Food isn't scary in bite-size portions

I love food festivals because they help me conquer my food fears. I'm an adventurous eater when it comes to bite-size portions, but I'm afraid to order things like ceviche, pork belly and oxtail off a restaurant's menu. I mean what if I order something that I don't like? I'm stuck with an entire plate of it and a serious case of diner's remorse.

At last night's Toast of the Town, a food and wine festival, I tasted several small items that I wouldn't ordinarily have tried.

Here were my favorites:

Duck confit with pickled ginger and sweet plum sauce (Green Island Country Club)

Florida hoppers (shrimp) with jumbo asparagus, wild watercress and lemon vinaigrette (Hot and Hot Fish Club)

Lobster-scallop ceviche with lime, garlic and jicama (C'Sons)

Red pepper champagne bisque with basil chiffonade (C'Sons)

Oxtail ravioli with contemporary succotash (RiverMill Event Centre)

Deviled quail eggs with lobster, Georgia caviar and blood-orange vinaigrette. (The Basil Leaf)

Unfortunately, I was too busy racing around tasting food and sipping wine to take any photos, but the presentation of some of these dishes was photo-worthy. A curried crawfish was scooped in a tiny ice cream cone and duck confit was served in a small partially hallowed-out breadstick. The ceviche was set in a tiny martini glass. They were almost too cute to eat. Almost.

I'm back... with deli

It's been so long since my last blog post. I'm sorry faithful readers. You've probably been wondering what sort of daze Dawn has been in. Well, I've been working, eating, sleeping, working, attempting to workout, overeating, feeling guilty about overeating, promising to workout more often, working, drinking wine, wondering if I'm drinking too much wine, working. Let's just say I've been in a work-sleep-eat-wine daze.

Anyway, I'm going to be better. About blogging, that is. Not about drinking less or working out more.

Anyway, today was Deli Day in Columbus. Every year before Easter/Passover the Jewish Ladies Aid Society holds a fundraiser. It's a delicious fundraiser because sack lunches with corned beef sandwiches, chips, cole slaw, pickles and sweet tea are sold. Everyone sits outside on folding chairs and eats his/her lunch on what is always a beautiful summer-is-coming type day. Then we eat some of the best desserts imaginable. Cheesecakes, brownies, lemon mousse, chocolate cake, red velvet cake and my favorite, coconut cake. Now I really need to workout!

Here are some photos:


Lily, me and Sonya


Me and Jeff


My co-worker friends Tim, Lily and Sonya.