Every once in a while, we like to get a little up and close personal with our bloggers. We've already met Bob Sassone, Joe Di Stefano, Jonathan Forester, and Sarah J. Gim (that's me). Now let's meet the latest addition to our team, Marisa McClellan. -- Sarah J. Gim

Do you have a personal blog?
I actually have several. I started blogging more than two years ago at Apartment 2024. That got me involved with the Philadelphia Metblog. Then a friend (who I met at a blogger meetup) and I decided to create a cooking show, which is how Fork You was born. I'm also doing a summer blogging project right now called Stories from Reading Terminal Market, where I talk to people at Philadelphia's oldest, year-round farmers' market about their memories related to food, shopping, cooking and the market.

What is your day job, or rather, what do you do when you're not food blogging?
I'm heading into my last semester as a full-time grad student. I'm getting a Masters in Writing and am currently working on my thesis, a collection of personal essays about cooking tools and the memories that are attached to them. I also do some freelance writing.

How long have you been blogging with Slashfood and what is your favorite post?
I've only been blogging round these parts for a couple of weeks, but I'm definitely hooked. I think one of my favorite posts so far is this one I did on the pattypan squash. I love those little suckers.

Do you have any non-food-related, non-blogging hobbies?
I'm slightly hesitant to admit it, but the vast majority of my life revolves around food and writing. When I'm not eating, cooking or hunched over my computer, I do enjoy getting out on my bike, sitting in Rittenhouse Square with a book, listening to music (especially my sister's) or wandering around with my camera.

Not every foodie does, but do you cook?
Oh, I cook alright. Pretty much all the time.

What is your most prized utensil/gadget in the kitchen?
I have many wonderful kitchen gadgets, but I think my very favorite thing I have is a pottery mixing bowl that belonged to my great-great-grandmother. I found it one day when I was helping my great-aunt clean out her basement and she remembered seeing it used during her childhood. I love using something that has helped nourish generations of my family.

List three things in your refrigerator right now.
Apple-watermelon juice from Trader Joe's, herbed cheese made from raw milk and pear butter that my mom made for me.

You have to impress a date with a home-cooked meal. What are you going to make?
I find most guys (at least the ones who eat meat) are typically pretty excited by a really good roasted chicken (I always roast carrots, onions and potatoes along side the chicken so that it becomes a complete, low-effort meal).

What is the last thing you ate?
Chinese food leftover from a Fork You planning meeting last night.

Confession time – what do you eat that will get you banned from Slashfood?
From what I can tell, just about anything goes around here. However, I do have a weakness for Trader Joe's ready-made rice pudding, eaten directly from the container, preferably while stretched out on the couch in front of a movie.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Chicken soup, made from the leftovers of that impressive roasted chicken I mentioned above.

Your Mom makes the best _____.
She makes this concoction of stewed turkey legs and onions that is one of my favorite things ever. She puts in like four or five sliced onions and then cooks it all day, so that the onions dissolve and create this amazing sweet/savory broth. We eat it over brown rice and it is even better the second day.

Which chef would you most like to have come into your kitchen and cook you dinner?
To be totally honest (please don't roast me too intensely in the comments), I think I'd like to have Rachael Ray come over and cook. For all her insanity, there's something about her that I find strangely appealing. I'd like to have a chance to have a conversation with her.

Who would you most like to eat dinner with?
Honestly, I would rather have dinner with family and friends any day than someone famous or important.

Your drink of choice?
I am a big fan of Teany's Vanilla Berry Hibiscus bottled tea.

Where was your best restaurant dining experience?
About a month after my friend Lara got married a couple of years ago, she took the group of us out to Morimoto's for dinner as an appreciation for baking and frosting 250 cupcakes for her wedding. It was some of the best food I've had, as well as really fun night with five wonderful friends.

The worst?
I ended up at Joe's Crab Shack for dinner a several months back (it was out of necessity, not choice). I ended up with a big plate of fried dough. It was not good.

Do you want fries with that?
Oh yeah, especially if they are sweet potato fries.

What foods do you think should be banished from existence?
Twinkies. Nothing that can withstand a nuclear blast should be ingested.

What do you see as the biggest "thing" in food for the coming year?
As we are already seeing, it is going to all be about local and seasonal eating.