What's That In The Air???? LOVE!!!!!

                    Happy Valentine's Day!!!! Love is in the air and so are gifts of chocolate covered strawberries, truffles, breakfast in bed (or dinner) and lots of holiday treats. I enjoy all of the reds and pink decorations, but getting that Valentine from the one that loves you all year long is my favorite! My gift this year will be homemade. Not because we can't afford it, but I love to cook, so, let's utilize it. I'll make an awesome breakfast, but getting the kids involved this year will be a lot easier than what it has been in previous years because the kids can reach the stove and we can make awesome treats!! Children get the chance to share their handmade cards with us, so, I take pride in showing them how to make some tasty treats to share with their friends at school. Valentine's Day doesn't have to be all about roses and heart-shaped balloons in my family we do other things besides the "traditional" celebration. 

           Getting prepared for the most "coupled-day" of the year can be either stressful or exciting because you don't have a mate or you are trying to do a lot for them. It's all about showing the love and not about what or how many gifts you've received. Those gifts are not the reason to celebrate and I am grateful to have such love in my life for the past 6 yrs. This Valentine's Day my gift to you is the gift of unconditional "friendship-love". I want my friends who share Tasty Bites and those who do not share it to have wonderful love within and surrounding them always. And as always enjoy your love, family, friends, and Valentine's goodies with our friends here at Tasty Bites!!! =)

           
   

P.S.- Below is a helpful link to guide you in the right direction for gift buying this Valentine's Day season!!! :)
         

 http://www.gifts.com/valentines-day/nC0?sid=msn:VDAY_great%20valentine%20day%20ideas:P

A New Year... A New YOU!!!!

          Out with the old and in with the NEW!!! Happy 2013 everyone and WELCOME BACK to a new beginning here at Tasty Bites!! We'll have a lot of amazing topics, ingredients, to cover, and this year we're adding restaurants and bistro reviews to our repertoire. Starting this new  year is a bit different. We are NOT making "resolutions" to do different things, instead, we've made decisions to be a "BETTER ME". 

        Family, friends, and loved ones can appreciate those that keep their word on doing better, working out, or deciding to make more positive choices in their lives, but they won't tolerate those that tell repetitive lies about not smoking or drinking alcohol after the new year. Let's just take this year one day at a time. No pressure. Just work towards being a better you everyday and then you'll realize that it's Christmas all over again & all you've been doing all year long is being a sweetheart!! :)

       Being a better "ME" this year, I plan on spending more time for loved ones and family, having more family dinners, and making more healthier food choices regarding my snack choices. Notice how I didn't say anything about going to the gym (that I won't visit) or go on a diet (that I won't stick to). K.I.S.S. method this year: Keep It Simple Stupid!! :) This is a new year, let's make it a great year for you and your family!! Let's get started on creating a new you in the new year!!! :) 

HAPPY 2013 EVERYONE!!!!! :)

 P.S.- Thanks for being there with me for 2012, 2013 will be AMAZING!!!!!   

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!!

  Holiday time is near and we here at "Tasty Bites" would like to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, a L'Shanah Tovah, and a peaceful Happy Kwanzaa! :) "Holy-days" or holidays are great for gathering the family around the fireplace, in front of the t.v., and bringing the family together at the dinner table for the meal of the year. Not forgetting the reason and the purpose from which your holiday derived from, rejoicing in religious practices keep the family unit stronger, instills a sense of spiritual knowledge in our youth, and a peacefulness within ourselves. This is a wonderful time to appreciate all the good things that we were blessed with this year, take a look back at the year, and remember those that we lost. 

  Many cultures celebrate this most joyous time of year with lots of food, music, family, and friends that we love, but never leaving out those that are less fortunate and in need. Giving back and giving time to those that are in the hospitals, elderly care centers, and homeless this time of year seem to make us here at Tasty Bites feel full of the Holiday Spirit.   Making a neighbor some cookies, remembering the mailman a sweet potato pie, or visiting the nursery with the babies that cannot go home this Christmas can make the holiday season a little sweeter this year.

   This year and every year, share your peace, joy, and love with others! Being kind to loved ones, friends, neighbors and strangers during this time of year and all year long continues to create that "Christmas Spirit" within ourselves long after the holiday decorations are put away! Thank you all for our 2012 journey & I pray that 2013 will be an amazing year for Tasty Bites and for you and your family as well!! Spread your love this holiday and from everyone here at Tasty Bites Blog we wish you a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and a beautiful Happy Kwanzaa!!

Chef Tara L. Browning 


P.S.- Are you on the "naughty" or the "nice" list this year?!?!    

Gobble, Gobble....It's Turkey Time!!!!

                It's my favorite time of the year... TURKEY TIME!!!!! :) This year, I hope to get out to help volunteer to cook Thanksgiving Dinner for those that are "less fortunate". Family time is always great, but in times like these, I know that giving back will be more rewarding than passing out in front of the television. I've chosen to put the "thanks" and the "giving of thanks" back into my traditional celebration. I even gathered my children and a few of their friends, so, that the younger generation can understand what Thanksgiving really means to those that could be us one day. I enjoy the gifts, the laughter, friends and family that sneak into the kitchen to sneak a sample of my amazing mashed potatoes, but this year, I've decided to make Thanksgiving dinner & pass it out with the little ones in tow.  We have all been very fortunate  this year and many years in the past, but now it's time to GIVE THANKS for all the many blessings that has been bestowed upon my family and myself. :) I like this part of the year because normally people are in such a rush or get "holiday depression" that they omit themselves from celebration this joyous occasion as well as the other holidays that are steadily approaching.  Thanksgiving this year, whether if you chose to volunteer or spend quality time with those you love, will be an experience no one will forget!! :)


-Chef Tara L. Browning 


Provided below is a link via our friends over at Food Network to prepare an amazing Thanksgiving Dinner..GOBBLE, GOBBLE!!!



 http://www.foodnetwork.com/thanksgiving/package/index.html?affiliate=blocker&omnisource=SEM&c1=Thanksgiving_2012_Computer&c2=Google&c3=Recipes&c4=thanksgiving%20recipes&s_kwcid=TC|17059|thanksgiving%20recipes||S|e|19651555606

 

Little Ones In Restaurants

                As a parent, I feel compelled to write about children's presence in restaurants. I love when young people go out to eat with their parents and know how to conduct themselves in a manner that lets me know they have manners in a public place. Young people should be exposed to all types of culture and places at a young age, so, they can learn how to act when they are in restaurants. Not all children are unruly and obnoxious in restaurants, blame the parents lack of discipline or rules not instilled in them and allowing their children to act in such a destructive manner. I've eaten at several restaurants that do NOT cater to children for this rule and I've even noticed as a disclaimer at the bottom of menus "If your children are not behaving properly, we have the right to charge you an additional $20". I won't mention the restaurants name, but I did laugh when I saw that the restaurant charged people with unruly children for this reason. Does this mean that young people have to be a certain age in order to dine out with their parents? I don't think that it has to be that drastic in order to achieve the ambiance for other guests that are dining in your establishment. As an adult with children, seeing restaurants take a stand in order for their other paying customers to have the same exact dining experience as a child, makes me believe that they aren't holding the young people's interest at heart. Yes, they are "just children" and sometimes you can please them with simple foods like chicken tenders and mac and cheese, and they'd probably be excited. Adults dine out for totally different reasons and do not wish to be bothered unlike children who are very engaging and highly interactive when they eat. First, you must treat children as a paying patron as well (although they are not physically paying for the check), it pleases the parents, and it gives you a sense of trust with that child. I've noticed whether if I serve or if I'm Floor Manager that evening, if I engage with children and not acknowledge the adults at the tables, I usually get an honest answer or a handful of spaghetti (dripping with pasta sauce) and a smile from the adults. Children are sponges and will only do what they see and what is allowed. I don't treat children like adults, but I will make sure that I acknowledge them, so they won't feel ignored. In order for you to enjoy all of your "Tasty Bites", even with your little ones, keep in mind you were a "little bite" yourself!!!! :) 


Chef Tara L. Browning 


P.S.- Provided below is a link to a few Kid-Friendly establishments here in Atlanta... Check out the city nearest you!!! 


http://www.urbanspoon.com/t/9/4/Atlanta/Kid-Friendly-restaurants 

We Don't Need A Melting Pot... We Have SALAD!!!

     That fresh, crisp, flavorful goodness of a salad makes for a healthy meal, or an amazing starter. Salads offer a smorgasbord of different ingredients all in the same bowl!! I enjoy the eclectic mix of a garden salad, the robust flavors of a "Southwestern-Inspired" taco salad, but can never really decide between the Asian-Fusion, sushi topped salads. There are so many different forms and  types to choose from, but my all-time favorite would probably be a sweet and crunchy fruit salad. I recently visited an establishment that had a lot of salads that had so many ingredients that you normally wouldn't think that comes in a salad. The meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts and veggie combinations had my server returning to the table four times! I ordered a spinach, raspberry & blackened shrimp. They threw in toasted almonds, red onions & dried cranberries, topped with a bacon-blue cheese dressing & there was a raspberry drizzle on the plate. When I saw this picture, it reminded me of my salad, so, I felt inspired to post it. Salads have many health benefits and you don't mind eating your veggies if you have an amazing foundation of mixed greens, a splash of colorful peppers, carrots, onions, fruits to round out the savory, and some protein to give a full-balanced meal to an item that was once an aperitif. So, before you scroll through the entire menu, make a stop at the first two pages to see if you can't find your "salady" tasty bite!


Chef Tara Browning

P.S.- Listed below is a link provided to start your salads off to a great start!!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_salad_recipes

To Tip... Or Not To Tip....

The "age old" question: "When is it an appropriate time to tip or to not leave a tip?" I've had a few friends ask me this question in recent times, so, I felt compelled to add my take on this topic. I feel like if someone is "servicing" you, tip, if you are doing everything and no one else has provided you with a service, don't. I am a 20%-25% tipper and I feel like that number can either go up or down, depending on the service. I do not tip below 15%, I realize that people have families and bills, so I generally tip within that range. Most of the time, you tip based on the service that has been provided to you & your guests. If you have more than one guest, I would say about $5-$7 per person at the table if you are a party. Depending on how much you spend/spent, add the first two numbers, then, double it for a 20% tip. (i.e. If your check is $75, you would take $7.50+$7.50=$15 tip on a $75 check.) Certain restaurants that have really good food, I want to tip the Chef or if the Maitre D' if he or she had an amazingly positive attitude, I may slide them a few dollars as well. We all know to tip the Valet & your "Carry-Out" specialist. I've had several arguments about tipping the carry-out person. You call in an order & you drive to the destination to pick it up. The carry-out person then checks the order to make sure it's made to your specifications, gives you the proper condiments and silverware, then, you drive off. I've had friends say that this act of "service" does not require a tip. I do. In the service industry, there's the "stereotypes" that coincide with how much you may get. Elderly, foreigners, Jewish, Black Americans and poor White Americans are typically your prime suspects. Not that any of this is true, just certain "stereotypes" against certain age groups or races have resonated within the industry, that certain service industry employees tend  to think that these things are true. Being conscious & aware that people have bills and responsibilities will open your heart (and maybe your wallet a little more) to the people that are servicing you. No, these people are not our slaves, minions, nor our peons, they are in the field to make our lives better and to accommodate us with our "Tasty Bites". 

Love, Live, & Laugh!!

Below I have provided a link with some of the worst Celebrity Tippers Via  Sun Magazine.... This should be interesting!! 

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/woman/2500627/Best-and-worst-of-celeb-tippers.html