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Valentine’s Day Giveaway – Chocolate, Chocolate and more Chocolate!

Just when you thought your splurge mode from the holidays was complete, Cupid went and shot a stupid arrow right into your, well, you know….But honestly, who can resist a day that celebrates the people you love? Yes, it may be full of cheesy commercials (that honestly make me gag and yell at the dumb woman saying a choked up “YES!” on a jewelry commercial), but I will gladly take a day to remind those loved ones how much I care!

Whole Foods Market Paris Red Fair Trade Roses

Beautiful "Paris Red" Fair Trade roses with the most seductive black, velvety tips. LOVE!

These beauties have been making my apartment smell heavenly (dare I say even a little Parisian???) and now I just can’t wait for Valentine’s Day! Of course, I’ll be traveling for work, and will most likely be dining with clients and colleagues, who are great – but still….I’m celebrating early (and late when I get back) to make up for my absence. To find what my fave pick is for Valentine’s Chocolate and win some awesome swag for post-Valentine’s Day chocolate withdrawals, click through and read the rest!

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Categories Get the hand cuffs, Giveaway, Healthy Snack, Inspiration

Food Frame Friday: Lychee

22 Jul

I know it’s been a while since I posted a food pic for Food Frame Friday, and in my never-ending quest to be consistent (read: total fail thus far), I wanted to get back on it. What you see below is a dish that I made for my new column at Seattle Weekly’s Voracious Food division, Three-Way.

Cream Cheese stuffed lychee with exotic fruits and basil oil

The column, which runs every Tuesday online here: http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/voracious/three-way/, focuses on preparing one ingredient three different ways:

“When your fridge starts to moan and groan from the monotony of the same lame ingredients, it’s time for a culinary three-way. Turning a tired stovetop into a weekday workhorse, Voracious columnist Siiri Sampson brings a fresh, seasonal, or obscure ingredient to life with three treatments: decadent, healthy, and quick-fix.”

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Categories Inspiration, You are what you eat

Sip it Real Good Giveaway!!!!

3 Jun

Please god let summer be just around the corner, AHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! I almost can’t take the grey anymore. To help Mother Nature get in the mood, I thought it’d be fun to do a giveaway for the first week of June!

So, what’s the loot? It’s a SIGNED copy of the fabulously composed “Sips & Apps” book that’s just busting at the seams with great ideas for the summer!

Kathy is just wonderful, warm and fun to be around, and of course it doesn’t hurt that she’s a killer cook that never fails to impress me with the great treats (liquid or otherwise) she offers up.

Want to enter to win? Click through to the full post for details!

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Categories Giveaway, Guest List, Inspiration, Please Come In

Hump Day Pick Me Up: Spumante and Mangos

27 Apr

Sometimes you’re just not feelin’ it, am I right? Today is one of those days. The odd thing is, I was having a fabulous day on Sunday and that feeling carried me through for about 48 hours….but sometimes all we can focus on are the obstacles, fears and worries. Aren’t those just the worst?

It’s time for a pick me up.

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Categories Inspiration

Truffles, Caviar and Gourmet Salts – Wholesale Food Porn

23 Feb

I don’t know how I didn’t know about this place before, but thanks to the ladies at Dollar Store Crafts I just found out about Marky’s. Their tagline is “Caviar, Smoked Salmon, Foie Gras, Truffles”. Yes, yes, yes and yes.

Buy French Summer Black Truffles Whole 7 oz. The best gourmet food on sale online.

French Summer Black Truffles from Marky's

If you like salt, and by “like” I mean you (like me) have a salt lick next to your bed, and dream about your cupboard being stocked full of a rainbow presentation of worldly salts, then this place is for you.

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Categories Food Matters, Get the hand cuffs, Inspiration, You are what you eat

Food Frame Friday: Video edition

18 Feb

I love taking food videos, and I’m glad I do, because sometimes it’s just hard to capture that same emotion or funny little moment if you don’t snap the camera at the exact right second. Videos allow me to go back, watch process, my initial reaction and make notes about what’s happening (of course this all applies to food videos).

This was by far one of the most exciting little food experiences I had on my Asia trip, enjoy the fry! (and sorry in advance, i forgot the video camera wouldn’t adjust when I changed from holding the camera horizontally to vertically. my bad!

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Categories Inspiration, Street Food Extravaganza, UFO: Unidentified Food Object, You are what you eat

Food Frame Friday

11 Feb

Just eat it. That’s what this trip should have been called. I was just looking back over some of the pictures from my trip to Indonesia last September. Gosh, has it really been that long ago already?! It feels like I was just there. Even though living there might not be my cup of tea, I really do miss all of Paul and my food (mis)adventures!

Quite the combo here; a green tapioca ball with molten sugar inside, rolled in coconut flakes in one hand. Deep fried tofu sandwich with sprouts and veggies in the other. No wonder I'm smiling!

I wanted to bring you all a little taste (no pun intended, honestly!) of what a typical day was like for us on the road in Central Java.

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Categories Inspiration, UFO: Unidentified Food Object

Food Frame Friday

4 Feb

Every week I will try to share an inspiring picture with you that I’ve taken while out and about in my culinary adventures. Framing food, whether through a lense, on a plate or in a pan really does make a difference in how we connect with it. Enjoy!

I took this last night, while visiting some local bars, pubs and restaurants for the Seattle Weekly.

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Categories Inspiration

Eat through the cold!

5 Jan

First, don’t forget to enter the fun little giveaway this week for a wonderful start to your new year!

A view from our table on the patio, while we sipped French 75's.

Now, I wanted to boost the mood for you all, with some fabulous summer shots of a local Seattle favorite restaurant of mine, Maximilien in the Pike Place Market.

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