2010 Dance Recital
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Season six of the popular reality show Next Food Network Star kicked off on Sunday June 6, and from the looks of the premiere episode, we are in for a drama-filled treat. And the icing on the proverbial cake is that a handful of bloggers have been invited to interview Food Network’s Bob Tuschman, Vice President, Programming and Production; Susie Fogelson, SVP Marketing, Creative Services and Brand Strategy; and a contestant each Monday following the show. The bloggers, including yours truly, have the opportunity to ask Bob and Susie about the previous night’s episode, and then we speak to one of the eliminated chefs. We are one week into the process, and I am uber-excited for the show and the experience to interact with the Food Network executives. Let’s dive in:
About The Next Food Network Star: Just in case you are not familiar with the show, The Food Network airs a program each Sunday at 9 p.m. PST featuring 12 aspiring celebrity chefs taking on various cooking tasks with a “will they shine on TV?” slant. Each week, one chef is eliminated, and at the end of the season, the winner is awarded his or her own cooking show on The Food Network. Previous winners can be found HERE and HERE.
Q&A with Bob Tuschman:I tell you what, Bob was a really nice guy and fun to interview. Like on the show, he appeared calm, cool and collected (and perfectly on-message!) Here is a snapshot of the conversation:
Q: What are you looking for in a contestant? A: Bob pointed out that this show is “the toughest cooking show on TV” because the chefs not only have to cook, but they have to learn how to perform on-camera. Each contestant has to bring the right level of energy, look natural, share a clear “culinary point of view,” and possess star quality. He reminded us that Food Network receives thousands of pitches a year for new shows, so he needs to find someone who can “consistently deliver great food and great performances.”
Q: Are you worried viewers will lock in on one or two contestants too early? A: This question was top-of-mind because Aria Kagan was a clear stand-out and early favorite on the first episode. Bob said he does worry about viewers favoring a specific contestant early in the show, and then reminds us that no matter what happens in episode one, things can change quickly. Bob continued by saying that the judges need to see constant improvement in order to win, so don’t give up on anyone too early in the series.
Q:What is the biggest challenge contestants face and what is your advice to overcome them? A: Bob reminded us that the contestants really have to listen to the judges who also are there to mentor them. Bob and Susie — along with Bobby Flay and Giada de Laurentiis — provide tips every time the chefs are in front of the camera. (In fact, the judges spend at least 8 hours per episode mentoring the contestants.) They are looking for someone with charisma, and Bob added that charisma is like eye color, you either have it or you don’t… but you can learn to shape your charisma into something that works.
Q&A with Alexis Hernandez: Alexis is a farm-grown chef who likes to teach people the science behind food. Not only will he tell people how to make a vinaigrette, but we will teach you why adding salt can balance the acidity of the dressing. I call Alexis the unexpected farmer, because I know a lot of farmers but had never seen one in a paisley button-down before last week! He seems like a sweet guy, but his insecurities and under-cooked dessert made him the first contestant eliminated from this season. Here’s what he had to say:
Q: What would you differently if you could do the show over again? A: Alexis said he would show more personality on-camera, and share better and more-realistic cooking tips during his segments.
Q: What is the biggest difference from being a contestant and being a viewer? A: Alexis summed it up in two words: it’s overwhelming. He added that is hard to adapt when you want something so badly, when you want to win, but you are out of your element (and your kitchen).
Q: What is your signature dish? A: Alexis said his signature dish is braised beef chuck with red reduction and honey, infused with rosemary; carrot ribbons on top; served on a bed of Ramen noodles or puree of parsnips. (Yes, Ramen noodles like the soup we ate in college!)
Q: What was it like to meet Wolfgang Puck? A: Mr. Puck was a guest judge for one of this week’s challenges, and Alexis called him a “mega-god of food.” He also said that he never in his life expected the opportunity for cook for Puck, and he was so happy to meet his “hero.”
Next Episode: Tune into The Food Network on Sunday night at 9 p.m. PST to watch next week’s episode, and then come back to Laptop TV Mom for another recap!
– LTV Mom
Ruston Cuvee Simone
Do you know my favorite way to spend a Saturday night? Home-cooking, wonderful friends and really good wine. This is how my family spent last Saturday night, and it was awesome. Three families joined us for dinner, each bringing a dish to share and a bottle of wine to enjoy. (It’s worth noting that each family also brought a daughter who quickly donned dress-up clothes and looked super-cute!) Anyway, the stand-out wine of the night was new for most of us: 2006 Ruston Cuvee Simone. And it was delicious.
About the Wine: Our friends recently visited the Ruston Family Vineyards in Napa Valley and generously shared this bottle with us. This truly is a special wine that was top-pick by everyone at the dinner party. The blend is 26 percent petit verdot, 26 percent syrah, 24 percent cabernet sauvignon and 24 percent merlot. The bottle’s label touts the wine as dry, and I will add that it’s elegant and memorable. The deep-red wine was flavorful and very smooth. It was the first bottle we opened, even before dinner, and it held it’s own without food. After tasting the wine, I wish we had saved it to pair with grilled filet mignon; so I guess we’ll just have to buy another bottle!
About the Winery: The Ruston Family Vineyards are located just west of St. Helena in the Napa Valley. It’s a family-owned operation; in fact, the family has been farming the land since 1941. They currently grow cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot, and petit verdot grape vines. The wines are sold in limited distribution, and can be found in A-list restaurants including French Laundry, Craft, Spago, Gramercy Tavern, and Jean-Georges. Visit and Web site or contact the owner (john@rustonvines.com) for more information.
Previous WINOS Pick of the Week selections can be found HERE.
– LTV Mom
I am a proud writer for the Silicon Valley Moms Group, and every month, we have virtual book club meetings. A handful of bloggers read the same book, and we each post our thoughts on our personal blogs. It’s a great way to be part of a book club, especially when I don’t have time for non-family socialization… and I really love books. This month’s book is Just Let Me Lie Down by Kristin van Ogtrop, editor of Real Simple magazine.
I immediately fell in love with the book title, and then became enamored with the sub-title: necessary terms for the half-insane working mom. Instantly connecting to the subject-matter, I dived into the book.
Yep, I am a half-insane working mom: I choose to be a working mom, and respect any mom who is working (in the home, outside the home, and everywhere in between) to provide and care for her family. I connect with working moms, well, because I am one. I get the madness of driving from home to school to work (takes me at least an hour everyday), leaving work early to watch 15 minutes of dance class and eating dinner as a family, and then working until midnight to make up the time. We all do it. We all have our reality. And this book made me know I am not alone. It even made me laugh at the madness of my wonderfully crazy (and never boring!) working-mama life.
As the sub-title alludes, the book provides an “A to Z” look at newly created lexicon for working moms to embrace as they journey through life. Kristin created a “Mom 2.0 dictionary” peppered with wit and sarcasm (two of my favorite things!) leaving me with a sense of “Good Lord, being a working mom is hilarious.”
Corporate Seepage: All that said, I want to deep-dive and focus on my favorite “necessary term” from the book: corporate seepage. This term is self-explanatory, it’s when corporate-speak spills into the home. And then your kid starts using phrases and expressions that a toddler should not know exist, such as “Mommy, what is my bed time strategy?” in response to “honey, bed time is in 10 minutes.” Oy.
Recently, corporate seepage has been taken a step further. You see, my five-year-old daughter has taken it upon herself to set-up an “office” with a faux workstation, computer and office supplies. The other day, my husband was trying to get the kid’s attention, and simply heard the reply “Daddy, I am on a conference call, can you please hold for a moment?!” In fact, my daughter loves the conference call excuse. The other day, I was at home making dinner as Daddy and Kid were on their way home from dance class. The Kid blasts into the kitchen to hear me proclaim, “welcome home, honey, can I have a hug?” And what did I hear? “Mommy, I can’t talk right now! I have a conference call in 11 minutes!” So, she ran upstairs to her office… just in time to make her call. Whew!
Capturing her imagination: Despite the copious amounts of corporate seepage in my house, I also see some amazing and wondrous benefits of having two working parents in our house. I mentioned my five-year-old kid has a faux office in our house, but did I mention she uses her office to design buildings? She creates blue-prints, has meetings with clients, and has imaginary discussions about how beautiful her buildings look once they are engineered. She currently is working on designing a movie theater and an animal hospital. I swear, she comes up with all these ideas on her own… and I am bursting with pride.
Like any mother, I don’t care what career my kid chooses when she grows up. But I use these moments to remind her that she can be whatever she wants to be. I promise I am not pushing her into a world of competition and madness. But I love that she is learning to tap into her talents and imagination… just as long as she doesn’t miss that conference call in exactly 11 minutes!
Just Let Me Lie Down is available on Amazon.
– LTV Mom
Photo with Gina von Esmarch of Bowl Licker fame; Kristin van Ogtrop of “Just Let Me Lie Down” and Real Simple magazine; and yours truly.
Thank you to the Silicon Valley Moms Group for organizing a wonderful luncheon allowing us to meet Kristin and enjoy her wit and wisdom.
Back in 2008, I watched an episode of Oprah called “Going Green 101” which shared basic tips to live a green lifestyle, tips like turning off the water when you brush your teeth, which inspired a blog post called “Green is the new Cheap.” As much as I love being smart about minimizing waste, conserving natural resources and recycling, I still think it’s funny that common sense and frugality is now labeled “green” and is (finally) cool in the United States. Of course, I am talking with a touch of sarcasm, but I do think it’s important to embrace green-living by simply using your noggin and minding your wallet.
In honor of Earth Day, I decided to set aside my cynicism and learn something new about leading a greener (and healthier) lifestyle and teaching my daughter about the environment. The catalyst for my enlightenment is this month’s book club selection for the Silicon Valley Moms Group — Green Guide Families: The Complete Reference for Eco-friendly Parents — and having Earth Day as the monthly blog topic for the Yahoo! Mother Board. I figured this is a great way to accomplish my personal educational goals for Earth Day (and a good reminder that this grumpy old lady still has a lot to learn!)
What I learned: We all know plastic water bottles in a landfill is not a good thing, but I really wanted to focus on the issues that are not in my immediate control, things like food labels and toxins. I wanted to explore topics that require more than common sense, issues that need a few minutes of research and an open mind. For example, the Green Guide is a great resource for determining when to buy organic foods (and which fruits and veggies are least likely to be contaminated with pesticides). I also learned that not all food additives are bad for you; for example, ascorbic acid is basically Vitamin C. I also learned I should buy soy-based crayons because standard crayons are made from petroleum. Like most action items that lead to a greener life, one change might not appear life-altering, but collectively are that important.
Where I need to improve: There are two areas of my life that are the least-green: technology and commuting. Common sense tells me there are easy fixes like carpooling and unplugging the TV and DVR when I go to work, but my crazy working-mom lifestyle (and lack of mass-transit in the Bay Area) makes those solutions impractical (and quite honestly and selfishly inconvenient.) So, I headed over to Yahoo! Green to find new ideas. I learned that telecommuting has a bigger impact that I thought, so I will be more diligent about working from home 1-2 days a week. Still not sure what to do about my love for the TV and DVR, but suggestions are welcomed.
What I want to teach my child: I discovered there are easy, free ways to teach my kid about the beauty of the world and why we need to take care of it. The Green Guide talks about taking your kid to Farmer’s Market to introduce them to the actual people who plant and grow food, and take them camping to show them the beauty of our vast world. Luckily, both are easy in the Bay Area, and camping is on my calendar for later this summer. I also decided to teach my daughter how to garden, and since I am a novice (yes, I was raised in Iowa), I found some great tips on Yahoo! Green. Lastly, I also discovered that BBC is sharing its wonderful series Planet Earth for FREE on iTunes until April 26. My kid and I will watch together, and hopefully a little inspiration will come from watching.
At the end of the day: I was reminded that being green is more than common sense. It’s also taking time to read and learn, and also making choices (and sometimes sacrifices) for the greater good of the world. And heck, you might even save a buck or two.
– LTV Mom
Photo Credit: National Geographic
This post was written as part of the Silicon Valley Moms Group Book Club, and I received the Green Guide Families at no cost.
Parents are often asked what we think about celebrities as role models for our kids. As you can probably guess from the name of my blog, we are not afraid of TV in our house. While we limit the amount, and the type, of TV shows my five-year-old can watch, we often have the TV on during the evening hours. (I like to watch Cash Cab when I cook dinner!) So, I have to be mindful of the shows we are watching, especially if my kid is in the room.
That said, I’m one of those parents who will turn off the TV, cover the kid’s eyes, or change the channel if the programming quickly turns inappropriate for a child. I freak out when a major network plays a Viagra ad in the 8 p.m. timeslot or there is a racy performance on American Idol. My kid does not need to see that type of entertainment, so I simply take action. (After all, that’s my job.)
I have greater concerns about the shows my kid loves to watch, especially when she becomes glued to the TV. She is allowed to watch cartoons when eating her breakfast (when mommy is getting ready for work, packing lunches and running around like a wild woman). The rest of her TV-watching is during the weekend, when I just need 30 minutes to make dinner, wash some clothes or pay some bills. Her favorite show is iCarly, followed by similar shows like Wizards of Waverly Place and The Suite Life of Zach and Cody. At first, I thought the shows were okay for a five-year-old… not great, but okay. And then I realized iCarly kids are more than characters to my kid, she was seeing them as role models. And I didn’t like the effects I seeing.
I realized that if my daughter watched more than two shows in one day, she would quickly start to emulate the characters by copying the word choices, rude actions and snarky facial expressions portrayed by the kids on her shows. Trying to nip this behavior in the bud, I would sit and watch the show with her and interject commentary like “you do realize that you are never allowed to talk to a parent in that tone or manner, right? You would be in big trouble!” I then struggled with letting her watch the shows and being the super-annoying mom who was barking at her during her TV time.
Finally, I decided to use iCarly and the gang to my advantage. When my kid is busted for back-talk, not listening to her parents or being disrespectful… the iCarly privileges are taken away with the explanation that “you are not allowed to act like that, even if you do see it on TV.”
To explore other thoughts and opinions on celebrities as role models, check out the video above where my fellow Yahoo! Mother Board members from across the country discuss their opinions.
Finally, I’d like to close with my thoughts on celebrity role models for ME. I admittedly get caught in the trap of celebrity beauty, weight and glamor. But then I need to get a grip and remember professional celebrities have access to trainers, chefs and an entourage. Most importantly, I have to remind myself “I need to judge and respect people based on their personal character… not their personal accomplishments.”
– LTV Mom
Finally, we had a Silicon Valley day without rain. (Yeah, I do not pay Silicon Valley housing prices to get Seattle weather!) I was itching to get outside, but the kid wanted to stay inside to play. Desperate, I offered up a bike ride, a walk around the block, even a wagon ride. No dice… until I pulled out the magic idea: let’s decorate the driveway with sidewalk chalk!
The kid and I spent a good hour working on our masterpiece. We drew ourselves holding kites, tall apple trees, pink and purple flowers and a giant yellow and orange sun. It was so much fun to be outside, breathing fresh air, and sharing our creativity. We collaborated on the design and color choices, and laughed a lot! We were very proud of our accomplishment, and this mom will always love sidewalk chalk for outside activity and mother-daughter bonding!
– LTV Mom
Note: the sidewalk chalk was all mine, and Crayola was not part of this post.
My family has an annual tradition of watching the Academy Awards with our friends Lisa and Clay. We take turns hosting, and we love it when the party moves to Lisa’s house because she is the Silicon Valley’s very own Martha Stewart. (That woman can prepare a spread like I’ve never seen!) This year’s party was great, the food was amazing, the wine was delicious, the five-year-old daughter was awesome… and I won the most Oscar picks! All that said, here are LTV Mom’s highlights from this year’s Academy Awards:
Best Dressed Female: Well, this was the year of my favorite color: RED. I know the TV pundits and critics have been praising the metallics, but I am a red girl. So, my best dressed is the gorgeous Penelope Cruz, with Vera Farmiga as a close second (was that red or magenta?). That said, I love a RED LIP, so the awesome Sandra Bullock gets a special nod for her luscious red lips (and the Oscar award for Best Actress!)
Best Dressed Male: Duh, it’s George Clooney (even though he needs a haircut). I forget, where there other men at this year’s show? I do have to give a nod to my fantasy-BFF Neil Patrick Harris. I had no idea he was performing this year, and he is adorable as always. Like I always say, he and I would be GREAT friends!
Best Line: Maybe it’s my age, but the best line has to be Steve Martin pulling out the “I was born a poor black child” when referring to the movie Precious. That line received a round of laughter and a DVR rewind so we could hear it again! I do have to say I thought Steve and Alec Baldwin were great, and I would easily ask them back for 2011.
Best Moment: Again, maybe it’s my age, but the tribute to John Hughes brought tears to my eyes. I grew up on his movies. I still quote Ferris Bueller. And I am so glad to see the Academy honor the man who influenced my generation, even if his movies are not Oscar-worthy. I challenge you, read the list of John Hughes movies on IMDB… you will be surprised how many you have seen (and how many you love!) Watch the tribute HERE.
Best (or worst) Fast Forward Moment: Sandy Powell wins Best Costume Design for The Young Victoria and begins her speech with “I already have two of these.” Lame. The only redeeming moment is that I picked her win at random, because period pieces always win Best Costume Design.
Worst Speech: Easy. The “what the hell happened” moment when the team from Music by Prudence won Documentary Short. I’m not going to take sides on the drama, but you can read about it HERE.
Best Presenter: Easy, Sandra Bullock. “Dude, make me look good!” when explaining the role of the cinematographer during her presentation of the award for Best Cinematography.
Best Milestone: To quote Barbara Streisand, “The time has come!” Katherine Bigelow is the first woman to win Best Director for The Hurt Locker. Just awesome…
Best Wine of the Night: Easy. The red sparking wine from Mumm, recommended by my cousin Sheryl. (Thanks a ton, and you were so right, it was delicious!)
– LTV Mom
I was really looking forward to attending the Mom 2.0 Summit this year. I purchased my conference ticket in December, I had my hotel booked, I was even going to travel with one of my favorite clients. It was going to be a great conference with some of my favorite blogging women.
And then, I learned my daughter’s dance team would be performing at Disneyland that same weekend. No contest. (I love my fellow blogging-mamas… but I love my kid more.) I quickly found a new owner for my Mom 2.0 ticket, and booked a flight to the OC. I’m not sure who was more excited: my little dancer or her mama (who has impressive stage-mom potential).
My husband and I gathered our best friends in Silicon Valley, and our best friends in Orange County, and we all trekked to Disneyland. We braved roller coasters, consumed cotton candy, hugged Mickey and Minnie, and marveled at my five-year-old dancing on stage! Our family had a good time at Disneyland and a great time watching the Big Show. My little girl may not be the next Cyd Charisse, but she is cute as a button!
Take a look at the video, and you too will understand why I can wait until 2011 to attend the Mom 2.0 Summit.
– LTV Mom
Video Credit: totally goes to Tulia’s Dad (not only is he a Bay Area firefighter and EMT, he’s awesome at getting video off his video camera and to a place where people can actually see it!)
Elodian Cabernet Sauvignon
We love the “BevMo! Five Cent Sale” at our house. If you live hear a BevMo! (which is magical liquor store that is really called Beverages and More), you probably know about the regular sales where you buy one bottle of wine and you get an identical bottle for (you guessed it) a mere five cents. It’s a great opportunity to try new wines, even get out of your viticultural comfort zone. My hubby hit the sale this weekend and discovered a gold-mine: Elodian 2005 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon by the Eddy Family Wines.
About the Wine: This is a special wine, and I think we paid $30 for the bottle (and five-cents for the second bottle… score!) It is a complex cab that tasted like wonderful berries with a hint of an oak flavor. After one sip, I told my husband “go back to the store and buy a case!” The wine is smooth and flavorful and easy to drink. We enjoyed the wine with our favorite accompaniment: filet mignon and roasted asparagus. I am going to try a cheese pairing with my next bottle, er I mean glass. Read the winemaker’s tasting notes HERE.
In case you are wondering, an elodian is a sea turtle found in the Galapagos Islands, where owner Kerry Eddy’s family lived years ago. The family brought elodians with them when they moved to San Francisco, and sold them with the ship’s cargo (and they “went like hotcakes!”)
About the Eddy Family: The winery is a family-owned and operated winery located in Calistoga, California. They produce less than 1,500 cases annually. And I can’t wait to discover more of their wonderful wines.
Just trying to squeeze in some television between mothering, working and crashing.
