Who Are We?
Aurora: I fell in love with all things food the moment I began to help my parents cook in the kitchen. As an adult, I find myself drifting toward the food aisle at the bookstore, conducting cooking experiments, and enjoying all kinds of cuisine, from haute cuisine to the local greasy spoon. I have a BA and MA in International Relations, and I am particularly interested in how cultures interact through food. I have lived in, and eaten my way through, France, Italy, Australia and, for a memorable month, the Republic of Georgia, and have visited many other countries along the way. I enjoy all cuisine, but love to pay particular attention to cultural context and tradition. Some of my favorite U.S. meals have included dinner at Auberge du Soleil and Joe's Stone Crab. I enjoy learning about and tasting the local cuisine, wherever "local" happens to be, and bore my family with my long trips to the farmers market. I look forward to contributing recipes, book reviews and restaurant reviews, as well as joining in food related discussions and experiments!
Elena: "Live to eat, not eat to live" has been my mantra since I was a little girl. Often found in the kitchen 'filming' my own cooking show, choosing to watch Julia Child instead of cartoons, my deep passion for food began at a very young age. The best chef I know is my mother, and I am still working on getting her a spot on the Food Network. Weekday dinners growing up were often culinary masterpieces, and while I can't cook nearly as well as she can, I do truly delight in all things gastronomical. I'm proud to say I 'eat like a man,' and I embrace the full spectrum of the food experience. Favorite spots include NYC's Joe's Pizza and Corner Bistro, LA's Katsuya, and the famous Versailles in Miami. From dirty water dogs in Central Park to michelin star restaurants in Paris, I love it all - especially if it includes truffles! I hope to share my passion for food here at Charlotte Food Talk. Be on the look out for restaurant reviews, best ingredients secrets, and lots of waxing poetic about what food means to me. I hope to instill some of my passion in you!
Stephanie: My food journey began as a small child. I was raised by a Greek-American father and grandmother and a stepmother who posted a weekly menu on the refrigerator. These were people who took the art of food quite seriously. Growing up, eating was a central part of our day; an opportunity not only to fill your belly, but also to express love and care. At the time, I failed to appreciate the succulent texture of roast lamb, the crunchiness of the perfectly baked spanakopita or the rich layers of the traditional Greek lasagna, pastitsio. As a child, I longed for a simple PB&J or mac and cheese for lunch, but no meal was complete in my house unless meat was on the plate! With a MA in Marriage and Family Therapy, it is fascinating for me to examine the ways in which dining brings families together.
As an adult, I appreciate many things Greek, as well as other types of cuisine. Some of my more memorable culinary experiences include exploring the local, tasty eats you can find in historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace in Boston; noshing on the many sultry Colombian surprises you find in Andres Carne de Res in Bogota, Colombia; and the mouth-watering Tuscan varieties that Angelo Elia serves up at the well-known Casa D'Angelo in Fort Lauterdale. Nor can I forget the delightful sensations that Poc Buffet is serving up in Weston, FL. It is the first buffet that has no resemblance to any buffet you've ever experienced with sushi so fresh you would swear you were in Japan. Oh, and Rome, oh sweet Rome, I guess I will save that for another day. I look forward to my next journey of discovering and sharing with you the many epicurean delights Charlotte has to offer! Until then, enjoy your groceries!
