The Time I Went To A Private Invite-Only Dinner For Black Creatives (Copy)

A few weeks ago I attended a private invite-only dinner in the heart of Chinatown (Manhattan, NYC). I normally would not blog about this but it was different. The dinner was inclusive, it was classy, it was fun, and it was one of the most unique dining experiences I've had in a while. 

Before I get into what I ate, I'll explain how this came about. Back in April, I purchased tickets to an annual conference in Brooklyn called The Food Writers' Workshop (thanks to EatWithNia ) and it inspired me for many reasons. I got to hang around (and learn from) other incredible black foodies (AvaEats, DomNTheCity, Jillian) along with getting insight from different panelists. I really enjoyed the conference and all of the discussions on what it takes for a woman to become and maintain success in the food industry. 

It was an absolute pleasure to see so many black women on panels talking about breaking barriers in the food world digitally and in real life. 

While at the conference, I was introduced to a collective called the Black Food Folks. Shortly after learning about them, I proceeded to stalk their social media pages (as anyone else would do) and I came across another group. A creative group called ToBeHosted. This group throws monthly private dinners for black and brown creatives. I swiftly followed this group on social media and was delightfully intrigued when I saw an Instagram post announcing the "May Dinner". I immediately applied for an invite to attend and a few days later I was able to get a seat at the table.

A Seat At The Table.

The idea behind the monthly dinner is simple. You are seated next to strangers (intentionally), and all you have to do is pay a reasonable fee, come hungry, come open-minded and come ready to meet new people. I love this idea, and since food is known to bring people together it makes networking easier. I was luckily seated next to Chef B. Woods who I'm looking forward to collaborating with in the near future. Someone who I would have not met if it wasn't for this dinner. 

Chef Day and I.

Now on to the chef of the evening. The dinner was curated by a phenomenal woman named Chef Day. If you are not following XoChefDay on Instagram you should start today. She's talented, beautiful and is someone who is taking the food industry by storm with her recipes. 

Before we all dived in, Chef Day excitedly explained the inspiration for all of the dishes, the ingredients, she even adjusted her recipes for those who have dietary restrictions, and spoke to every single one of us who dined that evening. It was magical.  

The dinner theme was Breakfast After Dark. Chef Day's menu included sweet and savory options. I honestly enjoyed every single item on the menu but the pancakes were simply divine. Here’s a look at the menu items: 

SWEET

STRAWBERRY FIELDS: sweet, wild, white strawberries mixed with red currants blueberries peaches and spearmint. This was so delightful and I cannot recall a time I ate a white strawberry. 

FLUFFY STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PANCAKES: buttermilk pancakes caramelized rhubarb Haitian rum cream topped with strawberries.

SAVORY

PEPPERED SHRIMP & GRITS (TO THE LEFT) , DUCK HASH (BELOW) , ARUGULA SALAD (BELOW DUCK HASH)

WINE

RIGHT NOW WINE : Alpine Stream White Wine, Rosé, Red Number 6 

I had a blast and I'm still hyped from that night.  Everything was so delightful. So delicious and I'm definitely looking forward to attending another dinner or two because I felt so comfortable, so at home, and just so welcomed. 

Comment below if you've attended a dinner like this before. Let me know if there are others I should attend. 

The Time I Ate 30 MLB Stadium Samples

Last weekend I attended a food event hosted by the Major League Baseball called the MLB FoodFest thanks to the food selfie queen @eatwithnia (you should follow her, she’s the best).  

And when I say we ate… I mean we ATE so many samples. 30 samples to be exact! If you've ever dreamed of visiting all 29 (with 1 in Canada) baseball stadiums and eating then this is the event for you. 

The concept of this food fest is really cool. All 30 MLB stadiums have a signature food item that’s actually served at their stadium and this event puts whatever that food item is on display for everyone to try. The tickets range from $35-55 (with taxes and fees you’ll end up spending $40-65). You have 3 hours to try as many stadium items as humanly possible. 

There were 2 ticket options: with beer/drinks or without. The cheaper ticket does not allow drinks but I would say its worth it. The venue served some really refreshing beers (and spiked seltzer) available (3 max) but don’t feel bad if you go for the cheaper option they have plenty of water and coca-cola all around for the taking. 

Nia and I were on a mission to try food from all 30 stadiums and because we are dedicated women we did it! It personally took me 2 days to do this but I did it! I attended both days, different time slots (8pm on Saturday and 1pm on Sunday). 

A few different people asked what my favorites were that night. This took me some time to think over but I was able to come up with (3) of my favorite samples from the weekend. 

3 - Oakland Athletics : Brisket Nachos 

 

 

2 - Baltimore Orioles : Stuggy’s Crab Mac & Cheese 

 

 

 

1 - Boston Red Sox : Hot Lobster Roll 

 

 

 

If you are reading this and giving me a side-eye because I’m a New Yorker born and raised stating that Boston has the number baseball fare it’s okay. I love everything about my city and I’m confident enough to admit that I’d happily go to a baseball game in Boston just for the lobster roll. 

This event takes place in NEW YORK and LONDON. 

 

Keep an eye out for next years event! I’m sure it will be a food-tastic time!

 

And, while you wait here are pics I took from all 30 stadium stands. Here's a small slide show of my eats.

 

 

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The Time I Went To A Private Invite-Only Dinner For Black Creatives

A few weeks ago I attended a private invite-only dinner in the heart of Chinatown (Manhattan, NYC). I normally would not blog about this but it was different. The dinner was inclusive, it was classy, it was fun, and it was one of the most unique dining experiences I've had in a while. 

Before I get into what I ate, I'll explain how this came about. Back in April, I purchased tickets to an annual conference in Brooklyn called The Food Writers' Workshop (thanks to EatWithNia ) and it inspired me for many reasons. I got to hang around (and learn from) other incredible black foodies (AvaEats, DomNTheCity, Jillian) along with getting insight from different panelists. I really enjoyed the conference and all of the discussions on what it takes for a woman to become and maintain success in the food industry. 

It was an absolute pleasure to see so many black women on panels talking about breaking barriers in the food world digitally and in real life. 

While at the conference, I was introduced to a collective called the Black Food Folks. Shortly after learning about them, I proceeded to stalk their social media pages (as anyone else would do) and I came across another group. A creative group called ToBeHosted. This group throws monthly private dinners for black and brown creatives. I swiftly followed this group on social media and was delightfully intrigued when I saw an Instagram post announcing the "May Dinner". I immediately applied for an invite to attend and a few days later I was able to get a seat at the table.

A Seat At The Table.

The idea behind the monthly dinner is simple. You are seated next to strangers (intentionally), and all you have to do is pay a reasonable fee, come hungry, come open-minded and come ready to meet new people. I love this idea, and since food is known to bring people together it makes networking easier. I was luckily seated next to Chef B. Woods who I'm looking forward to collaborating with in the near future. Someone who I would have not met if it wasn't for this dinner. 

Chef Day and I.

Now on to the chef of the evening. The dinner was curated by a phenomenal woman named Chef Day. If you are not following XoChefDay on Instagram you should start today. She's talented, beautiful and is someone who is taking the food industry by storm with her recipes. 

Before we all dived in, Chef Day excitedly explained the inspiration for all of the dishes, the ingredients, she even adjusted her recipes for those who have dietary restrictions, and spoke to every single one of us who dined that evening. It was magical.  

The dinner theme was Breakfast After Dark. Chef Day's menu included sweet and savory options. I honestly enjoyed every single item on the menu but the pancakes were simply divine. Here’s a look at the menu items: 

SWEET

STRAWBERRY FIELDS: sweet, wild, white strawberries mixed with red currants blueberries peaches and spearmint. This was so delightful and I cannot recall a time I ate a white strawberry. 

FLUFFY STRAWBERRY RHUBARB PANCAKES: buttermilk pancakes caramelized rhubarb Haitian rum cream topped with strawberries.

SAVORY

PEPPERED SHRIMP & GRITS (TO THE LEFT) , DUCK HASH (BELOW) , ARUGULA SALAD (BELOW DUCK HASH)

WINE

RIGHT NOW WINE : Alpine Stream White Wine, Rosé, Red Number 6 

I had a blast and I'm still hyped from that night.  Everything was so delightful. So delicious and I'm definitely looking forward to attending another dinner or two because I felt so comfortable, so at home, and just so welcomed. 

Comment below if you've attended a dinner like this before. Let me know if there are others I should attend. 

Day 30 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Seasonal Food

Today's Challenge:Favorite Seasonal Food Living in New York City all of my life, you would think that I would be used to the cold weather during winter months.NOPE.I complain every time it snows or when the cold air smacks me in the face.But the good thing about living in New York is having many options of what to eat when it's cold out.After I'm done complaining to my friends about how cold it is and how I can not wait until summer time, I immediately think about what type of food would make my little frozen heart (and body) sing for joy. And 9 out of 10 times the food/dish (that may not be considered officially as a "seasonal" food) but is my go-to seasonal food during the winter months is none other than a few orders of soup dumplings.I love them because they are pockets of warm soupy pork goodness and are the perfect dinner to warm you up when the temperature matches your age.The soup dumplings pictured above is from the only place in New York that I enjoy getting soup dumplings from: Shanghai Cafe DeluxeWhat's your favorite seasonal food?! Comment below.

Day 26 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Fast Food Restaurant

Today's Challenge:Favorite Fast Food RestaurantBeing that I live in an area of Queens (NYC) that's surrounded by so many different types of sit-down restaurants, I generally do not go to fast food joints.But.....when I get the craving for fast food my go-to place is Popeyes.I'm not a huge burger person so I stay away from McDonald's and Burger King but somehow the chicken at Popeyes calls my name when I'm too tired to cook.One of my biggest regrets from my trip to New Orleans was not stopping at the Popeyes location while I was there. My friends and I had so many other places to try on our list but I feel like the chicken from the actual Louisiana Popeyes would be extra delicious. I do plan on going back to New Orleans and when I do, I'll be sure to grab some wings.What's your favorite fast food restaurant? Comment below.

Day 25 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Truck

Today's Challenge:Favorite Food TruckI mentioned before that I really do like food trucks. They remind me of summer time. And usually summer time here in New York City is pretty much lit!Food trucks allow you to eat on the go and are usually a specific type of food.I've gone to many food truck festivals and music festivals that have food trucks and I always find myself at the lobsters truck.I don't know what it is but I love a good lobster roll from a food truck.I hopet that doesn't gross too many people out but it's a pretty regular thing to see a food truck that sells lobster on it.Now, to answer the challenge question, my favorite food truck is the:Urban Lobster Shack They serve THE BEST lobster rolls in town (on a food truck) and the price is pretty reasonable. Whenever I order I go for the traditional (seen in the photo above).WHat's your favorite food truck? Or favorite food to eat from a food truck? Comment below. 

Day 24 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Regional Specialty

Today's Challenge:Favorite Regional Speciality This was an easy one.I have not been to Katz's Deli many times but the few times I've gone I've left pleasantly stuffed and surprised by how fresh the meats are and how low key the restaurant is.Being that the restaurant is famously known and opened in 1888, I expect this restaurant to be a bit high class because so many celebrities.But it's not. It's super chill. It's totally diner style but they offer some of the best meats I've had in this city.With diner style seating and tons of celeb photos plastered on the walls this place screams old school New York.If you eat meat and are in New York City, you have try the roast beef. Just look at that photo above.It's a dream to eat. 

Day 23 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Soup

Today's Challenge:Favorite SoupMy first reaction was to say Ramen but I'm sure people will be on my page trying to fight me if I gave that answer.Therefore, I'm going with my second-best answer: Chicken Noodle SoupIt's really simple to make, you can eat it any time of the year, it helps when you have a cold and it's super hearty.As soon as it gets a teeny tiny bit cold here in New York I love making soup from scratch.Chicken Noodle Soup is my go-to. And even when you are weak and sick it's easy enough to make.Here's a quick recipe if you want to make it. Get some fresh organic veggies, broth, and some hormone free chicken breasts and you are ready to go.The photo above is a soup I made while I was sick.What's your favorite soup? Comment below.

Day 22 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Super Bowl Snack

Today's Challenge:Favorite Super Bowl Snack This is an easy one.Hot wings.I know pizza is life but whenever I think of going to a Super Bowl Party I think of how many hot wings I'll be eating.Lot's of people I know are very picky when it comes to which part of the wing they eat, some only eat the "drumette" part while some only eat the "wingette / flat" part.I happily eat both parts, I do prefer the flat parts because they are just easier to eat in my opinion but if they are tasty I'll eat it all.The hot wings in the photo above are homemade, I'll dig up the recipe and post it on the site soon.What's your favorite Super Bowl Snack? Comment below.

Day 20 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Blog

Today's Challenge:Favorite Food BlogMy first response to today's challenge was "my favorite food blog is my blog tameekaeats.com duh but of-course".But I get it, we must discuss where we gather inspiration from, who we look up to, and who encourages us to be better.There are a lot of food blogs around but one in particular spoke to me.The author/creator Danielle is a true inspiration.Her food blog is amazing.The lay out, the content, the fact that she follows up with readers, and is consistent makes as huge difference from other bloggers out there.Her site includes lifestyle content along with obviously food based posts.I love the fact that she's real. She includes her life into the site. I like when there's a real person behind a blog not just the content.So to answer the challenge, my favorite food blog is: Follow My Gut Though the author is based in LA (and not NYC where I am) I can still relate to the content she provides and the stories she tells through her posts.Plus..... I'll just be honest...... her instagram is poppin'.She's truly an inspiration for food bloggers like me, who just got into the food blogging game and I urge all of you to follow her socials and subscribe to her blog.

Day 17 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Best Hangover Food

Today's Challenge:Best Hangover Food Today's challenge made me giggle.I'm trying to remember the last time I was hungover and what I ate. I giggled to myself because my go-to food usually is bacon but as I've gotten older I've noticed that my now go-to hangover (cure) food is the one and only near and dear to my heart PIZZA.When I lived in Kew Gardens I was in walking distance from one of the best pizzeria's in Queens named Dani's House of Pizza.Dani's pizza is a Queens (NYC) staple. It's been open since 1959 and from what I hear the recipe has not changed. If you go to Dani's you have try the main slices:- Plain slice (it may sound wack but the sauce is phenomenal, it's sweet, tangy and pure perfection)- Pesto slice (It's a green pizza slice. And this may turn some people off. I honestly did not want to try it when I first saw it being prepared. Being born in New York (Brooklyn at that), you eat real pizza growing up so to see a green slice just seemed like a joke. But I got over it, talked to a few locals and holy moly I'm glad I tried it. It's a plus if you are a pesto fan because this slice is out of this world.So for me, my go to hangover food that cures it all is a slice of pizza and a few giant glasses of seltzer water.*Warning: 9 times out of 10 there will be a line to order pizza at Dani's. There is usually a line outside reaching the next store during the summer, these slice are in high demand so it may take some time to get a slice but the wait is usually worth it. Trust me.What's a hangover cure you reach for? Comment below.

Day 16 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Dine In or Take Way

Today's Challenge:Dine In or Take AwayThis is a bit of a tough question because it all depends on so many factors:1 - The time of day2 - The weather 3 - If you are sick or just feeling like bingwatching shows on Netflix 4 - The size of the restaurant 5 - The number of people with youHere in New York we have tons of food options but this does not always result in dining in at a location.Some of my favorite places to grab food from only have 2 or 3 chairs for people to sit.There are lots of Chinese restaurants in New York that have no seats for dining in.I do not often dine at large food chains (Applebee's, Red Lobster, etc) but when I do its always dine-in.But locally, I often take-away food. Sometimes it’s easier to grab food, head home and enjoy some yummy food in your warm apartment in front of your tv.As for lunch, I work in Manhattan so 9 times of out of 10, lunch is brought back to the office.There are exceptions for work lunch meetings, or lunch with my lady friends which we try to get out of the office for sit down lunches once a month.To answer the question, I prefer to dine in (if that option is available) during the summer, but if it’s really cold out and the weather is pretty bad here in NYC, I’d rather take out.Comment below. Which do you prefer?

Day 15 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - What Are You Best At Cooking?

Today’s challenge is:What Are You Best At Cooking?For the last few years I’ve been known to make a mean aka really spicy beef chili.

Chili is the perfect winter dish for me. It’s soupy, it’s warm, and it’s hearty. No slurping allowed.

I’ve been making one chili recipe in particular I put the recipe together myself from a basic chili recipe I fount on-line that was super dry.

You can see the recipe below.

As for the beef, I go for grass-fed.

I try to get all of the other ingredients as organic as possible.

I like to make my own tomato sauce and use tomato paste for thickness.

I always (ALWAYS) serve my chili with a side of white rice. Whenever I try chili without rice I’m always highly disappointed.

I’m all about topics too.

I always top my chili with avocado slices and a dollop of sour cream.

I’ve recently started topping my chili with bacon but if I’m in a rush I do not include it.

So the dish I’m best know for making is chili.

If you follow the below recipe let me know (comment below) how it goes and if you decided to top it with bacon or not :)

Day 14 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Program

Today’s challenge is:Favorite Food Program I love food shows. I love reality food shows.I am a big fan of the program Chopped like the rest of the foodie world but my all time favorite food program is :

The Great Food Truck Race 

This reality program is on the Food Network station but I mostly watch episodes through HULU.I like this show so much because the contestants are small restaurant owners or even teams of people who are looking to start restaurants that do not have the money to either start a restaurant or buy a food truck. The contestants are given food trucks at the beginning of the competition with their logos and full stocked kitchens.On each episode they are given a food challenge which includes: getting specific ingredients based on the challenge, a certain amount of money to make said themed dish and they have to drive to specific locations and sell food to locals usually competing directly next to other food truck teams.It's a thrill to watch. I highly recommend watching it if you have the Food Network or HULU.This show gives the contestants great exposure and a online fan following.As we've seen from the success of the Big Gay IceCream Truck here in New York City, building an online following is huge and can make a restaurant flourish.Plus I really like food trucks, I've gone to a few different food truck events in the city and they are a blast. You get to try so many different types of "street food" on the go. I love it.The photo on the left is from an actual restaurant in Manhattan on 3rd Avenue called Korilla BBQ. I was meeting a friend for lunch after going to an art gallery and figured we should go there and try it out. I'd eaten at the truck the guys serviced around Manhattan but never went into the actual restaurant. I mostly wanted to see if the food was different after the Korilla BBQ guys were contestants on The Great Food Truck Race.The food was the same. The guys have a winning recipe of Korean bbq street food and it works. It was still exciting to see New Yorkers on the show representing for our great state!Here's a list of some of my other favorite food based shows:Man vs Food (Seasons 1 - 4)Cupcake Wars (The Halloween Wars are the best of this show)The Next Iron Chef Bizarre Foods   

Day 13 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Restaurant You’re Desperate...

Today’s challenge is:Restaurant You're Desperate To Try A few years ago my mentor introduced me to a restaurant at the top of a Las Vegas hotel called Katsuya.We met a client and dined on some of the most delicious sushi I've ever tasted.He insisted my co-worker and I try an appetizer called "crispy rice".*If you've been following this food blog challenge then you know my favorite type of food is "rice" (read about it here).I'm open to trying new things and I trust my mentor when it comes to great food and wine.I would be fooling you if I say I didn't think about this appetizer often and it's a shame because I live on the East Coast and my beloved crispy rice is on the West Coast.To satisfy my crispy rice craving I researched where I could find it here in NYC and based on reviews there's a restaurant near my work in Chelsea named Momoya that serves it but it's just not same.For those of you who do not know what crispy rice is, it's rice over cooked so that the texture is a bit burnt, shaped sort of in a rectangular way and topped with spicy tuna.The description does not sound appetizing but if you grew up in a household where rice was served often you know exactly what I mean when I say "it's like the bottom of the rice pot, the crispy part."See main photo for the crispy goodness.After eating almost all of the pieces on the table, I let my mentor know that I was in love with crispy rice and there is nothing anyone could do about it.He laughed because he knew I would love it. He began telling me about the first time he tried crispy rice at the original Katsuya in Ventura Boulevard in Los Angeles California and how the original restaurant is in sort of a strip mall.I was shocked!Shocked because we were sitting in such a fancy place and just to think this menu originated in a small place blew my mind.So the restaurant I desperately want to go to is the Original Katsuya.I've already added it to my to-eat list for my next trip to LA.What restaurant do you desperately want to try? Comment below.

Day 12 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Desert

Today’s challenge is:Favorite Desert A few months ago, I created a post for National Desert Day where I revealed what my favorite desert of all time was. You can check it out here: MY ALL TIME FAVORITE DESSERT- #NATIONALDESSERTDAYSince I've already discussed what my favorite desert is, I thought I'd take a little time and discuss what dessert knocked my socks off.Back in June of 2016, I joined a group of close friends to celebrate a bachelorette party in New Orleans, Louisiana.I had a blast and I'm definitely returning because the food there, is one of a kind. Til this day, I still talk about what I ate while I was there and I'll probably still talk about it until I return.Before heading to New Orleans lots of friends recommended places to eat, I took note of all of the places but one place that stood out amongst all of the suggestions was Café Du Monde.Café Du Monde is well known (it seems everyone around the world knows about this place) for it's coffee with chicory and it's beignets.Beignets are little fluffy powdered sugar pieces of heaven.Actually, beignets are breakfast based deep-fried pastries covered with powdered sugar. It sounds so plain but I feel blessed to have tried this in New Orleans.It's really good. Especially warm freshly fried and washed down with an iced coffee.I've tried beignets here in New York City and they do not compare.So I will say, my second favorite dessert (even though people in New Orleans eat these for breakfast) are beignets.Dear Reader, what's your favorite desert of all time? Comment below.

Day 11 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Main Course

Today’s challenge is:Favorite Main Course The main course during any dining situation is always my favorite course.It's the big show! The main event.My favorite time during dining.It obviously depends on the type of restaurant I am at but 9 out of 10 times my go-to main course is a steak.My favorite cuts are: skirt and hanger.At home, I do not cook much red-meat so going out and ordering a steak is usually a treat for me.I recently moved to the Elmhurst / Jackson Heights area in Queens New York.If you are not familiar when this part of New York, just know that it's a big foodie destination. This area has been featured in AM NY, CNN, The Travel Channel, and even Serious Eats.I recently had dinner near my home at a Colombian restaurant named La Pequeña Colombia. It's a cute place. Very authentic (the staff and the food).I went with my go-to and ordered a steak/shrimp entree.Though I was not asked how I wanted my steak prepared I went with the flow and still enjoyed the meal. It was honestly delicious.The portions here are HUGE. I was given a whole separate plate of rice and beans and I couldn't leave without having an avocado salad. Have a look at all the Colombian goodness in the photo above.Oh and the margaritas are good here too :p If you are in Elmhurst be sure to check out the steak entrees at La Pequeña Colombia, you'll enjoy it!What's your go to entree? Is it steak, is it fish? Comment below, let me know!

Day 10 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Appetizer

Today’s challenge is:Favorite Appetizer This was an easy one.French Fries is my favorite appetizer.They are pretty universal.You fry up some skinny potatoes and everyone loves them.I'm also a fan of poutine which is a form of fries and native to Canada. If I go back to Montreal it will be for the yearly Poutine festival.I can eat fries plain, with bacon, with cheese, salchipapas, any way you make it.The photo above is one of my faves: kimchi fries 🤤How do you like your French fries?

Day 9 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Most Exotic Food You've Tried

Today’s challenge is:Most Exotic Food You've TriedI'm not picky when it comes to trying new food.Well if it involves okra then I'm not trying it > you can read about that in my previous post.But I'm pretty open and will give almost everything a try once.Throughout my foodie years, I've tried a lot of different things.I vividly remember trying escargot at a Yelp event a few years ago and for awhile that experience was a bit weird for me. It's mostly because of the texture. It did not sit right with me. However, I have to say it was not as weird as eating a salad full of grasshoppers (that's whats in the photo above).Back in August of 2016, I dined at a restaurant called Serenata. It's located in Chelsea here in New York City. Serenata is a Mexican restaurant and before the shade is thrown at me, I will say that Mexican food is NOT considered exotic to me. I eat Mexican cuisine often.But this particular evening, I was feeling a bit adventurous and decided to order the "ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO" which I believe translates to "Salad of the Desert".The ENSALADA DEL DESIERTO contains the following:Grilled cactus, grasshoppers, roasted corn, roasted cipollini onions, wild mushrooms, grape tomatoes, avocado, dates, cilantro-sabila vinaigrette, toasted sunflower seeds, red & black lava saffron salt.I'm not sure why I ordered this but I did and it was delicious.If you know anything about me then you know that I am terrified of bugs. I hate them. I'm not a fan. No matter how big or how small, I'll freak out. So for me to eat something with grasshoppers in it was a stretch and I made it!The grasshoppers were roasted so they had a crunch to it, they were a bit salty by themselves but worked well mixed with all of the other ingredients in the salad.I would try it again if given the opportunity.I do not see myself eating any other kinds of bugs in the future but hey you never know!Readers out there, what do you consider an exotic food item? Or have you ever eaten a bug? Comment below.

Day 8 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Food That You Dislike...

Today’s challenge is:Food That You Dislike That Most People Do Like I hate okra.I do not like the taste. I do not like the texture. I do not like it's look. I do not like okra.I've made this known amongst my friends and family. It's seems that every time I mention that I hate okra the next thing I hear is: "you just haven't had it _____ this way" or "you just haven't tried it the way I make it. "People have suggested I try it fried, stewed, baked, or grilled.NOPE.I'm not going to try it any other way.I've tried it twice in my life time and I think that's enough.Once my late grandmother Maureen prepared okra as a side dish with tomatoes and peppers (known as Caribbean style) and I was not having it.The second time I tried it at a restaurant and it was fried. Nope. I did not like it that way either.I just do not like it.Also, it's way too slimy for my liking.Okra and I will never be friends.