"Joy Manning" news and stories

Many moons ago, I worked at a large non-profit here in Philadelphia. It was an organization that supported the work of doctors and scientists. It wasn't really my ideal place of employment, but I was new to the city and freshly out of college, so I was grateful for what I could get. While the job and I never clicked, I did mean some wonderful people during my 18 months there, including the delightful Joy Manning. She wasn't well-suited for her job there either, and not long after I left, headed off in the direction of a food writing career (she's currently the restaurant critic at Philadelphia Magazine, so I'd say she's hitting the mark quite successfully).

In addition to her work with Philly Mag (among other publications), Joy has recently published her first cookbook (which was co-written with Tara Matazara Desmond). Called Almost Meatless, it's the cookbook so that so many of us have been looking for lately. It offers a slew of thoughtful, healthy recipes that don't skimp when it comes to flavor but use minimal amounts of meat, keeping them better for you and the planet.

I've had the book in my hands all of 24 hours now, and I've already market it up with sticky notes and torn pieces of paper. There are a few recipes that are immediately demanding I make them, including the Chicken and Biscuit Pot Pie (page 20), the African Peanut Stew (page 35) and the Grits Roulade (page 122).

If you have a few extra dollars earmarked for a new cookbook this month, I highly recommend that you consider this one. I can't stress enough how accessible, thoughtful and delicious it is (and I'm not just saying that because I know Joy). It's official release date is Monday sometime in April, but it's available for pre-order on Amazon right now (for $15.30). Additionally, if you want more terrific recipes from these two authors, make sure to check out their regular column over at Serious Eats, called Meat Lite.

Each most Friday afternoons, I sort through the list of recipes, newspaper articles and blog posts that I've bookmarked over the previous week (or two) in order to dish up a tasty assorted eight. Here's the selection this week:

• Did you resolve to eat more veggies this year? Treehugger has written up nine ways to get more veggies into your diet.
• Think any good diet has to exclude delicious things like pizza? According to cookbook author and restaurant critic Joy Manning, it does not. Check out her sensible, healthy and mostly whole wheat pizza dough recipe.
• Entertaining at home is a great way to spend time with friends while saving some cash. Check out Maggie Mason's (queen of the Mighty Goods/Junior/Haus shopping empire) cheese plate jar which makes impromptu entertaining a snap.
  
• Attention Bacon Bits lovers! You would be well-served to skip any food service bits you come across for the near future, as 3,600 pounds of bits were recently recalled.
• The Pro Bono Baker recently adapted a Napa Cabbage Salad recipe from Chez Panisse Fruit to deliciously good results.
• I love the no-knead bread recipe, but sometimes I want bread that doesn't take 24 hours to make. I am intrigued by Katy (The Non-Consumer Advocate's) recipe for One Hour Bread.
• Nearly every week, Stefania (aka CityMama) posts a recipe on her site that makes me start a shopping list so I can re-create it at home. This week I am in love with her Mandoo Soup.
• Love take-out but don't love the cost (as well as all the packaging you consume each time you order out)? Check out this list of nine take-out standbys that you can make at home.

While we strive to cover the food scene on national and worldwide level here at Slashfood, occasionally our regional biases come out. If you've been reading for awhile, you'll know that I live in Philadelphia and that I'm a bit partial to the food scene coming out of my city. However, I'm not the only one who's a fan of the local edibles, there've been a couple of interesting "Food in Philly" stories lately and I thought I'd take a few minutes to point them out.

Last Thursday, Serious Eats posted the second installment in their series of city guides and this one was dedicated to Philadelphia. Written by Joy Manning, Philadelphia Magazine restaurant critic, it compiles a number of city 'Bests,' including Best Bargain Lunch and Best Pork Sandwich (I second her suggestion of DiNic's roasted pork and greens, it's amazing). I feel like she missed a few great places like Plaza Garibaldi (queso fundido con chorizo!), Lee How Fook and the Nanzhou Handdrawn Noodle House. However, if you're planning a trip to Philly or you're local and in need of some new restaurant suggestions, her piece is chock full of solid suggestions.

In the September 30th issue of Wine Spectator, Philadelphia got not one, but two nods for our fabulous cheese shops. They called out Di Bruno Brothers (a must-visit for cheese loving tourists) and The Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop (where my great-aunt Doris used to buy all her cheese and gourmet tidbits in the 1980s). My only complaint is that they left Claudio's, my favorite South Philly cheese vendor, off the list. [via Phoodie]