Fooditude TV Grown-Ups' Blog

Charlie’s Pizza

2010-12-29T13:47:11Z

THREE DAYS LEFT to order Charlie's Pizza at Apart Pizza Company. Let's hear what Charlie has to say about his pizza. . .

Why did you decide to choose the combination of corn, apples, brie, and fresh mozzarella for your pizza?

I like all of those ingredients on their own so I thought I would try them together on my pizza.

What was your favorite part of the Fooditude pizza cooking challenge?

Tasting each others pizza creations

What was your favorite part of your visit to Apart Pizza in the first webisode (Mamma Mia Pizzeria)?

Making the Francese Pizza

Did your visit to Apart Pizza in the first Fooditude webisode (Mamma Mia Pizzeria), influence your pizza recipe?

Yes, I tried new ingredients instead of typical pizza toppings for the cooking challenge.

What would you say to someone your age who is apprehensive about trying different kinds of pizza toppings?

I was like that also, so I would tell others that I discovered many new delicious toppings by experimenting and tasting them on pizzas!

Fooditude’s Silent Auction comes to the Web

2010-11-23T22:58:32Z

Hello Fooditude friends, fans and new readers!

After a successful silent auction at A Taste of Fooditude in October we discovered that 3 gifts we're left out! We didn't want these gifts To go unused so we thought we'd start a little auction online.

Its pretty easy. All you have to do is Email nicole@bigteeth.tv if you'd like to purchase one of the gifts listed below. Include your name, email address and your bid amount all by December 3rd. The person with the highest bid will get the prize (or the first person to bid the Buy it Now amount) which can be paid for through paypal.

HERE ARE THE HOT ITEMS TO BID ON:

1. A private shopping party for up to 25 people at Panache Boutique http://www.panachechicago.com

including cocktails, hor d'oeuvres and 15% discount on purchases + a $50 Gift certifcate

A GREAT idea for a girls night out or holiday party with your friends.

Value: $250 Minimum Bid: $75 Buy it Now: $150

2. Three Months of Free Martial Arts Classes and a Free Black Belt Uniform at Degerberg Academy in Lincoln Square http://www.degerberg.com

A wonderful holiday gift for your kids or a cool way to get in shape as part of your New Years resolution!

Value: $490 Minimum Bid: $100 Buy it Now: $300

3. A Gift of Fitness and Wellness from Destination Fitness. http://www.destinedtobefit.com

An amazing package for getting yourself healthy and fit: One 1 hour Health and Wellness Consultation, 1/2 hour Nutrition Consult, Two 1-hour in home Personal Training sessions, One 1/2 hour in home massage, Metabolic Testing, 1 hour professional organizational services. Wonderful for the holiday season.

Value: $500 Minimum Bid: $100 Buy it Now: $300

Remember to email Nicole@bigteeth.tv with your bid. Winners will be notified on December 6th.

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #8: Michelle Garcia

2010-10-15T16:26:46Z

If you're a Chicagoan there's no way you haven't heard about The Bleeding Heart Bakery. http://www.thebleedingheartbakery.com/

We are so lucky to have such an incredible addition to our event this year. Michelle Garcia brings French culinary training to her punk rock bakery and is giving us a taste of her savory side on October 21st.

Buy tickets at: http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #7: Jon DeCamp

2010-10-14T22:08:23Z

Jon DeCamp was with us last year but not on his own - now he'll be cooking to represent Sugar Plum Catering where he is the chef.

http://www.sugarplumcatering.com/

1 week left - buy your tickets at:
http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #6: Galit Greenfield

2010-10-14T12:48:01Z

Galit joins us again this year, but now she's a mom!!

We were wowed by her peanut butter and jelly rugaleh in 2009, what SWEET treat will Galit make this year?

Check out all that Sweet Galit has to offer at:
http://www.sweetgalit.com

1 Week left until the big night - Buy tickets:
http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #5: John Bubala

2010-10-13T15:43:58Z

John Bubala is back again touting is company Chef Prep. John's a huge supporter of Fooditude, is a father of 3 and has definitely had his share of Chicago culinary experiences. We can't wait to see what he'll whip up for us with ingredients from the Green City Market.

Only 8 days until the big event. Don't forget to buy your tickets at http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #4: Valerie Bolon

2010-10-12T17:10:36Z

We're so excited to have Chef Valerie Bolon, Top Chef season 4 contestant and founder of Culinary Speakeasy participating in this year "A Taste of Fooditude".

Find out more about Valerie at http://www.valeriebolon.com

And purchase tickets for the October 21st event at:
http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #3: Suzan Jardine

2010-10-12T13:09:59Z

Suzan Jardine of Brown Eyed Suzan’s Cookies used to bring her baked goods to work to share. Now that she's "retired", she's taken what she's learned from all those years of "market research" and developed a line of cookies, brownies, scones.and more! Always fresh, always delicious, always trying new recipes!

We asked her a few things about food and baking. Here’s what she had to say:

Where did you grow up and did that influence your cooking style?

NYC...probably since there's every conceivable kind of food there and my parents introduced us to everything, although I don't actually cook.

What was your favorite food as a child?

Boring, I loved carrots and apples...oh yeah, and bread.

What inspired to you become a chef or get into the food business?

I love to bake and it really makes me happy when someone enjoys something I've made.

Who is a chef or foodie you admire?

Anyone who does what they love.

If you could travel ANYWHERE in the world to try the food and even learn to cook it, where would that be?

Thailand.

Why she says you should buy, eat and love her cookies:

Because when you want to enjoy something delicious, you deserve my baked goodies.

Because we bake everything from scratch, in small batches, just like with my mom when we were small.

Because we believe very seriously in giving back.

Because there is so much good in the world and we want to promote giving.

Because with all the wealth there is, there are still so many in need.

Because we donate 5% of our profits to charities that help support women.

Because when you help a woman, you help a family, and when you help a family, you change the world

What is your definition of Fooditude?

Fooditude is food with an attitude....a good, upbeat way to look at food!

Where can people find you?

http://browneyedsuzans.com/

Come to A Taste of Fooditude and try some of her yummy mini carrot cakes!

http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude Chef” Profile #2: Patricia Zadony

2010-10-11T13:18:00Z

Chef Patricia Zadony of Paddy Pan Personal Chef is one of our 5 returning chefs from last years event. We're so excited to have her and try her tasty soup made with ingredients from her families farm: Foley Farm in Barrington, IL.

Only 10 more days until the big event - so don't forget to buy your tickets for A Taste of Fooditude @ http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

“A Taste of Fooditude” Chef Profile #1: Heather Crosby

2010-10-08T00:10:13Z

Meet Heather Crosby from Yum Universe, just one of the 11 Chef's who's participating in "A Taste of Fooditude".

Find out more about Heather and Yum Universe at: http://www.yumuniverse.com

And buy tickets for the event at: http://tasteoffooditude2.eventbrite.com

Pizza Party: What a Production!

2010-09-08T01:32:50Z

Summertime production is always something to look forward too. Unless there’s outdoor filming involved. What that means is checking the weather report every 10 minutes to see IF there will be a window of opportunity between downpours or a cool breeze that makes the 90 degree heat with 80% humidity go down.

Luckily for Fooditude this summer, we only had to rearrange a few things to accomplish the large task of filming our next 5 webisodes – the first Fooditude work filmed entirely in HD! The next episode – which launches on September 8th is all about one of our favorite foods – PIZZA! And boy was it fun to film. Broken into 5 parts the kids got to taste great pizza, learn about dough and make their own bread, explore at the Green City Market, and design their very own pizzas.

The most fulfilling part of Fooditude for me has been watching the kids learn about the food they eat and have fun while they are learning. When I can see them reacting in such a positive way I know that we’re achieving our mission. This series of webisodes really proved that we are! Lydia, Charlie and Keaton were incredible to work with. Not only were they patient with the crew when we had to figure out tech stuff, but they were just super fun to hang out with.

Here are just a few highlights of our Pizza Party shoot – without revealing too much about the webisodes:

•   Meeting the people behind Apart Pizza, Bennison’s Bakery, Genesis Growers, the Green City Market and working with The Kid’s Table again. Check them all out!
•   Hanging out with the cast outside of Bennison’s talking about card games. As much time as I’ve spent with all our cast members I never really felt like I got to know them until this shoot.
•   Watching the kids freak out when I told them they only had 30 seconds left to finish their breads.
•   Witnessing Charlie’s response to Wheatgrass Juice.
•   Getting to spend hours with Jodi just trying to get our intro lines right without sounding cheesy- wishing the whole time we lived in the same city.
•   Seeing how creative the kids were when picking their ingredients and making their pizzas despite all the challenges we through at them.
•   Working with a really great, cohesive crew. Doing all webisodes in 1 week meant having more consistency than normal. It made the kids more comfy and just made it more fun for everyone.

By the end of the week I was sad saying goodbye. Lots of hugs were exchanged and I got a lot of thank you’s from the parents – which is just another thing that makes me smile at the end of a very, very long week. Overall, I’m so proud of what we created and I really can’t wait for everyone to see the final pieces.

Elise

Pizza Party

2010-08-18T00:08:05Z

This past weekend, I flew to Chicago for pizza. Not the deep dish pizza that the windy city is known for. This was special pizza. . . made by the Fooditude cast.

With Elise’s wonderful efforts to scout out locations, schedule shoots and organize a crew, Fooditude already had 2 webisodes filmed and under their belts last week by the time I arrived on Saturday morning. And the purpose of my visit was to appear in and be part of filming the next two webisodes.

After a slight delay en route to Chicago (a 11 hour delay to be exact), I landed, hopped into a cab, and scooted over to the Green City Market in the nick of time to join the cast for the shoot.

The kids had already visited the stand of Bennison’s Bakery (http://www.bennisonscakes.com/), tasted a variety of sprouts, and learned about Farmer Vicki’s harvest from Genesis Growers (http://genesis-growers.com). So by the time I arrived, the cast was ready to shop. The Fooditude cast did a great job thinking outside the box when it came to finding toppings for their pizzas.

By the next day, it was time to cook at The Kids Table (http://www.kids-table.com/). Presented with a variety of toppings, the cast was given some pizza guidelines and were in fact judged on how their pizzas tasted (I’ll say no more and leave you in suspense!). What I will say is this: they all made delicious and creative pizzas, and put their own unique spin on the pie.

Based on what the kids had to say about their experience shopping and cooking, it seemed that by trying new toppings, putting their stamp on their own pizza, and tasting and enjoying pizzas made by other cast members, some Fooditudes seemed to have shifted that day. And that is what we’re all about.

Looking forward to the next trip to Chicago as well as the launching of the Fooditude Pizza party webisodes starting in September!

Jodi

Fooditude at the Farmer’s Market

2010-08-13T03:54:26Z

One big task we are faced with in the Fooditude world is getting people to know who we are . . . and to know the name “Fooditude”. We are doing this in many ways:

•   Reaching out to schools
•   Using social media (twitter, facebook, linkedin)
•   Becoming a member of groups that are made up of people that have similar interests and missions.
     But the most rewarding of all…
•   Participating in events

Thanks to the support of our sponsors and friends, we’ve been invited to have a table or booth at various events around Chicago, DC, and even Los Angeles. Every event has been very unique, reaching a different audience each time. One event that I will specifically remember for years to come is one we attended in July, the 61st Street Farmer’s Market in Chicago. http://www.experimentalstation.org/farmers-market

We were asked to run the “market school”. I was a bit nervous about the event from the beginning, being that I am not a teacher (that’s why Jodi and I make a great team). For 6 weeks I was worried we wouldn’t be able to get as much out of the opportunity as we may have if Jodi were going to be there. As if my fears weren’t enough to make me nervous, the morning of the event there were torrential rains all over Chicago – was this a sign?

But I was optimistic so I got in the car and headed to the south side, excited to bring Fooditude to a whole new community. When I arrived there were a few more problems:
•   There was water everywhere – so much for showing our webisodes on the computer!
•   My 2 assistants (Amir, one of our cast members, and Joyce, his amazingly devoted grandmother) were very delayed due to flooding and travel.
•   Many vendors didn’t show up because of the weather and they didn’t expect a huge turn out at the market. No cooking demo for the day either. In fact, Dennis Ryan, the market manager was SHOCKED I showed up!

I could have packed up and left but giving up is just not in the Fooditude vocabulary!
For 3 hours I taught kids and their parents about sugar in their favorite drinks and gave them our Mango fizz to taste test. Some kids even got to watch our “Beans, Beans, good for the heart” webisode and our mission video in the short time the sun was out.

The best part was watching Amir, who did make it after all, inspire a new group of Fooditude fans. That’s exactly who our potential audience needs to interact with, the kids that have already seen how important Fooditude can be.   I also realized, after brainstorming with Amir and Joyce about the future of Fooditude, how much our fans can contribute as we move forward.

So fans, what do you want to learn about? What do your kids want to learn about? We want to know!

Our next event: Uncommon Ground Green Room Session: “Growing Healthy Kids” Event on August 14.
http://www.uncommonground.com/pages/musician/53.php?id=3724

Elise

Fooditude Meets!

2010-07-09T14:09:07Z

This week, Fooditude cast members and their parents came together and met for pizza at the office of Big Teeth Productions (http://bigteeth.tv/). The purpose of the meeting was to give updates about the Fooditude project, but most importantly, to get ideas and feedback from the kids and their parents.

After introductions and updates, Elise and parents went to a separate room to chat while Gregg (Fooditude's cameraman/director/post production editor. . . to name just a few) and I asked the kids flat out: what kinds of food do you want to try? What are other ways you want to learn about food? Do you like the “confessional style” of talking about food? What are some of your food family traditions?

The kids had great feedback to give. They suggested foods they want to try (let’s just say, Chinese is going to be on the menu in the future. . . alligator will probably not though), gave insight into different formats that could make Fooditude more dynamic (Food Flashback Jeopardy? Why not!), and voiced some of their food and nutrition questions that Fooditude can help answer (Where’s the “cheese” in my Cheetos?). We left the conversation with ideas for directions we can take for future webisodes.

We will definitely use the kids’ suggestions as the show takes shape. And that is the whole point of Fooditude, to give kids a voice to express their food views and have those compelling food questions answered in fun ways. Thank you Fooditude cast for sharing your ideas. If you are a parent, aunt/uncle, grandparent, teacher, or just know a "Tween", please encourage them to share ideas with us. . . Fooditude is for them!

Jodi B in DC

Filming Webisode 2 at HarvesTime Foods

2010-06-23T12:07:11Z

On June 17th, Fooditude filmed its second Webisode at HarvesTime Foods in Lincoln Square, or Ravenswood, or Albany Park – one of those areas that you just aren’t 100% sure what its called.

What I can say for sure is that the experience was such a pleasure and just another situation where you realize how much people appreciate what you are doing and how much neighbors care about each other.

We contacted many markets in the North side of Chicago looking specifically for ones that carried Mexican groceries and got a lot of “Nos”. I have to admit, I understand where they are coming from. We’re asking to come in during normal shopping hours, film in the store with kids, AND we can’t pay!!! All we can offer is marketing of the business on our site, blogs, and any press we do. By the way, did mention HARVESTIME FOODS at 2632 W. Lawrence in Chicago.

http://www.harvestimefoods.com/

From the first time I spoke with Chris, the owner of HarvesTime, I felt welcomed, like he opened his home (AKA his store) to me and to our crew. Most importantly he opened his store to Amir, Beca, Ian, and Nancy, our wonderful cast. He didn’t just say yes, he pretty much let us have the run of the store, and, despite a few glares from customers during filming, most shoppers were excited about what we were doing. Chris also made sure the kids got to try some authentic Mexican food, all made fresh in house, which of course was the kids favorite part of the day.

The parents and the crew shopped there immediately after and the kids even said they’d come back because the food there seems so much better and natural than what they have in the stores they frequent.

Production is never EASY but Chris and the folks at HarvesTime made it a pleasure. Thank you HarvesTime for making our webisode shoot a memorable one. We hope to find more local venues in the future that are just as accommodating, welcoming, and as passionate about food and Fooditude as we are! My hope is that we’ll continue to find Chris’ and Ramons’ that want to share their restaurants, stores, homes and businesses with Fooditude! Suggestions? Feel free to offer up locations to us!

Elise