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 27 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - What's In Your Refrigerator
Today's Challenge:What's In Your RefrigeratorThis challenge question is probably my favorite and I've been looking forward to it.I follow a lot of foodies on Instagram and I love seeing when people post what's in their refrigerators. It's usually so cute, so organized, and so goals worthy.So when it was my time I just so happened to be doing groceries that afternoon because it's January and of course I'm eating healthier (like millions of other people at the beginning of the year).And here's a list of what's in my refrigerator!Blue Diamond's Almond Cashew Milk Simply Orange - Pulp Free Orange Juice Beetology - Beet + Berry JuiceHealth-Ade Kombucha - Pink Lady AppleSodaStream Seltzer (a must have in my home ALWAYS)Goya - Mayonnaise*The rest are just veggies, mostly for the rice bowls I'll be creating this week for dinner.Comment below. Tell me what's in your refrigerator and if we have similar items in our fridges.
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 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 21 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Dish At Thanksgiving
Today's Challenge:Favorite Dish At Thanksgiving
Growing up Thanksgiving was one of my favorite holidays for (2) reasons:
1 - It’s a holiday that’s really close to my birthday, and as a child I would still get gifts in addition to cake and food from aunts and grandparents. Who wouldn’t love that!?
2 - It was a holiday where all you did was hang out with your family members and eat. That works for me!
Things are a bit different now that I’m older. I celebrate the days separately, and I no longer get gifts on both days but it’s okay. I’m still down for a feast. I will always enjoy that part.
One dish I love making and I always look forward to eating during this holiday is none other than Cranberry sauce.
I don’t know if this makes me weird but the only time I eat cranberry sauce is during the holidays.
I like it because it’s tangy, sweet, and throws the flavor of everything else on your plate a bit off. It makes everything a little sweet.
Lot’s of people have asked me if I like cranberry sauce from a can or if I prefer cranberry sauce made from scratch.
I’m honestly open to both.
I like the canned cranberry sauce, it’s something that reminds me of my childhood. It was treat as a kid to get this red sweet jelly thing and as an adult I started making my own cranberry sauce and I actually love it and think it’s so delicious. So to wrap that up, if someone gave the option, I’d eat both at the same time.
Let me know what your favorite Thanksgiving dish is below. Leave a comment.
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 19 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Lunch: Make It or Buy It
Today's Challenge:Lunch: Make It or Buy It This is a funny one because I would prefer to make my lunches daily but it doesn't always work out that way.It's so much healthier to make your own lunches but with my busy schedule food prepping takes a back burner to it all.The good thing about working in Chelsea (in Manhattan) is that I can make healthy lunch choices.The latest place I've been getting lunch is a take out place called Fields Good Chicken. And I usually get bowl from here, bowls that contain a protein and veggies. Which is basically what I would make at home for lunch so I feel it's a good balance.Which do you prefer? Comment below.
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 :
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 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.
Day 7 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Food That You Like...
Today's challenge is:Food That You Like That Most People Don't I like to eat octopus. There I said it.Whenever I'm at an Italian restaurant I order grilled octopus.I'm not ashamed.I've been out several times with different groups of people and when I order grilled octupus it goes either way.Some people join me, grab a fork and we enjoy some grilled tentacles and keep it moving.Some people freak out when the dish arrives and they do not see calamari.I can see how this can get confusing but to set the record straight a squid and an octopus are two different underwater creatures.Squids live in salt water. Usually in tropics while octopuses live in dens on the sea floor.Cooking wise, when ordering octopus it's generally char-grilled then topped w/ a little olive oil and fresh pepper top while calamari is made from squids and they are usually battered and fried.They look very different cooked and uncooked and generally taste different due to the textures.If you are adventurous give it a go! Order grilled octopus is tasty and makes for a great appetizer.
Day 5 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Meal from Mom/Dad/Grandma
Day 4 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Chef
My favorite chef is Marcus Samuelsson.If you don't know the name you may know him from popular food competition shows such as Chopped and Top Chef Masters.He's a brilliant chef and I appreciate him because he's heavily involved in preserving and celebrating black culinary history.
It seems like every other culture has food that's proudly celebrated but its seems like black food isn't celebrated as much as Italian or even Mexican food. I feel Marcus is doing a great job representing for us and showing the culinary world the importance and sophistication of black food.
I've had the pleasure of eating at Red Rooster which is one of Marcus' restaurants here in Harlem - New York City. Harlem is a historically black neighborhood so I can see the significance of why he chose to open the restaurant there. Once you step into Red Rooster it's like a party. The people are friendly, the bar is lively, there's a band playing live music and the smell of delicious food hits you as soon as you walk in.
While I was at the restaurant I had a chance to meet Marcus. I completely fangirled and as you can see from my photo I was really excited to meet him. He was extremely humble. He was even open to suggestions about the food. Which I thought was really thoughtful and just plain real. He made sure he went to every table and checked to see if everyone was happy with the menu and the dishes they ordered.
A few years back I started reading his James Beard Foundation award winning memoir titled Yes Chef. It's a great read about his life growing up Ethiopian in Sweden, his family and how his passion for food made him who he is today. I highly recommend it if you like good memoirs or foodie related books.
To keep up with Marcus I now follow him on Instagram and you should too!
Day 3 - 30 Day Food Blog Challenge - Favorite Food Memory
Before I reveal my favorite food memory. I have to say that I was blessed to have a mother who knew the importance of exposing their offsprings to other cultures through food. I'm also very lucky to have a father who studied culinary arts. I believe this helped mold me into the foodie that I am today.Back to my favorite food memory. I was about 12 or 13 years old and my mother decided it was time to introduce me to Japanese cuisine because I would always see pretty pictures of sashimi on menus and I would always ask her about it.There was one afternoon after school my mother took me to this cute little Japanese restaurant near Union Square in Manhattan (here in NYC). It wasn't too fancy it was just right for a first experience. Not too stuffy, just right. At that time this was a huge deal for be cause it was time! Time to try the pretty food! I was so excited to try out the chopsticks. I will say I did a good job (you can confirm this with my mama).She started off by ordering California rolls for me. Don't give me side eye reader. I think that was a great introduction for a youngin'.I LOVED every bit of the rolls.Little did I know many years later I would be dining at the hippest Japanese restaurants in New York and Las Vegas.At this time I was "living my best life". I was trying the pretty food and I wanted more. We tried another roll. I can't remember which one but it may have been spicy tuna but I'm not sure about that. But on the second roll before my mother could explain what the wasabi and ginger was for. I plopped the piece of wasabi in my mouth.Allow me to explain.Growing up Caribbean you tend to eat avocados on the regular. The California roll contained a small piece and I don't know why my brain connected this but I figured oh the chef was so nice to put a piece of avocado on the side for maybe a palate cleanser. Boy was I wrong.The fire in my nose and my entire face spoke volumes. Tears were rolling my face. My mother tried to stop me but I was too fast. And my friends reading this, from that day forward I either ask what certain items are or I smell my food before I put it in my mouth.It is my favorite memory because I learned to take it easy when it comes to new foods and it was my first time trying one of my now favorite cuisines.