Although I'm a regular fixture on the reception and cook-off circuit, more on that below, I do actually eat at home most of the time.
Whereas many consider cooking a chore, I find it one of life's greatest pleasures. It energizes me when I need a boost some days, yet calms me when I need a distraction on others. Above all, it just makes me happy - giving me a sense of accomplishment that I've created something that people need and love.
I can't perform, paint or draw worth a lick, but I can whip up a wicked good sauce or turn a motley crew of ingredients into a dish that tastes like it was planned all along.
Hey, we all have our gifts.
I have a successful cooking experience to share from this past weekend, too, although it wasn't without its hiccups.
Wanting to serve a light, but filling, dinner to the fam on Saturday night, I seasoned, marinated and grilled a flat iron steak, which I then sliced and served in a salad of lettuce, tomatoes, balsamic-soaked onions, roasted corn, croutons and homemade dressing made of melted bleu cheese whisked with olive tapenade and a dollop of cream.
Once I finished and elaborately plated my masterpiece, I stepped back and admired the six gorgeous servings I had made.
But there are only five of us. I blame the wine I kept sipping to make sure it was a good match.
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One of my favorite new local food events returns to Capitol Market this Friday when the "Wine & Minds" reception welcomes guests from 6 to 9 p.m. to sample local restaurant appetizers paired with special wines.
A benefit for the Charleston Parkinson's Support Group and Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, the event also will feature live music and a blind auction with top prizes including airline tickets, jewelry, gift cards and a pair of Google Glasses.
In the interest of full disclosure, one of the reasons I really dig this event is that organizers let me help select the restaurants and dishes that will be featured. Pretty cool.
For last year's event, I showcased tasty nibbles from South Hills Market & Cafe, Paterno's at the Park and Soho's at Capitol Market. This year's lineup is just as strong, with guests being able to stroll from station to station throughout The Wine Shop to sample:
n Scallop and Chilean sea bass ceviche on mini-tostadas with housemade guacamole and pico from Mi Cocina de Amor;
n Crab cakes with Asian plum sauce and horseradish aioli from Celsius;
n Cajun shrimp mac & cheese in a four-cheese mornay sauce from Celsius;
n Sweet Italian sausage with house-roasted peppers and onions in marinara from Soho's at Capitol Market;
n Assorted cupcakes from Paterno's at the Park.
Each item will be accompanied by a wine selected by Teddy Armbrecht from The Wine Shop, which will also offer assorted cheeses to complement the evening's menu.
Tickets are $100 each and only 100 will be sold. But the good news, there are still a few left!
They can be purchased at Capitol Market or through the Blanchette Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute by emailing hmatheny@brni.org. Hope to see you there. Come up and say hello!
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It's a big month for food lovers - and for Capitol Market, too.
In addition to Friday night's reception inside at The Wine Shop, the market is gearing up for two popular outdoor cook-offs this Saturday and next.
The market's Green Chili Shoot-Out (a qualifier for the World Championship Chili Cook-off) brings dozens of world-class green chili cooks to town this Saturday, where they'll compete for prizes and a chance to represent Charleston on the national level.
Live music and green beer are on tap, plus the public can purchase tickets to sample the variety of green chili being served.
Then next Saturday is Charleston's second-annual Mac & Cheese Cook-off, which was also just selected to be a qualifier for the World Food Championships in Florida this November.
Because of that big news, organizers extended the registration deadline for those who would like to participate until today. If interested, check out my previous story at http://bit.ly/1zO0hnT or visit www.childhoodlanguagecenter.org.
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And completing this week's roundup of upcoming local food events, Taste-of-ALL Charleston is now accepting applications from restaurants and food vendors wanting to participate in this year's event.
The 2015 installment of this long-running food-stravaganza returns to the Civic Center June 21, with dozens of area restaurants serving appetizer-sized offerings throughout the day. Also returning this year is culinary expert and Cross Lanes-born Bridget Lancaster, who now stars on "America's Test Kitchen," which can be heard on West Virginia Public Broadcasting.
For more information or an application, visit www.festivallcharleston.com.
Steven Keith writes a weekly food column for the Daily Mail. He can be reached at 304-348-1721 or by email at dailymailfoodguy@aol.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Pinterest as "DailyMail FoodGuy," on Twitter as "DMFoodGuy" or read his blog at http://blogs.charlestondailymail.com/foodguy.