Be sure to check out the Babble “Best Mom Food Blogger” contest and put in a vote for your favorite cook!
There are two categories, a contest decided by Babble editoors and another popularity vote. There are several criteria for this contest, including best recipes and photography. Be sure to vote on your own favorite (mine is Laura Levy, sorry, sorry, couldn’t resist mentioning it). Most importantly, use this contest as a resource and start viewing and bookmarking some great blogs that might have slipped through your culinary radar.
Elegant and functional cooking from a guy so straight forward it’s funny.
The first time I heard of Sam it was via one of my good Twitter friends. I always get excited to find chefs and food that are new to me so I looked at Sam Zein’s website and Twitter page. I was impressed with both the content and Sams cooking ability. The only chink in the armor I could find at the time were a few nitpicky things I found on his Twitter page. Really small things actually.
Instead of responding back to my Twitter friend with a compliment about Sam, as I should have, I said something a bit snippy about the only fault I could find. In fact, I think I said ”His show looks interesting but he seems like another one of these celebrity chefs that doesn’t know how to use Twitter”. Snotty hu? I admit a small, or maybe not so mall twinge of shame looking back at my comment. I didn’t expect much would result from what I said. Like many flames I figured it would evaporate into cyberspace. I certainly didn’t expect Sam to contact me about it with “then help me!” Nor did I expect to be talking to Sam on the phone in short order.
This is is the message he left on my iPhone (used with Sam’s permission, personal info edited out.) The end of the message cracks me up:
After talking to Sam I felt really bad about giving this guy a hard time. He cared enough to call a complete stranger after I basically called him a techno-idiot. Sam reached out to learn about something that can improve his craft; which, aside from cooking includes relating to an audience via the available tools. I had a really nice conversation with Sam and he couldn’t have been nicer.
Sam took the little bit of knowledge I was able to share and took off running. I am happy to report that Sam isn’t just another celebrity chef. He rocks with Twitter among other things.
The show concept is: If you are able to cook more at home, you would eat out less and overall eat better.
Fit TV: Sam the Cooking Guy (Find Local Listings) In the latest episode Sam travels to Hong Kong and not only samples food… but cooks. I think it’s cool he went to Hong Kong and shared his favorite fried rice recipe.
Books
I’m going to let Sam tell you about his books onthis Amazon video. The video is funny, I think you will enjoy it.
Sam goes Viral with “Today Show” video
I’ll let Sam describe this video:
“People think I’m a goofball, and that’s mostly true. But I still want them to learn something, and the Today show co-hosts just weren’t having any of it that day. So I guess I felt I needed to put my food down.” – Sam
This was a follow-up show done later. Sam took it on the chin and let the hosts beat up on him a bit. Funny stuff:
I have to side with Sam on his decision to put his “food down”. I understand his reasons and I think it’s cool that Sam takes his viewers culinary education seriously. The poor guy simply wanted to be heard. What good is it to be on “The Today Show” if no one can hear you, right? I give props to Sam for being true to himself and his personality which he didn’t change for the purpose of a show. Plus, let’s be honest, it made for some really great TV. These videos have had over half-a-million views and even landed Sam a recent interview on the Howard Stern Show. See, when you stick to your guns and are true to yourself things work out.
Sam is good to his fans
Sam is quite interactive with his audience. His content is killer and I think he has the ability to turn just about anyone into a really good cook. His career has already taken off but I expect even greater things for Sam in the future.
For our little conversation Sam was kind enough to send me a personalized book. What a nice guy, right?
Did she “borrow” this idea from the professor? Hmmm…
The years have been kind to Dawn Wells, popularly known as Mary Anne on Gilligan’s Island. She’s looking good and during the years off the radar she seems to have been doing a lot of cooking. In 1993 she produced “Mary Ann’s Gilligan’s Island Cookbook” which in spite of a short print received some good reviews. In fact, this book is considered a collectable and new could run you over a hundred dollars. However; you can pick it up used on Amazon for less than $5. Crazy, hu?
Dawn wells recently came back on the radar with a video with a really neat trick for peeling potatoes.
It’s half cheating, half clever but completely functional. If you can stand her obsessing a bit over the professor I think you will like this video:
