Brian Ries – Food Editor
Before CL, Brian managed several restaurants, received an advance diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers, and sold wine to the finest restaurants and retail stores across Florida and New England. Now, he spends his time eating and drinking for you. When Brian got out of the restaurant business, every time he'd go out to eat he'd see the problems — unsatisfied customers, unhelpful waiters, problematic food. Instead of avoiding restaurants altogether, he decided to spend his life pointing out what restaurants are doing right and wrong. He sees himself less as a critic, however, than a consumer reporter. Americans spend a heck of a lot of money dining out; maybe his reviews will help people decide where to spend their money. And where not to.
Taylor Eason – Wine Editor
An Atlanta native, Taylor earned her B.A. in English and French Literature from Colgate University, whose proximity to New York wineries sparked her love affair with wine. After graduating, she attended Ecôle Hotelière de Genève in Switzerland, a 15-month culinary program that encouraged exploration of French, German, and Italian wine countries. Taylor then headed back stateside to Florida to manage at Bern’s Steakhouse, famous for its extensive wine collection. In August 2001, noting a lack of spunky wine coverage for everyday people, she launched a wine education column, Corkscrew. Today, she is syndicated internationally, conducts wine seminars, makes numerous television appearances.
Taylor's Facebook | email:Taylor.Eason@creativeloafing.com
Katie Machol – Contributor
I am a recent graduate of the International Culinary School at the Art Institute of Tampa. My previous culinary work experience includes working in a banquet kitchen and at Marchand's at the Renaissance Vinoy, as well as the former Tastings wine bar, in downtown St. Petersburg. Currently, I am a food stylist at the Home Shopping Network, which involves preparing and styling food to be cooked or presented on-air. I'd like to pursue a career in food styling and recipe development for television and print. Some of my favorite cuisines are Mexican, Thai and Southwestern/Tex-Mex. I love to experiment in the kitchen (and it usually involves a lot of spice) and re-work recipes to put my own spin on them.
email: katiegf@yahoo.com
Bethany Sherwin – Contributor
Bethany Sherwin is a local beer sommelier dedicated to refining the palate of American beer drinkers. A longtime resident of Florida and graduate of St Petersburg's Eckerd College, she approaches beer with studious vigor, promoting some of the world best craft breweries by planning beer events, conducting beer tastings throughout the Bay Area, and beertending frequently at International Beer Garten in Lutz. Her current beer fascinations include beer and food pairing, extreme and collaboration beers, and beer cellaring.
Leslie Green – Contributor
Having officially turned into my mother, I have an insatiable love for all things food. In April 2008, I started my food blog, The Hungry Housewife, as an outlet for my love of baking, cooking and photography. Since April it has grown by leaps and bounds. With over 500 subscribers and approximately 10,000 visitors a month, it's my home away from home. I cook and bake for friends and relatives for functions when they need to bring yummy food, but I have no professional training other than trial and error in my kitchen. Someday in the near future, I hope to market my almost famous chocolate chip cookies and other delicious treats. Food is my love and I plan to keep people happy by feeding their faces!!!
Rishi Ramkissoon – Contributor
Eat to live, or live to eat? That is the question. I'm a Live to Eat myself and proudly a "foodie." My obsession with food began in my homeland of Trinidad, where cooking started out more as work avoidance rather than a passion. My mother was, and still is, my culinary messiah; she's well versed in West Indian cuisine, a centuries old fusion of Indian, Chinese, African, Middle Eastern, French, British and Spanish traditions. Moving to the U.S. in 1995 challenged my culinary world. I temporarily relinquished familiar pleasures and explored the vast American gastronomic territory, from simple, cheap ethnic foods to desserts and pricey gourmet fare. Along the way, I discovered food is more than just a terrestrial pleasure – it's culture.
email: rishi.ramkissoon@pmsionline.com
Louis Thornton – Contributor
Like most Floridians, Louis is a transplant from the north but has lived here most of his life. In his 20's, and long before it was en vogue, he found a love for cooking, food and friends. During his extensive travels he writes about the tastes and experiences from all corners of the globe. He has recently hosted the Neely's from the Food Network for an upcoming BBQ episode and writes his own food blog. Louis lives in Palm Harbor with his longtime girlfriend, Lisa and their young daughter, Olivia.
email: louistjr@gmail.com
blog: Louis Loves Food
Dan Holm– Contributor
Dan Holm is the writer and thinker behind the daily restaurant blog GreenEggsMarketing.com. Passionate about food and restaurants, he believes in remarkable service, outstanding food and exhausting attention to detail. With several years of experience in the restaurant industry he currently works for OSI Restaurant Partners and lives in Clearwater with his wife and daughter.
Sarah Howard – Contributor
After moving to San Francisco (food & wine heaven!) from the bay area two years ago. Her culinary interests appeared at an early age with a favorite peanut butter cookie recipe that still pleases today. Growing up in the kitchen with a food-savvy family helped to heighten a love of classic home style dishes turned up a few notches. She spent her college years earning a Hospitality Management degree at the University of Central Florida while working at top rated Le Coq au Vin restaurant in Orlando and discovering the joys of rustic French cuisine. It was during this time that she developed a passion for the world of wine and completed two levels of intensive training with the International Sommelier Guild. Later adventures include catering and wedding coordination. Sarah currently enjoys cooking for friends in the city and venturing over the Golden Gate to wine country whenever possible for a sip, or two, or three of California’s finest.
email: sarah.pinkypinky@gmail.com
Twitter: sarahpinkypinky
Fork You – Contributor
Several years ago, I found myself thrust into the often inhospitable world of hospitality. All that I’ve derived from these endeavors, it seems, is a growing sense of apprehension regarding the populace at large and an enlarged liver. Through therapy, pharmaceuticals and this blog, I am attempting to reach a catharsis. In addition to acerbic musings based on my current penance, uh, I mean employment, I’ll also be bringing you news and views about food, drink, places to check out (new and old), beer/wine tastings and more. Hopefully, all involved will find it mutually beneficial.
Dave Davisson – Contributor
David moved to Tampa during the summer of 2006 and is currently a full-time student at the USF School of Library and Information Science. He started blogging about Tampa restaurants early in 2007 as a way of sharing restaurant reviews with friends. He had so much fun keeping that blog he decided to expand the scope a little bit and launched Re/Creating Tampa in July of 2008. He still keeps a page dedicated to foodie interests at Eating Tampa, but now he also blogs about books, movies, sustainability, politics, Tampa, Florida, and whatever Internet flotsam and jetsam catches his eye.
email: patadave@gmail.com
James Ostrand – Contributor
Born in New York City to parents of varying backgrounds, James was exposed to a variety of ethno-centric food styles at an early age. Some of his earliest recollections include a duck beheaded in a Chinatown restaurant, his Polish grandmother's Lobscow and Sicilian grandfather's homemade pizza. Watching his parents' do their homework for a Chinese cooking class help foster his love of all Asian eats. During his first year of college, James provided his roommates with his favorite culinary staples like homemade Italian "gravy" and Rutmus (Scandinavian style mashed turnips). Having lived in St. Pete for over 20 years, he thrills at the opportunity to try a new restaurant or taste the latest microbrew at one of the 'Burgs many watering holes.
email:james.ostrand@creativeloafing.com
Ian Finn – Contributor
Ian Finn is a cookbook author and food maniac. Eating since the age of 1, he began cooking shortly thereafter, when he threw all of his mom’s baking ingredients into the mixing bowl at once when she turned her head (the cake came out great, reportedly). As a 20-something, he engineered the menu at Gainesville’s now-integral vegetarian establishment, Book Lover’s Cafe, and managed the joint for its first ten years. Morphing into the role of cooking instructor, he now teaches baking and cooking classes and pursues his love of cake decorating as a hobby.
email: ians8@mac.com
This article appears in Apr 22-28, 2009.