“We have created a home-spun web of talent,” McDiarmid comments.  The Special Projects is a collaborative gathering of talented artists combining forces to create an evening of escape.  It is the most blissful stress-free wedding you’ve never attended. At the May event we were welcomed with cocktails, beer and wine from local afficianados.  Our eyes were tickled with local art peppering the walls, homemade wooden tables, an extraordinary fashion expo and handcrafted dinnerware. Our tastes were delighted with hors d’oeuvres made by Partridge in a Pie Tree. We experienced a seasonally savvy dinner crafted by Tim-The-Girl McDiarmid herself and we indulged in desserts made by Ayons Bakery.  A talented musical duo enlivened our ears.  One guest commented, “these are the fascinating people you never imagined lived right here in San Antonio.”  McDiarmid explained, “What I kill myself doing is getting people to work together who may never do so in any other circumstance.” It’s a chance to get out of your comfort bubble and step into a world inspired by Tim’s vibrant cohesive vision.  All while enjoying a delicious artisan meal.

McDiarmid’s culinary roots began on her family farm in Vancouver Canada. “I grew up picking food from my backyard and learning how to make it taste amazing from my mother,” she comments. McDiarmid moved to New York City where she spent 17 years refining her culinary technique and honing her palette. “I rarely rely on recipes but rather I become inspired by the ingredients themselves,” she says. Her culinary influences are global. Her travels and city dwellings have fashioned a woman who is a wholesome chef.  McDiarmid comments, “Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Spain and Morocco influence me heavily.  I only work with fresh ingredients. Fresh is more than a buzz word to me, it is a necessity.”

McDiarmid landed in San Antonio in 2009. As a single mother she began searching for a great school for her son.  Her co-operative personality found solace at The Circle School.  She enrolled her son in the school and she began to volunteer with her free time.  She met Peter Zubiate while rebuilding a fence for The Circle School.  In 2011 this duo created Special Projects and the May event was the pop-up’s one-year anniversary.  They wanted to intermingle Peter’s woodworking skills with Tim’s culinary talent. Zubiate crafts the beautiful pecan tree tables showcased at each event.  These long beautiful tables have Zubiate’s signature feel to them. McDiarmid adorns the woodwork with farm-fresh foods creating a welcoming centerpiece for the evening.  Peter added, “Tim and I have similar ideas about work and getting things done. We never say no to any crazy idea but we may rein each other in when needed.”

The Special Projects Social events are an opportunity to break bread with the most wildly creative and talented people in San Antonio. Whether you’re a refined foodie or you yearn to expand your artistic horizons you will be in good company.  If you can get your hands on a ticket that is.  http://thespecialprojectssocial.com for dates, photos of past events and ticket sales. To find out more about Tim McDiarmid  or set up a cooking class, check out http://www.timthegirl.com and Vegetarian Cooking in Italy.

All the gorgeous photos above were taken by the talented,  Xelina Flores-Chasnoff and posted with permission. Xelina is an artistic photographer, artist and doula. She owns and operates Luz Doula Service in San Antonio, TX.

I don’t know about you but I’m always looking for quick, easy, and Delicious when it comes to dinner. I’m not a meal planner. I’m more like a ‘feel planner’ and mostly I ‘feel’ like a stress-free glass of wine and a hot meal that doesn’t take longer then 20 minutes. When I’m at home I don’t need the fancy schmancy stuff. I’ve surrendered to the fact I’m a mama with two kids under the age of four and a husband with a grueling schedule. Life is crazy and when the time’s right (in 15 years), I can let my true creative juices flow and make recipes from my  French Laundry cookbook.  I posted the first 25 ways to feed hungry goddess’ on Mother’s Day and here is the rest of that list. Either give the list to your hubby as a “hint-hint” or keep it for you to use when the going gets tough, and the tough get hungry. Enjoy

26. Baked Quesadillas.  Cheese, black beans, tomatoes, spinach, fold over the tortilla and put them in the oven.  Drizzle with salsa and dollop with sour cream and a sprig of cilantro.

27. Pancakes for dinner. Make them with the kids and dazzle with some fresh fruit on top. Even though I’m not on a gluten-free diet, I just love Pamela’s Gluten- Free Pancake Mix.

28. Make a picnic, even something as simple as PB & J with fresh fruit. Grab a bottle of wine and find a shady spot in the backyard. Remember connecting with your family is sometimes the best meal in and of itself.

29. Have a potluck with the neighbors and make a fruit salad. Sprinkle some fresh mint leaves on top of the fruit salad.  This will earn you props from all of your fans. Again, make sure your partner isn’t left with the clean up and you will score big!

30. The Bachelor Burrito.  My husband is famous for these. Whatever you find in the pantry or fridge that looks edible, throw it in a tortilla, add some salsa or bbq sauce and the meal is served.

31. Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup. Add some avocado, roasted red peppers or something in there that says I went a little above and beyond.

32. Stuffed Peppers or Tomatoes.  You can use either. All you do is hollow out the insides and add some leftover rice and some readymade pasta sauce. Cover with grated cheese ( I like Tillamook) and bake at 350 degrees, until soft. This dish is a real standout in my book.  Fast, easy, healthy and delicious.

33. Make the kids butter noddles and save some for you. Add marinated artichokes, top with pine nuts, fresh basil and some feta and you have a 5 minute-two-for-the-effort-of-one, gourmet meal.

34. Homemade baked chicken tenders. Homemade is so easy HERE is a great recipe. Make your own bbq sauce (ketchup, vinegar, honey, spices) or honey mustard dip (dijon mustard and honey) and serve with some sweet potato fries and you have healthy, fast food.

35. Chicken or Shrimp Kabobs. Serve with some white or brown rice.

36. Chicken Nachos and Margarita night (my personal favorite). You can use some of the leftover chicken from the kabobs and add some fresh tomatoes, onions, avocado and grated cheese.  For your margos, I love adding a few sprigs of fresh mint.

37. Stir Fry. Use any goodies from the fridge, sautee up some onions, red peppers, and any other colored object you can find. Add some zucchini, garlic and soy sauce.

38. Spa Dinner. Feed the kids early then let them watch a movie. Turn the lights down low, light a candle, serve some spa water (just throw some sliced cucumbers, lemon and oranges in a caraffe of water) Serve a simple, light dinner like salad and add some fresh corn.

39. Turkey chili with white beans. I like the epicurious recipe HERE

40. Love Shack Pasta.  A great friend of mine, Eddie made this for me once. It’s so simple and it looks and tastes gourmet. All you need is shrimp, peas, angel hair pasta, olive oil and a hellava lot of garlic. Boil some water (while you’re boiling the water steam the peas) then cook the pasta. While the pasta is cooking sautee the shrimp in drizzle of olive oil, add A TON of garlic. Mix all the ingredients together and top with shaved parm and serve with your favorite white wine.  My personal favorite bottle to accompany this dish is La Marca Prosecco Di Conegliano-Valdobbiadene (AKA wine sparkling wine). Also, check oursommlife.com for other budget-friendly wine pairings.

41. This eggplant. click HERE (thanks, Pinterest). (photo credit: The Year in Food.com )

42. Go to the store and get a random vegetable that you never cook with, like kale, leeks, or mustard greens. Go home and sautee it with some olive oil and garlic and surprise the family with something green and new.

43. Crab Cakes. Click HERE for a recipe. Serve with saffron rice and a mixed green salad.

44. Upgraded Sloppy Joes. click HERE for Mario Batali’s 11-year-old son Leo’s recipe.  If an 11-year-old can make these you can too. Serve with some sweet corn and your favorite slaw.

45. “The best meatballs you’ll ever have.”  I saw these on pinterest too and cannot wait to try. click HERE for the deets. (Photo credit: A cup O jo blog).

46. Stuffed Chicken (way easier than you might think). Click HERE for my favorite Rachel Ray recipe.

47. Beets. Roasted. Beets.

48. Try making your own homemade pasta sauce. click HERE for a wonderful recipe.

49. Pork chops and homemade applesauce (this was my husband’s suggestion). Marinate your chops in soy, honey, and a bit of ketchup and bbq on the grill. Try making this simple, homemade, kid-friendly recipe for applesauce HERE.

50. Take out your spouse as soon as you get home. Be spontaneous (even if there’s something on the stove already). Be outrageous.  Get everyone, even the kids, dogs and pet fish in the car and go somewhere. Anywhere. I promise the thrill of breaking the ordinary is just what we all need sometimes.

A few ground rules for you beautiful mamas, if you use this list as a “hint-hint” for your partner. If he burns it, please don’t run him over with your minivan. At least he tried. If he doesn’t make it exactly how you would want it, still give him a juicy kiss. If there is a tiny bit of a mess, still give him a huge hug. Honor the thoughtfulness and you might just get some more where it came from.  Be sure to communicate in advance that leaving a big mess for you undoes the thoughtfulness of cooking a special meal.  Our mates cannot read our minds and they like to know the ground rules before getting in the game.

Be well and if you are what you eat, be Delicious.

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Cooking with kids is a total sh*t-show.  As much as I would love to put a cotton candy twist on it, cooking, baking and eating with my two children is a challenge.  Kids are messy.  Most are picky.  They eat the chocolate chips out of the bag before we can add them to the cookies. They want to ‘help’ with E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g. And they quickly lose interest once the initial excitement wears off.  I feed my kids the finest ingredients but cooking with my wee ones is the greatest food-lover challenge I have faced thus far. Yet, at the same time it’s worth every bit of the chaos that ensues.

So when I was heard about Alice Medrich and  Artisan Books sent me a copy of her latest book, Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts. I decided that the most rigorous test of their cookbooks would be to see if I could make their recipes with my kids without losing my mind.

A few days later I received Alice’s masterpiece in the mail.  I was floored by the beauty overflowing the pages. The photos are as if you are walking through a museum of fine, food art. And the recipes are gourmet but wonderfully simple, hence the name.  Most dishes only rely on one bowl or the use of a food processor. Truly, any busy mama’s sweet dreams come true. Or as Alice relishes in her blog, “Love to cook,hate to bake?” It is also the perfect fit for us savory toothed, non-bakey types.

With Alice’s book in buttery-fingered hands, we set up our learning tower.  We found a recipe for which we had all the ingredients. Cocoa brownies with walnuts and brown butter seemed like the perfect fit. We gathered plenty of snacks to keep the troops interested. I drew a fresh batch of patience from my mother’s well.  And we boldly set out to where most moms dare not bring their kids, the kitchen counter. Dunn. Dunn. Da. Dunnnn…

Credit: “Excerpted from Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts by Alice Medrich (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2012.”

Cocoa Brownies
with Walnuts and Brown Butter

Makes 16 large or 25 small brownies

Deeply chocolate walnut-laced brownies with the fragrant flavor of browned butter. The batter is thick enough to spread with deep swirls and the result is soft, gooey brownies with slightly crusty tops. These brownies are thin, and I like them that way.

Ingredients:

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1-inch chunks

1 1/4 cups sugar

3/4 cup (2.4 ounces) unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably natural

Rounded 1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons water

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

2 cold large eggs

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup walnut pieces

Equipment:

8-inch square baking pan

Directions:

1. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 325°F. Line the bottom and all 4 sides of the baking pan with foil and coat with nonstick vegetable spray (or use nonstick foil).

2. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan and continue to cook, whisking gently, until it is golden brown and the milk particles suspended in it are reddish brown. Remove the pan from the heat and stop the cooking by immediately adding the sugar, cocoa powder, salt, water, and vanilla. Stir to blend. Let cool for 5 minutes; the mixture will still be fairly hot.

(photo credit: definingdelicious.com)

3. Add the eggs one at a time, beating vigorously with a wooden spoon or a silicone spatula after adding each one. When the mixture looks thick, shiny, and well blended, add all of the flour and stir until you no longer see streaks of flour, then beat vigorously for 50 to 60 strokes with the wooden spoon or the spatula. Stir in the nuts.

4. Spread the batter in the lined pan, swirling the surface if you like. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center emerges almost clean (the brownies will still be soft and gooey even if the toothpick looks clean). Cool in the pan on a rack.

5. Lift the edges of the foil liner and transfer the brownies to a cutting board. Slide a metal spatula under the brownies to detach them from the foil (or invert the brownies and peel off the foil, then turn the brownies right side up again). Cut into 16 or 25 squares. The brownies keep stored airtight, for 2 to 3 days.

At the end of the adventure we made it out alive gooey, buttery brownies. Keeping in mind we made these little brown-beauties with 4 sugar-coated, “helping hands,” under the age of 4, ours turned out like this…

But they tasted like this…

(Photo Credit: Sang An of Artisan Books 2012)

Needless to say it was an experience…*cough*And I would do it all over again. Those brownies were well worth it.

A few side notes:

- Ironic as it is, I highly recommend the use of snacks while attempting to make more snacks. These little gems work well and don’t be shy, give yourself the fermented version.

- If you get distracted and add double the amount of butter. Yes, DOUBLE. Whoops. I encourage you to become crafty and make buttered popcorn out of the leftover browned butter. True Story. Again, it’s all about the snack to get to the snack.

-If you are trying to become a famous gastronome photographer, don’t try to win your Pulitzer with brownies. In fact, just eat them and leave the photos for the honest pros.  Personally, I cannot take a picture of brownies that doesn’t look like a pile of cow dung.

# 1 FAIL

My personal brownie-dungish photo. I’ll spare you the other 200. Just remember if your brownies don’t look exactly like the ones in the book, if you follow Alice’s recipe, I’m sure it will at least taste like a cloud in sugary heaven.

-And at the end of the day, your kitchen floor may have seen better days.

-Your counters will be covered with crap (speaking of crap).

But who gives a hoot? You can clean-up any mess, right? It will be worth the mommy brownie points and the thumbs up from your little loves.

And as if that wasn’t enough to get you out there baking with your family and swooning over Alice Medrich, enter here to win a copy of Alice’s Sinfully Delicious Cookbook. Yes, YOU! And trust me you want this book. Here’s how to enter…

-Like Artisan Books and Defining Delicious on Facebook (if you’re already fans, thank you! Please leave a comment below to be entered).

-Follow Artisan Books and Defining Delicious on Twitter.

-Leave a comment below about your best and/or worst family-baking moments.

-Subscribe to our email updates.

Winner will be chosen on June 30th 2012. We want to ensure Delicious goodies being a part of your 4th of July picnics.

Thank You. And remember if you are what you eat, be Delicious.

* Full Delishclosure- I was given a copy of Alice Medrich’s book, Sinfully Easy Delicious Desserts . However, all opinions are my own. In fact, I was so inspired I have already bought 4 more copies  and her cookie book, Chewy Gooey Crispy Crunchy…Ps. I love you, Alice.

If you’re like me you are the bread n butter of your kitchen. I love to cook, it’s my passion and my creative outlet.  And I’m really good at it.  But like most things we love, a little space is nice too. And if you’re like my husband, you may need a Mother’s Day re-do. Perhaps, you forgot to make today as special as your wife wanted. Or maybe you thought it was a special day but it ended in tears. Either way, let’s give all the Moms out there a few more gifts. How about, 50 meals!? No,don’t get your boxers in a bunch, not all at once, 25 for now and 25  for later. I say, let’s sprinkle them throughout the year.  As always, we at DefiningDelicious.com have the bar set quite high.  No hot dogs and burgers stinking of lighter fluid and wrapped up in cheap buns.  These ideas are food-lover worthy but they’re perfect for your partner who might not be a chef like you.  Bookmark this page and when you’re tired of being the James Beard Award winning chef that you are, cut and paste from this post and email the meal that you want to your partner. Note: there are a lot of, “click HERE’s” in this post. I wanted to give you information and ideas without being 50 pages long, I hope you enjoy. This is my gift to you and your partnership. Happy Mother’s Day! And thank you Pinterest for some of meals-piration.

1. Make something. Anything!  Even if it’s cold cereal it still counts as something, just don’t forget to clean-up. (Don’t worry ladies, we’re just getting the ball-rolling, gotta start somewhere, right?)

2. Toast and cheesy eggs are a simple, yet tasty step-up from the cereal meal. For a great tutorial on how to scramble the perfect eggs click HERE. If your feeling fancy, try poaching them. I swear you might ‘get some’ if you succeed or even try.

3. Frittatas are a simple healthy step up from cheesy eggs. Stir Fry some veggies (those colored things in the fridge, probably towards the bottom) start with onions, a dab of butter, and then a couple handfuls of chopped veggies. Add 6 whisked eggs, some grated cheese and voila you have a gourmet meal in an insanely small time-frame. You may even have time to take out the trash or change a poopy diaper or both.

4. Tuna Melts – Grab a can of tuna from the pantry, dice some onions and red peppers, add some salt and pepper, put it on top of an English muffin. Slice a ripe tomato and add some cheddar cheese on top. Put it in the toaster oven and you’ve got a great meal.

5. Sauteed Fish: and some boxed rice (again, baby steps). Coat a pan with olive oil on medium heat, put a nice piece of salmon or white fish in the pan, cook for about 4 minutes on each side (thick-cut fish may take longer) add some spices and fresh garlic and serve. HERE is a great tutorial.

6. Turkey Burgers – Simple.  Mix ground turkey, a couple handfuls of feta cheese, crushed garlic, some spices and cook on the stove or grill. Don’t forget your favorite buns (pun intended).  Seriously, the buns are as important as the meat.  Get high quality buns that match the meat in deliciousness.

7. Eggplant Parm:  A simple recipe HERE

8. Sweet Potato Burgers I know it’s vegan, but give vegan a chance. You might like it, and it will make your sweetheart’s soul sing that you tried. (photo credit: lunchboxbunch.com)

9. Tacos: Depending on where you live, you may be able to get great homemade tortillas at your grocery store.  Get some taco seasonings, ground meat or beans and sliced tomatoes, onions and fresh lettuce.  If you’re feeling fancy make some fresh guacamole (HERE is a great recipe). Make it special by making a margarita or a mojito (HERE are some ideas).

10. Leftovers: We don’t want you hurting yourself with all this cookin’.  I’m quirky about microwaves.  I don’t have one and I don’t like them so I won’t recommend you use one either but however you reheat I encourage you to improvise.  Add a little twist to your leftovers to spice up your evening and to score extra points.

11. Meatloaf – Central Market has a great ready-made loaf. Or try THIS recipe. I still remember making this with my mom when I was a kid. So, add the kids (not to the meatloaf) in on the fun and serve with potatoes and frozen peas.

12. Portobello Burgers – Look in the pantry for something called, “balsamic vinaigrette.” Coat the mushrooms with said vinaigrette and put it in the fridge for a bit. Heat up that grill. While you’re waiting for the grill to warm up, saute some onions. Grill the mushrooms, add the onions and some cheese like feta or Tilamook cheddar.  I recommend you avoid American cheese.

13. BBQed Corn with a side of steak. You’ve been working hard.  Go ahead, you get a steak pass.

14. Make your own pizza but make one for Mom too.  Tell her to enjoy a bath and or a book while you and the kids go to town with some pizza dough some sauce and veggie toppings (again, those colored things at the bottom of the fridge).

15. Chicken Divan:  I love Paula Dean, HERE is one of those creamy comfort food recipes

16. Meatless Meat Balls: A friend of mine, Ellen, writes this great blog, The Hip Vegetarian, with quick and easy meatless recipes. This one is great, and even includes some grape jelly. Click HERE

17.  Make your own sandwiches for dinner but don’t forget to make one for Mom. I love a roasted turkey sammy, with provolone, avocado, and a bright-green smear of pesto.

18. Make dessert while your love is making dinner. I think this one counts. It’s so fun to cook together, get messy and include the kids if you can. Even if its a box of Ghirardelli brownies.

19.  Pasta and Sauce. Just some pasta from the pantry and some sauce on top. If you want to get a little fancy add some herbs for a homemade twist. Or  if you’re feeling like you got some mojo, try THIS  recipe for a creamy tomato and chicken pasta. It’s from one of my favorite blogs, In Sock Monkey Slippers.

20. Mac N Cheese try THIS recipe.   If you’re in a pinch make Annie’s but add some broccoli and fresh grated cheese, everyone wins.  I recommend you do something unique with this dish because just Mac N Cheese out of the box isn’t going to score many points.

21. BLT’s:  Add some avocado and pesto ( are you catching my pesto whiff, yet?) for an upgraded version.  I add it to almost all of my sandwiches.  Save some bacon for meal number 22.

22. Buy a rotisserie chicken and you can make three meals! That’s right three. First night, try a Cobb Salad. Shave off about a cup of chicken add it to a bed of lettuce, some fresh tomatoes, an avocado, hard boiled eggs (read how to HERE) and those leftover pieces of bacon.

23. Night 2 of rotisserie chicken- BBQ pulled chicken sliders- de-bone the rest of the chicken. Put one half away from lunch tomorrow and the other half for dinner. In a pan, add the chicken and a bottle of your favorite BBQ sauce, cook until melded together and you’ve got some slider meat!  Most grocery stores carry mini slider buns.

24. Meal 3 of Rotisserie Chicken, Chicken Salad Sammys – I add crushed walnuts, sliced grapes and some mayo, fresh herbs if you have any and you’ve just made three meals out of one chicken!

25. Halfway there.  Make another meal on the GRILL, it still counts.

A few hints to makes these meals true gifts: don’t forget to clean-up. Let me be clear, ALWAYS clean-up after making a special meal for your love. It doesn’t count if your sweetie has to clean-up your mess after enjoying her so-called gift. But the good news is you get to make a mess. I repeat, “make a mess but clean it up.” We all win.

Check back soon for the next 25! I didn’t want to overkill a good thing.

Thanks for stopping by and if you are what you eat, be Delicious.

For More MEAL-SPIRATION find me on Pinterest or Facebook

A week ago today I was hobnobbing with Gail Simmons, so I know you are all eager to hear the verdict. Was the first annual Austin Food and Wine Festival a Feast-ival or a Fest-evil? Before we get to the final verdict, let’s put together some of the pieces. First, I must thank my husband, my second mama (V), and my soul-sister (Brit) for helping to make this weekend a possibility.  It takes a village of eager supporters to go on an adult-centered-weekend of eating and drinking when you have young children.  Between the deluxe hotel suite, the refreshing hotel pool, the pedicab rides, and lots of family love we were able to make everyone happy for the whole weekend.  And like most good things in life, it took a lot of chutzpah to get there.

To prepare for Austin Food and Wine, a few days before the festival I did this (hence, why it has taken me so long to post):

 I was trying to make a ‘perfect’ sweet potato gratin and the rest is history, including half my thumb. All is well, because the incredible woman who is my ‘otha’ motha (my mom’s best friend, V) was coming for a visit the following day. V is a rockstar and she has two thumbs.  She even helped keep the kids clean after a run-in with grape preserves and she taught me how to make homemade gnocchi in 20 minutes.  Check back soon for her 20 minute homemade gnocchi recipe. Seriously, 20 minutes!

 On Friday, we packed our bags and headed for the road. We had our cowgirl boots, lots of snacks and plenty of water.

Once we arrived in Austin, we had dinner at Second Street Bar and Kitchen. I highly recommend this place to any food lovin’ family. The meal was delicious and they have a wonderful 2nd floor patio with fluffy turf-like carpeting and kid-proof railings. Their staff was very family-friendly and accommodating to our group despite the busy pace of the restaurant.  A highlight for me was the tagliatelle pasta dish with crisp shaved fennel, plump seasonal mushrooms surrounded by zesty veal meatballs. Truly a dish that your Italian Grandmother would approve of.

On Saturday morning, we had breakfast at Jo’s coffee and set sails for the Austin Food and Wine events.  Jo’s is also extremely family-friendly.  I loved every sip of their robust blends and even enjoyed a dripping sunny-side up egg sandwich with a tender, grilled tomato on homemade sourdough. I plan to come back for their full lunch menu another time.

Finally, we reached the event field. I was overwhelmed.  It was hot and dusty with way too many hungry foodies and wineies (pun intended) roaming like grass-fed free roaming bison in the hot sun. I heard a lot of wining (pun intended, again) about the long lines.  I started to doubt the nature of this event.  Just when I was about the take my press pass and go find a more worthwhile and air conditioned place to dine they opened The Grand Tasting.  The wine flowed plentifully and the little samples of food here and there were just enough to keep us satisfied.  There definitely were more liquids than solids but it was still fun to mingle about filling my glass and sample some flavorful morsels. I particularly enjoyed the pulled pork with fresh corn salsa bites. As much as I was there to eat, drink, repeat. I did have some stalking to do as well. My eyes were pealed for food-lovin’ stars to capture with my camera and swoon with my own food fanatic heart.

Lucky me.  In the midst of foodie mayhem I spotted this guy, Tim Love. Chef Love is actually is the main reason Food and Wine came to Austin. He is a culinary legend and owns top-rated restaurants in Texas.  He is known for his award-winning urban western cuisine. I thanked him for keeping Texas food standards up to the highest levels and he beamed.

  I was buzzed and buzzing, from my first celebrity catch. The next stop was Marcus Samuelsson’s cooking demo titled, “Birds of A Feather.” Marcus is known for his African home style cooking that sends you right to the Sahara.  In this particular demo he was making a coconut milk-marinated fried chicken, with garlic mashed potatoes and smoked collard greens.  I love his accent and his humble easygoing nature despite his fame.  It was worth the hour-long wait to get a seat in his tent.  Even though I ended up in the nosebleed section, I was happy and inspired by this Chef with Afro-style and an upbeat personality.

Yes, Chef Samuelsson’s cooking demo was wildly full of life with a side of collard greens. He even gave a few plates of his greens and smashed potatoes out to the crowd. I did hesitate as there were about fifty of us eating off of one plate but it was worth it. During his cooking demo he reminded all of us to make our sides taste as delicious as the main protein.  I look forward to zesting up my next side of mashed potatoes with a dash of lime juice and a sprinkle of chicken stock in honor of Chef. I also, look forward to reading his biography coming out this summer.

Yes, I was so eager to meet celebrity chefs. So much in fact, this guy told me he was famous and I believed him…

Turns out he’s just from Kansas.

I also chased down Andrew Zimmerman for a picture. He declined saying, “I’m late for a press conference.”  I immediately lost interest in Andrew Zimmerman. Press conference my ass!  Everyone else was more than happy to indulge my celebrity chef craze, I doubt he even had a press conference. Even Gail Simmons, THE Gail Simmons took time for a photo or two with me. I waited in the 100 degree blistering sun for 30 minutes to tell her how much she has inspired me. She was kind enough to pose for our picture and she offered words of encouragement to rising food writer.  Check back soon for my review of her book “Talking With My Mouth Full.”

After a hard-earned day of stalking, drinking, eating and a bit more stalking we decided to have dinner at La Condesa with fellow San Antonio blogger ohmypuddin. Their menu boasts eclectic Mexican items like venison tacos and a beet cake dessert. We shared a series of divine dishes and enjoyed our night out. Beware if you sit outside, a bird may poop on you (true story).  I did, of course, enjoy the beet cake.  The accompanying scoop of homemade coconut ice cream shined pearly-white and created the perfect marriage of sweet and savory.

After our family-style meal we found our way into the VIP taco party. I was perfectly full from dinner so we opted out of the celebrity chef tacos. Although, Tim Love did make his tacos from goats bosom’s, it was Austin local, Chef Tyson Cole who took the taco crown. While the rest of the VIP crowd was stuffing their faces with beef cheeks and booze, I enjoyed  mixin’ it up with the Modern Mixologist himself,Tony Abou-Ganim,.  Tony’s passion for what he does shines like a lighthouse and he inspired me to drink more mixers and to read his upcoming book about vodka. I think I may have stalked him a bit too. Oh well. As you can tell,  I was drunk there was way more boozing and schmoozing than digesting morsels of delight, at this year’s Austin Food and Wine Fest.

So…I would call the event… A FEASTIVAL .  The best eating was to be found out on the town, which speaks to the high standards of eatin’ in Austin.  I did enjoy rubbing elbows with Chefs and Gail. However, a few kinks to work out by the organizers and next year we will be feasting like Renaissance Kings.

If you have an extra $850, I would go big and fancy – the VIP ticket really does get you some VIP treatment.  Like most great events, the first round is mostly a learning experience and given the high expectations of Austin natives I’m sure 2013 will be more balanced and refined. I hope to see you there.

Until the next FOOD and WINE, be well and make life as delicious as possible.

I’m not a festival goer. In fact, the last festival I attended was Bonnaroo in the year 2006 BC (Before Children). I spent most of the weekend dehydrated, sweaty, and whining on my yoga mat. Being that I am a total extrovert and that I fill my metaphorical cup with social situations, you might think festivals would be my thing, right?  Answer: No Way. Actually, I tend to despise being trapped in hot places with overpriced, crappy food and blender vendors galore. That being said, when I got an opportunity to work with the Austin Food and Wine Festival this year, I jumped at the offer.  This makes absolutely no sense, right?

Let me expand.  The concept of being surrounded by people who can talk about high notes, deep flavors, and a hint of foodie gossip for an entire weekend, strums my food lovin’ heart strings. Really does it get any better? Let’s not forget, the chance to spend 3 days eating, drinking and talking about food leaves me deeply enthralled. I normally get a total of 3 minutes just to eat dinner. I do however, have one last little hurdle to climb over, the term “festival” still leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended). I tend to think of it more as a…

Fest * EVIL- A diverse group of dirty hippies, sopping in marijuana sweat. All baked (literally) in the holy hell heat of the Tennessee sun with overpriced food and a hellava lot of vendors selling dank goo balls and hemp necklaces.  (Note: usage of the word Evil)

I’m really hoping Austin Food and Wine is more of a…

FEAST * ival - A diverse gathering of food lovers.  Each participant feasts on scrumptious eats and flirts with succulent libations.

I get it, there is a cost to hob-nob with the finest Chefs and foodie-winesters in the Nation. BUT…what better way to spend your money if you’ve saved up for a special weekend? Kiss my fine foodie-fingers if you judge me but I’m getting my white apron signed by Top Chef, Paul Qui.  Side Note: vendors, please stop trying to sell me SH** I don’t want. I haven’t been to the Austin Food and Wine Festival ever, so I cannot yet say that this event is surely worth every penny. What I can say is that it looks cooler than MC hammer pants in the early 90′s (check event schedules HERE). Personally, I  will be spending the entire weekend stalking looking for Gail Simmons - I adore her. And hopefully, getting my brain full of culinary factoids by Chef Marcus Samuelsson.  I’ll be full of duck confit a la rouge in the tasting tent regardless but the real question is will the Austin Food and Wine Feast-ival be worth the buck and duck? Or will it be just like Bonnaroo all hype and no substance.  Only time and a lot of wine will tell.  If this event is as good as it looks, you’re gonna know it.  If the organizers have sold their souls from the back of a Sysco truck you’re gonna know it too.

Some Insider Deets:

This event is NOT family friendly- you must be 21 to attend.

Dates: April 27, 28 and 29 in Austin, TX

Cost: A regular weekender ticket is $250 (remember it’s so worth it to avoid vendors).

Click HERE for Tickets sales information.

Location: Auditorium Shores (Disch Feild) in Downtown Austin. There are still some Hotels available within walking distance- but grab them fast.

Hope to toast with you at the event. Check back soon to see if I rated Austin Food and Wine a good time FEAST-ival or wont ever go back- Fest-EVIL?  I really hope no one is going to try to sell me magic mushrooms or a new blender (fingers crossed).

***Full Delishclosure: I am working with Austin Food and Wine As A Blogger/Insider Deets Giver. They are giving me a ticket. However, this in NO way shapes my opinions.  Regardless, I would be going to this great event. In fact, I am buying a ticket for a good friend to come along with me ($250), getting a hotel for the weekend (500$) and bringing a babysitter (200$).  No profit to be made but plenty of material to write about.

Hoppy Easter Peeps!

If you’re like my family you’re just realizing this weekend is EASTER. The hottest (literally, in San Antonio) weekend to get out and egg hunt till your little love’s sugar-high wears off. Not to mention, the best time to wear a Royal Wedding inspired, vagina easter hat and go out for brunch. You all know how much I LOVE me some brunch.  If I could be in 5 places at one time, these foodie-family-approved-brunchey-brunch spots are where you would find me…

The Westin La Cantera This year they are featuring a toddler egg hunt and of course, the usual top-notch buffet items. Surely, the room will be filled with Happy Hoppy well-fed parents and kiddos. I love the Westin La Cantera. The food tickles my taste buds each time I have gone. This is where my little fam will be, come join us! (Menu HERE) call for reservations at (210) 558-6500

RoMo’s This little spot with a whole lotta love in the oven, got voted one of San Antonio’s top-ten new restaurants in the latest issue of SAmag. AND they just re-opened on Sunday’s to showcase their creatively-succulent brunch menu (let’s just say these lil deviled-smore’s might make an appearance). They are about as Family-Friendly as you can get (menu HERE). Call for reservations at 210) 521-7666

Sustenio If you haven’t ventured to Chef David Gilbert’s culinary wonderland yet, you are as crazy as a loon. Easter Brunch seems like a fine time to refine your palette and have some ceviche with your mimosa.  Or be uber brave and try some civet coffee, double-dog dare you. (Reservation info. HERE) Or call (210) 598-2950

Biga On The Banks I hope you got a chance to read my latest article in TASTE magazine.  It was all about the beautiful Debra Auden, wife to Chef/owner of Biga, Bruce Auden. Biga is one of the best places to eat in the entire Western part of the country (no joke). Also, Chef Auden is a James Beard nominee. So just go to say you have gone if you can’t come up with another reason.  Good news, I called today and they still have some Easter Sunday spots left.  Snag em’! If there’s a time to splurge it’s at Biga and it’s Easter Sunday Brunch. Believe it or not, they are well behaved kid-friendly.  The menu and prices are HERE or call for reservations at 210-225-0722

ZTejas I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this place and their brunch. It is supposed to be a Southwest foodie’s love affair atop-o-some tableside guac.  Check out the menu HERE and if you go, let me know if you liked it as much as the hype does. For more information call (210) 690-3334

Whether you are in San Antonio or Santa Fe, I say, go out and try something new or re-visit someplace you adore this Sunday. Let me know how it goes and please check back soon for more April EatVENTs.

Editors note: Thank you Apartment Therapy for the “peepin’- hot chocolate idea and photo. Also, thank you Chef Rob of RoMo’s for the s’mores pic. The rest of the photos and all opinions are Defining Delicious’ own

I love spring. The vibrant wildflower landscape, the 75 degree weather (in San Antonio), the cool yet refreshing breeze… and the patio dining. Patios are like coffee shops. I need a comfy spot to really enjoy this rare treat. I want to feel taken away to someplace magical, mystical and delicious. The breeze in my hair, a glass of vino in hand and the food as mouth-watering as possible. In the name of blue bonnet season and San Antonio livin’ here are 10 places you may want to go enjoy during this brief, sunny weather treat. In no particular order…

1. The Monterey.  By far my favorite funky, outdoor dining atmosphere. Amongst hip decor you will find colorful miss-matched chairs and even a couple of comfy couches. They have a great beer and wine list and plenty of unique menu items to choose from. Personally, I love their brunch. Check out the bacon glazed donut. It’s a gooey marriage of sweet and salty with a sprinkle of little miss piggy crunch. As long as you keep an eye on your kids and don’t ask for mac n’ cheese your fam will be welcomed.

2. Sustenio.  A new place that stole my heart and ran away with it beating to Latin America. Enjoy this completely un-San Antonio experience with a ceviche tasting menu or go all out and indulge in some creative masterpiece menu items. A great date night spot but kids are welcome too as long as you got ‘em reasonably well trained.

3. Cappy’s  The back porch is a shade lovers dream boat. There is a gorgeous old tree that covers most of the tables outside. And the chicken nachos are loaded with real cheese and fresh ingredients. (family welcome)

4. BLISS  A wonderful menu with “on point” flavors. The seasonal menu changes daily.  They even have a firepit to enjoy with a vino in hand. A fellow foodie mama (Mama2aidan) wrote a wonderful review HERE (well-behaved families welcome)

5. Pam’s Patio Kitchen.  The salmon sandwich will knock your sandals into next week. It’s flaky, tender, and drizzled with chipotle aioli. This hint-o-spice aioli is a sauce lover’s obsession. The patio itself is in a strip mall but there is plenty of space. There are also some plants sprinkled about to give a down home feel. (very family welcome)

6. Dough. If you haven’t been here yet, go early or go for lunch (lunch specials under 10$). This place is also in a strip mall setting but feels a bit European to me, they even have wool blankets to cozy up if you’re the sensitive-to-cool-breeze-type.  The seasonal burrata is a must order item, housemade and house stuffed buffalo mozzarella filled with a creamy, succulent, seasonal blend of flavors (say that 10 times).  (family welcome)

7. Bourdwalk On Bulverde.  This is not the Jersey Shore-roller coaster type of  boardwalk but rather a kick ass food truck park. If you’re into Pakistani eats, don’t miss the Rickshaw Stop. No really, DO NOT MISS. They have delightful saucity-sauces and tender juicy meats. If you’ve got chitlins, the boardwalk has a playground with swings and if you’ve got some vagabond in you, they occasionally have free beer… that’s right, FREE. You can find a bit more about their sauce HERE. (very, very family welcome)

8. Big Z’s. What do you get when you cross burgers, beer, and a plethora of  balls? No, not a bachelor party! Big Z’s baby. They have 2 locations and both have great quality (151) or (1604).  Whatever you do, don’t leave without getting your burger “dirty.” I love the patio at the 1604 location it’s a bit more rustic. But if you’re closer to 151 the food is on par there as well. (very, very family welcome, huge turf for plenty of ball tossin’)

9. The Cove  This place is for all my crunchy friends. They serve mostly organic food, oftentimes plucked from the in-house garden. There is also plenty of room to let the kids be as free-range as the chickens. (very, very family welcome, even a playground)

10. The PEARL Brewery: CIA bakery (with kids) or Il Sogno (lunch/dinner date).we love the pearl and it’s low-key end of the Riverwalk. There is a bunch of construction these days but don’t let it deter you. Either enjoy a lemonade (note: lemonade is fresh squeezed and even has a hint of vanilla) to go from the CIA followed by a picnic by the river. Or go on a hot date with your love at Il Sogno. The patio is small and, although we recommend getting a reservation, you don’t need one to sit there. (Thank you,SAfoodnazi for the insider patio scoop for Il Sogno).

Whether or not you live in San Antonio, I hope you are inspired to take advantage of a sunny day and eat outside.  Please, let me know your favorite patio-vino drinking spot? Maybe we can meet for a glass of cool breeze and an order of good eats.

Happy Second Day Of Spring!

*ALL above are SMOKE-FREE (a must). All opinions are my own, I was not compensated for the above information.

Being that in my last post I outted myself as a non-meal planner type, I thought would expand. Here’s the deal,  I adore cooking, eating and having food prepared for me. However, when it comes to any sort of number crunching, calendar checking and/or color coding impeding on my life I tend to abandon ship. Actually, the thought of any of “those” things makes me feel sea sick with a side of please don’t make me do it. I’ll be the first to admit I like to live in a fantasy world. As far as cooking goes, I need to be a hasty home cook and get the job done before my 2 kids start painting the walls red, literally. Plans usually don’t help me in this department but rather cause stress (something of the affect, oh sh** I forget to thaw the chicken for…X) More importantly, I love imagining I am an olden days European woman; picking my warm crusty bread up from the baker (reality: Central Market), plucking ripe veg from my abundantly green garden (reality: we only really have lettuce because my husband works 90 hours a week and doesn’t nurture the thing) and seeking a local butcher for a fresh cut of grass-fed meat (reality: Whole Foods). Truth be told, I live in the burbs and I drive to most places via highway. But give a girl a dream.

When I heard Erin Chase, the mastermind behind 5$ dinners was coming to town, I was curious and excited. My exact thoughts were, can a non-planner like me be more planny like Erin Chase? And budgets…oh budgets…Could I, a person who makes random whatchamacallit dishes on the budget of “whatever the hell I want and quick!” become more spend savvy? I wonder? I got to thinking, this event would be fun to attend and perhaps Erin is up to the challenge of converting me (and others) over to the spend-savvy-plan-smart-school? Erin, are you up for it? I tend to think she is. We shall see… Either way, there is another fun spring event to add to the food lover mix and support the local San Antonio Food Bank.

Whether you’re a type Anal planner or the non-planny type, like me, I think we can all benefit. Personally, I would really like to see if I can still live in my European-market-shopping-fantasy world and save me some dough? Furthermore, Erin is a native to San Antonio and we are all about supporting local, right? I’ll see you there. I’ll be the saucy brunette with the deer in the headlights look on my face. That’s right, a meal planning ‘dummie’ indeed.

You can find more information about Erin and the San Antonio event HERE

And if you cannot attend the meeting (try your darndest), check back here soon to see if Erin and her savvy ways converted me over to world of planning?

(Thank you, Debi from SA busy Kids for the above details on the event)

I love food planning. No, not menu planning. That is reserved for people who are far more organized than me. I’m talking about food events that I get to look forward to eat, and eat, and eat at. San Antonio was one of the featured cities of this season’s Top Chef, so we’ve hit the ground running in the culinary scene. That’s right folks, San Antonio is becoming less known for the best taco ever and more of a hub for the best meal you’ve ever had. So, if you’re a local food enthusiast and you want to jump on the food-lovin’ bandwagon or if you’re just hungry, join us and jump into some spring events to tickle your taste buds.

March 11 The beautiful and historic Pearl Brewery, will be featuring talented chef’s from all over the WORLD (I told y’all we’re gettin’ fancy up in here) for an Iron Chef style paella competition. Tickets are 50$ ( includes more Paella than your Spanish grandma ever made, in her lifetime) or 60$ at the door. There is also a 12 and under ticket available so bring the kiddos. Tickets include: adult drinks and a chance to get some ‘liquid courage’ and talk with celebrity chefs. Maybe a cheesy autograph to show your grand kids? Read more about the event and get your tickets HERE (This event is Family-Welcome).

March 24 The Special Projects Social (TSPS) will be having a rockin’ after party. TSPS is San Antonio’s featured pop-up style restaurant. Some of my Foodie Mama friends (SAfoodNazi and Mama2aidan) attended the last event and raved about the food, art and colorful company. Tim Mcdiarmid known as Tim the girl, is a New York City native turned San Antonio transplant. Tim brings her fresh city palette and unique culinary skills with her and is making local food lova’s go coo coo for her tasty pop-up. Unfortunately, dinner tickets sold out but you can still come bust-a-move with us at the after party. Tickets are 40$ and can be bought HERE if you cant make this one check the TSPS site for the next event or join Tim and friends for an amazing trip they have planned for Italy this summer.  I know, she’s super- food- woman, like most of Tim’s events, tickets go quickly so seize the day and jump into an Italian foodie dream week. (None of the above events are Family-Welcome).

March 26 What do you get when you mix good eats and good peeps? That’s right, The SA Chef Coalition Dinner. Well known local Chef Andrew Weissman (owner of Il Sogno and Sandbar) is leading the SA Coalition pack alongside other talented San Antonio Chefs. This culinary powerhouse team is combining forces to make San Antonio hit the mark with incredible edibles on a National Scale. On March 26, there will be a family style dinner open to the public. Join these amazing trail blazers and enjoy good food and fabulous conversations. I put my request in for a seat (wink) and you can too. Tickets are 95$ and to reserve a spot email: SAchefcoalition@gmail.com  SAchefcoalition@gmail.com  for more information on the SA Chef Coalition click HERE (This event is not Family-Welcome).

March 31 One of our beloved Foodie Mama’s Tara ( Mama2aidan) is sadly leaving us for Arizona. Despite our tears we are Foodie Mama’s after all and will be having a farewell dinner at Restaurant Gwendolyn. If you are a Foodie Mama and on twitter click HERE to reserve your seats and if you’re not on twitter and would like to join the Foodie Mama’s as we eat, drink and make food porn, please email me. (Emily@definingdelicious.com). (This event is just for Foodie Mama’s. Sorry fellas)

Check Back soon as I have some Delicious April Adventures in the works!