Here is my Home-made Fried Rice.

Television host, cookbook author, Gourmet Magazine's Executive Chef and mom, Sara Moulton does it all. We talked with her about how she got her start in the kitchen, her thoughts on working with Julia Child and what to expect at this year's Gourmet Institute. 

AndrewZimmern.com:  You didn’t decide to get involved in the food industry until after college. Was there aparticular incident or moment of truth  that helped you to realize your passion for the kitchen?

Ahhh...FALL is here. The kids are back at school, the first leaves are falling off the trees and the temperature and humidity are breaking. Tomorrow night here in St Paul, the overnight temp is in the low 50's and I feel like putting on my biggest sweater and cooking some real stick-to-your-ribs grub. I am also planning the first trip to the apple orchard, so lets see....comfort foods, stick to your ribs, apples, fall...Shazam! Here's the perfect recipe. Serve this dish with big spoonfuls of meltingly rich whipped potatoes or root vegetable mash.

Ah, freshly sharpened pencils and brand new backpacks... its that time of year again.

Kitchen 101
If you are hankering for some schooling, Mark Bittman is a top notch food writer, writing such cookbook classics as How to Cook Everything and The Best Recipes in the World. He also writes a blog for The New York Times that is rife with great recipes and tips. I recommend anyone who wants to further their kitchen education to check it out.

Eat Like an Elephant
And in light of the recent conventions, here's an LA Times piece about cookbooks dedicated to politics.
Do you eat across party lines?

Bugs Not Drugs
I am known for eating across species lines, but I'm not the only one. Many are talking about the benefits of eating bugs. I enjoy them all, but where would you rather start, the gooey goodness of grubs or the crispy crunch of crickets?

Last year, I spent some time in St. Petersburg (Russia... not Florida) filming Bizarre Foods. Yes, the caviar was delicious, but I was craving something a little less fancy, more of an authentic Russian-style fare. We found this amazing restaurant named Podvorey about 30 km south of St. Petersburg, where we tried dishes such as Salo (cured pork fat eaten on bread) and pickled lamprey (yes, like the eel). Now, I find pork fat delightful in most cases. But I'd like to note that even though the stuff is delicious, it can be a little much on your stomach. I'd advise you to coat your belly with Pepto if you're not sure how you handle this kind of food.

Now this would be the ultimate wake-up call. How do I get one? And do you think they make one in a travel size?

 

When it comes to desserts, Gail Monaghan got it goin on. We asked her about baking, retro desserts and all things sweet.

AndrewZimmern.com: Is there a particular story or recipe that inspired you to write your new cookbook, Lost Desserts?

See what Andrew eats this time as he works his way through Asia, Africa and the good ol' U.S. of A. New episodes of Bizarre Foods start Tuesday, Sept. 9 at 10PM ET/PT, only on the Travel Channel.

I'm going to Vegas in Sept. I've been before, but not really for a "let's really light it up" kind of thing. We're staying at Mandalay Bay. What should I eat? Where are the good parties? And I'm going to be there for 6 or 7 hours solo on a Friday while I wait for the rest of my group to get in... any good suggestions (besides laying by the pool, which is clearly winning at this point)?

No Small Surprise
Even thought big food companies have been trying to help portion conscious consumers, the smaller packages actually trigger more eating. Can't have just one!

Twinkle Toes DiSpirito
Although I have no issues with Rocco, he's a great guy and talented chef - I'm not sure about his dancing abilities. I guess we're about to find out...

Caught Orange-Handed
I love stupid criminal stories, they are one of my guilty pleasures. This story really made me chuckle... these theives were caught by a trail of Cheetos.

New Site to Sing About
And if you think singing shouldn't be limited to the shower, but has its place in the kitchen, there is a new website is for you. Food Songs is from the food enthusiast that brought you The Amateur Gourmet...