Hey! I'm Leslie! Join me in my Food meets fashion adventure!
Hey! I'm Leslie! Join me in my Food meets fashion adventure!
An artichoke aficionado, a devout lover of roasted tomatoes. A crazed fanatic of kalamata olives. Heck, I'm an antipasto freak. Italian cheeses, meats, and marinated vegetables...it's all so divine. I can vividly remember a lavish new years eve party several years ago that made me the antipasto admirer that I am today. Amongst the many tasty cuisine stations, there was a 3 ft. long and 3 tier high bar overflowing with the tangy, salty, and creamy bites. Ever since, I take any chance to make salads, sandwiches, and smorgasbords inspired by the Italian pre-dinner treats.I eat a lot of chicken. However, the bird can get pretty boring. Experimenting with sauces, seasonings, toppings, and sides, chicken stays pretty interesting in my home.
When life refuses you limes, what do you do? You use limeade of course...Simply Limeade, that is. I'm the first to admit, I usually detest semi-homemade recipes. Most of them require using processed products and eliminating naturally delectable ingredients. And frankly, I don't really like taking the easy way out....in the kitchen, at least. This semi-homemade thing just isn't cool in my (culinary) book. There I said it. Okay, so now onto my first shameful, yet very successful semi-homemade recipe.
Feel Free to call me Miss Piggy because when a friend’s birthday is approaching I instantly think of one thing. It’s not the present I’ll give or the friends I’ll see. It’s not even the party that’s sure to transpire. It’s the celebration dinner. A lot has changed over the years. Not too long ago I’d be dreaming up birthday pub-crawls and late night debauchery. I guess I’m growing up (it’s about time). Present day, I offer my restaurant recommendations when they’re not requested. I also go as far as reading the menu a solid three days in advance. Yes, I am indeed a crazed food lover…but we knew that already, didn’t we?
Oh yes...it's finally here. The dog days of summer have been long, hot, and sticky. Yet, when the first week of July rolls around, it all seems so worth it. Let the 4th of July celebrations begin! The glorious fumes of charcoal burning, the delightfully obnoxious sound of fireworks booming, and the laughter from friends and family all fill the warm summer air. For a cuisine connoisseur, the food takes the spotlight. I dream of burgers, brats, and beer during those first few days of July. With celebration invitations coming my way left and right, I also think about what concoctions I'll whip up as my party contributions.
It’s extremely rare that I order a chicken dish at a restaurant. You see, I’m always disappointed when I opt for the all-too common and generally unexciting bird. After just a few measly bites I catch myself mumbling, “Ehh, I could’ve made this at home.” Then I feel regretful and let me tell you, nothing is worse for a foodie than “menu regret.” For me, chicken=menu regret. Yet, let me be clear. I’m not a chicken hater. I just think it’s very easy to work with so why spend 18 bucks for a plate of it?
I so badly wish I could say that new eateries in Tampa are a dime a dozen. Although my hometown is certainly showing progress in the name of cuisine, there’s still tons of room for culinary growth. We’re blessed with random spurts of new restaurant openings and then….nothing. The scene is stagnant. Foodies frequent favorite spots and begin to feel a bit bored with the menus we’ve memorized and the dishes we’ve repeatedly devoured. Then it happens…a new and highly anticipated joint opens its doors to our salivating mouths and growling guts.
If I could travel back in time I would’ve never attended graduate school. Although I’m proud to boast a Master’s Degree, I no longer foresee it benefiting my career path. If I had it to do all over again, I’d go to culinary arts school and train to be a chef. Not only do I love eating delectable cuisine, I’m also quite obsessed with the art of cooking it. Oh, and I’ve always thought about how sexy I’d look in that white coat and goofy hat…
There’s a particularly infamous event in my life that comes only once every year. Waking up on this glorious springtime morning has many participants feeling like little kids on Christmas. For it is on this day that a group of friends…aka, “Good Times Group” round up troops and partake in one festive and downright delectable day of food, friends, and fun. St. Petersburg’s official and yet, delightfully unofficial Crawfish Festival has been going strong for a solid 10 years and counting.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false I must admit, I was feeling like quite the mature adult this past Sunday come noon. My grown-up behavior was a bit puzzling on this particular day of the year too. Although I am completely aware of my rapidly escalating age; Cinco De Mayo is one holiday where I’ve always refused to act like it. After all, if you don’t look it or feel it, then age truly is only a number, right? But wait, I don’t mean to give you the wrong impression. Going to a boisterous bar full of fresh college grads, tequila shots galore, and drunken sombrero face planting is not what I consider fun (anymore). Yet, a lady blogger brunch at a tame restaurant wasn’t exactly what I had in mind either…until I arrived…and began drinking and eating a scrumptious smorgasbord of fare. Yes, it was then, that sitting with five other fantastic foodie friends became the best beginning to a Cinco De Mayo I could’ve asked for.
Guilty as charged. I've been a total slacker in the recipe department recently. You see...the truth is, I've been eating Paleo 5-6 days a week for quite some time now. If you're unfamiliar with this "life-style" you must know that it bans all starch carbohydrates and grains as well as dairy, beans, and peanuts. Lucky for me, I've got a serious love affair with vegetables. Zucchini and spaghetti squash are now my "pastas" while cauliflower and parsnips are now my "mashed potatoes." Okay, you're not impressed. You do recall, however, that I only "follow the rules" on most days, right? Yep, you know what that means: cheat days! However, even with my infrequent rebellious days of dining, I've still been hesitant to create new recipes as I spend all week long dreaming about the food at my favorite restaurants. Cooking insanely healthy dinners five days straight makes me absolutely ravenous for my most-loved Mexican eateries, burger joints, and Italian cafes. But, it was time. I couldn't bear to neglect my recipe readers any longer. With Cinco De Mayo quickly approaching, I felt compelled to prepare one of my spicy and saucy specialties.