Michelle Bernstein's New Book

From the day her restaurant opened, I have been a HUGE, HUGE fan of hers and for awhile, any time someone asked to go out for dinner, I would suggest Michy's...There is not much on the menu that I don't like, but I do have my favorites: watercress salad, the famous blue cheese and ham croquetas with fig marmalade(her secret: she spent months in her home kitchen perfecting the recipe and you can tell that it is PERFECT), beats salad, steak and home frittes and of course the bread pudding. If you go back to some of my older posts, you will see that I really like bread pudding, and the first time I have ever had the bread pudding was at Michy's and since than, there is no better dessert than Michy's bread pudding. yummie...

Actually, the favorite thing about the menu is that everything is available in half and full portions, which makes my decisions so much easier since I always want at least two things. It works like magic!

Just recently I found out that she came out with a book and that she did the book reading at the Miami International Book Fair on Sunday, November 16th at 12:30pm, but I missed it. And I am missing the book signing at BOOKS & BOOKS at Bal harbour this Thursday, November 20th if anyone would like to stop by, but the book is on my Christmas list (Hint, hint, to all those looking for a perfect gift for me:)so I will be enjoying it soon, I hope.

Browsing the web for new things about Michelle/Michy's, I stumbled upon this video on the Miami Dish that shows her cooking or really putting together an appetizer:

My mouth is already wattering. Such a simple recipe, but so delicious - even I would want to make it, who am I kidding...There is something about Michelle's cooking that has so many fantastic factors - her food is epitomy of comfort food, basic food, elegant food and trendy (whatever that may be). I love sauces, and that is what I love about her cooking, she strikes a perfect balance of a great taste and healthy choice in her sauces.

It's with certainty that I can say, Michelle Bernstein has arrived, but I think she has been on the top of the food game for a very long time and has amazing accomplishments behind her, and you would think with all these accomplishments she would be the typical celebrity chef (whatever that may be), but she is very down to earth, very sweet, hard working and simple woman, just like her food. Perhaps, her food is a true reflection of her.

It's lunch time, Michy's is calling my name;)

Cutting corners, enjoying food and saving few $$$ along the way

Recession, bad economy, lay offs - all of this is making me very thankful that I have a job that pays the bills and lets me live comfortably, but it is making me think - it's time for change. My mother always said "Little changes make a difference". So to truly test this infamous saying and confirm that mom is always right, or at least she says so, I am taking on the challenge (starting tomorrow, right?) to cut corners, enjoy food and save few $$$ along the way. How am I going to do that I haven't figured our yet, but I think the first thing I should do is to write down everything I do (READ: buy) on a daily basis and than analyze my spendings and see what I can do to improve the budget and savings account. So here is to the first day:
1. Breakfast: Starbucks Venti Non-Fat Latte - $3.48 (yes, I have the gold card that now gives me discounts:) - good start with savings :) - can you tell I am really proud of myself.
2. Snack: brought from home - KASHI TLC all natural chewy granola bar
4. Lunch: dinner left overs - bertolli's pasta and parmesan cheese, banana,
5. Snack: Granny Smith Apple and Strawberry bannana
6. Dinner: The Fresh Market Guacamole and chips

So far it doesn't look that bad, b/c I don't think I am that bad during the week but where it gets bad is on weekends. Part of the problem is also that we spend way, way too much money on groceries, waste a lot of it (I am very sorry, but it is true) and our pantry is always full, but nothing in it to really make a meal. And than the weekends come and my chef (READ: my husband) needs rest from the week long cooking and we end up eating out EVERY SINGLE meal from Friday to Sunday night...If you have any suggestions, on how to be a better food shopper and how to save some money, please share, because I am determined to make this challenge work. In the beginning of this blog,the idea was really to save money, but more and more I look at it, this will also be about eating better (READ: healthier and loosing few pounds), becoming more concience about the food and more green in our choices...Help me out!!!!

But like for every other challenge that I have taken on, I need a reward - what should that be? Knowing myself, I need a really good reason to change my habits, because I am a true creature of habit...ideas?

I have arrived

Test, test - I have arrived... Cheers

The Miami Book Fair

I volunteered at the Miami International Book Fair and I got the 3rd row seat to see MARIO BATALLI & ANTHONY BOURDAIN

and it was smashing (did I really use this word???). I wasn't sure how the format of the two chef authors on the stage at the same time would work out, but it was awesome. I think the playing field wasn't equal, it's almost like Tony (like Mario calls him) was the one asking all the questions and Mario was answering and it was all about his empire, which truly is an empire. I think more than anything I am amazed by people's drive for success. And the most surprising thing was Tony's love for his daughter and how different he sounded on the stage from Tony that I have read or seen on TV...I guess children do change us forever...
I bought a book tonight in hopes of having Mario sign in, but once I saw the line (I have a picture of the line, but it's not uploading for some reason) I decided that the photos of up closer and personal and the book, will actually have to do it. I have only flipped through few pages, but the photography looks amazing...stay tuned, more to come once I get to actually read it.