I recently completed a three-month artist residency in the lovely Chicago neighborhood of Pullman. After considering a number of ideas of what I planned to do during my stay, I landed on contemplating the idea of leisure in area known for labor. This was not …
Onion Dip for Breakfast turns two and the journey just gets better every day. We’ve explored the nooks and crannies of life, clinked our glasses, tasted everything, and taken off for parts unknown.
Happy anniversary, ODB!
This statue, which has adorned our deck for over a decade now, has brought me joy season after season. I call her… My Lady. I remember the day that we bought her at an estate sale and us hauling her up the steps to our …
June closed with an explosion of fruit and flowers in the Black Garden. July promises even more.
Recently, I had the opportunity to meet the 2023 James Beard Award Best Chef Southeast winner, Terry Koval.
Just a few days before connecting with him at his Decatur, Georgia restaurant, The Deer and the Dove, I had been sitting in the Lyric Opera of Chicago as his name was announced as the winner. Up until that time, I had never been to his restaurant, but I sat there in the audience with so much joy that a restauranteur from metro Atlanta had been recognized and honored.
In meeting Chef Koval, it was like reuniting with a familiar friend. He was kind, warm, humorous and easy to talk to. With a full house expected on a Saturday evening (especially after winning the award), the chef treated us with his full attention much longer than I could have imagined. He told us his story, one which begins with his early years. He told us of his influences and the events that led him. His guiding philosophy that he spreads with others is to treat people with kindness and respect. As we sat with Chef Koval in the restaurant booth, I thought that the award could not have gone to a kinder and more respectful person.
Congratulations, Chef Koval! We absolutely loved dining at your place!
Don’t miss The Deer and The Dove.
We were celebrating my parents’ marriage the last time we saw “Sweet Life” with a garden cake, sparkling flutes, joy, and a flashback to their wedding day. We’ve returned to the theme in all of its goodness. I find that as much as I’m present …
Now that we’ve (partially) caught our breath, we’re just starting to look at some of the photos from two weeks ago. For the second year, Onion Dip for Breakfast has attended the James Beard Awards and it has been thrilling!
As you can imagine, half of ODB has taken a keen interest in cooking since her teen years while the other one has entertained thousands with grace and glamor. She’s also been transfixed by the excitement and energy of cooking competition shows. Those two paths inevitably led to this.
Old hats at this, we were ready to take every bite and sip in. As beautifully-arranged trays of nibbles and glasses of rainbow-bright drinks passed by, we leaned in and tasted everything. As always, our favorite part was the community of people.
This year, we with even more people as we celebrated James Beard Leadership awardees with a golden libation at the South Chicago Farm of our partner, Urban Growers Collective.
Here’s a look.
We, of course, shared onion dip… .
