A New Favorite Food Blog – “My Social Chef”

Photo: My Social Chef

I was conducting my morning ritual, making my way around the wonderful world of the web in order to catch up on the news and ascertain just what kind of day I was likely to have (the weather forecast, my horoscope, potential writing projects, newly published books to add to my ever-increasing list of books to read), when, on The Daily Beast, I came across a Hungry Beast post for “The Perfect Roast Chicken.”  It caught my attention.  I’ve roasted only a few chickens to date, and I would never claim that they were “perfect,” so I wanted to see what the contributing writer, Petrit Husenaj, recommended – a simple, easy, must-try it technique.  I wondered, who exactly is Mr. Husenaj?

Turns out he is a writer and the creator of the food blog My Social Chef.  I bit.  What is a social chef and what is his story?  Well, it also turns out that he has a rather interesting story – he’s an adman turned cook, caterer, and party-throwing aficionado – and he’s rather good at telling stories as well.

My Social Chef … you had me at the “Fig, Eggplant And Feta Cheese Salad.”  No need to have gone on with Foie Gras French Toast and Zucchini Blossoms (the photo of which looks exactly like my grandmother used to make them).  And that’s just the first page of the blog.  Page two tempted me with Rock Shrimp With Cilantro Pasta, the photo of which made it look so appetizing I am willing to commit to the use of heavy cream in its preparation.

Each recipe is introduced by My Social Chef with a charming anecdote.  Foie Gras French Toast?  The result of his recent foie gras obsession and a sale on Gilt Groupe.  The fig salad?  His doctor’s recommendation to avoid stress and the urge to eat unhealthy food when traveling through insane airports.  And he provides entertaining (both the noun and the adjective) Tips: for Music (intimate dinner? cocktail party? casual dinner?), Booze, Clean-Up, and more.

My Social Chef is now in rotation.