99% Delicious for the 99%!

So I had planned for my "Portland Inspired Pinot Palate" to be my next post, but was side swiped by a more pressing story. The Pinot can wait... So grab a glass of Cab!

For those of you aware of yesterday's world wide Occupy movement and I preface it for those who know as I learned today that not all do... You know who you are and are loved and accepted anyway. Well locally, yesterday following a protest, approximately 100 courageous individuals Occupied Miami and pitched tents at Government Center.

Well I love camping as much as most or some, OK to an extent. I would like to note to the reader, that I am proud to be the only woman I know that chose to have her batchelorette weekend be a camping and tubing trip down the Itchatucknee in north Florida, oh and in August! Funny thing that 2 of the 3 girls that joined me on that trip have been Occupiers in Miami and New York. Caitlin and Lori, this piece is for you two!

So while I wish I could say that I am the kind of gal that would be in for camping at Government center on the weekend (which mind you Miami's downtown shuts down Friday evening through Monday morning), I am just not her. So I had to figure out how I could support those who could do that sort of thing... And what better way than to feed them! Not many people would turn down free, fresh and tasty food while sitting in the rain with no grocery or open restaurant nearby, unless you consider 711 a place to dine (and it turns out it was and is the place to use the restroom though!).

While pondering on the perfect dish to bring to a bunch of protesters in the rain, I thought it was critical that it be a no-harm dish and decided on vegan (since food justice is a passion-sometimes obsession of mine). But we also needed cake! After all this is a celebration of democracy, right? I wish I could say I went for vegan cake, but I didn't. I was drawn to my infamous rum cake in honor of the no-alcohol zone that the Occupiers had agreed upon (an effort to peacefully remain in the lawn without a permit-small price to pay). 

       BEFORE                                                      AFTER

So with love and appreciation I started on one of my favorite Colleen dishes, which remained nameless for years, and now has a name "99% delicious". It must be after a woman who admitted she was not fond of tofu (and this  IS a TOFU dish), asked me what it was called after she tasted and where she could order it. Seems there might/could be a future for me in food. Anyway, back to the dish which is showcased with a before and after shot! A delicious mixture of tofu, onions, green/yellow/orange peppers, tomatoes, carrots, avocado and mushrooms. But my secret ingredients that perfectly compliment most all my dishes: olive oil, champagne vinegar, and Sazon Complete Seasoning (which if you do not live in Miami can be challenging to locate!). So there, the secret is out! I hope this doesn't blow my chances at selling this one day. 

So my 99% delicious dish will always remind me of the people all over the world that protested and after all I am of the 99%. Thank you for having the courage and determination to hang tough. Peace

The Beginning

My first entry is years in the making... My love affair with food and wine 
started a decade ago. Funny given I can remember so clearly a time I didn't cook 
anything but ramen noodles when I was in college. But that's the beauty of age, 
life does get sweeter and more delicious. A good cab is evidence of that. I 
don't know how I realized my passion for food, though I do know precisely how it 
began for wine, (which you will hear more about). Perhaps it will surface during 
my writing with you?


I recall starting to explore working with edible elements (a switch from paints) 
in my mid 20s. I suppose my painting hobby inspired my cooking. Oh how I loved 
mixing basic colors into exotic and intense new colors that expressed emotion 
and life in a way words cannot.  I feel the same way about food and wine. 

Since I have started on history, I should say that I have spent the last 16 
years working in the nonprofit sector. While I start this blog with a lens of 
food and wine, it is from my connection to humanity and life that this piece of 
myself has flourished. I have played a role as a nonprofit professional in the 
fields of mental health, grantwriting, child welfare, advocacy and leadership 
development, I have learned so much. One of the greatest gifts of my time with 
this work has been recognizing the power of our individual spirits and gifts.  
We all have them, it's a matter of recognizing them, and then committing to 
embracing and nourishing them.  For years I have had nearly every loved one in 
my support system tell me that I need to follow my passion for food and wine and 
share it with others. I regularly share it with them through weekly invitations 
to experience my creations and will continue to do so in the intimate space of 
my kitchen, where my creativity exudes... I am now committing to sharing my 
passions with you and seeing where it takes me. Here we go. Are you in? The good 
news is you can join at any time and catch up.