It’s the second time we’re dining and dishing, and just like our inaugural event Barfly, we had about a dozen players. Some sing praises (and others lament) women who rule the kitchen for Dine & Dish no. 2: Queen of Cuisine.
Now without further ado, let’s gather around the table, and all hail the queens of cuisine!(All photo credits to each respective blogger.)
WOMEN OF THE WEST
In San Francisco, Alice takes a break from her Epicurean Debauchery to be nice for Mama Ly, her Vietnamese cooking teacher. We love hot mamas who can cook, especially food that looks as good as those banh hoi and cha gio!
Even after weeks of nonstop work that required recuperation with a weekend sans blog, Sam of Becks and Posh still has it in her to provide us with two women warriors!
First she goes to “endearingly grungy” Emmy’s Spaghetti’s Shack in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, and more recently to “kooky, hippy Californian” Cafe Gratitude. After that tour, Sam, I believe I can say that I AM WHOLE.
The Culinary Fool makes an entire evening of dining and dishing by visiting two restaurants in the Seattle area! She starts at Christine Keff’s Flying Fish for a few dishes and then strolls right over to Tamara Murphy’s Brasa for a few more, including a gorgeous burger. But she’s no fool, she washes it down with a gorgeous cocktail!
Another Washingtonian, Jennifer, who will always Taste Everything Once, tries Mizuna for a leisurely lunch. Mizuna started out as a vegetarian and vegan restaurant, but thankfully for us carnivores, and for Jennifer who had an ahi tuna salad, they’ve got more protein now!
CROSS-COUNTRY QUEENS
Julie’s got a Finger in Every Pie to comfort her as she laments the loss of “Mama” and very good food at the Kiev in New York. Delicious homey, old-world pierogis and blintzes has been replaced with a “Eurotrashed Eastern European/Asian fusion menu.” Oy vey, I feel for you, Julie!
Though based in the Bay area, Fatemah of Gastronomie takes us across the country to Tampa, Florida for an amazing steakhouse dinner at Bern’s. Chef Jeannie Pierola’s cooking deserves so much respect, Fatemah wrote about just the food on one day, and the wine on a different day!
GLOBAL GALS
All the way from Paris, France, Lady Amalthea shares her Noshes, Thoughts, and Reves. She makes it all about the ladies, taking her mother to Chez La Vielle-Adrienne, originally run by Adrienne, and now led by Marie-Jose Cervoni. Hopefully, Lady Amalthea, your server didn’t take away that gorgeous cod before you finished!
Augustus Gloop, was it difficult for you to Grab Your Fork this month? Augustus laments the fact that there are so many more men head chefs in general. Particularly in Sydney, AG can’t think of more than a few restaurants that are headed by women, and they’re all just way too expensive. So Augusutus celebrates all women who cook. Bravo!
LOCAL LOS ANGELES LADIES
A special email friend of The Delicious Life<, David, sends us to San Soo Dang, a small shop in LA’s Koreatown that specializes in dduk, a cake/dumpling-like pastry made from rice flour. David sings the praises of all the dduk, but perhaps that’s because San Soo Dang is owned by his mother!
Everyone knows the Too Hot Tamales, Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger! A festive dinner at Border Grill in Santa Monica contributes to Pam’s Daily Gluttony. Pam is una chica who just wants to have fun, as she’s been to Ciudad too (located in downtown LA), the Tamales’ other restaurant.
And last, but not least, my own humble respect for two queens of cuisine on the westside of Los Angeles. First I give props to Sebel Asfaw of Fassica, an Ethiopian restaurant in Culver City. Sebel makes everything. From scratch. Every day. She even roasts the coffee beans herself.
and second, it’s all about some serious comfort, Greek style, from Mama Voula’s. There really is a Mama Voula (not just a picture on the menu), and she not only runs the place with her name, but an even bigger Greek restaurant at the Grove. What a woman!
So there she is! All the lovely ladies (and even not so lovely) who own, rule, rock the kitchens. Thanks to everyone who played this month, and hopefully our little party will grow! Very shortly, we’ll be figuring out what type of delicious adventure we’ll be seeking out during the month of June. It’s going to be an eventful summer (er, winter for those of you in Australia!) I just added a “calendar” of edible events to the sidebar to keep us all on track!
(Oh, and if you still wanna play for this month, feel free to send me an email – it’s never too late!)
This just in from the Northwest…looks like Christine Keff is a popular lady in the Seattle area. A very busy Seattle Bon Vivant stops in for a quick lunch of grilled fish tacos at Flying Fish!
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Great wrap up. So great to see women making their mark all around the world.
So either Sydney is really behind (prob true) or my knowledge is woeful. Probably a mixture of both!
This is too much fun!
So, what’ve you got up your sleeve for next month?
Fatemeh
Sarah,
What a beautiful wrap-up! Thanks for doing all the hard work while we eat and play.
awesome recap, sarah…can’t wait for next month’s!
Nice job, Sarah and a fun theme, too! Thanks for doing all the work!
~ B
Nice job, Sarah and a fun theme, too! Thanks for doing all the work!
~ B
awww…you’re all very very welcome! i had so much fun doing this, and seriously wish i could have gone to a few more restaurants with women warriors in the kitchen – lol!
and yes yes, i already have some thoughts for june…and of course, if y’all have ideas, feel free to share! it’s all one big happy family here :)
Thanks so much, both for organizing and wrapping it up. It looks beautiful with all our pics!
thanks sarah!
next theme to be announced some time this week! i can’t wait :)