Conca D'oro Italian Restaurant and Pizza (Youtube)

Slideshow

Here's a slideshow of my recent trip to La Spada's. It combines both the audio and photography I took to record the event. Enjoy.

Food Podcasts on iTunes

Wandering randomly through the world of iTunes, I came across several podcasts similar to my blog. I pasted a few below that I thought you would enjoy, along with descriptions on each one.

*Epicurious Food & Drink
A load of content and information about every aspect of food and drink. Watch videos from interviews of some of the best chefs, as well as learn proper cooking techniques to impress your lover...and mother too.

*KCRW's Good Foods
Discover great restaurants that you may not have known existed. Learn about many ideals of food including the politics of consumption, explorations of cultures and customs through food, or explore the lives of people who devote everything to food.

*Hungry Nation
Listen to food enthusiasts as they discuss their real love for food. As they put it, "From CEOs with pantries full of fine caviar to college students with mini fridges full of ramen, we've all gotta eat."

*Food and Wine Talk Radio
Listen to discussions about the newest cookbooks, techniques on cooking, interviews with local and world-renowned chefs, and about new products and produce out on the market.

*The Lunch Guys
Tom James and Chris Tauber meet up to find what's for lunch at the national chains. There they evaluate new items, revisit old joints, and "hold food fights between rival lunches".

Good Eats Podcast: LaSpada's

My recent visit to LaSpada's Original Hoagies has made me come up with the ingenious plan to provide my blog as a podcast to my followers. Please click on the title of this post or the MP3 Player widget on the sidebar to hear from me and my recent food reviews.

Thanks, and happy listening.

Field Experience

This week has been hectic. The demand has been staggering. But they all have been met without a flinch nor a trip. From the uploading of photos to the creation of widgets, the success interactive media creates on the web and in the workplace allows for people to communicate with one another more easily and proficiently. Through the usage of these resources I was able to gain a greater perspective of people engaged in cooking and dining.

Through the use of photography, specifically Flickr, I have been able to share my experiences to my followers. These new capabilities of capturing these experiences is what's made interactive media so successful. It has allowed people like my neighbors across the street, my friends in Colorado, or unknown people across the globe to interact with the teachings of my blog, as well as with other readers too.

I learned, though the usage of interactive media, that the ability to "capture the moment" has allowed me to both teach and entertain myself and others. When I was capturing images of my journey to LaSpada's, I became one with the subject, paying more attention to their behavior, appearance, and emotions. When I adopted the Kodak tips for photography, I paid closer attention to the background of the subject, the focus of the camera, and the angle/perspective for which I was photographing from.

My attention to detail with the use of these new resources has greatly improved. I was able to pay close attention to emotions by both myself and the employees at the establishments. I gave life to my subjects, from the sub artist to the sub itself; photographing the employee exposed his emotions from slicing the meat to packaging the hoagie; photographing the sub brought the gleam of the ripe tomatoes and the texture of the lettuce. The imagery of these two subjects has given life to the images themselves, telling their own story without words.

But among anything else, the one thing I learned the most was how passionate these people are to their jobs. The waitress at Flicker Lite, the sub artist at LaSpada's, they both were happy to serve me. It was not just a priority but a pleasure they expressed. The work I have been involved in this week has taught me to be more appreciative of their work. I will pledge through this blog to give the same amount of appreciation for my followers as the employees that served me gave as their customer.

A Picture Worth a Thousand...bites

If Heaven was to be in the form of food, this is what it would look like. LaSpada's Original Hoagies, one of the most popular 'hole-in-the-wall' establishments in South Florida to date, make the "Best Damn Hoagies in Town". Located in Davie, FL, right outside of Nova Southeastern University, LaSpada's has called University Boulevard home since 1973. Top quality USDA meats, fresh veggies, and locally baked bread makes LaSpada's THE top choice for subs, salads, and platters. From an 8'' tuna to their famous "Monster" (Ham, Cheese, Roast Beef and Turkey Breast Combo), there's no stopping anyone from enjoying the meal of all meals. The prices may run a little higher than your typical Subway, but hey, for top quality food, a great famiy atmosphere, and an ever-lasting local tradition, it is worth it. Come by LaSpada's, where Heaven meets hoagie (I should market that slogan).

I had my first LaSpada's hoagie roughly 6 years ago. Although I cannot remember much of that visit due to the food coma I induced, I can tell you that every time I order a sub from there I am never disappointed. I wanted to share with you the same experience I shared on my last visit to the local shop on July 22. I will tell you a simple story, one of which takes you from the creation, to the presentation, and finally the annihilation of this monstrosity of a sub. I will include detailed images (taken by my iPhone 4) as well as photography tips and tricks I incorporated into each shot (based off Kodak's Tips for Great Pictures).

"The Life of a Turkey Sub"


Walking into LaSpada's shop, there is not a soul in front of me, as if I am reaching the checkered flag. I place my order, the sub artist immediately goes to work, slicing the meat, applying the mayo spread to the bread. He places the meat in the hoagie, filling it with an abundance of lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and hot peppers. He then, as if it were a present to be wrapped, covers the sub's fillings with more turkey. It is a thing of beauty, like a new born baby I can't wait for it to be placed in my arms. It is beautiful.

Kodak Great Pictures Tips used: Take Some Vertical Pictures; Lock the Focus; Move it from the Middle



Here you can see the sub in all its glory. I want to enshrine it and place it on my mantle (if only I had a mantle). I didn't want to eat it, it was too awe-inspiring; the drool that escaped my mouth reminded me of Victoria Falls. But I couldn't let it just sit there. It was calling me, "Josh, eat me, I want you to eat me. I am lost, your mouth is my home; I must find my way home." I had to help the sub out, as well as my tummy; both were screaming at me to eat the sub. So I did.

Kodak Great Pictures Tips used: Get down on their level; Move in close; Lock the focus;


Victory is mine! I have conquered this beast they call turkey feast. I am immortal, a god among men. Fatigue soon started to kick in, and as I starred at the empty parchment that laid in front of me, it was I who'd been defeated. I lay there in agony and pain, but joy and satisfaction. Having the best of those two worlds, that is what a meal is all about.

Kodak Great Pictures Tips used: Get down on their level; Move in close; Lock the focus


My meal (Thursday, July 22):
Drink: 1 Budweiser Ale
Main course: Small 8'' Turkey on Wheat w/ Provolone Cheese, Mayo, Lettuce, Tomato, Onions, extra Hot Peppers, Oil/Vinegar, Salt/Pepper, Oregano
Side: Zapps Voodoo Potato Chips

My rating:
5 of 5

Rules I Live By Online

As a writer:
1. I will be honest
2. I will not plagirize
3. I will disclose my sources
4. I will avoid conflicts of interest
5. I will support the exchange of views
6. I will present information over opinion
7. I will admit errors and fix them
8. I will respect other opinions
9. I will be sensitive
10. I will represent all parties equally
11. I will present accurate, complete information over un-vetted, immediate information
12. I will promise my readers with real, un-biased information
13. I will not misrepresent any information I may provide
14. I will respect cultures, reilgions, and values that are different from mine.
15. I will be vigilant and courageous
16. I will avoid stereotyping
17. I will show good taste, both representing myself and my employer with the highest standards
18. I will avoid the practice of unethical means to gain information
19. I will be cautious in accussing a person without proper evidence of proof
20. I will encourage other journalists to practice these same code of rules