Empowering Women: Ina Pinkney and Denise Vivaldo

Ina Pinkney and Denise Vivaldo share their wit and wisdom while helping to empower women in the culinary industry.  These two are indeed a Dynamic Duo.  Ina Pinkney aka the “Breakfast Queen” is an iconic culinary leader, a former restaurateur, cookbook author, and a recipient of SBA Woman in Business Champion, and Denise Vivaldo is…

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Bollywood Kitchen with Sri Rao

“Bollywood is Hollywood in Mumbai,” Sri Rao, writer-director-producer and author of Bollywood Kitchen explains.  Everyone should experience a Bollywood movie!  The music, the dancing and the colorful array of fashion are unforgettable!  And I will never forget my Bollywood dance lesson with Sri Rao at Read It And Eat bookstore in Chicago. Sri Rao explains…

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Modernist Bread with Chef Francisco Migoya

Bread is a thread of civilization.  Over the past four years, Chef Francisco Migoya has led his team of experts at Modernist Cuisine to create a five volume plus recipe book weighing a total of 53 pounds that explores the past, present and future of bread.  With over 1200 recipes and 1500 experiments, Chef Migoya…

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Tastes of Morocco: Chef Joel Kazouini

Discover the flavors of Morocco with Chef Joel Kazouini, founder of Chez Joel Bistro in Chicago’s Little Italy. Moroccan food has many influences, including the cuisines of Spain, France, Africa and Arab countries. “Spices such as turmeric, cumin, ginger, paprika and saffron make the foods tasty and delicious,” Chef Joel explains. Essentially Moroccan food is…

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Joan Nathan: Preserving the Taste of Home

“If you preserve the food, you preserve who your family is.” This poignant quote by Joan Nathan, an award winning author of eleven cookbooks including her latest King Solomon’s Table: A Culinary Exploration of Jewish Cooking from  Around the World, truly captures the essence of why recipes matter. It was an honor to meet Joan…

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Nancie McDermott: The Super Highway of Food

Nancie McDermott takes us on a delicious journey on the super highway of food.  Her travels in Asia and her childhood in the South bring a bountiful harvest of flavors to the table.  Nancie is a dear friend and has helped guide me on my culinary journey.  In fact, I featured her recipe for Avocado…

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Jaime Laurita: Celebrity Rockstar Chef

  Tattoos and Pearls. Chef Jaime Laurita and I have the perfect pairing of friendship.  He is like a brother to me and continues to inspire and encourage me on my culinary journey. A milestone moment was visiting Anne Willan, the founder of La Varenne Cookery, in her kitchen. We met several years ago when…

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Eat Your Vegetables with Joe Yonan

As Food and Dining Editor of Washington Post, Joe Yonan has accomplished a lot in the culinary world.  At this year’s International Association of Culinary Professionals conference in Louisville, I had the delightful honor to have a kitchen chat with Joe Yonan about his latest projects. For years I have struggled in providing delicious meals…

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Chef Frank Stitt: "The Godfather of Southern Cuisine"

Chef Frank Stitt has created a constellation of outstanding restaurants in Birmingham, Alabama.  Highlands Bar and Grill received its ninth consecutive James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Restaurant in America.  His impressive culinary journey includes working in the kitchen with the highly acclaimed pioneer of farm-to-table, Alice Waters at Chez Panisse and spending time in…

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