Sneak Peek At Brooklyn Cured

Here's a sneak peek of my shoot with Brooklyn Cured.

New York a la Cart

So did you pick up a copy of New York a la Cart yet? No? Then do it now! (Also you should be able to get a copy at a non-digital bookstore now.) We, Siobhan, Alex, Clay and I, had worked on the photos last summer and it was many trips around Midtown, East New York, Red Hook, STATEN ISLAND that included long drives around NYC with Siobhan and Alex singing really bad radio songs.

I absolutely had the best summer last year. Obviously it didn't feel like work, it was more like road tripping around NYC with good friends, eating and photographing. The best part about it was meeting all the different food vendors and hearing their stories.

I really hope you go and get a copy. We worked really hard to bring you, I think, what makes NYC unique from other cities. I have included below book signing and panel discussion dates that I'LL BE ATTENDING. Free hugs for all! Siobhan and Alex aka Blondie and Brownie will have more dates so be sure to check out their site and Twitter for updates. Now go visit a food truck/cart.

Tuesday, April 2nd 12:30p Posman Books at Grand Central Terminal

Wednesday, April 3rd 6-9p 61 Local in Cobble Hill An informal, unofficial book launch party. Come drink with us. Oh and there might just be a sprinkles cake.

Sunday, April 14th 1:30p Panel at Housing Works Cafe for the Downtown Literary Festival

Ok, this is a big one. Tuesday, April 16th 7-9p the powerHouse Arena in DUMBO Besides chatting about the book, The Treats Truck and Morris Grilled Cheese will be there with their trucks from 6 to 7p.

Wednesday, April 17 6:30-8:30p NYPL Mid-Manhattan Library A panel hosted by Siobhan and Alex about food and social media.

Saturday, April 27 (in the afternoon-ish) BookCourt in Cobble Hill

Great Food Photos: Kelly Brisson

I stumbled onto Kelly Brisson's work from my friend Molly Yeh couple weeks ago and instantly fell in love with her images. I love the way she captures details like the steam coming from the clams while being cooked on a pan. Also instant bonus plus points for making anchovy butter. Not a lot of people like anchovies but if you do, I can see us being friends right away.

Q. Can you tell me what you’re trying to capture when you take your food photos? A. I like to create a moment in time with my photos. One that might take you back to sharing a meal with friends/family, or one that might stir a nostalgia in your tummy to experience that moment. I like them to be imperfect and cozy, natural and dark.

Q. What inspires you? A. I love the natural shapes of food. The dimpled curves of an orange, the way a perfectly-round, salt-flecked egg yolk gives way when you poke it, the way light tangles in the crinkled leaves of curly kale. Even if I’m not cooking something spectacular, I’m always moved and inspired to take a few photos in the company of good ingredients.

Q. What is photography to you and how has it evolved from 2009 (when you first started your Tumblr) till now? A. I wasn’t at all interested in photography at all until I became involved with food. I started shooting with an old point and shoot camera and had no experience with it at all. From then to now, I’ve discovered a passion for it that I never knew existed. Despite my lack of camera and photography knowledge, I’ve managed to learn how to shoot and produce photos that speak to me, if no one else, and with these photos, I feel like I get to show people what food looks like through my eyes, how I see meals and ingredients. That’s extremely important to me and I wouldn’t be able to share that without photography. Q. Any food photography heroes? If not any photography heroes? A. Right now, I’m really smitten with Naomi Robinson, Chantelle Grady, Beth Kirby, Keiko Oikawa and Clare Barboza. All have a unique style and provide endless inspiration when I’m feeling a bit lost in my head.

All photos courtesy of Kelly Brisson of The Gouda Life

Thank You

Cupcakes from Butter & Scotch, perfect treats for day time drinking.

Hot damn. The older I get, the more I'm mellowing out or maybe because I'm doing my birthday month (thinking about doing birthday year) and that grumpy Don will be back next month.

35, I definitely did not think this far out. Also didn't really plan to be living in NYC for 10 years. 10 YEARS! How did I get here? Surprisingly I made it this far, mostly just living life day-by-day. Though now it's hard to imagine my life not in NY. Hard to imagine the me I would've turned out if I had stayed in LA.

Oh well, no point in thinking about that. I'm feeling pretty great right now and that's rare. Though a lot has to do with how super great my family and friends are. They made turning 35 pretty darn fun. I feel so loved.

Anyhoooooo...here are some snaps of the things I have eaten for my birthday. My friend Scott gave me a pound of brisket from Delaney Barbecue aka Briskettown. A POUND OF BRISKET! It was one of the best brisket I had and their pork ribs were just as good.

Had my birthday drinks at 61 Local on a snowy day. Thank you everyone for swinging by! So good to see many old faces and definitely good to hang out outside of Twitter/Facebook.

Then it was followed by cocktails and chicken pot pie at Van Horn.

My birthday also gave me the excuse to have lunch with Phae at Fiat Cafe. Fiat Cafe has been on my to-eat list for a long time. Glad I went. The spaghetti and meatballs really hit the spot. Also a glass of red wine for lunch does not suck.

Another place on my list is Maison Premiere. I walked in at 5:30p and it was way packed already. People were there to take advantage of the $1 oyster happy hour.

This year's birthday dinner, I went to Sweet Chick. A month old chicken and waffle place. The chicken and waffle, the shrimp and grits, the cocktails, the dessert (warm biscuit bread pudding, oh my!) and the service were all really really good. Thank you Sweet Chick.

After dinner we took a stroll up to Greenpoint to Torst. A brand spanking new Nordic influenced bar. Ah thank you again friends for a wonderful 35.