A Tasty Plate

08/31/2026

An unforgettable night celebrating food, friendship, and some very special menu wins over at Recipe Philly!

Last night, I had the absolute pleasure of dining at Recipe Philly with dear friends to celebrate something very special to me: my Caesar Salad with Swiss Crisps recipe landing on the menu! What made the evening even more memorable was getting to experience so many of the incredible dishes created by my fellow menu winners.

Between our two couples, we ordered a myriad of items — from the watermelon cocktail and w**e, to appetizers, entrées, sides, and desserts. If I had a third stomach, I would have ordered everything on the menu! 😂

First and foremost, thank you to the kitchen for recreating my Caesar Salad with Swiss Crisps so perfectly. It was absolutely spot-on and so delicious, if I may say so myself! LOL. Our friends seemed to agree, too. ❤️

A definite table favorite was Niya's Philly Cheesesteak Egg Rolls. What's not to love?! Everything you hope for in a cheesesteak and more, wrapped up in a crispy egg roll — and that Sriracha ketchup SLAPS!

Derek Simpson's Holy Meatballs were absolutely fabulous — a true treat for the palate.

Randy Mahan's Pasta Fagioli was delicious and hearty, just as described. I personally would have loved a little more broth, but the flavor was everything we hoped for.

Then there was my Caesar salad again — and I have to say one more time, thank you! Seeing my recipe brought to life on the menu and enjoying it with friends was such a special experience.

I've been dreaming about Rameez's Crispy Fried Butter Chicken Sandwich ever since I knew it would be on the menu, and it definitely did not disappoint! The layers of flavor were absolutely delectable. I paired it with a side of cilantro-lime rice, and it was fantastic.

Andrea Kulp's Herb-Crusted Pork Tenderloin was rich and oh-so-flavorful. The blue cheese and sage really elevated the dish and added such wonderful depth.

Our table also opted for Pete O'Byrne's Girl Scout-Crusted Pork Chop, and let me just say — I'm all about unexpected flavors on a plate, and this entrée hit it out of the park! What a fun and delicious combination.

MY COMPLETE REVIEW AT GOOGLE!!

08/26/2026

I am always up for a Caesar salad discussion!

Whether it's chopped, grilled, includes a coddled egg or not, creamy or traditional, Croutons or crumbles, has protein or without.. so many delicious ways to enjoy, but for the most delicious iteration, you need to head down to Recipe Philly Restaurant to try my "Caesar salad with Swiss crisps"!

What's your favorite Caesar salad? Comment below

08/19/2026

Chimichurri Skirt Steak over Fresh Garden Vegetables.

The Skirt Steak, always a favorite, cooked in a cast iron to a perfect medium.

A beautiful balance of protein and fresh veg.

I prepared a fairly traditional Chimichurri with Chopped parsley and cilantro, minced garlic, red pepper flakes, olive oil, red w**e vinegar, salt and pepper. I like to squeeze fresh lemon juice and a dash of ground cumin to level up the flavor, I'll call that "punchy".

The fresh salad included sweet cherry tomatoes, English cucumber, red bell pepper, chick peas and shaved red onion..super simple

Toss the salad, top with the beef and finish with one of our faves, crumbled Manouri Cheese.

08/18/2026

✨ A Journey Almost a Year in the Making… ✨
Almost a year ago, an incredible opportunity came my way. A casting company was searching for Philadelphia locals who had not only a recipe, but an inspiring story behind it. From hundreds of stories and recipes, ultimately 31 winners would be selected to have their recipes featured on the opening menu of a brand-new restaurant called Recipe Philly.

And somehow… my recipe was one of them! ❤️

Today, "Caesar Salad with Swiss Crisps" is officially on the menu at Recipe Philly, and I couldn’t be more grateful to the entire Recipe Philly team—not only for choosing my recipe, but for giving me the opportunity to share the personal story behind it.

From the audition, to casting, filming, and all of the excitement in between, to finally walking into the restaurant and seeing it all come to life… what an experience! So much fun, and something I will never forget.
For me, this was about so much more than a competition.

My Caesar salad has a story. I remember my father preparing Caesar salad tableside at home in my grandmother’s wooden bowl, which is now more than 70 years old. That bowl represented so much more than a serving dish. It meant family gathering together, love, laughter, friendship, and the anticipation of an incredibly delicious meal about to be served. Those are the moments that stay with you forever. ❤️

This experience also reminded me that everyone has a story to tell. Regardless of where we come from or what our background may be, there is always a story behind the things we create, the traditions we carry, and the memories we hold dear.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting so many of the other Recipe Philly participants, and I’ve absolutely loved hearing their stories and experiencing the incredible diversity that made this entire journey so special. Each recipe represents something personal, and together they tell such a beautiful Philadelphia story.

I’ve been part of competitions over the years, but this one meant something very different to me. It connected food, family, memories, culture, and community in a way I will forever hold close to my heart!
🥬
Thank you, Recipe Philly!

08/14/2026

08/09/2026

So blessed, honored, and excited to have been chosen as a finalist with Recipe Philly.
Philadelphia's newest restaurant and show
where the menu is created by home cooks with their heirloom recipes. Make your reservations now, restaurant opens August 17th, and experience what all the delicious buzz is about! Stay tuned for the 8 episode "docu-series" highlighting this journey of myself and the 31 other finalists who were given this platform to share their special recipe's story and history.
A special thank you to Caroline Sheets Casting!

The most important thank you goes out to my parents, particularly my father, for the recipe inspiration which has literally shaped my food journey as well as the importance of the non-negotiable Sunday Dinners!! Love you both!🩷🩵

www.recipe-philly.com

08/06/2026

Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon patties, baked Parmesan Zucchini rounds, lemony dilly caper sauce, fresh summer corn!!