Cooking instructor and a good friend, Durrain and I hosted a fundraising dinner for the Horn of Africa this past weekend. We cooked an African inspired dinner for about 50 people and invited neighbors, family and friends. The event was held at Durrain and Navaz’s clubhouse in Kennesaw, GA. According to the news media 29,000 […]

Expedition Give is like The Amazing Race with a unique charity twist. Giving101 organized the race third year in Atlanta. In this five-hour scavenger hunt, teams of two race all over the city collecting items, taking pictures, and completing community service projects to earn points. Teams with the most points take home some prizes. It […]

“It’s a beautiful love story with a lot of powerful women” kept saying Clent Coker, the historian, museum director and author at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Georgia. While visiting the gardens this past weekend, Clent gave me a personal tour while sharing his own personal obsession with the property. Clent’s great-grandmother was born in one […]

I chanced upon this little tucked away place in Marietta on my way. There was a big sign saying “Jerusalem Bakery” so naturally, my curiosity arose. As I got closer, I saw there were two side by side establishments under the same banner. Making a detour, I walked into the bakery waiting to discover what […]

Sometimes hidden jewels can be found in your own backyard! Many of us travel thousands of miles to different corners of the world in search of the perfect vacation spot. After living in Atlanta for over 14 years, I discovered one right here in Georgia. Blairsville is located in north Georgia, less than two hours […]

It was love at first sight. We met in Rome, at a local café, while I was wandering around the cobblestone streets on a warm summer evening.  I admired its smooth body, dense structure and luscious high intensity. The moment it touched my tongue, I knew that we will have a relationship for life. Since […]

A few days ago I visited one of my all time favorite restaurants in Sandy Springs, Fanoos Persian cuisine. I had spoken to the owner, Jalal on several occasions before asking him to share some of his delicious Iranian recipes with me. This turned out to be my lucky night! Jalal gave me the pleasure […]

I discovered Delray Beach totally by accident (and what a pleasant one it was!). My husband and I were recently won a trip to Hollywood, Florida on The Marriage Ref. Up until now the only Hollywood I knew of was in CaliforniaJ. After some investigation, I found out it’s a Miami suburb resort town where […]

After a long wait of eight months, I finally got to watch my episode of The Marriage Ref air on TV. We (hubby and I) invited a few friends over for a viewing party this past Sunday evening. There was a themed menu and a lot of excitement in the air. I asked the host […]

It all started last year, when my husband and I were watching the first season of The Marriage Ref on NBC. Being Jerry Seinfeld fans, we enjoyed the mature harmless humor that the show produced. Even then, in his heart still wanting to appear on a show, my husband said “We are too normal for […]

Linda Watson helps people save money, eat well, and make a difference by cooking seasonal food from scratch at less than the food-stamp allowance. Her book, Wildly Affordable Organic is all about delicious recipes that are made from scratch using fresh ingredients. Why good? “Because you will save money and feel better” she says. You will […]

After it’s grand opening last weekend, everyone is talking about the newest hot spot in town. Located on Peachtree St, close to the Fox Theater, Escorpion Tequila Bar and Cantina is trendy, young and eclectic. The place where Escorpion houses now has seen a few change of hands over the years. Owner Riccardo Ullio already […]

Do you have days when you crave for breakfast for dinner or brunch on a weekday? I recently had one of those, where I did not want to eat the usual lunch fixings for lunch. Since I work from home, I have the luxury to cook my own meals on most days. So, on a […]

I love themed parties! In fact, I always try to create a theme around any dinner party I host. It helps me keep the menu together, try new recipes and make things interesting for my attendees. In the past, I have organized a game night, pool party, grill day, just tapas, wine and cheese, TV […]

Who says ravioli can only be served as a savory dish? With homemade dough, fresh blueberries and soft mascarpone cheese, this dessert has all the components that will want you coming back for more. Did I mention it was also deep fried? It tastes like a freshly made fried blueberry pie, only a lot more […]

This recipe is inspired by Northern Africa where you will often find savory meat pastries. I learned to make Bastilla while volunteering in Morocco last year and fell in love with it. Bastilla is a pastry made with phyllo and layers of spiced ground chicken, omelets, almond paste and powdered sugar. It requires some skill […]

Honey-Blueberry Gelato Starts With Healthy Blueberries! With 2 gallons of blueberries from picking at Sidney Roland Blueberry Farm over the weekend, I have been contemplating how to put them to optimal use. Over the next few days, I will be posting healthy, totally original, finger-licking good recipes; that use my fresh-picked, pesticide-free, for a good cause […]

Its berry picking season in Georgia and I happened to come across a farm which allows you to pick your own blueberries for a good cause. Located only 70 miles from Atlanta, the Roland Farm grows varieties of blueberries that are available for picking from June to September for only $5 a gallon! Sidney Roland, […]

(serves 4-6) A Thai inspired dish that is common at many restaurants. This is my version of a simple, easy to make, yet flavorful salad that can be had as a side accompanying meats, fish or rice. 1 small green papaya, unripe 3-4 cloves garlic 1 green chili 1 ½ tablespoon sugar 1 lime, juiced […]

I have hosted a good number of dinner parties over the years, ranging in many themes from Moroccan, tapas, global pizza to Hawaiian and game night. This past weekend, I decided to have an Asian inspired dinner party. Each couple brought a dish and I prepared a few things to round out our four-course meal. […]