11.23.08

I’ve moved!

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:13 pm by Anne

Table Talk has new name and a new home! Stop by, and update your bookmarks. All new blog posts will appear at: www.pearvana.com

11.20.08

Foodie roadtrip!

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , at 12:14 pm by Anne

From Hoopla:

The Celebrity Food & Wine Expo features celebrity chef appearances by Sandra Lee (of the Food Network’s Semi-Homemade Cooking), Jamie Gwen (Home Shopping Network), Curtis Stone (of Discovery Networks TLC’s Take Home Chef), Guy Fieri (of the Food Network’s Diners Drive-Ins and Dives and Ultimate Recipe Showdown), and Andrew Zimmern (of Travel Channel’s Bizarre
Foods).This three-day event will be a melting pot for culinary enthusiasts throughout the Midwest, offering the opportunity to discover the latest cooking techniques from celebrity chefs, as well as those at the local and regional level.

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Nov. 21, 22, 23)

Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Des Moines

Cost:  $25 in advance or $30 at the door, Children 6 and under are admitted into the show FREE of charge. VIP Tickets are priced at $60. Tickets will be available at the Wells Fargo Arena ticket office, all area Dahl’s Foods locations, online at dahlstickets.com, or charge by phone at 866-55-DAHLS.

More info: www.cfwexpo.com

Anybody from E Iowa planning to go?

Lunch, dinner and popovers

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , , , at 12:07 pm by Anne

It’s been a while!

First: Two new lunch options in downtown Cedar Rapids!

  • The Prairie Soup Company, owned and operated by Ryan and Katy Buresh, serves homemade soups and sandwiches from their location on the second floor of the APEC building. 
  • Benz Beverage Depot is offering grab-and-go “European Lunches” featuring artisan or imported cheeses and sliced cured meats on a mini baguette for $5.95.

Second: You’ve probably heard by now, but just in case you haven’t, Blend and the Piano Lounge are both open for business. They both look a little different — Blend has added an outdoor seating area, reconfigured its entryway, and redecorated the interior with darker, cooler tones while The Piano Lounge has opened up it’s establishment and added a second bar — but they’ve maintained their cool, upscale atmosphere AND tasty food and drinks.

Third: I wanted to show you what the popovers I wrote about in my last column looked like. I had always shyed away from popovers, because I didn’t want to buy a popover pan, and I was afraid that using a muffin pan would result in a batch of unpoppedovers and a disappointed and unhappy Anne. But then I took a deep breath and gave it a try anyway. I’m pleased to report that the popovers did rise, at least a little bit, and they were delicious and I will be making them again, popover pan or no.

 

A muffin pan o popovers

A muffin pan o popovers

Lovely, poofy insides. Im getting hungry.

Lovely, poofy insides. I'm getting hungry.

A word of warning for those who haven’t tried popovers before: These should be eaten while they’re still warm from the oven. Unlike, say, muffins or biscuits, they’re no good the next day. Click through for the recipe.

Read the rest of this entry »

11.04.08

Election Day food photos

Posted in Uncategorized tagged , , , , , , at 2:17 pm by Anne

Election Day food round-up

Election Day Bento

Election Day Bento, from jasonkraft on flickr

Cookies from a Chicago-area deli

Cookies from a Chicago-area deli, from soupandacookie on flickr

Patriotic breakfast, from maisonbisson on flickr

Patriotic breakfast, from maisonbisson on flickr

Obama cookies, from megpi on flickr

Obama cookies, from megpi on flickr

McCain cookies, from jmspool on flickr

McCain cookies, from jmspool on flickr