Ever wonder what other foodies are thinking? Me too!

1. What is the name of your blog? The Passionate Foodie

2. Could you describe your blog in one sentence? I share my passion for food, wine, sake and spirits, an eclectic mix of posts from Rants to Restaurant Reviews.

3. How did you get into food blogging? About 7 years ago, I started hanging out weekly with a new group of friends, getting together to play cards and other games. I brought wine with me to these gatherings and eventually others started bringing wine to, until everyone would bring a bottle. We decided to create a blog for our wine reviews and I decided to add restaurant reviews to the blog as well. After a year or so, the rest of my friends were tired of the work of blogging, but I continued to love it. Thus, we closed down our joint blog and I started The Passionate Foodie on my own, about 4 1/2 years ago. From the beginning, it has always covered both food and wine.

4. What’s the toughest part of writing about food? Trying to write a post that is original and interesting, something different from what every other food blogger is writing. With thousands of food blogs out there, trying to make yourself stand out and be distinctive can be very difficult. I don’t want to seem like all the other food blogs out there.

5. Which is more difficult, writing about food or drinks? In general, I would say drinks because there is often much more research involved in writing wine and alcohol posts. But, I have written plenty of food posts that required plentiful research as well.

6. What’s been your favorite food moment? A couple years ago I had a birthday dinner hosted by The Dining Alternative, a private chef service which also holds chef table dinners at their home. I had a hand in selecting the menu as well as getting to choose the 11 other guests who dined with me. The dinner ended up as about a 10 course meal, with wine pairings, which was sublime, one of the best meals I have ever experienced. A perfect combination of friends, food and wine. Chef Peter Ungar is one of the top Boston area chefs, yet still remains very much under the radar.

Rotisserie Duck from Momfuku Ssam Bar (NYC)

7. Do you have a top restaurant? If so, what’s the name and is there an item you generally order? For 2011, my top favorite restaurant was Bergamot in Somerville. Great food, killer wine and cocktails, and very professional service. As the menu changes often, there is no regular item I order all the time. Their Pork Belly Ravioli though were superb.

8. What’s one U.S. city you’d travel to just for the food? There are plenty that I would do that, such as New York City, Portland (OR), San Francisco, and Seattle.

9. Is there a food you absolutely despise? In general, I really dislike bitter green vegetables, like broccoli and brussel sprouts.

10. What’s the craziest thing you’ve ever eaten? I am fairly adventurous when it comes to meat, so have eaten animals including zebra, lion, and llama. I have also eaten offal, from pig’s brains to chicken hearts.

11. Are you more likely to stick with what you know, or do you try something new each time? I usually try something new most every time, even if part of my order is a regular choice for me. But, it will depend on the restaurant too, as certain places are best for a specific item and there is little reason to not order it each time I go there.

12. What is your all-time favorite wine? This is a very tough question as I love all types of wines, from sparkling to still, reds to whites, dry to dessert wines. I really don’t have an all-time favorite, and my wine choice will vary as to the circumstances. I do love though trying more unusual and unique wines, from strange grapes or lesser known wine regions. With so many thousands of different wines available, I prefer to experience as much as I can and not be restricted to any specific wine. Great wine is made all over the world so I encourage everyone to experiment and taste all that they can.

13. What’s a great example of a Boston restaurant who really knows their wine? One of the top Boston restaurants for wine is Troquet. The owner Chris Campbell really knows his wines, and offers an excellent selection at reasonable prices. Their menu also offers suggested wine pairings for their specific dishes, and I cannot fail to mention that their food is also quite delicious.

*Images provided by The Passiotnate Foodie