D.M.R. Fine Foods, The Blog, Celebrates 10 Years (Pt. 2)

I'm excited to be back sharing more of the highlights and experiences that have made my D.M.R. Fine Foods blogging journey truly rewarding to date.  And I trust that the best is yet to come!  

In this installment, we're going down memory lane for the years of 2013-2015, and believe me when I tell you that they were some of the most progressive and thrilling years, following the amazing-ness of the early years.  So without further ado, let's keep this party train rolling!

2013

2013 highlights brought on the likes of amazing collaborations, including being a founding member of Popsugar Food Select which would segue into the publishing of five of my original recipes on the Popsugar platform and inclusion in additional round-ups, being acknowledged as Blogger of the Week among the cadre of fellow talented bloggers, and sponsored/ambassador campaigns for the Popsugar Must Have Box in the years to follow.  

My collaborations continued as a contributing blogger with the Travelista TV brand, expanding my reach for sharing my travel passion, tips and savvy with fellow travelistas far and wide.  Annnd, I saw another dream come true, as I embarked on my first (of several fully-sponsored/hosted) press trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.  Furthering my voice as a travel journalist and working with tourism authorities, all while taking in the best of a destination, couldn't have been more thrilling and fueling to keep indulging my passions with wild abandon.

2014

And then there was 2014!!! With momentum from the previous years flowing nicely, 2014 highlights brought even more awe-inspiring experiences.  I caught the bug for teaching culinary skills and techniques, while making food a fun and delicious endeavor, during my William-Sonoma days and in 2014 ultimately parlayed that into the realization of  my very own cooking school. (Can you say, dream fulfilled?!). As the pop-up concept was starting to catch on, and with a full-time corporate career in tow, I decided on a pop-up concept that would launch in the Spring of 2014 to raving success.  You can take in more of the amazing highlights from my Techniques and Tastings (TM) Pop Up Cooking School--and stay tuned for future offerings from this well-beloved DMRFF offering.

And if my cooking school wasn't enough, I added another pop up concept, in the way of my Holiday Pop Up Shop, to the mix with our initial launch in December of 2014.  My love of sharing my food with the "masses" beyond the world of media and bespoke cooking classes, was realized in this one-day format where I brought forth many of the recipes that had become customer favorites from my Holiday Sweets and Treats Menu catering days.  Again, I say, stay tuned for more on this front!

I also continued furthering my media and collaboration footprint covering events like the Taste of Atlanta Food Festival, restaurant reviews, being a contributing writer to the Travel Noire platform and crowning the year with another epic, hosted press trip and tourism collaboration to St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands!

2015

The hits just kept on coming with my 2015 highlights!  

I experienced more epic travel forays to new destinations (like Argentina and Uruguay) and repeat favorites (hello Paris and London and NYC), and more, to satisfy my travel passion. 

Back on the media/collaboration front, my footprint expanded to more festivals, including the highly regarded Atlanta Food and Wine Festival, along with more restaurant and food industry event reviews, including Restaurant Week indulgences and more.  I was also honored to have my first of four recipes, to date, published on the FeedFeed!

There was also the matter of having the James Beard Foundation give a nod to my food, accompanied by an award of dinner for two at the James Beard House!!!!! It still remains one of the most special memories in my journey to date--and a night I'll always remember. 

My byline credits expanded to include a lifestyle piece in the June 2015 issue of Upscale Magazine; another honor, indeed.  

And then there was yet another dream come true, as I received my first media invitation to cover the Daniel Silverstain SS16 New York Fashion Week collection (eeek!!!). To know me is to know my life-long (as in adolescent years forward) passion for fashion and my dream of attending fashion week someday.  

And to be clear, all of these highlights were in parallel with blogging my heart out here and staying connected through my social media channels. From 2010 until now, that has always been the format.

So much amazing-ness, so many memories, so much more goodness still to share.  I keep pinching myself and thanking God for all the richness this journey has served (and continues to add) to my life and expression as a creative.  Thank you for being here and for allowing me to share many of the good things that continue to make it worthwhile.  Stay tuned for more in the days ahead. :)

Happy Holidays!

Dawn

{TASTES OF THE SEASON}: D.M.R. FINE FOODS FALL & HOLIDAY POP-UP SHOP!

What's Fall and the holiday season without seasonal and festive goodies to eat, drink and make merry?  I asked myself the same question over the last while and couldn't resist answering with a delicious Pop-Up Shop to savor some of the season's best tastes.

I'm thrilled to be teaming up with the fabulous Westside Market once again to present an afternoon of fall and holiday inspired fare for tasting, savoring--and yes, shopping! It will be the perfect opportunity to grab delicacies, star ingredients, and more, in time for the holiday season that's around the corner. 

And did I mention that this year's Pop-Up Shop will be amidst Westside Market's Holiday Baazar?  Translation: there will be other artisans available for you to browse and shop for your holiday gifting and decor needs.

Mark your calendars for next Saturday, November 21st from 12 - 4p.m. EST, and make plans to drop in and kick start your holiday season with our goodies that are perfect for your kitchen, as hostess gifts, and more!  From warm spices, to hearty herbs, to bright citrus, sweet confections, and more, there will be something for everyone--and every taste.  It promises to be a deliciously fun afternoon, as always--and I can't wait to see you there!

Happy Holidays and Happy Eating!

D.M.R. Fine Foods Fall & Holiday Pop-Up Shop
Venue Details:
Westside Market
1530 Ellsworth Ind. Blvd.
Atlanta, Ga 30318
404.941.3466
www.westsidemarketatl.com

{Taste. Savor. Shop.}: D.M.R. Fine Foods Holiday Pop-Up Shop!

This holiday season I'm going back to where it all began--my Holiday Sweets and Treats Menu.  Only seven years ago, I rolled out a holiday menu that featured the best in confectionery sweets and savory treats and D.M.R. Fine Foods was officially born.  The response was great (if not overwhelming) and my small-batch, artisan quality food business would continue to later include private dinner parties, customer appreciation events, and yes, more holiday catering, alongside my role as a culinary instructor, the start of my companion blog in 2010 and, most recently, the launch of my Pop-Up Cooking School.

I have loved watching my vision grow over the years and my commitment to bringing my clients the best is as strong as ever.  So, for one afternoon only, I'll be featuring select items from my holiday menu at my first-ever holiday pop-up shop, hosted at the fabulous Westside Market!

It's the perfect opportunity to taste, savor, shop and bring a taste of the holidays into your home--without any of the fuss. 

And now, for the menu.

Mark your calendars for December 13th from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. EST and make plans to drop in for these holiday goodies for your own noshing, holiday parties, hostess gifts, and more!  I look forward to seeing you there!

Happy Holidays and Eating!

D.M.R. Fine Foods Holiday Pop-Up Shop

Venue Details:

Westside Market 

1530 Ellsworth Ind. Blvd. 

Atlanta, Ga 30318

404.941.3466

www.westsidemarketatl.com

D.M.R. Fine Foods Pop-Up Cooking School: Savor the Flavors of Spring

Although the 'April Showers' mantra has been proving true of late (rain, rain go away...), I'm elated that Spring has finally sprung again.  And I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than with a Spring-themed menu for my upcoming Techniques and Tastings(TM) Pop-Up Cooking School!

On the afternoon of May 2nd, you're invited to join me for our first class of 2015 where we'll indulge once again in a fabulous time of food, learning and fun--replete with up close and personal cooking instruction, scrumptious tastings, recipes and more, at the beautiful host venue, Lovable Foods.

Mark your calendars and make plans to attend for a delicious afternoon to remember!  For full event details, including our featured menu, and registration--go here.  Seating is limited, so don't delay!

I look forward to seeing you there and sharing...

Happy Eating!

P.S. If you missed our 2014 Spring and Summer Pop-Up Cooking Schools, check out the highlights--here and here.  You can also visit our Facebook page to see what previous attendees had to say.

{Thank You!} Fall & Holiday Pop-Up Shop 2015

The recent build-up to my Fall & Holiday Pop-Up Shop culminated in an afternoon of holiday cheer laced with my small-batch, artisan goodies that made for another memorable time of sharing my food passion--and connecting with the amazing customers who tasted, savored and shopped our select menu.  From warm mulled cider, to citrus madeleines, to maple-cinnamon granola, spice blends, and much more, there was something for everyone.

Exchange after exchange was filled with my sincere appreciation for the enthusiastic customer support I received from family, friends, colleagues, fellow artisans and bloggers, and new customers who stumbled upon our pop-up while scouring about our host venue, Westside Market.  Your support made the day the true success I hoped it would be, and I'm truly thankful that you chose D.M.R. Fine Foods to bring the tastes of the season to you.

I unfortunately couldn't capture a photo of every customer who shopped with us (and a few were admittedly camera shy :) ), but I wanted to share some of the faces that made the event worth every moment, along with this expression of thanks.

Continued Happy Holidays & Happy Eating!

{Tis the Season}: D.M.R. Fine Foods Holiday Pop-Up Shop!

At the risk of sounding slightly (or majorly) cliche, it's the most wonderful time of the year.  The holiday season is uniquely one of the most special times of the year--for all the right reasons.  Connecting with friends and family.  Savoring wonderful tastes.  Celebrating new and old traditions, alike.  And that's where my excitement truly shifts into gear...because my 3rd annual Holiday Pop-Up Shop promises to deliver on them all.

SAVE THE DATE and make plans to join me on Saturday, December 17, 2016, from 12-4p.m. EST at the fabulous Pottery Barn in Lenox Square for a time to remember!  Come out and experience festive, holiday cheer, while tasting, savoring and shopping my small-batch, artisan holiday sweets and treats.  From sweet to savory, there will be something for everyone.  Our goodies are wonderful as hostess gifts, for your holiday menus, and for plain 'ole noshing!

It promises to be a deliciously fun afternoon--and, as always, I can't wait to see you there!

Happy Eating and Happy Holidays!

D.M.R. Fine Foods Holiday Pop Up Shop
Venue Details:
Pottery Barn
Lenox Square Mall
3393 Peachtree Road NE
Atlanta, GA 30326
404.812-9726

Pop Up Cooking School {Photo Highlights}

The inaugural class of my Pop Up Cooking School took place a couple of weeks ago, and I'm admittedly still riding on a residual high from what was an absolutely amazing time--and a personal dream come true.

We gathered, we cooked, we tasted, we learned--and we had one fabulous time!  My aim to dish up cooking techniques, tips, recipes and good eats, as well as loads of inspiration, was (thankfully) a mission accomplished, if the enthusiasm and feedback from the class participants is any measure.

Duly occupied with cooking, teaching, and otherwise engaging the class, I couldn't aptly wear my photography hat and, instead, brought in the talented ZOA Photography to capture photo memories of the day.  Check out the photo gallery here--and be sure to stay connected so you can make plans to join us at our future classes!

Happy Eating!

D.M.R. Fine Foods Pop Up Cooking School ~ The Perfect Summer BBQ

My increasing excitement over the Summer edition of my Techniques and Tastings(TM) Pop Up Cooking School culminated in a fun, delicious and inspiring time this past weekend.  With a menu featured around the fresh, vibrant, seasonal tastes of Summer, I taught and shared culinary techniques and tips, dished up tasty recipes and equipped my amazing class with the know-how and inspiration to recreate the dishes on their own throughout the Summer--and beyond!  

From fruity sangria mocktails, to scrumptious, chilled gazpacho, to succulent, gourmet meatball sliders, to a decadent sweet finish of berry and balsamic shortcakes, we tasted Summer in all its goodness and had a blast during it all!

It was the ultimate in Happy Eating, and I hope to see you at our next one!

XO,
Dawn

Holiday Pop-Up Shop {Photo Highlights!}

Last weekend reminded me, once again, of what I love so much about food, as I hosted my Holiday Pop-Up Shop. The thrill of creating--and sharing--food that you love and seeing the delight it brings to those who enjoy it is like no other.  I was so fortunate to share my passion with my customers as they tasted, savored and shopped my select holiday menu of cookies, candies and savory treats.  And I was even more elated to witness their wonderful (if not colorful) reactions to my food, up close and personally.  (Every cook's dream and what makes it all worth it, for sure.)

Westside Market served as the beautiful host location for an afternoon of holiday cheer and scrumptious, festive eats that will always be remembered.  While we weren't able to capture each and every customer who supported us during the event, we definitely captured the spirit of them all and invite you to see our photo highlights from the big day!

Thanks again to everyone who supported this event and helped to make it a success!!

Happy Eating & Holidays!

 

{In Case You Missed It}: 2015 Highlights

As I approach the end of another year (five years and running now for the blog), it has become clearer to me than ever that the love and sweat poured into D.M.R. Fine Foods is worth every ounce of effort.  Sharing my passions with you here and beyond, and getting to experience them in newer and more exciting ways during this past year, has made 2015 nothing short of phenomenal.  While you're always welcome (and encouraged) to devour the archives, I want to encapsulate the highlights that set 2015 apart for D.M.R. Fine Foods--and have us raring to go for an even greater 2016!

FOOD
Where to start? There was no shortage of great recipes that made for a delicious year from start to finish.  Favorites included Rustic Strawberry Jam Crostini, Chilled Red Pepper Soup, Strawberry-Basil Sorbet, Buffalo Hot Wings, Crispy Flatbread Pizza, Raspberry-Ricotta Cake and so much more! Visit our recipes page to see them all.

Beyond my own cooking and baking forays, were equally delicious restaurant tastings and brand openings, food festivals, including the Atlanta Food and Wine Festival and perennial Taste of Atlanta Festival.  Not to mention the thrill of my award of dinner for two at the Beard House in NYC from the James Beard Foundation and a share of this post on their Instagram feed. Swoon!

And last, but certainly not least, was the continuation of my beloved Pop-Up Cooking School and Holiday Pop-Up Shop.  

TRAVEL
I started the year with an enviable travel bucket list that combined long-standing favorites with new, yet to be seen, territory.  I'm elated to share that I made every place on the list (with an extra or two along the way)--with the exception of one due to a last minute downturn in weather.  You'll have to stick around in 2016 to learn which one that is because I won't let it get by me next year.   

What could be dreamier than starting my year in travel in Paris and London for a winter holiday?  It was followed by weekend getaways, R&R beach escapes, NYC, and finally Argentina and Uruguay.  Laden with beauty, great food, amazing people and cultures, adventure, shopping, art and more, as travel goes, it was phenomenal on all counts. I'll be sharing more in upcoming travel postcards, so wait to be inspired.

FASHION
A passion of mine since seemingly forever (just ask my mom), I loved bringing more of myself to the blog on this front.  From beach style, to Labor Day garb, to New York Fashion Week(!!!), 2015 served up some truly memorable moments in fashion.

LIFESTYLE INSPIRATION
From interiors to dining alfresco to makeup and beauty to simple pleasures, there was no shortage of lifestyle inspiration in 2015.    

MEDIA COLLABORATIONS
Beyond the festivals, restaurants, businesses and brands I was fortunate to work with this year, my collaborations as a contributing writer with Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine's For the Love of Food column and as a PopSugar Select Food member continued in full force.  I was also proud to add UPSCALE Magazine to the list as a contributor to their annual Luxury Hotel and Spa Guide in the June 2015 issue.

The biggest thrill of them all remains connecting with my readers, supporters and patrons through the blog, events, social media and beyond.  Thank you for the support and enthusiasm that makes it doubly fulfilling.  I hope you enjoyed all we had to share in 2015 and stay plugged in as the New Year unfolds.  (**Check out this quick video collage of some of the year's favorite moments.) 
 
Here's to the happiest of New Years--and may it be our best one yet!

Xx,
Dawn  
  

 

Atlanta Food & Wine Festival Returns Bigger & Better!

In two short weeks, a culinary experience that heralds the essence of the South beyond anything most have ever seen or tasted will return to Atlanta for an epic weekend in food, drink--and good times.

Now in its sixth year, it's hard to imagine that anything could top last year's festival, however this year promises to be the biggest--and the best--one yet.  Spectacular new additions--including a new series of expert instruction via Master Classes; a new Tasting Tents location; and a first-of-its-kind in the U.S. Pop-Up Vineyard in the City, in the heart of Midtown Atlanta, with a featured Sunday Brunch, the Ultimate Road Trip Kick-Off Party and much more--will make it worth every moment!

The themed Tasting Tents will reside in the gorgeous Piedmont Park Promenade

Sneak Peek rendering of the Pop-Up Vineyard in the City

"For food lovers, there is nothing more appealing than spending a weekend indulging in exceptional food and drink by rock star culinary talent, especially when the experience includes a road trip to a fun Southern city,” explains Dominique Love, Co-founder of the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival.

I couldn't agree more.  The ultimate Southern culinary weekend awaits and, trust me, you don't want to miss it!  Get your tickets now at atlantafoodandwinefestival.com.  Then prepare to know the south--and its cuisine--like never before.

Happy Eating!

D.M.R. Fine Foods, The Blog, Celebrates 10 Years (Pt.3)

Soaking in my exceptional BHG Stylemaker Event in '18

Happy New Year! 

Without question, making it through 2020 was a feat--and one well worth celebrating. And before much more time in the new year elapses, I want to finalize my "blogiversary" celebration with this third installment covering the 2016-2019 years.

I hope you've enjoyed my walk down memory lane from the 2010-2012 and 2013-2015 installments and perhaps learned a bit more about me and what I've been up to on this front all of these years. Best of all, I hope you are inspired to stay connected with me in the days ahead because I like having you around. :)

In reflecting on the 2016-2019 years, they were years of continued momentum across many of the areas that had come to life and blossomed in the previous years, along with their own new noteworthy highlights.  So let's once again dive in--and enjoy!

2016

My 2016 highlights included the likes of more amazing travel, the continuation of my Holiday Pop Up Shop, my For the Love of Food monthly food column in Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine (2011-2019), continued food and lifestyle media coverage, more sponsored brand campaigns, including Groupon and Warby Parker, as well as PopSugar, being featured in the Vinings Lifestyle Magazine, and taking in that exquisite night to remember at the James Beard House in NYC that I was awarded in 2015, and enjoying a celebration among celebrations at the Red Rooster Harlem Cookbook launch party!! 

2017

My 2017 highlights reflect more amazing highs from my journey to date. From exceptional travel throughout the year, including another dynamic, hosted press trip to St. Croix in collaboration with United States Virgin Islands Tourism, it was another year for the travel books.

Beyond travel, the year brought on a new (and continuing) collaboration of epic proportions, with a cadre of fellow talented food bloggers, for a first of its kind Black History Month Virtual Potluck. It remains one of the key highlights of my blogging journey to date, as it gave more exposure and expression to our individual and collective voices, talents, stories and heritage, among each other, as well as on several renowned media platforms (including Food52, Blavity, Tasting Table, and more that would follow in the years to come.)   

My media footprint expanded(!!!)--to include television (a long-held dream of mine) via a series of holiday-themed segments on CBS46's, Atlanta Plugged In show, showcasing my recipes and entertaining tips, as well as a St. Croix travel radio segment that chronicled the best of the destination and travel planning tips, following my recent press trip earlier in the year.  

Continued collaborations, including existing and new media relations and social media campaigns, across more hotel, tourism, lifestyle and food brands, were definite highlights, along with more fashion media coverage for the Ragtrade Atlanta Fashion Week and Runway Show. 

2018

My 2018 highlights included more thrilling moments and experiences across the food, travel, lifestyle and media fronts.  From continued collaborations (BHM Potluck, food and lifestyle media relations and campaigns, etc.) epic travel, more sharing via television segments, this time on NBC's hit Atlanta and Company show, along with more fashion and lifestyle goodness from Saks to the Global Runway Fashion Presentation hosted by the Atlanta Airport, I couldn't make it all up, if I tried. :)

2018 was also the year I experienced one of my biggest honors on my journey to date: being selected as a 2018 BHG Stylemaker by Better Homes and Gardens magazine!!! An honor indeed, by all accounts, with the coveted spots reserved for a select few on an annual basis, I couldn't have been more thrilled to have been recognized by such a renowned and exceptional publication--and to have been in the company of my fellow ah-mazing Stylemakers--for an unforgettable event in New York City! From the day I was notified and invited until the very last moment of the event, I was beyond thrilled. (I know I keep saying it: but dreams do come true!)

2019

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, my 2019 highlights represented what was truly another phenomenal year.  As you might have guessed :), there was more epic travel (I added my fourth continent via Thailand and more new countries, states and cities to my footprint, as well as launching my own travel boutique), to more exceptional collaborations, media campaigns and recognition, across food, fashion, travel and lifestyle, including New York Fashion Week-adjacent media coverage at the MAN/WOMAN A/W 19 show, another phenomenal hosted press trip in collaboration with Arkansas Tourism, and a dream (to me) media collaboration with a long beloved brand, ESSENCE, among notable others.  

As I mentioned in an earlier post, my highlights always included my blog posts during the year, that were always done in tandem with every other amazing experience and opportunity throughout the years.  They can all be found in my archives section here on the blog, so feel free to indulge!

That brings us to the year we'll all never forget: 2020--and the actual culmination of my 10th blog anniversary, or "blogiversary", this past August.  So in keeping with my annual highlights tradition, I will dedicate a post to my 2020 highlights in very near future to conclude this memory bank/digital celebration of sorts. :)

I thank you for being here and being interested, engaged, supportive, connected and encouraging throughout my journey.  It has made it sweeter and all the more fulfilling--and I look forward to sharing more as the year unfolds. 

I wish you the best (healthiest, happiest, most fulfilling) year yet on your personal journey.

Happy Living!

Dawn

{In Case You Missed It}: 2020 Highlights

Against the backdrop of everything 2020 brought to bear (the good, the bad, and the downright ugly), I'm thankful for the highlights--the special, often everyday, moments that still allowed for a memorable year, despite a global pandemic and its fallout.  And so, without any further delay, (where did January go?!), I'm thrilled to continue my perennial tradition of highlights and to cap off my recent 10 year blogiversary installments. (Woot, woot!)

2020 started like most other years, for which I'm grateful, allowing me to indulge in some of the my favorite things all over again.  I kicked off the year with a trip to my forever favorite New York City, to indulge in the perfect trifecta of food, fashion and travel.  On the food front, my timing allowed for yet another indulgence in NYC Restaurant Week, where I took in both new (Wild Ink) and new to me (Butter) restaurants for phenomenal dining (for less).  

My stay also included another press invite to cover the A/W Man Woman Show again on the cusp of New York Fashion Week.  Designer interviews, coupled with innovative and classic collections spanning menswear, lifestyle and home goods, was a return to a space and collective design talent that was nothing short of exceptional.  

Finally, there was also my attendance at the New York Times Travel Show, where I soaked up industry knowledge and expertise from travel experts, media and tourism representatives, fellow consultants and more.  Although travel would be soon be impacted (and largely restricted) in unimaginable ways, the investment was well worth it--and my knowledge hangs in the ready for when the world restores to a healthier landscape.  

And with it all, I couldn't come to town without experiencing long-time favorites like Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park, along with new discoveries, like the fabulous Hudson Yards and The Vessel.  As it turned out, that would be the extent of my travel before the Covid-induced quarantine began a month or so later, so I'm truly thankful to have scored that trip and those memories just in time.

More excitement came with my continued collaboration with exceptional, fellow Black food bloggers for the fourth annual Black History Month Potluck and my Vegetarian Chili recipe (so good!), along with more food and hospitality media for local restaurants and hotels.

I was additionally honored to have my work featured in MyDomaine, sharing my Elderflower Lemonade Spritz.  And as quarantined life became the norm, hearing from many of you looking for cooking inspiration, I hosted my first Instagram Live Cooking Class and kicked off a star ingredient series, rounding-up recipes centered around a star ingredient that's typically on-hand in the pantry or freezer/refrigerator.

And as collaborations go, I was honored to participate in a Juneteenth Virtual Cookout with over 60 fellow Black food bloggers and creatives to celebrate the history and significance of this important (but often forgotten) part of American history.  Our virtual cookout was featured across several food and media outlets, including the Washington Post, Food52, the FeedFeed, Blavity, and many more, while resonating the emphatic message that Black lives and Black history matter.

Continuing that theme here on the blog included posts on effective allyship, to supporting Black-owned Atlanta restaurants, to drive much needed aid to those establishments disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

And because it became clear that "quarantine life" wasn't leaving anytime soon, I dedicated more content (blog and social media) to helping us continue to adjust and thrive in our quarantined lifestyle, including more travel, lifestyle, fitness, beauty, self care, and arts and culture posts and sharing, along with recipes and cooking inspiration for keeping things delicious while staying home and staying safe.

The holiday season was met with my guide for a stress-free Thanksgiving, including a series of social posts on everything from recipes, to advance prep, to making the best turkey, and more.

Finally, I paused to take in the 10 year run that crescendo-ed in August and recounted my journey from then until now in a series of posts, culminating with this one (albeit a bit beyond the 10th year). :)

Which brings me once again to the heartfelt, resounding sentiment of: thank you.  For every post you've read, comment you've shared, recipe you've tried, travel tip you've taken on, lifestyle inspiration you've garnered, platform you've joined me on, cooking class or pop-up shop you've attended, collaboration you've extended, and just simply being here year after year, I extend a million thanks!

Although I was excited to live out my passions here and beyond, it is absolutely the people I share this with (known and unknown) that make it worthwhile and keep me coming back again and again. At the root of my love for it all, has always been my love of sharing it with those who are along for the ride. I'm truly thankful for the blessings that make this journey so rich and rewarding.

I'm praying this new year is a blessed, healthy and prosperous year for you and those you love.  Let's stay connected through it all and keep cheering each other on. The best is yet to come!

XO,

Dawn

P.S. See more of my 2020 highlights here!

{In Case You Missed It}: 2016 Highlights

Happy New Year!  I hope that your new year is indeed off to a great start and already shaping up to be your best one yet.

Before we go much further, however, in keeping with my recent tradition, I want to pause and share on some of the most special highlights from 2016.  If you follow me on social media, then you're likely aware that I was fortunate to end last year and begin the new year indulging in my passion for travel with a vacation in a few of my favorite European countries and cities--hence the recent quietness on the blog and much appreciated break and rest from my usual routine. (More highlights from that to come in the days and months ahead...!)

Now that I'm back in the saddle, so to speak, my first order of business here on the blog is to share a brief capture of some of the moments--in food, travel, fashion and style, lifestyle, inspiration, and more, that made last year exceptional on its own terms.  Six plus years and counting, and I am more thankful than ever for this outlet and the opportunities you afford me to share my passions with you.



From dining at the James Beard House, to being featured in Vinings Lifestyle Magazine, to recurring media coverage and collaboration for the Atlanta Food & Wine Festival, Taste of Atlanta Festival, as well as local restaurants, working with amazing brands like Groupon and Warby Parker, sharing my recipes in Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine, increased collaboration with PopSugar, a fabulous Holiday Pop Up Shop, wonderful travels from New York to Miami to Mexico to Italy, and more, 2016 was once again super sweet and special for D.M.R. Fine Foods.  I feel truly blessed by it all.
 
As always, I hope DMRFF continues to inspire you to live and embrace "the good life" in all its facets. 

Here's to the happiest new year yet....

xo, Dawn

Grilled Caesar Salad with Homemade Caesar Dressing

This past weekend marked the unofficial start of the Summer season.  There were festivals, concerts and BBQs galore to soak in the beautiful weather and holiday weekend good vibes--and that means food (specifically what to eat) was never too far behind.

A family BBQ was on my agenda for Memorial Day and I contemplated what to contribute to the menu.  I briefly considered doing a dessert, but then decided to go in a different (but equally delicious) direction with a classic Summer staple: salad.  But not just any salad.  If it was going to be a salad that could hold its own among burgers and franks and sides and, yes, dessert, it had to be one that I was sure could deliver.   So I decided to dust off my my recipe for Grilled Caesar Salad with homemade Caesar dressing.  I fell in love with this salad years ago, and it was a hit at last year's Spring Pop-Up Cooking School, so it had already passed the taste test many times over.

There's nothing quite like making your food from scratch. The homemade effect is hard to beat and that couldn't be truer when it comes to homemade salad dressings.  Caesar dressing is especially wonderful with a bold, deeply savory and scrumptious flavor that can single-handedly elevate your classic Caesar Salad to other-worldliness-and when coupled with grilled, slightly charred greens, you'll never see this salad the same again.

Here's to a beautiful Summer filled with lots of Happy Eating!

Grilled Caesar Salad with Homemade Caesar Dressing

Ingredients:
2-3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely minced
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
Few dashes of Tabasco (optional)
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan, plus extra for sprinkling
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
Romaine hearts

Method:
Add the lemon juice, garlic, mustard, anchovy paste, Worcestshire, hot sauce (if using), egg yolk, salt, and pepper to a blender to combine.  With the blender on low, slowly drizzle in the olive oil to incorporate until dressing is thickened.  Remove dressing from blender and whisk in 3 tablespoons of Parmesan.  Set aside.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat.  Take romaine hearts and lightly drizzle with olive oil.  Grill, face-side down, for up to two minutes, or just until greens start to slightly wilt and char.

Greens can be served whole or chopped.  Add dressing and garnish with a sprinkling of fresh Parmesan.  Enjoy!     

Pasta Primavera

This past weekend looked and felt like Spring.  And as much as I endeavor to enjoy each season fully, I can't deny that it made me wish for winter to hurry along so that the milder, sun-kissed days could settle in for good.

The infectious nature went beyond the weather and drifted into my kitchen--and the result was my favorite rendition of Pasta Primavera ("Spring Pasta" in Italian).  My take abandons the typical cream-laden dish and instead serves up bountiful fresh, vibrant vegetables that stand deliciously on their own.  Accents of Italian dried herbs, sun dried tomatoes and Parmesan infuse extra decadence--and robust flavor--that makes for a dish you'll want to savor throughout Spring--and beyond.

This dish was a hit at my Spring Pop-Up Cooking School last year--and I trust you'll find it to be a welcomed addition to your spring eating repertoire.

Happy Eating!

Pasta Primavera
Ingredients:
1 lb. linguine (or pasta of choice)
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence
1 bunch of asparagus tips
1 zucchini, sliced
1 yellow squash, sliced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1/3 cup sun dried tomatoes in oil, chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil
Grated Parmesan, to taste

Method:
Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet or saute pan.  Add onions to the pan and season lightly with salt and pepper.  Saute until they begin to soften and become translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add in garlic and herbs an saute for another minute.  Add in vegetables, except the cherry and sun dried tomatoes, and season lightly with a sprinkling of salt and pepper.  Cook until the vegetables begin to soften and become tender, about 7-10 minutes.  Remove mixture from pan and pour into a large bowl.  Stir in sun dried and cherry tomatoes and set aside.

Meanwhile, as the vegetables are cooking, bring a large pot of water to a boil and season liberally with salt.  Add in pasta to boiling, salted water and cook according to package instructions.  Drain pasta and reserve pasta water.

Pour pasta into bowl with vegetables and toss to combine, adding in reserved pasta water to moisten, as needed.  Taste for seasoning and garnish generously with Parmesan.  Serve and enjoy!    
Recipe adapted from Giada de Laurentiis 

D.M.R. Fine Foods Launches Pop Up Cooking School!

I've been a busier bee than usual over the last while, as I eagerly prepare for--and anticipate--the 1st class of my newly launched cooking school.  To say I'm excited is an understatement, if ever there was one.  

If you know anything of my food story, then you may know that I began sharing my passion for the world of food and teaching cooking techniques several years ago as a culinary instructor for Williams-Sonoma.  Since then, I've had the pleasure of continuing my instruction through articles, blog posts, recipes, videos, guest chef demonstrations and private consultations.  

 
Now I'm eager to widen the net with more up close and personal instruction to fuel your inner chef!  With my Techniques and Tastings(TM) classes, I will teach and demonstrate cooking techniques, dish sample tastings from featured recipes--and bring the joy of cooking to life!

And I want you to join me.  There's still time to register and make your plans to be there on Saturday, April 12th at the Sweet Auburn Curb Market; get all the details here.

I hope to see you there! Bring your appetite and prepare to indulge in Happy Eating!

XO,
Dawn

Madeleines with Lemon Curd and Raspberries

Sometimes procrastination can last for moments or days.  At other times, it can endure for...(gasp!) years.  Well, my intentions with the French tea cake/cookie of sorts, le Madeleine, fell to the latter end of the spectrum.  I had been planning to make them for what seemed like forever, even buying these several years ago to spur myself along.  But, alas, nothing, nada, caput.  At least until the burst of inspiration, that is, by now, my signature for abandoning myself to recipes and dishes I am compelled to make, entered the scene.  And then, I just had to bake them.

Beyond the light, cake-cookie texture and citrus undertone of these French delicacies, I was eager to make this recipe so I could adorn them with homemade lemon curd (so. good.) and fresh raspberries--for the ultimate sweet  (but not overly so) bite.  

Pleased with the results, I decided to add them to the menu of my first, Pop Up cooking class that launched this past weekend.  They were a hit, as I expected...but more about that in a future post. :)  The menu decision further compelled me to try and tweak several recipe variations before landing on my final version for the class and resulted in me baking madeleines like they were going out of style!  

I'm not one to keep something this good--and easy and fun--to myself, so today's post is serving up the first recipe I tried and loved.  Note: the measurements are slanted to the UK metric system, so plan on pulling out your kitchen scale for this one.  It's quite a forgiving recipe along those lines, however, so enjoy and... 
 
Happy Eating! 

Get the recipe here

     





  

Berry & Balsamic Shortcakes

Shortcakes represent simple, no-fuss goodness of many desserts gone by.  Light and delicate “cakes” filled with berries and cream make this treat a classic for all the right reasons.  An accent of decadent, aged balsamic takes it over the top for the absolute best in sweet indulgences. 

These were a hit at my Summer Pop-Up Cooking School--and I know they'll be one in your kitchen, too! 

Happy Eating!

Berry & Balsamic Shortcakes

Ingredients:

Fresh strawberries, hulled and quartered

1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup milk

Whipped cream (recipe follows)

Aged balsamic vinegar

Method:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.

Make the sweetened strawberries: Hull and quarter strawberries; toss in a bowl with sugar. Let stand until syrupy, tossing occasionally.  Can be made up to 1 day ahead, covered and refrigerated.

In a food processor, combine flour, butter, 1/3 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; process until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add milk; pulse just until moistened, 4 or 5 times. Do not overprocess.

Turn out dough onto a lightly floured surface; with floured hands, gently pat dough into a rectangle.

Dust a large knife with flour; cut dough into 8 squares. Transfer to a baking sheet; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar. Bake until golden, 25 to 30 minutes; cool on baking sheet. To serve, split biscuits with a serrated knife; layer with whipped cream, berries and balsamic vinegar.

Whipped Cream

Ingredients:

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

¼ cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Pour heavy cream into a large bowl and begin whisking on low speed with a mixer.  As cream develops volume, increase speed to high and slowly add sugar and vanilla.  Beat until firm peaks form.