@JoelECarlson – Hello everyone, and welcome to the Food-Friday Twitterview of local chef, caterer and blogger @tastebudtart. Set your timer for 1hr.
@TastebudTart – Hi, @JoelECarlson!
Q – #1 So @tastebudtart, tell us where you grew up, where did you attend HS and what did you start doing out of HS?
A: I grew up in Plant City, FL, went to Plant City High School and went to college at Florida State University. #GoNoles
Q – #2 I see. So what kind of coursework did you take at #FloridaState, and how did you get from FL to MN?
A: @JoelECarlson sorry for that delay. pot boiling over. (not really)
I studied Nutrition, at FSU, and we moved to MN after a stint in San Diego…for the weather. ;-)
Actually, we moved for my husband’s job.
Q – #3 Okay. So when you came to MN, what kind of work did you start out doing, and how did that lead you to what you do now?
A: I had worked in Nutrition for 6 yrs, + decided to leave health care when we moved to MN. I did some odd jobs…
Including a stint as a barista, before heeding the call from friends to be a personal chef.
p.s. my husband hates the smell of coffee, so that was a short-lived job. ;-)
Q – #4 So what kind of spectrum of catering work do you do? (Types of menus) What about food do you blog about primarily?
A: My catering specializes in local, sustainable ingredients and keeping vegetarians + meat eaters all happy….
With my nutrition background, I can accommodate all types of dietary needs as well.
My blog is really about anything that strikes my fancy food-wise. *shameface* although, I’m a bit behind on it lately.
Q – #5 This is a shame/guilt-free zone. :) So what are your: appetizer, main dish and dessert specialties? (1 each)
A: ooh, hard one. My BBQ Black Bean empanadas are a big app, dessert: a lemon coconut poundcake or zen bar (can’t pick 1)
Main dish is hard, b/c there is more variety. A recent fave is Black Tea Rubbed Pork Tenderloin. Created at #CookingtheMarket
Q – #6 Lets now shift more about YOU. When you are looking for a real comfort food for yourself, what do you get/make?
A: LOL, anything with cheese. Also, black bean or fish tacos. I eat them at least 4 times a week.
and wine, did I forget to mention wine?
Q – #7 Cheese….yummm! :) Now your FAVS – Favorite: restaurant, grocery store, cooking/utensil store, exotic food & gadget.
A: Restaurants are so hard! had a great meal recently at @cafetwentyeight. La Sirena Gorda @MidtownGlobal. @BirchwoodCafe.
I do most of my shopping @MidtownGlobal, love the produce, local ingredients + interesting selection. @SewardCoOp, too!
Don’t have a fave cooking store. I like 2 browse them all. Of course, I hope to be offering some smallwares soon myself!
Exotic food = boiled peanuts. Does that count? I’m Southern. Fave Gadget = iPhone. No contest.
Q – #8 Boiled peanuts?!?! In the shell? If you could invite any 1 person (dead/alive) for dinner, who would you ask and why?
A: Boiled peanuts?!?! In the shell? If you could invite any 1 person (dead/alive) for dinner, who would you ask and why?
One person for dinner? Probably Julia Child. Wouldn’t that be a fun time? Of course, we’d cook it together. ;-)
Q – #9 Nice choice! Final point, what cooking advice or mantra would you like to share with everyone to end today?
A: Follow your instincts. Everyone has ’em + most folks don’t listen. Cooking should be fun + easy, not stressful!
@JoelECarlson – Thank you @tastebudtart for sharing some of your thoughts and time today on #jectv. Have a great weekend and keep up the good work!
@TastebudTart – YOU @JoelECarlson! It was a pleasure tweeting with you. :-)