Meet the Food Blogga

Well, it's been a long long time since my last interview and, honestly, I have no excuses. It was certainly my intention last year to keep the interviews going regularly. But, here I am and I'm jumping back on the interview wagon this weekend with high hopes of introducing you to some really great people out there in the world of food blogs and beyond.

On that note, today is Susan from Food Blogga 's day on Sweet Mary. Through my participation in a few food blogger events, I've shown up on other people's sites; consequently, some really interesting and talented people contacted me to say hi and/or comment on my products and web site. Susan is one of those people.

Now, before I get to the interview, I want to tell you how she found me. Susan saw my "pantry" on The Perfect Pantry. So, she clicked and checked out Sweet Mary, which led her to my Kitchen Talk post. The photos of my old kitchen with the built in cabinets and huge old sink reminded her of....her home state! Yes, Susan may live in San Diego now, but she is a native Rhode Islander and, from what I've observed here, there's no denying those roots. In fact, the title of her blog is, as she states in her blog biography, "Rhode Islandese for Food Blogger." And, if you've ever heard the accent here, I am sure you are laughing because it is so true.

Even though on opposite coasts, I feel a kinship with her as she recounts stories about her Italian family that mimic so many of my own. She understands deeply that food is a way of expressing love and holding families together. In addition, she is a skilled writer with a style I would call eloquent yet simple. I read numerous food blogs and, yes, I do enjoy them. However, I often feel that too many bloggers try too hard. Their desire to break into food writing or be descriptive can end up so obvious that I feel they are following sets of rules that almost make their words seem trite or overly romantic. Susan's writing feels more like a laid back conversation to me. And, I like that. You get the information you need usually accompanied by some kind of story without layers of anything phony.

And, hey, I obviously haven't tasted anything she's made, but her photos are truly lovely and I am sure the food is delicious. Susan incorporates traditional Italian dishes and desserts with lots of recipes that use seasonally fresh ingredients. Her photos make me miss the west coast even more!

Yes, it's been a pleasure to meet her and I am a regular reader of Food Blogga now. Here's the interview:

Tell me about your favorite food to eat and why....then your favorite to make and why.

My favorite food to eat is stuffed artichokes; they have been since I was about 6 years old. I remember standing on a kitchen chair to reach the counter top so I could help my mom make the Italian bread stuffing to fill the artichokes. They were always made on Sundays and took a long time to prepare. There was nothing quite as special as the anticipation of my mom’s stuffed artichokes.

Though I love eating artichokes, I don’t love making them as much I do pizza. I could buy pizza dough, but where’s the fun in that? When I knead the dough, it brings me right back to my childhood days in the kitchen with my mom. Her pizzas had super thick, crunchy crusts and satisfying toppings like my dad’s homemade Italian sausage. Pizza was a fun, comforting, homey food that always brought smiling faces to the table; I think that’s why I love to make it to this day.

You are obviously greatly inspired by your heritage/family. What else inspires you to cook and experiment? And, what helps sustain your interest and passion?

Nothing is more inspiring than the produce at Southern California’s farmers’ markets. Since moving here 5 years ago, I have begun to eat seasonally, and now I can’t imagine doing otherwise. I eat sweet corn in the summer and cauliflower in the winter because that’s when they’re in season and taste the best. Plus I’ve been introduced to so many foods since moving here: from jicama to poblano peppers to wild arugula to cactus pads! (Yup, they’re edible, you just have to remove the spikes first.)

After living in Rhode Island for two years, I love your blog title. It cracks me up every time I see it.
Tell me what you miss about the "cuisine" scene here in New England (if anything!). Is there an East-West
Coast rivalry in the food world?

Oh sure, I miss many things about Rhode Island cuisine, most especially my mom and my mother-in-law’s food. Oh, can those women cook!

I think there are palpable differences between the cuisines of the East and West Coasts. In general, I find East Coast cuisine tends to be more traditional, with an emphasis on delicious, homemade, and comforting foods. When I think of East Coast cuisine, I think of savory pot pies, thick, gooey pizza, and Maine lobster with butter. West Coast cuisine, in contrast, is more focused on “fusion” cuisine and deconstructing traditional dishes. I think it’s less focused on “tradition” and more concerned with innovation and using fresh, seasonal produce.

Set the scene....and describe a perfect/ideal meal.

A perfect meal is one at home with loved ones. There’s no tv playing, just Frank Sinatra crooning in the background. Everyone is laughing and talking around the kitchen table and enjoying their favorite foods.

And, now, if I were hanging in San Diego or you were back in RI....what dessert would you like me to make for you?

Plain ol’ rich, dense chocolate cake. With raspberry sauce, fresh strawberries, or drizzled caramel and nuts, I’d take it hands down any day over more frou-frou desserts.

Comments

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Thank you for a most gracious write-up, Mary; I am truly flattered. One of the greatest pleasures of blogging has been meeting lovely people like you.

[Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)]

What fun! I'm so glad you and Susan were able to "meet" in your pantry!