Food and Fireworks @ the Stadium

I can't help it!  I just HAVE to say it again ..... I'm sorry,  I know I say it all the time ... but .... I LOVE MY JOB!  Especially the 'perks' I get to experience are so wonderful with such wonderful people involved, that it just fills me with enormous gratitude and wonderment.  I know I am blessed. 
And what a terrific night I had last Friday at the Braves game with my special friends and guests as Chef LaManna invited us for dinner at the 755 Club, along with fabulous seats for the game, and a private tour of the "Big Night Out" event he hosts every month.  Which I will be by his side on October 1st during the hour long cooking demo as his bouncy sous chef!  - (More information on that coming soon ....)  -Should be a deliciously unpredictable demo!

My friends for the night were Todd Rushing, of Concentrics Restaurant Group, and his adorable wife Laurie, as well as Dan Hott who is my Director of Operations and who accompanies me on most all DwD events and outings.  The four of us are good friends together and the night was fabulous.  At dinner, I enjoyed the special seafood of the night which was fresh flounder coated in crab and shrimp and yumminess.  And Chef LaManna treated us to a beautiful sample dish of several desserts, which I could not say no to of course!  That would be so rude of me not to eat every last little morsel of crumb on the dessert plate .... right???  ;-)

The only thing that I didn't get to do was watch the fireworks.  BUMMED ME OUT,  I can't even explain.  I had talked about not seeing fireworks in years and years and how cool it was going to be to see them in person for the first time in ages and obviously I was excited!  Well.  As the very loud fireworks were going off for nearly 10-15 minutes outside .... I was in a hallway inside walking towards the doors to leave. -- Listening to the crashes right above my head and the explosions I so badly wanted to see!  We were chatting with Chef LaManna - which was great - but I couldn't understand why we weren't talking outside?!?!?!?!?  Lol,  I have to admit -- it was killing me. I felt like a kid.  Dan knows and would laugh telling you the story from his angle, I'm sure!

So,  Chef -- on October 1st,  if that's a Friday night ... I am SO watching the fireworks!!!    ;-)

(I only blow dried my hair out ... why are people going crazy over this?)

GO BRAVES!!!!!


www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

Atlanta Braves - Chef LaManna

I was tempted to put a different picture up as my first attention-grabbing photo for this blog ... but if I want to maintain any sense of dignity ... I'll save the embarassing ones for later.  - I can't help it, when there's good food around, I just get so excited!  Especially when it is brought to me by surprise, like this past Saturday when Atlanta Braves Executive Chef, Orazio LaManna, showed up to my studio and unveiled one of his favorite dishes on the 755 Club menu.  This delicious waffle sandwich is called "The Hammer": southern-fried chicken breast on toasted waffles with apple-smoked bacon, fried onions, pepper jack cheese and pecan-maple mayonnaise.  Not only did this excite me to taste, but between every commercial break -- my other returning guest, Herb Mesa, and I could not stop shoveling them down our mouth before we had to come back on air!

Also on the show this week,  to one very special lucky caller -- we had a fabulous giveaway live on air for 4 tickets to an Atlanta Braves baseball game, along with a dinner for 4 in the 755 Club. 

Wow!!!  Chef LaManna told us a couple funny foodie stories about Bobby Cox as well as Brian McCann - and learned what really does go on at these exquisite banquets of feasting for the players every single game.  - Yes ... every single game!  The players get to feast like gods on lobster, filet mignon, sea bass, shrimp and crab legs, prime rib, hams, etc..etc.. each and every single game.  It was fascinating!   And ofcourse, Herb was there cracking jokes the whole way through.

It was definitely a chow down day in the studios. 

I am happy to say that Chef LaManna has invited me to do a VIP demonstration with him behind the scenes at Turner Field on October 1st.  This day is perfect since it's an end of the season home game against the evil Phillies.  ;-)  I couldn't be more excited!   I am so very blessed to do what I do, and had an excellent time with my featured guest.  And ok ok ok ......  here is the one picture of me first taken as Chef unveiled the yummy food .... this was my initial reaction:

Chicken and waffles.  Never thought I'd say this ..... but MAN is that good soul food!  Who would have ever thought to put that together? -- I guess kind of like cinnamon buns and chili.  Bet you didn't know that when mixed all together in a bowl .... you have just created fabulosity.  Think outside the box people.  It's okay to play with your food.
;-)


www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

The "Dishing With Donna" Show has MOVED!!!

Starting immediately, DwD is now officially aired at 4:00pm,   no longer 2pm. 
ALSO,  if you missed it,  you can catch a replay of the show again on Sunday @ 6:00pm!

Then additionally, DwD has been picked up by another radio station too! 
The new 1190am THE BIZ will now play DwD on Saturdays @ 5:00pm.

................ Please make a note of the changes and join us in our excitement. 
Many new things to start happening as well!  STAY TUNED!

www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

The End. -- Or is it??

This is officially my last blog about Next Food Network Star.  I have loved this season so much and have had the opportunity to truly be involved all along.  But as all good things must come to an end  (including buffets)  this season ended on Sunday night with what I am calling, the Big Bang Let Down.
The viewing party for Herb Mesa was held at Via restaurant and lounge in the heart of Buckhead.  He rented out the entire venue just for his friends and family to watch the very last episode.  The finale!   I was invited to attend - as well as teach a salsa dance class.  Where did that come from???  And the party itself was a smashing success!!  A Big Bang!!  Entirely way too much energetic fun!   (is there really such a thing as 'too much fun'??)  I don't know,  maybe we should ask Herb.

Atlanta finalist, Herb Mesa, during one of his many announcements throughout the night.  (I think he likes the microphone!)

The evening was filled with music and fabulous food . . . . and of course, Food Network. 

Former finalist Brianna Jenkins joins the party!

Yeah, I was rockin' the big hair.

As the big screens were playing the finale of the show,  Via was sitting on pins and needles waiting to see who Food Network would announce as the winner.  Was it going to be Herb??  Did he do it??  I mean,  his adorable little mother flew in all the way from Puerto Rico just for the show, as well as out of town friends.  His wife was on his arm, his 2 little girls were there ready for their own cameo .... everything looked like it was going in Herb's favor.  Even the tv judges were singing his praises!

BUT DID HE WIN THE WHOLE SHA-BANG????

IS HERB THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR????

As Herb was explaining to everybody here in this picture .... despite the fact that he did not win the show, nor his own show, he is still overwhelmed and blessed and grateful to have had this entire experience.  It was bittersweet.  And the fact that Aarti was in fact the winner - that didn't stop Herb from cranking up the salsa music and dancing the night away --- Latin style!!  Before leaving the swanky little shindig,  Herb and I stole a moment outside together for a quick 5 minute on camera interview which should be uploaded on YouTube a little later this week.  Make sure you go and check it out!! 

-- But please excuse the fact that we are both sopping wet from sweat -- we probably put a glare on your screen from it!  But what are ya gonna do!?!?  That's what happens when you get 2 latinos on a dancefloor together . . . the party never ends!  And Herb,  I believe your party is just beginning.  Congratulations.



(hey,  who's brilliant idea was it to do our camera interview at the END of the night anyhow???)

Herbalicious Times TWO

Ladies and gentlemen .. he did it again!  Herb Mesa from Atlanta is going to the finale of Next Food Network Star!!  As the previous blogs have been detailing,  our friend Herb is continuing to wow the Food Network judges and after all these weeks of intense yet entertaining competition ... it has come to this.  The last episode.  The finale.  Who will win their own new Food Network tv show???  -- Well many people came to TWO Urban Licks in downtown last Sunday night to find out.  Every Sunday night is a viewing party for Herb  (and originally for Brianna as well)  (Team Sexy!) and I went yet again this past weekend.  - And ofcourse,  with the famous "Herbalicious" drink in my hand -  we all had too much fun.

(Hi Brianna!)

This upcoming Sunday is the grand finale being held at HAVANA CLUB in Buckhead.  I will be there actually teaching a Salsa class!  Salsa the dance,  not salsa the food.  So please do come out and meet me, meet Herb and all his posse over at Havana for a great celebration night, open to all. Just $10.00 to get in.  I'm sure there will be plenty of "Herbalicious" to go around.    (plus an open bar)  Then after this Sunday night ... it's all over.  No more reporting on The Next Food Network Star.  Ho Hum.

---- Well,  until next season that is!

GOOD LUCK HERB!!!  WE ARE ROOTING FOR YOU!!

www.dishingwithdonnashow.com

Hungry for High School?

Ok, I debated and debated whether or not to write about my recent high school reunion, held informally at Fado's in Buckhead.  I chose not to attend my 5 year reunion.  I chose not to attend the formal 10 year reunion.  And for the 15th reunion . . . . there was no reunion.  But then someone had the brilliant idea of hosting a "Fashionably Late" reunion to make up for it,  thus creating ... the first ever, 16 Year Reuinion for Roswell High School, Class of 1994.  An informal social gathering for happy hour at Fado's just 2 weeks ago.

(there was not enough room for a full group photo ... this is the closest we could get)

Luckily, thanks to Facebook - many of us have already reconnected and rekindled friendships.  Otherwise, this would be the first time I have seen anybody in nearly 20 years.  What I found shocking was how many of my old friends are still living .............. in Roswell.  And yet I can't pick on them,  because so am I.  Funny how the world works.  My date for the evening was actually a middle school friend of mine, Megan, and we were the first to arrive!!  (should that be embarassing?)

I know I am a foodie show and my blog is supposed to center around all things food-entertainment.  So I will just interject briefly to include that the stuffed mushrooms with a 3 cheese blend and bacon was absolutely delicious.  - There.  Now can this be constituted as a food blog??  ;-)

Honestly,  these moments are just a picture in your life to be remembered - and I thought it was worthy to include for the world to see here on this blog.  (-- plus, I've had school people asking me to post something!)  So this for all you aggressive Hornets who just want to see more of your own pictures online.  Haha.  A big thank you to Fado's, Mandy Stokely Russell, and Nicole Hausleiter Davis.  Also to my date Meggie, and my life long friend Carrie - for making the evening so delicious.  Cheers to all of you!

I thought we were 35 now, but it looks like here we're still stuck at 15! 

Now, let me preface and tell you that I am NOT a drinker,  unless it starts with W and ends in 'ine'.  And on the  rare occassion that I would drink anything other than wine or diet coke ... it is certainly not shots.  I graduated from doing shots before I ever graduated from college.  -- However,  when I'm surrounded by old friends asking me to try something called CHRISTMAS IN YOUR MOUTH ... and they are paying for it ..... shoot,  sometimes - it's just time for a holiday.

I gave a new meaning to Big Bang Theory! -- But hey,  my bangs were tame in comparison to the everlasting walls of hairspray created by other girls.  This was 'nuthin!

I promise to all my fellow foodie readers, FOOD is about to be served.  Stay tuned and keep reading.

- Until then,  Go Hornets!  Sting 'Em!!!

www.dishingwithdonnashow.com