Tag - You're It! - A Game of Blogger Tag

It's been a few weeks since my last post so let me update you on what I have been doing lately.  I'm currently working on a couple of recipes and can't wait to share.  In the meantime, I've been busy with other responsibilities of being a food blogger.

As a food blogger, not only do you have to do research and blog about the recipes that you think your readers would be interested, you also have to test each recipe to make sure it works.  Photos are also very important as this is how you show your readers what your final creation looks like.  As they can't taste the dishes themselves, they want to at least taste it with their eyes.  If you're successful in catching your readers' attention and make them want to duplicate your recipe, you better make sure your recipe is foolproof.  Other than researching, testing and taking photos which are intricate parts of maintaining a blog, you also need to be up-to-date on what's happening in the food industry and keep current on the food trend.  In addition, you need to be social media savvy and actively market yourself on the ever popular social networks.  Networking with other bloggers and creating relationship is also very important.  It's a tight knit community with many generous people who are happy to help.  I joined Food Buzz a few months ago and already I met many talented bloggers and foodies.  I also met a few of these great bloggers in person and get to know them a little better.  Cultivating relationships and reading each others blogs are part of being a member of this community, and I know I need to be more involved with that part of my responsibility as a blogger.  So as I'm catching up on my reading I found out that Victoria from Mission: Food tagged me in a game of blogger tag.

So here's how it works below is a list of questions that Victoria came up with and asked eight bloggers to answer.  To participate, I have to answer all her questions then create my own questions and tag eight other bloggers.  So here we go:

1) What cookbook could you not live without?

These two books are not particularly "cookbooks"; they are more culinary reference books.  One is Larousse Gastronomique which I received at graduation. It is the ultimate encyclopedia of cookery and world cuisines.  I highly recommend it.  The other ultimate reference book for me is The Flavor Bible.  I love that you could look up an ingredient and it lists the flavor profile of that ingredient and tells you what other ingredients compliment it.  Love that! 

2) Are you allergic to any foods?  If so what?

Yes, I am allergic to apples, cherries and peaches.  This is something that I developed.  I was not always allergic to these fruits as they were my favorites, but apparently because I'm allergic to trees, there's a cross reaction to these fruits.  If you have seasonal allergies you may want to check out this article and see if you are allergic to a certain fruit or vegetable.  http://www.allergicliving.com/?p=277

3) If you could eat at any restaurant in the world, regardless of its location or price, where would you go?

El Bulli is on the top of my list but since they will be closed in 2012, and undoubtedly reservations have already been fully booked, not sure I would be able to eat there, but I can still dream.

4) What was your worst cooking disaster?

Probably has something to do with baking or making desserts as I am not a baker or pastry maker.

5) What is your least favorite ingredient or dish?

My least favorite dish is probably anything that has bitter melon in it.  I just hated the bitterness of it as a child and just never got over it.
 

6) Did you have a childhood celebrity crush, and if so, who was it? (Yeah, I went there...)

My childhood celebrity crush was some television star in Hong Kong.  I'm not even sure what his name is anymore, haha.

7) What is your favorite movie?
I love movies and there are too many movies I love to name a favorite.  But one of them is The Shawshank Redemption.  I love a good dramatic film as well as scary movies.  Oh I do love foreign films and documentaries too.

8) Potatoes or rice?
Rice for sure, it's just a part of my culture, can't live without it!

Now it's my turn to tag eight bloggers with my questions:

1) What is your signature dish that represents who you are as a cook?

2) What is your favorite kitchen gadget or tool that you can't live without?

3) What would you like to eat for your last meal and with whom?  (You could pick any guest you want to dine with dead or alive.)

4) Which country's cuisine do you love to eat the most and why?

5) If you have to move to a deserted island and you could only bring one ingredient (exclude salt and pepper) with you, what would you bring?

6) Who inspire you to cook or become a foodie?

7) Name a dish you always wanted to make but haven't had a chance to make it yet.

8) Do you prefer savory or sweet dishes (to make or to eat)?

Can't wait to hear what you have to say, and the eight bloggers I tagged to play this game are:

Ken @ Hungry Rabbit NYC

Angie @ Rice & Wheat
Anthony @ Flavorful World

Maya @ Foodiva's Kitchen

Butter @ Running On Butter

Casey @Eating Gardening & Living in Bulgaria

Paul @ Pantry Blogger

Leila @ My Barbarian Table