Seen above is an artist’s rendering of what we believe Joy Manning to look like. In the top right corner you will see her now famous ‘pixelated byline pic’ to keep her anonymity. But when reading her work, we imagine a breathy, sultry vixen running past Vetri every morning just to keep her culinary feet planted firmly on the ground. We guarantee Ms. Manning looks like this.
In this week’s Phoodie Desert Island, we find out what Joy needs to survive on the island all alone. Maybe she would take us with her.
Ok, so we give Philly Mag a lot of crap. But in their defense, they made one serious right move in hiring Joy Manning to helm their food criticism. We love us some Joy. With her cookbook Almost Meatless, she impressed not only the folks at Phoodie HQ, but Ms. Oprah Winfrey as well, who gave a big shout out in O Magazine.
Hot on the heels of her own startup blog, The Oyster Evangelist, she gave us a few precious moments and dished on her own desert island needs. We, of course, will use this information to strike up a conversation with her if a chance meeting occurs. After all, who doesn’t love to talk about Don DeLillo and lobster?
Entree:
Extra spicy black beans and rice
Side Dish:
Corn on the cob with butter and salt
Dessert:
Vanilla-peanut butter swirl ice cream. Bassetts preferred
Beer:
Stoudt’s Gold
Cocktail:
The El Caliente (aka The Hot One) that they make at Cantina los Cabalitos
Liquor:
Well, I guess I need tequila for my desired cocktail
Wine:
Prosecco
Luxury ingredient:
Lobster. Maybe they are swimming off the coast where I’m stranded.
Restaurant (we managed to fly in your favorite, brick by brick):
Zahav
Bar (it was a big plane, full of bricks):
Tria (Rittenhouse)
Potato Chip Flavor:
Salt and Vinegar
Soft Drink:
Seltzer
Pre-packaged baked good:
I don’t eat any of that crap now, nor would I on a deserted island.
Fast Food:
Do queso tacos from La Lupe count as fast food?
Candy:
Salted dark caramel truffles from Eclat
Comfort Food:
Turkey club sandwich
M&M Color:
I don’t eat M&Ms either. I think at least half the colors cause cancer in lab rats.
Cookbook:
Nigela Lawson’s How to Eat because it’s delicious to just read. Unless my island comes equipped with a kitchen, in which case I want Deborah Madison’s Vegetarian Cooking for Everyone
Cooking utensil/vessel:
Spoonula, Dutch Oven
Hot Dog Topping:
Sauerkraut
Pizza Topping:
Mushrooms
Movie:
So I Married an Axe Murderer
Book:
Don DeLillo’s Underworld
Record Album:
Joni Mitchell’s Blue
Not to offend Ms. Manning, but something tells me the pixelated version is better off left that way.
Great blog. I’ve glanced at the almost meatless cookbook and it looks like a good one!
@nono – How else should that comment be taken, besides offensive? That’s some classless shit.
I think Joy Manning’s other blog (http://whatiweightoday.com) might indicate a slight deviation from your artist’s rendering (not that it matters anyway) but I agree that she does an excellent job.
@nono.
Childish.
Lame.
CEF
Idiots like nono-class are why you should moderate comments and hold for approval.
I haven’t looked at Philly mag for so long that I can’t believe they are actually hiding the identity of their food writer after publishing a photo of Craig Laban then reading Larry PLatt’s lame-ass justification for doing such a fucked up thing.
I agree nono’s comment is just plain crass. But equally idiotic is the editorial move needlessly associating a writer who prizes her anonymity (or has discomfort with her image) with a Maxim model. Obvious troll trigger, deflecting attention from the substance of the entry. Your format for this series insists on a photo. Fine. Skimming her work elsewhere she certainly takes pride in photos of her own cooking, not hard to play off the anonymous image / beauty of work that way without going into superficial and eyeroll inducing “hottie” territory.
@Marty B
It’s equally idiotic to make a joke out of the pixelated pic of Ms. Manning as it is to slam their appearance? Nah, I think that’s a bit harsh. Especially considering we heap the praise on her because of the excellent work she does. Obviously I needed to chat with Joy to get her answers, and she was in on the joke as well. And yes you’re right, I should always expect the worst from trolls. But it was a joke. And surely only because of her anonymity and in no way a response to image discomfort. She liked the pic. And as we always say: This is why we can’t have nice things.
Oh, and for the record, the lady in question is Laetitia Casta of Vicky’s fame, but I am sure she has graced the pages of Maxim as well.
Bottom line here is Joy is a great writer and we love her, but Marty’s point is well taken as we sit here discussing the trivial nature of the picture which was the last thing added to the post, and certainly not the focal point.