Category Archives: Q&A

Go Behind-the-Scenes of Today’s Wall Street Journal Story Photo Shoot with Assistant to the Chef, Ellie Sara Groden

Posted on February 9, 2012 | Leave a comment

Daughters Ella and Lulu look on as mom and dad enjoy a moment together.

Open the Personal Journal of today’s Wall Street Journal and you will find a story that may get you in the mood to romance your special someone on Valentine’s Day!  That’s what Michael did for his wife Tamara, except it was the day after New Year’s on the request of style writer and author of the food/travel memoir Tiger in the Kitchen Cheryl Tan, whom he had the pleasure of meeting at their Miami Book Fair panel back in November.  Her Tricks of the Trade column runs in this lifestyle section every Thursday and today she focuses on some expert advice from someone who performs magic in the kitchen as his job, both in the restaurant and for his family at home.  I had all these photos from behind-the-scenes of the shoot for “A Special Gift, From the Chef” with photographer Brandon Kruse, so I thought it might be fun to find out from the prop stylist herself how it all came together that balmy winter evening.  Here is a quick Q&A with Ellie, below. DO try this one at home!

Michael's assistant Ellie on prop styling duty.

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Posted in Behind the Scenes, News, Q&A, Recipe, Staff Recommends...

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Jose Felix Perez on Mark Making, Hip-Hop, & Short Rib

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

Jose in action at Harry's.

And now, another great guest post from Michael’s assistant Ellie Sara Groden. Born in Miami Shores, Florida, Ellie taught English in Rome, favors Maui and Big Sky, and seeks out nature, culture, laughter and food! Find her on Twitter @EllieSara and @harryspizzeria.

We all love discovering talent, particularly when it’s been mingling with normalcy, and especially when it turns out to be the easy-going busser turned server at the pizza place who never lacks a good morning smile.  Of course, most of the people at Harry’s knew that Jose was an artist.  Most people who see Jose probably guess he’s an artist in some form.  Us office peeps found out what a serious artist he is when Omar, TGHG bookkeeper, brought in a New World School of the Arts (NWSA) brochure that he picked up for his daughter.  Inside, a feature on the winner of a student competition for the college division of NWSA at Greenberg Traurig, LLP for a 60-foot high painting, entitled “Grew Into This,” by Jose Perez.

I googled him of course, and found these great videos, and several articles, of Jose’s imprint on the Miami scene.  Next, I headed to Harry’s to talk with him, see below for the interview.  Don’t miss the videos of his work at the bottom.
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Posted in Food Arts, Harry's Pizzeria, Q&A

Great Scot!

Posted on August 2, 2011 | Leave a comment
Randolph Adams

The Macallan Brand Ambassador, Randy Adams, in all his tartan glory.

As mentioned yesterday,  executive pastry chef Hedy Goldsmith did a dessert tasting last Wednesday with The Macallan brand of single malt Scotch whisky.  The evening was led by Randy Adams, its Brand Ambassador to the southeast region.  Randy joined the company in February 2011, and enjoys a long history with the spirit, sharing his knowledge as Bar Manager/Whisky Specialist Upstairs Private Reserve at The Gator Club in Sarasota, Florida, his home base.

According to The Macallan’s website, in order to be classed as a ‘Scotch’ Whisky, the spirit, made from a mash of cereals, must have been matured in an oak cask in Scotland for a minimum of three years. It must also be bottled at a minimum strength of 40 percent alcohol by volume. ’Blended’ Scotch Whisky is Scotch Whisky distilled at more than one distillery from a combination of malted barley and other cereals. Blended ‘Malt’ Scotch Whisky is Scotch Whisky distilled at more than one distillery entirely from malted barley. And ‘Single’ Malt Scotch Whisky is Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery entirely from malted barley. Nothing lost in translation here (for a laugh, here’s the translation of the fictional Suntory Whisky commercial scene from Sophia Coppola’s 2003 oscar-nominated film.)

So what does a brand ambassador actually do, and what’s with that haggis stuff?  Find out in Randy’s QA below, and start your day with an unhealthy dose of Scotch-laden dessert porn on our Flickr.

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Posted in At the Bar, Q&A

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