amateur gourmet

• Easily transport cupcakes in an empty egg carton. — Shelterrific
• Learn how to purchase cheese from a cheese monger. — Chow
• Iron Chef America is being turned into a Wii video game complete with a digital Mario Batali, Masaharu Morimoto, and Alton Brown. — Serious Eats
• Don't these creative pop up placemats make you want to host a dinner party?! — The Kitchn
• In need of a cute break? Check out this adorable owl bento. — Slashfood
• Wine Spectator was the victim of a scam that calls into question the magazine's ability to rate a restaurant's wine list. — The Epi-Log
• Adam Roberts, better known as the Amateur Gourmet, has launched a second website, Food Songs, devoted to songs about food. — The Amateur Gourmet
• If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this double-sided timer will make your life a lot easier. — Baking Bites
• An insider's look at one elementary school's lunch menu is grossly disturbing. — CitizenSugar

Source

Adam Roberts, everyone's favorite Amateur Gourmet is getting his own online show. Called The FN Dish, the weekly show is a behind-the-scenes look at what's going on at the Food Network. It'll also cover food-related ideas, recipes, and stories that Adam finds exciting.

In his first few episodes, he interviews all the big Food Network stars. It's a little fan gushy, but not too much, and I really am looking forward to seeing what he cooks up, especially his coverage of the South Beach Food & Wine Festival. If you're interested to see what Adam whips up behind the scenes of Food Network then check out the first episode of The FN Dish just read more

Last week's Top Chef featured blogger Andrea Strong, but what would it have been like if it had featured the Amateur Gourmet? - The Amateur Gourmet

There's a lot of peanut butter in Thai food and other Asian fare, so why not have Asian ingredients on your peanut butter sandwich? - The Amateur Gourmet

On Sunday night I had the lovely opportunity to meet a few wonderful food bloggers face to face. From left to right we have Catherine of Food Musings (who was delightful and funny), the secretive couple from BunRab (who's site I didn't know but have since fallen in love with their photos and their wild story about how they were the first couple married at the French Laundry back when it just opened), Kristen of Give Me Some Food (who actually went to college with Adam, proving my theory that foodies somehow attract other foodies), and the visiting Adam of the The Amateur Gourmet (who's working on a book right now). Also present were Sam & Fred of Becks & Posh (who arrived soon after the photo was snapped and were even more charming than I imagined them to be). We ended up at Place Pigalle over in Hayes Valley (a neighborhood here in San Francisco). I'd never been there before and wasn't 100% sure where it was - that is, until I got there and realized I'd walked past it a bajillion times. It was a low-key bar with lots of beers on tap, a decent wine selection and a great happy hour price (pint of Stella less than 3 bucks). Plus it got bonus points for big booths and a foosball table.

So, what does a table full of food bloggers talk about? If you said food you'd only be partly correct. We also, somehow ended up talking about American pop-culture and American Idol for much longer than I'd like to admit. However we did talk a lot about food. Adam is visiting from New York and has a large list of places that he's hoping to make it to. In fact, the night before we met, he drove out to Yountville to visit Thomas Keller's Ad Hoc. Talking to him made me realize. Wow, I live here and I've never been to half the places he's going to make it to - this has got to change. I'm going to have to start going out more often...

Our conversation also made me realize the funny lengths we go to for a good meal. So tell me everyone, what's the furthest distance you've ever gone for a good meal?

And hey Adam, next time we meet I will (a) have a gift for you and (b) take you up on that foosball challenge.

• It's finally official, Ben & Jerry's Stephen Colbert inspired Americone Dream launched last night. Check out the video clip and promotional pictures. - BuzzSugar



• I can't seem to get enough of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival coverage. Especially when it has a fun recap like this one (behind the bash photos and more), makes me really wish I'd been there.- Food Network Addict
• Fer Food breaks down the difference between a yam and a sweet potato. - via Tastespotting
• New York Magazine asked four members of the fashion community (two models, an editor, and a show producer) to keep food diaries during fashion week. Interesting how the model eats more than the editor. - via Serious Eats



• Does the flame in a Flaming Dr. Pepper, really bring anything to the party? - Liquor Snob
• Leave it to the BBC to bring us Kill It, Cook It, Eat It, a program designed to "bring together the two key moments... the death of the animal and the eating of its meat."- Megnut
• Who knows what sort of stuff you'll find when you look for food related things on youtube. Would you have stumbled upon Elton John composing Oven-Instruction Music? - The Amateur Gourmet

• Be sure to check out the battle between Martha Stewart's and Amy Sedaris's vanilla cupcakes. Sometimes the beautiful ones don't always win. - Cupcake Bakeshop
• If you've become overwhelmed by all of the chocolate desserts that the Valentine's season offers, then give these scrumptious Sour Cream Lemon Bars a try. - Baking Sheet
• Sometimes the most simple dish can win over all of your guests. If you're looking for something delicious that will do the trick, try these Chicken Breasts Braised with Hard Cider & Parsnips. - The Amateur Gourmet
• Either you love Valentine's Day, or you hate it. Either way you can get a tasty meal. - Chow



• If you've ever found yourself wondering what happened to Stephen Asprinio from Top Chef Season 1, then wonder no longer. He's opening up both an "ultra-modern" wine boutique and a contemporary Tuscan restaurant. - Slashfood
• I'll let it be known now, I have a serious weak spot for fried eggs, that's why this Southern Fried Eggs "Benedict" is going to get devoured this weekend. - The Delicious Life
• What's a holiday without specialty drinks? If you need a few more ideas, check out these flirty drinks. - Liquor Snob