Food Bloggers Challenge: Meet Lauren

Sunday is the day…Capital Cooking will be filming the Food Bloggers Challenge: Comfort Food. Join Lauren and four other food bloggers as they compete in making the best Chicken Potpie. A panel of judges will determine the winner along with votes from readers and viewers.

Challengers
1. Lauren DeSantis: Host and Producer of Capital Cooking
2. April Fulton: Food Scribe
3. Stefanie Gans: Endless Simmer
4. Alison McConnell: Humble Gourmand
5. Johnna Rowe: Johnna Knows Good Food

Judges:
1. Chef Vincent Horville: The Metropolitan Club
2. Patrice Olivion: L'Academie de Cuisine
3. Nycci Nellis
4. Readers and Viewers

You've met Johnna Rowe, Alison and April. Hopefully you’ve met me in St. Louis and on many of my other episodes, but if not, now is your chance.

Lauren DeSantis is the CEO of DeSantis Productions, LLC that produces the public television series, Capital Cooking with Lauren DeSantis. She is a lawyer by day and host/producer of her television show on the weekends. Lauren grew up in an Italian family in St. Louis, Missouri, where eating well was the key to every family gathering. She studied political science at Truman State University and afterwards received a J.D. from Duke University School of Law. Throughout her education, Lauren honed her cooking and entertaining skills by hosting numerous dinner parties with her girlfriends. After graduating from Duke Law, Lauren married her husband, Corey Then, and moved to Washington, D.C., to begin a career as an attorney. Although her life has become increasingly hectic, she always makes time for cooking because it provides her an outlet for creativity and fun. By incorporating dishes from the hundreds of national and international cultures represented in Washington, D.C., Lauren's cooking style is continually evolving. Her television show, Capital Cooking, began airing May 2, 2008 and explores recipes from the top DC chefs as well as cooking with DC insiders from various industries. Capital Cooking hopes to share Lauren's passion by providing you with recipes and tips to prepare great meals with great friends. In addition to filming her show, she also teaches cooking classes at Arlington Adult Education.

DC Cuisine...
Some say seafood, others recognize the half-smoke, but I think DC is a melting pot of culture and cuisine… from ethnic food to regional favorites. Capital Cooking tries to capture the essence of the culinary world of our nation’s capital.

Blogging…

I started the Capital Cooking Show blog in conjunction with my television show. The blog is a way to add to topics covered on the show and more. I feature recipes, food events, wine pairings, etc.

Food Network Show...

My favorite Food Network Show is Tyler’s Ultimate. He is an excellent chef and the food always tastes amazing. I also love the camera angles and colors of the set.

Comfort Food...
One of my most favorite comfort foods is Lasagna (I am Italian). I love cheese!!!! I still think my mom makes the best, but mine isn’t far behind and every time I make it, I’m reminded of home.

Make sure you don't miss this awesome episode!

Food Bloggers Challenge: Meet April

Next month Capital Cooking will be filming the Food Bloggers Challenge: Comfort Food.

Join Lauren and four other food bloggers as they compete in making the best Chicken Potpie. A panel of judges will determine the winner along with votes from readers and viewers.

Challengers
1. Lauren DeSantis: Host and Producer of Capital Cooking
2. April Fulton: Food Scribe
3. Stefanie Gans: Endless Simmer
4. Alison McConnell: Humble Gourmand
5. Johnna Rowe: Johnna Knows Good Food

Judges:
1. Kate Nerenberg: Washingtonian Magazine
2. Patrice Olivion: L'Academie de Cuisine
3. Nycci Nellis: The List
4. Readers and Viewers

Judging Categories

q Taste/Comfort Factor

q Originality

q Camera Ready

q Ability to stay within the time limit

• Plating/Presentation

You've met Johnna Rowe and Alison McConnell... Now it is time to meet April.

April Fulton is a recovering Capitol Hill reporter turned freelance food writer who decided to turn her longtime passion for cooking, eating and writing into a new career three years ago. Her food articles have appeared in the Washington Post, on National Public Radio, and in Capitol File Magazine, among others. In between cooking for family and friends, spending time with her son, and writing for paying gigs, she writes a regular blog about her culinary adventures as The Food Scribe, www.thefoodscribe.com.

How would you describe DC Cuisine? DC cuisine is a strange mix of southern and power food, with a little international flair thrown in, thanks to imports like Jose Andres. I hope the recent influx of celebrity chef outposts like the Source (Wolfgang Puck) and West End Bistro (Eric Ripert) will help spread the notion that this city is a dining destination.

How did you get into food blogging? I started blogging when I realized I had something to say and no other way to say it. At the time I was a full time Capitol Hill reporter with no experience in food other than the fact that I enjoyed cooking and eating. Three years ago I decided to start putting the passion into practice and quit my job to pursue freelancing full time. I have a lot more time and opportunity to post on my blog now, which is good exposure as well.

What is your favorite Food Network show? I really like Barefoot Contessa because Ina Garten is so down-to-earth about food and clearly enjoys eating it. I believe in the old adage that you should never trust a skinny chef, that's why people like Giada annoy me. I like her food, but seriously, is she purging between takes?

If we weren't making chicken potpie, what is your favorite comfort food recipe? Lasagna. There's something about tomatoes, cheese and pasta that makes everything OK. Plus its portable and there are endless varieties. I never make it the same way twice and I frequently make it to bring to friends and family in need of a little comfort.

Remember leading up to the competition, you will get a chance to meet all of the challengers to see who you want to be the Food Blogger Challenge Winner! The race is close and the stakes are high. If you'd like to attend the taping, email me at capitalcooking@gmail.com. Limited space available.

Food Bloggers Challenge: Meet Alison

Don't forget that Capital Cooking will be filming the Food Bloggers Challenge: Comfort Food soon. Join Lauren and four other food bloggers as they compete in making the best Chicken Potpie. A panel of judges will determine the winner along with votes from readers and viewers.

Challengers
1. Lauren DeSantis: Host and Producer of Capital Cooking
2. April Fulton: Food Scribe
3. Stefanie Gans: Endless Simmer
4. Alison McConnell: Humble Gourmand
5. Johnna Rowe: Johnna Knows Good Food

Judges:
1. Kate Nerenberg: Washingtonian Magazine
2. Patrice Olivion: L'Academie de Cuisine
3. Mystery Judge
4. Readers and Viewers

You've met Johnna Rowe. Now it is time to meet Alison McConnell...
Alisons a D.C.-based freelance food journalist who went to school in Maine and London before settling in our nation's capital. She is a student of L'Academie de Cuisine and edits The Humble Gourmand, a monthly online publication featuring recipes, restaurant reviews, wine and beer columns, and a blog, Victuals and Vittles.

Alison says...
DC Cuisine a mixed bag, which I love. The Washington restaurant scene is burgeoning in a very exciting way. After living here 4 years, I have favorites in most neighborhoods, but there seem to be new spots cropping up every day.

How Alison started blogging...
I started The Humble Gourmand as an online home for my own writing, and along the way some very motivated friends and strangers came out of the woodwork to offer their talents. We publish the first Friday of every month and update the blog (Victuals and Vittles) in between, with food news, links to good articles, and random musings.

Her favorite Food Network Show...
I adore Ina Garten's food. I don't get to watch her show often -- and clearly I lack the house in the Hamptons -- but her recipes are straightforward, easy to follow, and turn out beautifully every time.

Her other favorite Comfort Food...
Macaroni and cheese, with plenty of extra-sharp cheddar. Dense crust of crumbled Ritz crackers and butter on top. Takes me right back to being a kid -- it's my mom's recipe, after all -- and the only thing I do differently now is spike it with hot sauce.

As we are leading up to the competition, you will get a chance to meet all of the challengers to see who you want to be the Food Blogger Challenge Winner! The race is close and the stakes are high. If you'd like to attend, email me at capitalcooking@gmail.com.

Food Bloggers Challenge: Meet Johnna

Get Ready for the Food Bloggers Challenge: Comfort Food. Join Lauren and four other food bloggers as they compete in making the best Chicken Potpie. A panel of judges will determine the winner along with votes from readers and viewers.

Challengers
1. Lauren DeSantis: Host and Producer of Capital Cooking
2. April Fulton: Food Scribe
3. Stefanie Gans: Endless Simmer
4. Alison McConnell: Humble Gourmand
5. Johnna Rowe: Johnna Knows Good Food

Meet Johnna Rowe...
Johnna Rowe is an attorney in Washington, D.C. Johnna turned her love of food into a food based website, "Johnna Knows Good Food" www.johnnaknowsgoodfood.com. The site is dedicated to all things related to food: recipes, drink mixes, restaurant reviews, food/drink events, etc. In 2008, Johnna expanded her interest in food to the catering business and has now begun accepting offers to cater local events. When not writing or cooking, Johnna loves to read celebrity gossip blogs, research real estate and travel.

Johnna says...
DC cuisine represents the wide range of cultures that frequent the city yearly. Each year new restaurants are added and are evidence of the constant changes that are happening here.

How Johnna started blogging...
I started food blogging after realizing how much I really liked telling people about different restaurant experiences I had around the city and elsewhere. Additionally, many people wanted to know the recipes of different things I make, so I figured this would be an easy go-to spot for all my recipes.

Her favorite Food Network Show...

My favorite Food Network Show is Semi-Homemade Cooking with Sandra Lee. I like Sandra Lee because she does both food and drinks in every episode. Her dishes are easy to make on a budget and quick for the person who doesn't have alot of time but wants lots of flavor.

Her other favorite Comfort Food...
If we weren't making chicken pot pie...hands down, I would've made some pretty delicious mac n' cheese;-)

As we are leading up to the competition, you will get a chance to meet all of the challengers to see who you want to be the Food Blogger Challenge Winner! The race is close and the stakes are high. If you'd like to attend, email me at capitalcooking@gmail.com.

And the Winner is...

Chicken Potpie! A couple of weeks ago we asked you to vote for the Comfort Food dish that you wanted us to make in the Food Bloggers Challenge. After 115 votes, Chicken Potpie is the winner. Now it is time for the real competition...who will make the best dish?

Challengers

1. Lauren DeSantis: Host and Producer of Capital Cooking
2. April Fulton: Food Scribe
3. Stefanie Gans: Endless Simmer
4. Alison McConnell: Humble Gourmand
5. Johnna Rowe: Johnna Knows Good Food

We are still looking for two more judges. If you are interested, please email me at capitalcooking@gmail.com.

Thank you to everyone who voted! Stay tuned to learn more about each challenger.