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jazspin's Profile

Website: http://jacquelinezenn.wordpress.com

Location: Chicago

About: I'm a freelance writer, blogger, and web consultant who lives in Chicago - and makes it a habit to sample the best the city has to offer.

Favorite foods: I'm a huge fan of anything that includes cheese, salsa, and chilies! Otherwise, I tend to be a fan of savory over sweet.

Last bite on earth: A rare hamburger with good cheddar, grilled onions, and bacon, with a side of frites with garlic aioli and washed down with some good Belgian beer.

The Ten Most Recent Comments By jazspin

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

I'm Jacqueline a.k.a. Jazspin (a nickname based on my initials that I use on a bunch of sites) and I'm a freelance writer based in Chicago. I'm not the greatest cook, but I've learned a ton thanks to Serious Eats (and other sites) and of course, I love taking advantage of all the delicious eats Chicago has to offer.

From Required Eating

They're Ba-ack! 'Top Chef' Gets Windy

Okay, as a Chicagoan, I have to take issue with the chefs eating at Pizzeria Uno. Of all the fantastic pizza joints in this town, the powers that be at Bravo pick Pizzeria Uno?

On a more positive note, Tony Bourdain was amusing as usual.

From Required Eating

David Lebovitz's Candied Bacon Ice Cream

This actually looks strangely good.

From Talk

I never knew ____ could be so complicated!

For me it is rice - it seems so simple, but I always seem to end up with overly dry rice or it is underdone. Good thing I have a rice cooker now - it makes perfect rice every time!

From Required Eating

Stately Scoops: What Ice Cream Flavor Represents Your State?

I think my home state of Michigan could be Mackinaw Island fudge, although I'm not sure what my current state of residence, Illinois, should have.

From Required Eating

All About Andalusian Goat Cheese

This is interesting - I'll be in southern Spain soon, I'll have to try some!

From Talk

Depression / Eating

Everyone is offering such good advice. Good luck from someone who's been there - and I've always found that citrusy things helped a lot (eating the fruit, drinking the juice, or even dishes or salads that have a lot of citrus in them). Maybe the rays of sunshine come through in the fruit!

From Required Eating

Photo of the Day: Mshalalé Cheese

That looks amazing!

From Talk

What SMELLS better than it tastes?

Coffee seems to be a common one - and although I love the taste of coffee, the smell is even better. I usually think pumpkin pie falls into this category too, although I have had a few amazing pies.

From Recipes

Baking with Dorie: A Seriously Chocolaty Cake

Ooh, that cake looks amazing and decadent.

About the sub - I've used coffee or better yet, espresso, as a sub for both bourbon and rum in similar dishes, so I think that would work well. Besides, coffee goes wonderfully with rich chocolate.

Responses to Comments by jazspin

From Recipes

Baking with Dorie: A Seriously Chocolaty Cake

I made this for a family function and it was superb. So good with strawberries on top.

From Required Eating

David Lebovitz's Candied Bacon Ice Cream

I know I'm late to the comment party, but I just have to say that I made this ice cream and it is GOOD. Y'all go out and try it.

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

I'm Rosezilla (named for my three year old daughter and the giant lizard thing that stomped Tokyo...it's what I call her when she's being...how you say...willful). My real handle is Mandy. I live in Santa Barbara County again after growing up here, but lived for 11 years in western Sonoma County...home of fabulous food and wines. It spoiled me rotten, to become an adult surrounded by all of that luscious produce and foodie opportunity. I managed a microbrewery's kitchen for 6 years, and have SERIOUS opinions about ales, should anyone care for them. Now I'm a home cook primarily, although I do a little catering here and there. My daughter's favorite foods are salmon and broccoli, so I feel as though I've triumphed a bit over the three-year-old beige-food diet. We do, however, eat at McDonald's every Friday after school...it's our little Happy Meal indulgence...and those tiny cheeseburgers are SOOO good. I live with and cook for my mother, as well. I am dating a high school band director, who has actually LOST weight being with me, as he's eating more asparagus and less fast food. I think that size 14 should be the new size 6. I am curvy, healthy, happy and active...and think that excellent foods should be part of everyone's diet. I am active in the "S'Cool Food" movement here, which tries to bring local and sustainable healthy food into school cafeterias. And I love, love, love this website.

From Slice

A List of Regional Pizza Styles

I moved away from Pittsburgh the Bay Area (where there is plenty of good pizza) and i STILL crave Aiello's!!!! Pittsburgh pies do have a unique taste- its the sweeter sauce.

Ohio Valley pizza certainly deserves its own category- its pretty unique.

If you want true Ohio Valley Pizza, you have to go to the Firehouse in Ambridge, PA on Merchant street. Only open on the weekends, the business is run by firemen to support the firehouse (we're talking real social capital here). Its not my favorite (really dougy crust) but its certainly an experience.

Another experience would be Tony R's pizza in Sewickley on Nevin Ave. A tiny pizzaria run by Tony (who does all the deliveries himself) and his two sons.

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

@alacto-- I grew up in Williamsburg! If you're still there, I'm quite jealous of your accessibility to Aroma's. I was a slave at the Cheese Shop for a few years, and while I can't stand the house dressing any more, oh the cheese and wine selection....mmmmm

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Bro recently made these avocado eggrolls for a party. They are wonderful. We didn't use a sauce - no one noticed :D.

Whip 'em up and bring 'em down to the party!!

From Talk

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@kfarrel3: Hope you're enjoying Florence! I miss Antico Noe sandwiches so much :(

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Mrs. L, a, ahem, 40 something (at least for two more weeks) who is just learning to cook and dealing with the fact that I own over 500 cookbooks (over 400 that have never been cooked from!). I live in San Jose CA and I see dead people for a living (no really, I manage a cremation business). I love serious eats to help me find out what's going on in the food world and to make me feel even more behind cuz I cook recipes I see here rather than open up one of my many cookbooks!

From Talk

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@NC Terry - I looooooooooove Zingerman's! Love love love! You have the best job.

From Talk

SE users: please introduce yourselves.

Hi,

I just found this wonderful site -- I found a link at FoodNetwork.com. I live in New Hampshire, love cooking and experimenting with new types of dishes. As a cook, I've gone from a repeating 15-20 dishes to new dishes everyday (or so).

I'm particulary found of Ellie Krieger's Healthy Appetite, Ina Garten's Barefoot Contessa.

I also collect cookbooks - and my favorite right now (non-FoodNetwork) is Gordon Hamersley's Bistro Cooking At Home. Gordon owns a local Bistro in nearby Boston.

Looking forward to a long association with you all!