Dishing Up Spring

I got a chance to catch up with my very busy friend Sheri Davis, who is the executive chef and owner of Dish Restaurant in the Virginia Highlands.
We were giggling like school girls in anticipation of the lovely produce that comes with this time of year. She said the strawberries grown regionally have been particularly beautiful this spring, and that she’s been enjoying the wild baby arugula brought in from local growers like Neil Taylor over at TaylOrganic Farm and other Georgia farmers and co-ops.

"In fact,” she said, “We’ve been running the strawberries and arugula as a salad special with gorgonzola from Sweet Grass Dairy, spiced pecans which also happen to be Georgia grown, and an aged-balsamic vinaigrette.”


That set my mouth a-droolin’ and I asked her about her favorite spring time ingredients. Dreamily she said, “Soft shell crabs, English peas and morel mushrooms – what a great combination that is.” A great combination that sure to be a special one night soon if it’s not tonight.

Sheri said due to the big nor’easterners and other ugly weather up north the cold water fish from the North Atlantic has been particularly gorgeous. “We’ve been getting beautiful halibut. It’s been screwing up the lobster but the fish is gorgeous,” she said, adding that the plump diver scallops and snapper have been beautiful as well.

Dish is open nightly at 5:30 p.m. and has been serving up delightful food with an always-relevant and pairing-friendly wine list for over eight years. The all-seasons patio is a fantastic place to sit and enjoy the best weather Georgia has to offer while dining on locally grown produce and watching the beautiful people of the Virginia-Highland district drift by. Call 404-897-3463 for more info and tell Sheri I sent you!

Life Chef™ celebrates May as
National Older Americans Month

Food for Life: The Mature Woman’s Guide
10 Tips for Health and Wellness Age 50 and Beyond










Everyday ingredients that can:
* Protect Your Heart
* Fight Cancer
* Cool Hot Flashes & Mood Swings
* Strengthen Bones
* Nourish Skin & Hair
* Relieve Joint Pain
* Boost Energy & Improve Sleep
* Ease Reflux & Heartburn
* Improve Digestion & Elimination
* Protect Your Teeth

This class is now being offered to groups in an effort to spread healthy living throughout the community!
* 10 person minimum for group rates of $25 per person
* Discounts for groups of 20 or more
* Discounts for non-profits

Ask about how you can get a FREE 1-hour lifestyle analysis when you book a group of 20+!
Session will be scheduled after the presentation date.
* lifechef@gmail.com
* www.lifechef.blogspot.com

Food for Life: One Year of Healthful Living

Life Chef™ presents a new class

Food for Life: One Year of Healthful Living©

* Trade in your old habits for a permanent healthy lifestyle in one year.
* Learn delicious and nutritious ways to create a healthier you.
* Get a year’s worth of practical tips that you can start using right now.

You Will Receive:
1. “Food for Life: One Year of Healthful Living”© which includes 52 tips – 1 for each week of the year -- backed by science, industry and research that you can begin implement into your life immediately.

2. Cooking demonstrations and recipes illustrating nutritious, flavor boosting techniques taught by a classically trained professional chef.

3. Articles on health and wellness written by a veteran food and health journalist, and compiled from experts in holistic health, the food industry and the medical field.

4. Practical, no-nonsense information that you can use today regardless of your current health or diet to begin making permanent changes for a more healthful life.

5. References so that you can see the facts for yourself as you tailor your diet to fit your personal goals and make long-term improvements in your lifestyle.

This class is now being offered to groups in an effort to spread healthy living throughout the community!
* 10 person minimum for group rates of $35 per person
* Discounts for groups of 20 or more
* Discounts for non-profits

Ask about how you can get a FREE 1-hour lifestyle analysis when you book a group of 20+!
(Session will be scheduled after the presentation date.)
* lifechef@gmail.com
* www.lifechef.blogspot.com

Super Bowl Dip Recipes

Super Bowl Dips Recipes
Posted Jan 25th 2007 5:24PM by AOL Living Editor
Dip, Baby, Dip! by Chef Asata Reid

Host the "big game" without missing the play-by-play action (or the commercials) when you use this fantastic spread of dips. Choose party pleasers that will appeal to the wing dunkers, the celery crunchers or both. To keep your guests happy, and yourself out of the kitchen, call your local deli before game day to order a crudités and cheese tray and a couple of assorted wing platters. Pick up an assortment of breads, crackers and chips for dipping and you'll score as the reigning MVP of good grub.

Warm Crab, Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Good enough to eat with a spoon, this creamy crab, artichoke and spinach concoction will please the most finicky gourmet in your group.

Bacon Ranch Dip
Bacon is the best thing that ever happened to ranch, and this dip is the best thing that ever happened to a crudités or wing platter.

Sun-Dried Tomato Hummus Dip
Give plain, old hummus new life with the tangy sweetness of sun-dried tomatoes and fresh parsley.

Smoked Salmon Mousse
Use high quality smoked salmon, fresh dill and lemon juice to make this delicate mousse irresistible.

Nuke It Chili Cheese Dip
Can't cook? No problem as long as you have a can opener and a microwave. Turn up the spice on this cheesy chili dip with your favorite brand of salsa or hot pepper sauce.

Seven-Layer Cheese Dip
This Super Bowl classic won't weigh you down like the store-bought versions, which can be impossible to sink a chip through. The secret to seven penetrable layers is lightening the load with sour cream.

Roasted Red Pepper and Olive Tapenade
This Mediterranean-inspired mouthful explodes with flavor. Top the tangy tapenade with crumbled feta cheese for full taste overload.

Curry Lentil Pate
You'll never miss the meat in this vegan one-pot wonder.

Chocolate-Orange Fondue
Use chocolate with at least 70 percent cocoa and break out the good liqueur for the classic flavor pairing in this fondue. Don't have a fondue pot? What did you think that slow-cooker was for?

Cheesecake Dip
This light and creamy dessert dip is great for dunking fresh fruit like strawberries or apple slices.


This article appeared as "Dip, Baby Dip!"on AOL Living before the 2007 "Big Game"