A Self-Made Woman with a Passion for the Arts, Schools

Patch recently started an initiative with the Huffington Post to highlight amazing individuals all over the country. I wrote this as part of the effort, about a Norcross volunteer: 

When Arlene Beckles was 19, she left the small town in Barbados where she grew up to move to Brooklyn by herself. Her family owned a traditional rum shop on the island, which she said made for an interesting childhood. “But I knew that in order to grow, I had to leave,” she said.

That braveness and unwavering expectation that things can—and should—be better has marked Ms. Beckles’ life. Having landed in Norcross, it seems that she has her hands in an endless number of civic projects, from her work creating a safer route for local students to get to school to her latest title, “the chair lady.” READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE.

For Local Author and Chef, Food is Fate

Here's an article I was just thinking about last week. A cook and author in Norcross, the turf that I cover as editor of Norcross.Patch.com, made the "Big Green Egg Cookbook" right in the historic area. Check it out: 

The other night, Sara Levy decided to have an “easy” dinner: Cream of onion soup with caramelized onions to start, Cornish hens with a tarragon sauce and roasted Brussels sprouts.

Levy, a self-taught chef and former kitchen manager for southern cooking icon Nathalie Dupree, is author of the "Big Green Egg Cookbook.” The book is a tome that explores the myriad options for cooking with the smoker and grill that has a cult following. Last summer 50,000 copies were printed when it hit the shelves. And it was devised, cooked and photographed in her historic Norcross home. READ THE WHOLE STORY HERE. 

Ethnic Eats in Review

Since I live in an area that is blessed with secret Japanese spots and taco shacks with cult followings, how could I stop myself from documenting them? Here is a recap of Ethnic Eats, possibly the favorite thing I do as editor of Norcross.Patch.com:

Sublime Vegetarian Indian, At a Food Court

Underground Japanese, In Glorious Simplicity

Thai Star Shines

Under Chandeliers, A Happy Valley of Dim Sum

Pho Sure: Yany Express

A Salvadorian Eatery That's All of Dessert First

Umi Nom: Master of Many

I recently did a review of the fantastic Bed-Stuy fusion spot Umi Nom for the Local. Check it out: 

I admit to being put off by the idea of fusion cuisine. Call it the “master of none” principle — the possibility of getting Italian-spiced calamari sushi that is neither Italian nor Japanese, but trapped in some parsley-flavored dead zone. (Also see: taco pizza, curry egg rolls.) But I was wholly proven wrong after eating at Umi Nom in Clinton Hill again and again. It has become my favorite Asian spot in the city — for Filipino, Thai and Vietnamese, all at once. READ THE WHOLE REVIEW AT THE LOCAL

Yo Yosemite!

Check out this Parenting piece about Yosemite National Park:

If there's one word that kept popping in my head to on my recent trip to Yosemite, it was "temple." Chiseled, handsome granite rock formations--the largest monoliths in the world--jut out of the pristine forest, frigid waterfalls from recently melted snow trickling down the warmed rocks playfully. Not far from that sacred valley are some of the largest, oldest trees in the world, Giant Sequoias. If you are looking for a way to teach your kids to respect nature's temple, just take them to Yosemite. SEE THE WHOLE SLIDE SHOW!

7 Craft Beer Discoveries

At the 4^th Annual NY Brew Fest last weekend, I sloshed from one impossible line to the next, sipping some remarkable beers—and some unfortunate boring ones. My two rules: I couldn’t drink anything that I ever had before (except for that accidental PBR—holy watery hipster mistake!) and I had to be drinking while I was standing in line, to try as many beers as possible. The glasses were only 4 ounces, I swear. To serve my memory, I documented the extra-special ones. (Pardon tipsy photog moments, onegaishimasu.)

Defiant Muddy Creek—This brackish dark lager had a nice creamy head
and a gorgeous complex flavor that reminded us of tootsie rolls.
Surprisingly crisp, too.

Otter Creek Copper Ale—This Athens, GA brewpub beer had nice bitterness
that was mellowed by a little amber-honey sweetness.

Lake Placid Ube Ale—The line was long for this deep red English ale.
It was definitely meaty—It hit you over the head. In a good way.

Fire Island Red Wagon IPA —Named for the Long Island beach town, this
kicked-back IPA had a mellow hoppy kick that still allowed other flavors to shine through.

Keegan Ales Mother’s Milk—This dark, creamy stout has a remarkably light
feel. Lots of oatmeal and cream, but you can still sip it in the sunshine.

 

Heavy Seas Loose Cannon Hop Ale—I liked the effervescence of this
mash-up brew, which is living outside the law.

21^st Amendment Hell or High Watermelon Wheat—Here’s one way to keep a
watermelon beer from seeming overly girly: Put a curse word in the title. This
refreshing beer did have some juicy Jollyrancher flavor, but it was balanced with
a yeastiness that made it a-okay in my book.

http://www.fireislandbeer.com/

A Food Co-op Coming to My Hood?

Read this post on the NYT's blog, the Local, about the possibility of cheap, real food--right in my neighborhood.

A Margarita Tour of the ATL

Whenever I go home for Christmas, some things always push my this-is-my-city button. The air in Atlanta is inexplicably warm and sweet. Thing seem easier, less rushed, more American, and with more attitude and good humor. And there’s something that thing that fills a gaping hole in my New York life: damn-good Mexican food.

On a single, gluttonous day, I toured three of Atlanta’s most celebrated Mexican restaurants, drinking too many margaritas and consuming far more cheese than a person should in a 24-hours. (Then I played with gusto with my four brilliant nieces and nephews.)

Round 1: Taqueria Del Sol
The line was long when I made my first stop around 1:30 at the now-swinging Westside Provisions warehouse district. (All hail the genius of Anne Quatrano.) But the simple fish tacos made flaky, buttery tortillas, prepared on site, were perfectly pitched. The fresh, sweet corn chowder got a balancing kick of chili, totally changing my perception of what a chowder could be. And the margarita? Tart and not too strong, but the food shined brighter. Why, oh why, can’t you find white cheese dip with jalapenos in New York? Criminal.

Round 2: No Mas! Cantina
This artful Mexican compound tucked into Castleberry Hill takes the prize for its margaritas. Triple Sec, Cointreau, and top-shelf tequila in liberal amounts--but it all finds balance with the addition of fresh squeezed lime juice. No sugary extra crap here but each glass comes with a bracelet with tiny oval pictures of Catholic idols that you can slap on and take home. (My companion from San Francisco tells me that the hipsters in the Mission are all for these charms.) The flan was creamy and crustardy with bold cinnamon notes that don‘t mess around.

Round 3: Frontera
Oh, how I long for the words “hot plate!” as a heap of perfectly authentic, cheese-soaked Mexican is thrust in front of me. This is my family go-to and it was as great as my often-dreams. The chunky guac was just as creamy, tart and piquant as I wanted it to be. A firey tomato stew-stuffed bell pepper is soaked in white Mexican cheese, then baked until piping hot and served with the always appropriate refried beans and rice. It’s 7:30 and I’m home sweet. 

Cheap Lunches for the Week

If you are as broke as me, you think about things like if pasta noodles can double as Asian noodles. In this food challenge, I develop five cheap lunches for just under $25. 

Wines To Drink When You're Broke

The problem: You don't want to "waste" good wine on cheap-ass food. The solution: This Lemondrop article which gives uber-budget options to enhance the flavor of, say, Mac N Cheese or--my favorite--Beans N Rice. 

Bite-Sized Thanksgiving

This snack column, which I faithfully gather and wrote about (and, yes, ate, including the baby soup...) is all about fall's warming flavors. 

Can You Live Without a Car?

Surprising revelations here about how you can actually live without a car. Created quite a stir on Mint.com. 

Day Tripper

This Parenting travel piece is all about quirky, delightful towns that are easy to drive to in a day. 

Park It! National Parks the Rule

This Parenting article, from the August issue highlights five national parks.  In the words of Ken Burns, they were "America's best idea." 

Road Trip!

4 kitschy slices of Americana that you can inhale in just a five days. From the travel column at Parenting. 

Take It to the Road