Tumbling in

Because I don’t have enough to do with my time, I’ve decided to create a Tumblr. For a while, I dabbled with Wordless Wednesdays on my blog. But I couldn’t be wordless and Wednesdays just seem the most unpredictable day of the week. So I created a Tumblr.

What will I do with it? I figure this is where I’ll stuff all those creative snippets that don’t fit my blog, the ideas I haven’t turned into stories (yet) or photos I just want to play with. Who knows? I might get pretentious and post pithy quotes and witty epigrams. Or maybe I’ll just see what develops.

Only one post is up so far. But I’ve added a tab in the menu, both here and on my blog, so I’m hoping this will give me a bit of a push. One down. An unknown quantity to go.

Taste Canada

I’m proud to be part of the newly launched Taste Canada—The Food Writing Awards. Formerly known as the Canadian Culinary Book Awards, these newly branded annual Awards recognize and celebrate superior writing and publishing throughout Canada’s culinary world. Past winners include Laura Calder, Ricardo, Lucy Waverman, Massimo Capra and Anita Stewart.

As part of the Taste Canada team, I created their website and run Canada Cooks the Books, the student cooking competition. In doing so, I meet some of Canada’s top cookbook authors, like Elizabeth Baird and Christine Cushing, coordinate dozens of culinary students from across the country, and liaise with wide range of cooking school instructors. Along the way, if I have to sample some pretty amazing food as part of my job, so be it.

April Showers

Despite the wet weather and non-stop political campaigning, April was a good month. I started an internet food fight in defence of the simple potato, and had five articles published at CanadianGardening.com — three of them going live the same day. Heirloom beets, often overlooked sunchokes and marvellous morels are three reasons to love spring. Like you need a reason.

Clean Eating

My sister just called to ream me out. I didn’t tell her I was cited in the April issue of Clean Eating. In my defence, I didn’t know for sure if my quotes would make it into the published piece. They did. So now you know.

The article, 10 Common Cooking Mistakes, covers an area in which I’m pretty well versed. In this piece, I talk to author Jill Silverman Hough about the dangers of overmixing muffin batter. Okay, “dangers” is a bit strong, but you gotta admit, rubbery muffins are a crime.

Nearly there

Less than a week in and the site’s almost rebuilt. See? Media appearances, some of which play YouTube videos without bouncing you off to another site. The links are working and the thumbnails no longer look like they’re made of stretched Silly Putty. Small victories, I know, but not bad for someone who vaporized her last site with the click of a button.

With only a page or two to go, I’m tempting fate and proclaiming this site officially opened. Everyone but Murphy is welcomed to take a tour.

Ooops!

Dear heavens. Why does anyone let me near a computer without a license?

When I moved my portfolio site over to WordPress, things went awry. I think I broke the Internet. Or at least badly wounded it.

The site I carefully constructed did not miraculously reappear despite the backup I so diligently performed. So, I will have to rebuild inch by inch.

Stay tuned. It’s gonna be messy.

CTV: Thai Curry

After several CTV News at Noon appearances, chopping, mincing, grating, pureeing and peeling, I figure it’s time I actually cooked. So, with the new overhead camera hovering above, I’ll be turning up the heat with a quick Thai Curry. Can Kyle and I actually make a 20-minute curry in 6 minutes? Tune in to find out. Iron Chef, eat your heart out.

Here come the judge!

As one of the judges for the Canadian Food Blog Awards, I’ll be reading a lot of blogs in the next little while. A lot of blogs. While I’ll be sitting alone at my computer, in spirit I’ll be joining forces with some of the most influential food writers in the country — Tony Aspler, Susan Sampson, Amy Rosen and Jamie Drummond. Wonder if they’ll be wearing their pajamas, too?

It’s Media Tour Time Again

For the second year, I’m in charge of the media tour for the Canadian Culinary Book Awards. It’s been a lot of organizing, but on Friday, I’ll be touring a group of food journalists through agricultural highlights at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. After the tour, it’s onto the awards. Nominees include Chef Michael Smith, Anna Olson, Tony Aspler, and Laura Calder. While I don’t know who wins, I do know Elizabeth Baird will be honoured with the Founders Award. And well deserved, too.