An Introduction from Alexx

This Post was written by Alexx from http://www.alexx.org

1. Where are you based?
I currently live in North London but am hopefully moving to Hitchin in the next few weeks.

2. How long have you been blogging?
Only since December - I'm a newbie!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
I love talking about food, and I love writing, so blogging allows me to combine the two! I've also begun to discover all kinds of other inspirational foodie blogs and am being inspired to improve my photography skills.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
Remembering to take the photos! And I worry sometimes that I don't update enough.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
Other people's blogs, fantastic food writers like Nigel Slater and Tamasin Day-Lewis, and wonderful ingredients.

6. Where do you like to blog?
On my laptop on the sofa, normally!

7. What's your signature dish?
I love risottos of all kinds and often make them up with whatever seasonal ingredients I have to hand for unexpected guests. Risotto is something which totally lends itself to improvisation and I love improvising.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?
I'm looking forward to moving out of London - although it has FANTASTIC food shops and restaurants, moving out of town is going to mean a huge gain in kitchen space....and I hope to master baking and pastry in the extra room!

I'm really excited to be joining this community - I love keeping up with this blog and it's great to have an online 'home' with a UK focus.

Let me introduce myself.... I'm Maninas

This Post was written by MANINAS from Maninas: Food Matters


It's about time I said hello to everyone here, given that I've been a member for ages. Sorry about that... My name is Maninas and I’m a foodie from Croatia,now living in the UK with my British husband. I've embarked on a fabulous journey through the world of food, looking for tasty morsels and good stories!



1. How long have you been blogging?

I've been blogging since May 2007, and loving it! It's become a little more difficult to find some time to do it, but I'm determined to keep going!

2. What's the best thing about food blogging?

My food blog is my creative playground, and a place where I can share it with friends and other foodies. Also, it gives us an amazing insight into so many kitchens of the world! Now that is truly fantastic!

3. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

a) not having enough time to do it
b) cold food! by the time I took all the photos.... :)

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

Food itself, all the gorgeous ingredients, aromas, flavours... Also, travelling the world through it's foods! At the moment, I am particularly interested in Indian cuisine, but other cuisines, including Croatian and British of course, feature in my blog!

6. Where do you like to blog?

At home, in the comfort of my living room.
I'm good - no blogging at work!

7. What's your signature dish?

Hm, I don't really have one specific signature dish yet... If I had to choose one, I guess it would be my own creation: grilled halloumi with red chili, basil, lime juice and olive oil dressing (pictured below). It symbolises everything I love about food and cooking: inspiration, experimentation, bold flavours and discoveries. I was hugely inspired by the combination of flavours and ingredients. This simple recipe has it all: chilies, which I can hardly live without nowadays; basil, which is an amazing herb; lime juice for the sour taste that I’ve become addicted to; and olive oil, which is an old comforting (family) friend, omnipresent in Dalmatian cooking (and used a little excessively by my Dad, to put it mildly). It also has tomatoes, one of my favourite vegetables, so versatile and so delicious whether cooked or raw; and halloumi, a type of mild Cypriot cheese, which is one of the discoveries I made this year.

An Introduction from: You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato

This Post was written by Pixie from You Say Tomato, I Say Tomato



1. Where are you based?

I live in a lovely, yet small, flat in Maidstone.

2. How long have you been blogging?

Its only been a few months but it feels like I’ve been blogging all my life; I absolutely am loving it!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

I’ve always wanted to get hold of my mom’s recipes and it’s something I know my family and I will always treasure in the years to come. Hopefully, at some point, I will have a book created with all her recipes in it.

We were also constantly making the same dishes week after week and it was truly getting boring. I’m now on the constant look out for new and exciting recipes. I’ve also been trying out plenty of new dishes.

I must also add, how wonderful it is to discover other food blogs and these food challenges are so much fun!

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

Hmmmm….….ask me in a few months!


5. What inspires you to cook and write?

It’s the excitement of the end result, seeing it up in “headlights”. Also, eventually knowing I will likely put together a family cookbook. Even if it is just for us!

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6. Where do you like to blog?

I’m always blogging on my lovely comfy couch. We’re fortunate to have plenty of windows and the light shines through for most of the day.

7. What's your signature dish?

I would have to say my eggplant parmigiana. My father in law is constantly raving about it, so it has to be that! Though, I’ve yet to blog it.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?

If you’ve yet to visit my blog, you may be surprised to know that I was born in Cardiff, Wales, yet grew up in NYC, therefore having a distinct NY accent and I am of Maltese descent.

Oh, I also know how to knit and crochet!

An introduction from Nic at Mrs Bs Baking

This Post was written by Nic from Mrs Bs Baking at www.ickystickypudding.blogspot.com

1. Where are you based?
I live in London; the east side!

2. How long have you been blogging?
I only started in August so I am quite new!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
It has to be sharing creative ideas and recipes with other people who love baking and cooking as much as me! Also taking funny pictures of the things I make.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
My husband would say the fact I talk about it all the time!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
My nan and my mum are both amazing cooks and when my nan died I was given all her cooking books and I love making all her old recipes. Also reading other people's blogs and all the cook books I read.

6. Where do you like to blog?
I would like to say my house but I haven't long moved and haven't got the internet set up yet so it's my friends house and the library!

7. What's your signature dish?
It has to be one of my cakes but I am not sure which. If anyone comes around to my house they always leave with some kind of cake!

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?
I recently got married and went on a 3 month traveling honeymoon around Asia sampling all the culinary delights!

An introduction from Jules at Domestic Goddess in Training

This Post was written by Jules from Domestic Goddess in Training

1. Where are you based? rural Derbyshire

2. How long have you been blogging?I've had a blog since 2001, but my food blog started in May 2006.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging? I find it a great way for keeping track of what I've cooked.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging? The fact that Blogger sometimes does odd things to my blogs formatting, and I don't know how to fix it.

5. What inspires you to cook and write? Places I've been, TV programmes, other foodie blogs, foodie forums and what ever is in season

6. Where do you like to blog? Usually on the setee with my laptop

7. What's your signature dish? Either my Baileys Cheesecake or Asparagus & Feta tart.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know? I used to live in Berlin and saw the wall fall down.

An Introduction from Margot at Coffee & Vanilla

This Post was written by Margot from Coffee & Vanilla

1. Where are you based?
North London

2. How long have you been blogging?
Since March 2007.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
Taking pictures for my recipes.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
Writing down recipes in the kitchen while cooking. I wish I could just type it on the computer one time but my hands are too dirty...

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
My family and other bloggers with their delicious recipes... I have added to my Technorati over 90 food blogs now.

6. Where do you like to blog?
From my computer that is located in my bedroom most of the times.
Sometimes on the laptop in living room watching TV at the same time... (I'm addicted to the computers so when I watch TV I feel like I waste time and I have to do something else at the same time.)

7. What's your signature dish
Pineapple & Ginger Chicken and recently... muffins.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know
I worked on the cruise ships in the Caribbean for 2 years.

An introduction from Anne @ Annes Kitchen

1. Where are you based?
In Staines, very near to Heathrow Airport!

2. How long have you been blogging?
On and off about two years

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
Putting my thoughts down in writing, my friends and family have started to tire of my constant food talk, so my blog is a good release of built up thoughts!!

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
That I never seem to quite get the whole html code thing right and words seem to move around all by themselves..

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
Everyday life, sometimes it’s a memory of a place I have been, a smell of something or even a picture! I love trying out new dishes and discovering new foods, that in turn I could make into something great!

6. Where do you like to blog?
At home mainly as far too busy at work!! Like to unwind at home with a glass of wine and update my blog

7. What's your signature dish?
I have been asked this before..and I really do not know what to choose!! Most often made is tuna & spinach pasta bake but that sounds pretty lame, however is loved by all!!

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?
That I only learnt to cook three years ago!

Introduction to Annemarie

This Post was written by Annemarie from Ambrosia and Nectar.

1. Where are you based?

Walthamstow, London

2. How long have you been blogging?

Only since June this year but I should have been doing it much sooner, given how much I talk to myself about food.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

As everyone else says, it's the great food blogger community and finding so many like-minded people. Also, I find it's making me think in some much more detail about all my meals. If I'm making something, I think of what to put in the 'recipe', of where to source the ingredients, of an easy way to describe the instructions. I think of the presentation of the food (since it must be photographed!) and about how to describe what it is I'm eating. The blogging is giving me the luxury of thinking about my food all the time.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

Fighting my husband for the computer since he also likes to do writing.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

I love eating and I love extending the pleasure of good food to other people, so cooking and writing about food seems a natural way of tackling both the eating and the sharing.

6. Where do you like to blog?

On the laptop just before or after dinner. We have a desktop as well but I only use it when I draw the short straw. The monitors are broken and display everything in either magenta or cyan – not easy for deciding which food shot is most alluring when it's cast in purple/green.

7. What's your signature dish?

Chocolate brownies. I can whip up a batch in 5 minutes (even under the influence of drink). I can finish eating the batch in about the same time span.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?

Like a lot of teenage girls, I saw food as the enemy and spent many years trying to eat as little as possible trying to be thin. My first trip to Italy as a 20 year old opened my eyes very wide, and I realized there was more to food than microwaving it and being afraid of it. I have very happily never looked back since.

Introduction to Niamh from Eat like a girl

This Post was written by Niamh from Eat like a girl

1. Where are you based?
I am based in North London but I am originally from Ireland on the southern coast.

2. How long have you been blogging?
Only 3 months now! It took me a long time to get the courage to do it. I don't really know why in hindsight. It seemed like it might be scary exposing myself in this way, but really, it's not like that atall!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
Connecting with other food bloggers, people with the same obssession, food. Seeing what others make and how they use ingredients is inspiring, and while I love cookbooks this has an added dimension, it's more accessible. It's a fantastic creative outlet, allowing me to work on how I photograph and write about food. Getting feedback and comments from people who use my blog is also so encouraging.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
The waistline! I spend so much time cooking, shopping for food and eating out there's a constant surplus and no time to do anything to work it off. Which is a poor excuse, I know, but I am sticking with it ;-) Blogging has also become a little compulsive so I need to work on that.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
Currently, other food bloggers, my cookbook collection, ingredients in shops, menus in restaurant windows, food on television, fruit growing on trees! Anything atall. There's constant inspiration. As a child, sweet things generally inspired me, I found it the best and quickest way to get my hands on some cake and sweets! I used to make turkish delight and lemon meringue pies. Also, my mother and aunt taught me loads as did my home economics teacher.

6. Where do you like to blog?
At home when I am relaxed. I have no garden so I am confined to my living room but if I had one it would be there.

7. What's your signature dish?
Tough question. There's lots of dishes that I like to prepare frequently and they're usually quick and simple. I don't think I have one, I suppose I should really. A recent favourite is laksa, I make that often. I expect that as my blog develops a signature dish may with it.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?
I had the most ridiculous eating habits as a child and one Christmas would only eat baked beans and cake. I was a vegetarian for 11 years but that's all been turned on its head.

Introduction to Antonia

This Post was written by Antonia from Food, Glorious Food!

1. Where are you based?

Battersea, London

2. How long have you been blogging?

Since April, 2007. Very definitely still a novice, but enjoying every minute!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

Food blogging inspires me to be much more adventurous with my cooking. Rather than cooking 'the same old thing', I am more experimental as I want to produce something suitably 'blog-worthy'.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

The fact that most of my food is cold by the time I have captured its best angle on camera.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

I have loved both food and writing for as long as I remember. Last year I took an Open University course in creative writing which I enjoyed, but found that almost everything I wrote about included references or descriptions of food or wine (even my portrayal of a chilling murder scene!). Food blogging therefore seemed a more appropriate outlet for my writing. In terms of culinary inspiration, all the following influence my cooking; the weather, the season, the occasion, my mood, other food blogs, my collection of cookery books and magazines.

6. Where do you like to blog?

At my desk, in the sitting room, sitting on a too-low piano stool that makes my back ache. I must find somewhere better...

7. What's your signature dish?

Hmm. Tricky. I take puddings fairly seriously and would probably say treacle tart. My family would definitely say my beef and horseradish casserole. My friends would, for some inexplicable reason, say my honey and mustard chicken salad. It is the sort of supper I make in a hurry, using whatever is in the fridge. I always serve it up in an apologetic sort of way, but everyone seems to love it.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?

Although I love to entertain and do so frequently, most of my cooking is for one as I live alone. Most people say they can't be bothered to cook properly 'just for one', but I find it incredibly therapeutic and go to just as much effort for myself as I do when cooking for a crowd.

Introduction to Sarah

This Post was written by Sarah from Eating Britain

1. Where are you based?
Worthing, near Brighton on the South Coast

2. How long have you been blogging?
I started blogging about a year ago and food blogging took over a couple of months later.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
The other food bloggers! I love the friendly-ness and the passion for everything to do with food. It's so nice to share that passion by reading other blogger's experiences and experiments!

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
It's so frustrating when I spend time planning and preparing a dish, only to scoff it before I remember to take a photo!! Ggrrrr!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
Food is an important part of me. From a very young age I was helping my mum and nan in the kitchen. I learnt so much from watching and doing the odd job, like stir the roux whilst mum was preparing something else. Growing up in a Portuguese family, introduced me to different foods and having adventurous parents, gave me a fairly cultured pallet. Then in my late 20's I became un-well and was diagnosed with a gluten intolerance and IBS. Suddenly, many of the foods I love became the enemy and it made me so sad. I started looking for gluten-free recipes on the net and gradually began to realise that I could still eat many things just by substituting ingredients for GF versions or alternatives. I had already started blogging and began reading the blogs of other IBS sufferers and I stumbled across Karina's blog "Recipes from a (Gluten-free) Goddess. I was utterly enthralled and inspired. Karina's recipes are fabulous and her writing inspired me to share my journey into food and cooking from a new angle - the result, food blogging on EatingBritain.com!

6. Where do you like to blog?
I like blogging on my laptop, with my feet up, on the sofa. Somehow I get my best inspiration late at night and have been known to be tapping away until the early hours.

7. What's your signature dish?
I really don't know. I like to cook such a variety of dishes, it's difficult to choose. But judging by repeated requests to make this particular dish, I'd say my sausage & bean casserole. It's yummy and very easy and it's GF, in fact I really should write a post about it...!

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?
I really, really can't stand green beans!!!

Introduction to Joanna's Food

This Post was written by Joanna from Joanna's Food



1. Where are you based?

Harpsden, just outside Henley on Thames

2. How long have you been blogging?

I'm astonished to find that it's been over two years - I first started on a whim in May 2005.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

The cameraderie, no question. I have made some real friends, loads of cyber friends, and there's always someone on hand to give advice, answer stupid questions, make you feel better when you're down, make you feel good about things you've said and done. So very much more than a recipe book!

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

The stick I get from my family about photographing the food!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

I've always cooked a lot, I've always enjoyed it. The food writing came later (although I was a journalist before I started my family) ... my husband had a heart attack three years ago, and we changed our diet on doctors' advice. It was a time of huge change in the way I cooked, and I kept forgetting what I'd been doing. At the same time, people began to ask me about the changes we were making. So, in the beginning, the blog was a way of keeping track of what I was doing, and at the same time sharing it with friends. Only gradually did I discover what blogging was really all about!

6. Where do you like to blog?

I always blog on my laptop in my study (I know, I'm a lucky girl). But I'd really like someone to tell me about the software I know exists which enables you to write the post while you're out and about, and post it when you get to a hotspot.

7. What's your signature dish?

Not sure I've got one ... I like to innovate. Salmon and chips (McCain's 5% oven chips, the ONLY processed food I now buy) with a huge salad is my personal favourite; prawn paste is my new take on potted shrimps (all that butter's a total no-no); more or less anything involving a beetroot.

8. What about you might it surprise other bloggers to know?

Um. Er.

An introduction...

This Post was written by Sunita from Sunita's World.

1. Where are you based?

Kesgrave, Ipswich.

2. How long have you been blogging?

Since one cold December night, 2006...now how long does that make...seven months!

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

For me the best thing is undoubtedly the fact that I can keep track of those recipes which, so often, I just improvise as I cook. I conjure most of the dishes while cooking. The fact that now I can refer to them again whenever I want to is just so handy. And of course who can forget the charming readers who stop by my humble blog and leave words of encouragement...I really look forward to them and although I've never seen most of them, I do enjoy their chit-chat quite a lot.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?

Oh! that has got to be the expanding waistline which needs to be looked after more often now.

5. What inspires you to cook and write?

Well, I've always loved to write and I've always loved to cook...so it was like combining two of the things that I'm really passionate about .

6. Where do you like to blog?

Wherever I can place the laptop on...

7. What's your signature dish?

Now, that's a really difficult question... both me and my husband ( and now the kids) are real foodies and don't stop from trying anything... that means I cook all types of food, and usually they do pass the test... and I'm still experimenting...so to choose one is a real tough job...

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?

I got cooking after I was 16 or 17. Till then I did'nt realise that plain rice involved only rice and water...I remember asking somebody what are the spices and salts to be put in to which I received quite a stare- considering the fact that it is the staple food and consumed everyday ( in Asam, India, where I originally come from) ...

Getting to know you

This Post was written by PADMAJA from Spicyandhra



1. Where are you based?
Ipswich

2. How long have you been blogging?
Since 2006

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

Meeting likeminded people, my blog has given me the space where I can record my culinary expeditions, day to day ramblings and where I do spend a lot of enjoyable time with family n friends


4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
Not having enough time to do what I really want to do as Work commitments take over

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
The sense of accomplishment after trying my hand at something different, and the critic at home can’t stop praising the dish!!!!

6. Where do you like to blog?
At home

7. What's your signature dish?
I've loads n loads of recipes with my personal tinge, as I struggle to follow any recipe from cookbooks...

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?
For the first 24 years of my life, I have been so fussy with my eating habits and never went into a kitchen let alone cooking. I really don’t know what triggered and how I slowly turned so passionate about food that I absolutely in love with food now.

Allow Me to Introduce Myself...

This Post was written by Culinary Cowgirl from www.culinarycowgirl.blogspot.com.

Getting to know you...

1. Where are you based? Southern Hampshire...I can almost see the Isle of Wight from my house.

2. How long have you been blogging? January 2007. I have had my site since last fall and the idea for it since early 2006...but it took me ages to commit and to kick myself into gear.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging? Okay, I know this sounds cliche, but... getting to write about my passion. That's why I started doing it in the first place...the other "good things" are now just icing on the cake.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging? Trying to find the time to do it. With my "regular" life taking priority, I sometimes feel guilty about blogging...which I know I shouldn't.

5. What inspires you to cook and write? I've been involved in some aspect of food and writing for quite a while, so it only seems natural. Plus, my grandfather was a true gourmet...it's like a tribute to him.

6. Where do you like to blog? At my desk...that's where the computer is. However, I do keep a notebook in my purse for jotting down ideas and notes while I am out and about.

7. What is your signature dish? Hmmm...tough one...I have a few. Off the top of my head, I would have to say it's my Chicken Chili Rellenos. They're a take on a recipe by Grady Spears...but tweaked and twisted to please my husband's tastes. I also do a mean stuffed tri-tip...but since that cut is not readily available here in England, I have to reserve it for stateside use.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know? I really am a cowgirl. Honest. I grew up on a cattle ranch in Northern California. For the first part of my life I worked cattle alongside my father and brothers...yes, just like you see in the movies. Therefore, beef is in my blood.

Introduction

This Post was written by Amanda from Little Foodies.

1. Where are you based?
Surrey

2. How long have you been blogging?
Since I plucked up the courage a very short while ago.

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?

You get to write about food. What could be better if you're not cooking or eating? Meeting other likeminded people.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
A feeling that I'm like a newborn lamb awaiting the inevitable slaughter. The fact I have a lot to learn. I e-mailed my blog link to friends/family asking for positive feedback only as was too vulnerable as a new blogger for constructive criticism. How cowardly is that?!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
I love to feed people. I have many cookbooks but can never follow a recipe. I like to tinker... but they still inspire me.

I'm very lucky with two children who are little foodies you can't help but want to inspire them to eat well, try new things and watch their tastesbuds run riot.

6. Where do you like to blog?
In the corner of my kitchen.

7. What's your signature dish?
I'll have to ask the people who eat my food.... I love making comforting savoury food but I also like to make small things, fairy cakes and I hate the word but I like to make them - canapes.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?

Oh dear! Nothing I'd want to share!

How Do You Do

1. Where are you based?
Londontown

2. How long have you been blogging?
Since the wintry October of 2004

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
The handy excuse to whip out my camera to capture the yummy moments.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
The gnawing guilt during my periods of writing drought, and the regret that I have not posted my best [writing].

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
The sense of accomplishment after trying my hand at something new and that adrenalin-rush derived from having read a good food piece

6. Where do you like to blog?
At home, in comforts of my kitchen.

7. What's your signature dish?
...I've been strugglling with this question for a while...

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?
My body has become so accustomed to spice (chilli or pepper spice) that food is unexciting without it - the absence of hot flashes, moustache sweat, and frantic hand motions for water makes a dull meal.


This Post was written by Celine from Black.Salt

Answers to Getting to Know You Questions

OK I'm going to go with the flow and put my answers as a new post.

1. Where are you based?
Kent

2. How long have you been blogging?
Since September 2006

3. What's the best thing about food blogging?
It gives me an outlet for my passion for food, it enables me to be creative through writing, photography and design and I'm part of a fantastic community.

4. What's the worst thing about food blogging?
Writer's block!

5. What inspires you to cook and write?
I'm very influenced by the weather and that in turn influences my mood. I feel very inspired by the change in seasons and I love sitting out in my garden when the sun is shining.

6. Where do you like to blog?
Thanks to my laptop I find myself blogging mostly on the sofa or in bed! Again, I do like to be out in the garden but it's difficult to see the screen when the sun is shining brightly, so I tend to do my research there - reading cook books!

7. What's your signature dish?
Roast chicken with homemade gravy, roast potatoes and roast carrots. I almost always make stock or soup with the carcase.

8. What about you might surprise other food bloggers to know?
I'm not keen on very spicy food. Odd for a foodie, eh? :-)


This Post was written by Julia from A Slice of Cherry Pie