen to me. But, about a month ago, it did.

Spring Menu Tasting at Fives at The Peninsula New York

Last month, I was invited to a special event with a handful of New York food bloggers at Fives at The Peninsula New York. We gathered in the modern and sleek space and marveled at the view of Fifth Avenue, peering down at the crowds of people hustling along, some on their way home from the office and others popping in and out of the stores in the neighborhood. But, of course, people-watching wasn't the main reason for us getting together. We were there to celebrate the restaurant's new Executive Chef, Anuwat Nu Morakotjantachote ("Chef Nu") and the premiere of their seasonal spring menu.

No, I'm Not in Atlanta

I'm in New York. At my desk at work. And it's business as usual. Actually, it's not. Since it's Friday, I get to wear jeans today. (Holy hotness, can you stand it?)

Changing It Up with Brunch at Jumbars

When it comes down to choosing a place to enjoy our weekend brunch in the Lehigh Valley, Stephen and I are creatures of habit. At the very beginning of our relationship, when I was still an undergraduate, we'd head to the diner. Eating at the diner always brought back memories of visits with my grandparents when I was a child. You see, early in the morning, before anyone else in the house woke up, my grandfather and I would get in the car and drive to the diner down the street to have breakfast, just the two of us.

The Best is Yet to Come

Many people out there don't like birthdays. They'd rather let the occasion slip under the radar rather than acknowledge that they've just become another year older.

I am not one of those people.

Roasted Curried Cauliflower

Growing up, cauliflower was not my favorite vegetable. It didn't make a regular appearance in our house, typically only showing up in raw form on a crudités platter or in boiled form to the point of a mushy mess. It wasn't until I was introduced to the flavors and spices of Indian food that I began to reconsider the merits of cauliflower.

Feed Me Friday

The sun is shining and I'm on a train headed for Boston. On the agenda? Tonight's Red Sox game at Fenway Park. (A pre-birthday present to myself.) Lady Gaga is pumping through my headphones, and I've been using the "down time" to make some backend changes to the blog and to read through some items in my Google Reader. Then it dawned on me that today would be the perfect day to launch Taste As You Go's revamped "Featured Fridays" series.

A Boxful of Treats from Swiss Maid Fudge

At colleges and universities everywhere, students are preparing to graduate from school and to move onto the next phase of their lives. Although it's been nine years (!) since my school conferred a Bachelor of Arts upon me, I still reflect on the time I spent in college, especially at this time of year. I can still remember how excited I'd get after finding a pink slip in my mailbox indicating that someone had sent me a package. That excitement would triple if the package had my mother's handwriting on the outside. Inside the packages from home would be bags of homemade chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies, packages of Ramen, boxes of granola bars, cans of fruit, and a note asking me how my classes were going and whether I was eating enough. After college, packages containing homemade treats arrive on a far more irregular basis.

Unless you're a food blogger.

New York Central at the Grand Hyatt

Last fall, the Grand Hyatt New York revealed its revamped and redesigned restaurant to the public. New York Central brings a modern vibe to this mainstay in the heart of Midtown Manhattan and showcases the culinary talent of Chef de Cuisine Christian Ragano (formerly of NoMI in Chicago). I had the opportunity to dine at New York Central for a business dinner back in March, and our group was treated to a direct view into the kitchen at the coveted chef's table.