Sad to see them go

As one who writes for magazines, I love reading them, looking at the layouts and, often, checking who is on the masthead. One of my recent favorites, Domino, published their last issue this month. I am sad.

I was definitely Domino's target, a woman (youngish) who is interested in good design in all aspects of life (Those of you that remember my bedazzled shirt, pipe down back there! Being interested is different than actually following through). The travel sections were always cool, I loved the room makeovers, and generally, I loved the writing style. But no more to my mailbox ...

We've been hearing a lot of the phrase "in these times" lately, but publications in general have always come and gone. Still, with the death of so many newspapers as well as the slicks, well, tis trying times indeed. Just wanted to mark the passing of another worthwhile publication.

Publishing update

The article on the Dutcher's work with wolves has published. Check out the wonderful layout and photos in SEWE's special section, published by The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. Seems like the annual wildlife celebration was a great success again this year, and the Food + Wine Festival is right on its heels, starting in a couple of days.

Unfortunately, my little desk was devoid of tickets to either, but assignments are another matter, so I am happy sitting at my desk, with a spring snow melting in the front yard and another adventure around the bend. For a dose of culture in the home turf of the Triad, I covered a contemporary art exhibit at Wake Forest for the Greensboro News and Record's Go Triad. I feel strongly about the need for art no matter the economy, and it was great to find a gallerist who could speak on the subject so personally. I hope to write more about art for the publication in the near future, so stay tuned . . .

Iron Chef Interview

Anyone who knows me knows that cooking shows have always been a part of my life, from Yan Can Cook to Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations. However, the 24-hour a day lure of the Food Network has made certain chefs big contributors to my entertainment, including Iron Chef and Food Network favorite Bobby Flay.

Flay and I got a chance to talk a couple of weeks ago when I interviewed him for a celebrity chef profile for the 2009 Charleston Food + Wine Festival official guide, and his persona was open and accommodating during our phone interview. After much coordination by multiple publicists, I simply got a call from him one day at an appointed time, and he just said "Hi, this is Bobby Flay."

We talked about a few subjects but mainly focused on hamburgers, the subject of one of his upcoming demonstrations in Charleston, and a passion of his that he has honed in his new Bobby's Burger Palace restaurants. His restaurants feature an option to "crunchify" any order (add homemade potato chips), but it is the word itself that I find almost as delicious as the concept. Since it's Friday, I urge you to find a way to "crunchify" your day! And you can bet that this great word made it into the final article.

Living with wolves

Late December and January have been a very busy time for me, but I have had the chance to interview some amazing people, the first of who were Jim and Jamie Dutcher.

This couple lives in Idaho (the first people I've ever spoken with who live in Idaho!) and for six years, they lived in a yurt observing a pack of wolves as documentary filmmakers. Six years. Six years with no running water or electricity in bitter cold. I was intrigued. When assigned this profile article, I must admit that I was prepared to speak with people who were a little reserved, a little like the wolves they had observed for so long, and perhaps, a little condescending to a person like me who loves city sidewalks and hates sleeping in a tent, even for one night.

But instead, Jim and Jamie were a wonderful interview. They were warm, conversational, and kindly educational about their experience, which they viewed with a healthy dose of humor. But through it all, their love of these animals and their sincere belief in their essential existence in our ecosystem shone through. I thoroughly enjoyed speaking with them and the time flew.

If you are around Charleston, SC Valentine's weekend, make a point to see the Dutcher's presentation of film and lecture about the Sawtooth Pack as part of the Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. If theirs is not a love story, I don't know what is.

Music to My Ears

Please understand this juxtaposition: a busy Kohl's, filled with people searching for bonus buys, half-opened packages of boxer shorts strewn about the shelves where they once neatly sat stacked, the murmurings of two women deciding whether "She" would like a purse, a toddler's screech at not being able to touch something, and meanwhile, a Tony Bennett Christmas song brokenly looping on the intercom with its only interruptions the called codes to team members to "report to registers" and "scan sector C;" my little desk facing the wall in its spare bedroom, the light from the computer the only late-afternoon glow on a gloomy day, magazines stacked next to my right foot, and "Me and Mrs. Jones", "Cuban Blues" then Poncho Sanchez grooving his hit "Watermelon Man."

iTunes have been a great gift to my little desk, and as I'm nearing the end of my gift cards, I'm hoping for a couple more in my stocking this year. The genius button has also been a boom, and my "Writing Music" playlist is the better for it. Now my little desk has a soundtrack all its own, far from the maddening crowd.

The Cow Goes Moo

You never know where the next assignment will take me. My latest adventure took me to rural South Carolina last week to visit a farm definitely off the beat and path (country people tell me this is usually where the farms are). It was a rainy morning as I drove down South 85 and exited somewhere close to Clemson and then promptly got lost thanks to Google Maps. However, some quick phone calls to the farmer, L.D. Peeler, and I soon passed over the bridge he mentioned and passed the sheep that were so cute munching on their morning meal, and turned into the driveway of Milky Way Farms.

I was here to learn about the Peeler's dairy operation, specifically since they are one of the up and coming producers of raw milk. They call it "the way nature intended," and yes, that means unpasteurized. In case you think this is for daredevils, please understand a movement is afoot. Milk Way's raw milk sales have doubled since January of 2008, and websites such as RawMilk.org are getting the word out.

But I was here to see the milking, and before I knew it, 12 Jersey cows were ushered in and large suctions applied to their udders. The whole thing was very scientific, with a sanitizer before, lots of clean stainless steel pipes and a generally efficient operation. They need to be, milking 550 gal/day!

But it was the cows that were the main attraction.

These big girls are a smaller cow breed, but you still can't ignore the size. They spend most of their lives out in the pasture, but when it's time to milk, they know, and they just start lining up outside the barn. Since the milking floor is below the stalls for the cows, I was at eye level with one girl with a dripping nose just sniffing away to check me out. She didn't want petting, though, shying away, and frankly, I didn't want to push the issue.

With a cooler full of milk, I navigated myself once again across the state line and back to city life. I don't think I'll be getting cows anytime soon, but maybe I convince my dogs that they need a goat to play with! Anyone for feta cheese?

I celebrate my Hometown

Jack Bacot and his great team at G Magazine finally gave me a chance I've been wanting for a long time -- the chance to write a travel article about Charlotte. Check it out in this month's G, accompanied by Brie Williams' excellent photography. 

It was wonderful to visit as a tourist rather than only scooting along 485 between Harrisburg and Monroe to visit the family. I got to wander aimlessly in stores, eat a wonderful fish taco and chat with gallery owners, all in the name of work! 

One of my favorite finds was Cafe Monte in Phillips Place across from Southpark. It has charming, charming decor and a great menu, especially the duck confit pizza (some of you know how much I love duck, especially those that might have been at a certain food photo shoot over the summer).  A former gallery space, it feels artsy, but the service is very warm and inviting. I will be back, Monte!