Liz Rueven

Quick Facts: Kosher eater/ former vegetarian,  who eats "as if" vegetarian when eating away from a kosher kitchen (got that??); Always  seeking closer connection between farm and table;  Finding new places to eat with friends and family is a thrill for me.  

My current food cravings are:  guacamole and dark chocolate

The only fast food I will eat is:  falafel at Maoz in NYC

If I could be any Iron Chef, I would be:  commentator, Alton Brown, instead.  love his humor and common cooking sense.

My favorite restaurant in Fairfield County is:  still contemplating this one.

My favorite restaurant in the Tri-State area is: TELEPAN, Upper West Side 

Restaurant dish I wish I could make at home: "Sweetheart Roll"  from Shiki Hana Japanese Bistro in Fairfield.  this heart shaped treasure is gorgeous and and so delicate.

My go-to dinner party entrée is: spinach salad with nuts, farm fresh radishes, orange slices and warm dressing of shallots, olive oil and lemon.  watch the spinach wilt and love it!

When I’m not eating, I’m….  looking at art in NYC, working  to  improve my golf and tennis  games, studying Italian, reading in prep for my next neighborhood book club lunch meting  (we call ourselves "the bookies").

Prepared food I have let people think was home-made…  not I!!

I’d rather pick (pumpkins, apples, strawberries): strawberries on Cape Elizabeth in Maine

The last book I enjoyed was:  Ruth Reichl's GARLIC AND SAPPHIRES: THE SECRET LIFE OF A CRITIC IN DISGUISE.  I laughed out loud more than once on an airplane while reading this.

My favorite movie of all time is: SISTER ACT, makes me want to dance every time.

My favorite food related movie of all time is: LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE  (1992).  Beware of magical realism, sensual cooking scenes, passion and anger.