This Page

has been moved to new address

Robinsbite

Sorry for inconvenience...

Redirection provided by Blogger to WordPress Migration Service
Robinsbite: July 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Why I Love the Hail Caesar Event

The proceeds of this amazing event go to support the Days of Taste Program, a culinary and nutrition educational experience that introduces 4th and 5th graders to the basics of how food gets from the farm to the table at the Dallas Farmer's Market. It's a program I've been intimately involved with for nearly 6 years now and it is by far the best kids education program around. Want to know more? www.aiwf.org/dallasftworth.

In the mean time, come out and support the event! It's a blast and you've never tasted such creative, innovative and unique Caesar Salads before!

The Dallas / Fort Worth Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food presents

THE XVIII ANNUAL CAESAR SALAD COMPETITION

Please join us for an exciting evening of Sensational Salads, Wonderful Wine and Fantastic Silent and Live Auctions. Win a fabulous get-away to New Orleans for two, including 2-night hotel accommodations at Harrah's Hotel, round-trip airport limo and dinner for two. Dinner valued at $200.00. 1 ticket $5 / 5 tickets $20.


VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE 2009 CAESAR SALAD CHEF

Anthony Bombaci * Nana at the Hilton Anatole Hotel
Eric Brandt * The Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Tiffany Derry * Go Fish Ocean Club
Eric Dreyer * Fearing's at the Ritz-Carlton
JW Foster * The Pyramid Restaurant & Bar at The Fairmont Hotel
Tracy Miller * Local
Grant Morgan * Dragonfly Restaurant at The Hotel ZaZa
Jeff Moschetti * The Landmark Restaurant at The Warwick Melrose Hotel
Daniel Nemec * Kirby's Steak House
Brian Wubbena * Truluck's

YOU BE THE JUDGE!

Sunday, August 30, 2009
4:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Registration / Champagne Reception/Silent Auction
4:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Silent Auction
5:15 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Announcements / Recognition
7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Live Auction
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Caesar Salad Competition

The Sheraton Dallas Hotel
400 N. Olive Street, Dallas, Texas
Phone 214-922-8000

Kay Pinkham and Freda Ballas, Caesar Co-Chairs
Chef John Tesar, Winner of the XVII Caesar Salad Competition
Scott Murray, Celebrity Emcee
The Dallas Directory, Event Coordinator, Marsha Singer

AIWF Members: $65 in advance / $75 at the door (if space available)
Non-Members: $75 in advance / $85 at the door (If space available)
Reserved tables of 10 people: $600 (1 check or credit card only)
Tickets held alphabetically at the Registration Desk.

Your reservation must be postmarked by August 14, 2009 for Pre-registration.

Hotel Valet Parking $15.00
Self-parking is available for $7.

THANK YOU TO OUR SUPPORTERS

Proceeds from the XVIII Annual Caesar Salad Competition will remain in our community to support educational outreach programs of the DFW Chapter:

  • "Days of Taste" - an educational experience that introduces 5th grade children to the basics of healthy eating and nutrition at the Dallas Farmers Market.
  • Scholarship Program - educational assistance to aspiring culinary professionals at the Dallas County Community College, El Centro Campus, and the Art Institute of Dallas.
  • Dallas Farmers Market Chefs Cooking Class Series - administration and management for ongoing cooking classes which assist in the support and promotion of our Dallas Farmers Market. These classes are open to the public.
  • Wine Pairing Competition for Restaruant Week - a continuing education scholarship at the Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley and New York to the chef and wine professional with the best food and wine pairing of this DFW event.

Labels: , ,

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Inside the Fridge Welcomes Chef/Registered Dietitian Jennifer Hood


Want to know how a Chef/Registered Dietitian balances her hectic life, her family AND fulfills her dream as a food and nutrition professional one baby step at a time? Keep reading here!


Jennifer Hood, 32, has her Master's in Nutrition, is a Registered Dietitian and is a professionally trained chef, having graduated from the Culinary Institute of American in Hyde Park, NY. Now back in Dallas, TX, her primary job is to feed 4 mouths and 1 tummy daily. She also keeps up with the kids agenda and finds time to fulfill her many commitments as a friend, sister and college instructor.

ITF: Where do you shop for food?
JH: Central Market, Sprouts and Tom Thumb-occasionally Whole Foods

ITF: Do you love food shopping or dread it? Why?
JH: I love it but my eyes are always bigger than my stomach and budget! I am always on "entertaining" mode- even if there isn't anything planned..you never know and I don't want to get stuck without options!

ITF: What is the single most important thing on your mind when you are shopping for food?
JH: Variety, quality and unique qualities, either nutritionally or flavorfully.

ITF: How often do you shop?
JH: 2- 3 times a week


ITF: How many do you shop for? Ages?
JH: Myself, 1 husband, 14 month old daughter who loves to eat and a 3 year old son who is 100% tube fed and on a gluten free diet.

ITF: What is your weekly food budget?
JH: Should be $150, but usually $200 + when entertaining


ITF: How many times a week do you eat out? Eat in? Remember there are 21 meals a week (on average).
JH: Eat in most meals-unless Starbucks counts- I stop there about 4 times a week.

ITF: How do you plan your weekly meals? Create a spreadsheet or fly by the seat of your pants?
JH: Usually have a rough idea but I'm always adventurous

ITF: What is the most coveted food in the fridge right now for each member of the household? Why?
JH: My fizzy waters= happy hour, Hubby Chris's pickles= after work delight, Avery's salmon= favorite dinner and Grover's gluten free pretzels= his favorite snack and treat to give the dog!

ITF: What is the oldest item in the fridge right now?
JH: Asian plum sauce- I made Joyce Chen's famous eggrolls over a year ago!

ITF: Do you believe in leftovers?
JH: In theory yes, but I never eat them!

ITF: What convenience product can you not live without?
JH: Bottled water and Carnation Instant Breakfast- it's the base of my son's morning tube feeding and gives him a great start to the day- its also gluten free (except the chocolate malt flavor)

ITF: What brands do you swear by? Why?
JH: Nancy's cottage cheese, Fage Greek style yogurt, Bob's Red Mill, Xyochil chips


ITF: What cooking utensil/piece of equipment/appliance do you live for?

JH: Vita-mix blender! Even though I don't own one (yet)! They can puree the heck out of anything- which is important when making smooth purees for tube feeding. For now I use the most powerful Kitchen Aid processor and then hand grind the puree through a food mill- I know the vita mix would be amazing!


ITF: When you hear the word "homemade" what is the first thing that comes to mind?
JH: Cinnamon rolls- I love the Neiman Marcus recipe which is a monkey dough made with milk and cream cheese frosting!


ITF: What food/s are important when recalling food memories?
JH: Fresh fruit, chocolate chip cookies and beef stroganoff

ITF: How have your cooking/shopping habits changed over the last 10 years?
JH: I'm definitely much more serious about what I buy since that equals what we will eat! I have become very spoiled to fresh, high quality foods. I have made all of my son's tube feeding for over 2 years from Whole Foods that I cook and puree- so I always look for high nutrient density.


ITF: What are your go to food/nutrition/culinary/cooking website, book or cookbook?
JH: I still love The Naked Chef, Gourmet Magazine and The CIA's (Culinary Institute of America) recipe database.

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from scratch? What was the menu?

JH: A belated father's day dinner at my parents house- it was just the 3 of us which is very rare these days. I over-nighted a whole fresh foie gras from Hudson Valley, NY. They were nice enough to throw in a double duck breast! Using my dad's newest toy, a high powered grill capable of searing at 1600 degrees, I grilled the foie and yes there were serious flames! I served this delicacy on toast points with a fresh fig compote. The duck breast was seared in a cast iron skillet and served with a port reduction sauce and roasted potatoes that were rubbed with duck fat and sea salt. A simple salad with orange segments finished the plate. It was great!!!!!


ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from convenience products? What was the menu?

JH: Marinated chicken breast from Central Market- the southwest marinade has a great kick and tastes wonderful with grilled pineapple.

ITF: If one person could cook for you tonight, who would it be?
JH: Any of the chef instructors from the CIA- they are all fabulous!

ITF: What words of wisdom or advice do you have for other folks who are doing their best every day to fill the fridge?
JH: Follow what restaurants refer to as FIFO (first in, first out)- meaning to utilize what you buy while it's at the peak of its freshness. When you have scraps left over, try something new!

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Feeding the Appetites of the Culinary, Epicurious and Nutrition Worlds-One Bite at a Time


Feeding the appetites of the culinary, epicurious and nutrition worlds-one bite a time. This is my new tag line. What do you think?

It's what I'm all about as a person and as a dietitian. Many dietitians are not food people....I am not one of them. Believe me, there are many dietitians who are not clinically focused. I am one of those for certain! I leave the science of dietetics and therapy of nutrition up to my esteemed colleagues. There are so many all over the country that I admire. Soon, you'll get to see some of their work-stay tuned to this blog post! If you need to find one in your area, go to www.eatright.org and select "Find a Nutrition Professional".

Regardless if you consider seeing a registered dietitian about sorting out the latest in fad diets, learning about safe and effective weight loss, managing Celiac disease, dealing with your picky eaters, finding out the best fuel for the marathon you are going to run, maneuvering through the grocery aisles for food allergies, eating organically, preventing heart disease or getting your diabetes under control, know that all of these issues start with actual food.

My current mission is to teach people about food. Actual tastes, senses, flavors, ingredients, cooking, recipes, food memories and the like. When talking about nutrition, food is the basis-the essence-of it all. We can all relate to food in some fashion-positive or negative-its something we all have in common. Some people forget to eat during the day. Some people are so passionate about food that all they can think of is what to create for dinner that night--and happily do so-without dread. We all have a relationship with food. Let's start with that. How is your relationship with food today?

I'm taking part in the Women's Health Blogfest today. This is a national initiative that a couple of really savvy dietitians created earlier in 2009. Check back here soon for links to posts from other Women's Health bloggers.

BLOGFEST LINKS:
Angela White at Blisstree's Breastfeeding 1-2-3 - Helpful Skills of Breastfeeding Counselors http://www.blisstree.com/breastfeeding123/helpful-skills-of-breastfeeding-counselors/
Angie Tillman, RD, LDN, CDE - You Are Beautiful Today
http://angiesappetite.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/you-are-beautiful-today/
Anthony J. Sepe- Women's Health and Migraines
http://fromadietitiansperspective.blogspot.com/2009/07/blog-fest-womens-health-migraines.html
Ashley Colpaart Women's health through women
http://usfoodpolicy.blogspot.com/2009/07/womens-health-through-women.html
Charisse McElwaine - Spending too much time on the "throne?"
http://fashionablyhealthy.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/spending-too-much-time-on-the-%e2%80%9cthrone%e2%80%9d/
Danielle Omar - Yoga, Mindful Eating and Food Confidence
http://danielleomar.blogspot.com/2009/07/yoga-mindful-eating-and-food-confidence.html
Diane Preves M.S.,R.D - Balance for Health
http://newlifeforhealth.blogspot.com/2009/07/balance-for-health.html
Joan Sather - A Woman's Healthy Choices Affect More Than Herself
http://nutritionknowhow.org/wordpress/?p=1177
Laura Wittke - Fibro Study Recruits Participants
http://laurawittke.wordpress.com/2009/07/12/fibro-study-recruits-participants/
Liz Marr, MS, RD - Reflecting on Family Food Ways and Women's Work
http://www.lizonfood.com/2009/07/reflecting-on-family-food-ways-and-womens-work.html
Marjorie Geiser, MBA, RD, NSCA-CPT - Healthy Women, Healthy Business: How Your Health Impacts a Powerful Business http://meg-enterprises.com/blog/2009/07/healthy-women/
Marsha Hudnall - Breakfast Protein Helps Light Eaters Feel Full
http://www.fitwoman.com/blog/2009/07/breakfast-protein-helps-light-eaters-feel-full.html
Michelle Loy, MPH, MS, RD - A Nutritionista's Super Foods for Super Skin http://nutritionandwellnessbytes.blogspot.com/2009/07/nutritionistas-super-foods-for-super.html
Monika Woolsey, MS, RD - To effectively work with PCOS is to understand a woman's health issues throughout her life http://incyst.blogspot.com/2009/07/to-effectively-work-with-pcos-is-to.html
Motherwear Breastfeeding Blog - How breastfeeding helps you, too
http://breastfeeding.blog.motherwear.com/2009/07/how-breastfeeding-supports-womens-physical-and-emotional-health.html
Rebecca Scritchfield, MA, RD, LD - Four Keys to Wellness, Just for Women http://rebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/four-keys-to-wellness-just-for-women/
Renata Mangrum, MPH, RD - The busy busy woman
http://nurturingnotes.blogspot.com/2009/07/busy-busy-woman.html
Sharon Solomon - Calories, longevity and do I care http://diaryofadietingdietitian.blogspot.com/2009/07/calories-longevity-and-do-i-care.html
Terri L Mozingo, RD, CDN & D. Milton Stokes, MPH, RD, CDN of One Source Nutrition, LLC - Crossing the Line: From Health to Hurt
http://miltonstokes.blogspot.com/2009/07/crossing-line-from-health-to-hurt.html
Wendy Jo Peterson, RD - Watch Your Garden Grow
http://ediblenutrition.blogspot.com/2009/07/blogfest.html




Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, July 13, 2009

Inside the Fridge Welcomes Dana Palmer-A Mom of 2 Who Makes Dinner Happen in 30 Minutes or Less

Welcome to the Premier Posting of
Inside the Fridge





Fridge Aficionado: Dana Palmer, 34. Wife and Mom of 3 year old twins from Dallas talks turkey about what its like to feed her family healthy, quick and affordable meals. Photo at right is Dana's actual fridge!





ITF
: Where do you shop for food?
DP: Target, Costco and Kroger primarily with some Central Market

ITF: Do you love food shopping or dread it?
DP: Both-I enjoy looking at all of the possibilities but hate that I never end up buying anything different from week to week

ITF: What is the single most important thing on your mind when you are shopping for food?
DP: Quality for a reasonable price

ITF: How often do you shop?
DP: Minimum of once per week usually twice

ITF: How many do you shop for? Ages?
DP:
4: 2 adults (34 and 39) and 2, 3 year
olds

ITF
: What is your weekly food budget?
DP:
Approximately $150-$200

ITF
: How many times a week do you eat out? (based on 21 meals/week)
DP: At least 8 per week

ITF: How do you plan your weekly meals? Create a spreadsheet of fly by the seat of your pants?
DP:
Usually make the same several meals each week


ITF: What is the most coveted food in the fridge right now for each member of the household? Why?
DP: Me: Myoplex Lite (daily breakfast) Husband: hummus from Costco (daily snack before dinner) Kids: Horizon organic chocolate milk and Yo Baby yogurt

ITF: What is the oldest item in the fridge right now?
DP: Fage yogurt that expired some time last week (it could be worse but we have someone who acts as a fridge monitor for us weekly)

ITF: Do you believe in leftovers?
DP: I personally do not care for leftovers but my husband lives for them so I save more than I prefer to save

ITF: What convenience product can you not live without?
DP: Egg whites in a carton! And hard-boiled eggs already de-shelled from Eggland's Best

ITF: What brands do you swear by? Why?
DP: Boar's Head deli meats because they are the only deli meats that are always pure, no gross parts, fillers, etc.

ITF: What cooking utensil/piece of equipment/appliance do you live for?
DP: Speed Bake feature on our GE Trivection oven-can cook a whole chicken in under 30 minutes!

ITF: When you hear the word "homemade" what is the first thing that comes to mind?
DP: Baked goods that are high quality and yummy

ITF: What food/s are important when recalling food memories?
DP: For me, always sweets

ITF: How have your cooking/shopping habits changed over the last 10 years?
DP: Now I have to buy for my children so I am much more sensitive to how processed certain food are but overall, my habits are pretty much the same for myself and my husband. I do feel that there is a wider variety of places to buy good food without spending a fortune now than ever before

ITF: What are your go-to food/nutrition/culinary/cooking website/s, book or cookbook?
DP: I love Weight Watchers recipes, cookbooks, etc. but I also like the Food Network's website, Allcooks.com and sometimes Cooking Light's website

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from scratch?
DP: I made meatloaf last week on the night before we went out of town

ITF: What was the last meal you cooked from convenience products?
DP: Rotisserie chicken from Costco with a salad

ITF: If one person could cook for you tonight, who would it be?
DP: Not that picky-as long as it's not me cooking, it sounds good

ITF: What words of wisdom or advice do you have for other folks who are doing their best every day to fill the fridge?
DP: It doesn't have to be fancy or complicated, it just has to be something that interests you and your family, and hopefully its healthy

ITF: What are you working on these days that you'd like to tell us about?
DP: My goal these days is to find some new staple-type meals to add to my weekly menu so that our meals will be a little more varied

ITF: Anything else?
DP: A theme that is very important in our rather busy house is to prepare a meal that can be ready in less than 30 minutes with less than 10 ingredients total. We try to use as few packaged products as possible

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Monday, July 6, 2009

Fridge Feature Debuts HERE on July 13


Inside the Fridge, this blog's first featured section, makes its debut July 13th!


Look for fridge photos from favorite chefs, foodies, dietitians, Moms, producers, growers, media types and the like. Probing questions, self shot photos and a look into the deepest recesses of the coveted fridge will be exposed.

Think you'd be interested in being a featured Fridge? Drop me a line..we'll talk!

Labels: , , , , , ,

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Why You Might Want to Consider Washing Your Bagged and Ready to Eat Lettuce: A Photo Montage

As I was preparing a salad tonight, the lettuce just looked...dirty. Normally, I don't wash the triple washed lettuce that one finds in any local grocery store nowadays. For some reason, tonight was different though and I embarked on a little experiment. See below for my horrifying results. This just may be the thing that prompts you to get the salad spinner out of the cupboard and put your kid to work spinning lettuce.




The lettuce in question



















The OXO Salad Spinner that was used in the demonstration


















The lettuce after 3 times in the spinner


















The water in the bowl after the 3rd washing. Yes, the 3rd washing. Imagine what it looked like after the first. This should convince you to start washing. Don't let a breakout of E. Coli be the one thing that does convince you.

Labels: , , ,