Our most insightful post ever… or not

This Christmas present showed up early, like 50 years ago

Cityhippyfarmgirl, we love her site!, recently tagged us to answer some questions. The hardest one was saying which fellow blogger we’d like to break bread with because we’ve met so many great cooks in the last year. Since there are two of us we both answered. One of us is clearly a bit more long-winded…

CHFG, she loves when we call her that, included some lovely shots from her kitchen. We did a post on our kitchen a while back and we’re fresh out of fun new things to snap pictures of, except this vintage scale that Katherine found at an antique store. So let the questions commence.

1. What, or who inspired you to start a blog?

Greg: This is so boring, but a desire to have some social media experience on the old resume and to have a creative outlet.

Katherine: While Greg started the blog, I joined in later for a few reasons, one someone needed to post desserts, two he likes to have something posted every day so an extra person is useful and three, someone has to schedule it all and say things like you need to make this “for our readers”… “what’s this week’s cocktail post?”

2. Who is your foodie inspiration?

Greg: My mother.

Katherine: Greg. (If you’re looking for famous people, we both love Lidia Bastianich.)

3. Your greasiest, batter – splattered food/drink book is?

Greg: The green journal of family recipes my mom started for me in college and Katherine and I have added to.

Katherine: Better Homes & Gardens. I can’t find half the recipes in our green book without asking Greg. It’s great, but encrypted.

4. Tell us all about the best thing you have ever eaten in another country, where was it, what was it?

Greg: A meal we had our last night in Melbourne, where we celebrated our fifth anniversary. The wine list was quite good, so good Katherine doesn’t remember the excellent cheese plate we had for dessert. The calamari was huge and still tender, not fried, and the lamb was amazing.

Katherine: On our honeymoon, we went to a cafe on the Venetian island of Burano and sat outside. We were clearly honeymooners and the maitre d’ asked if he could suggest a meal. Greg and I exchanged a knowing look, shrugged our shoulders and said what the heck. I don’t even remember all the courses. One was crab meat, tomatoes and olive oil stuffed into a crab shell. There was fish in parchment, risotto and these wonderful cookies we dunked in vin santo. When the bill came Greg started laughing. It was the most expensive meal we’d had, and would for many, many years, and worth every euro. When the waiter took our credit card, he asked if we wanted to drink some limoncello and look at his mother’s art work. Greg and I jumped at the chance, not just for the experience but because we figured we’d definitely already paid for it.

For the record, that cheese plate in Melbourne had an amazing fig preserves, probably better than Greg’s!

5. Another food blogger’s table you’d like to eat at is?

Greg: Can the table be in Chica Andaluza‘s olive grove?

Katherine: In the summer at from the Bartolini Kitchens. In the winter, at Savoring Every Bite.

6. What is the one kitchen gadget you would ask Santa for this year (money no object of course)?

Greg: A sausage stuffer. My KitchenAid attachment broke.

Katherine: We really don’t need much, but if I had to choose, a candy thermometer for me, or an instant-read one for Greg.

7. Who taught you how to cook?

Greg: My mother.

Katherine: Greg, although my parents taught me some tricks too. Also, there are two things I showed Greg how to make, iced tea and cornbread stuffing.

8. I’m coming to you for dinner what’s your signature dish?

Greg: Lately, I’ve been cooking a lot of lamb. Katherine says I should answer with risotto, but that’s so easy…

Katherine: Oh my, I don’t really have one and I’d really let Greg handle the main course anyway. Each year I come up with a new way to make Greg steak and potatoes for his birthday, which should give me points for inventiveness. Oh and I make a wonderful traditional tiramisu with a homemade torte, but it’s from a cookbook.

9. What is your guilty food pleasure?

Greg: Utz potato chips

Katherine: Chocolate, oh wait cheese. Can I say both?

10. Reveal something about yourself that others would be surprised to learn?

Greg: I’m an avid record collector.

Katherine: I like Harry Potter and Dr. Who.

We’re supposed to tag five other bloggers, but since we’ve already unfairly singled out three to eat dinner with, we’re opening it up to anyone who wants to play. Cecilia, we are going to say we definitely want to see your answers, not to pick on you out or anything.

This concept was started by Not Just Any Old Baking.