Celebrating 1000 hits with a Beach Vacation

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for reading The Food Monster Blog! Over the weekend, only after 19 days with the new name, we have passed 1000 hits. That is cause for celebration I think. I am glad it coincides so well with my vacation to the East Coast. I will be flying to the wonderful state of North Carolina for a wedding and a beach vacation with my girlfriend and her family. Nothing like a week at the beach. Now while I will try to post between now and my return trip, I will definitely be eating, cooking, enjoying food, and taking pictures as I go, so I can let you know how the food part of my trip went, when I get back.

As for the blog, to celebrate 1000 hits, I figured I should give some highlights of what we have seen so far. So, I give you the my 5 favorite posts from the past 20 days. As for the future of the blog, if you would like to see something specific, or have me review a restaurant, don't hesitate to email the Food Monster at, thefoodmonsterblog@gmail.com

Thanks for reading and enjoy!

- The Food Monster

Favorite Posts

5. Dark Chocolate Almonds

I really like the photo in this post. I am glad I teamed up with John David Devirgilis Food Photography. Also, the snack is amazing. I hope you find a Trader Joe's near you and can pick some up.

4. Avocado Salsa

There are not many things I enjoy more than a ripe Avocado. When you add fresh ingredients, you usually get something tasty and delicious. That is what happened when I made this Avocado Salsa Recipe, adapted from a Mango Salsa recipe that we make at camp. It seems Avocados are grown year round here in California.

3. Black Bean-Artichoke Hummus
Hummus, was a staple of mine while I lived in Wilmington. I was glad to use a few other flavors to create a different yet great dish. Perfect for the game in the Fall. Go Panthers!!!

2. Mega Bagel Sandwich
This was a really fun Sandwich to make. I was still in NY and had a bag full of Bagels from a breakfast at Credit Suisse. There were all sorts of goodies in my fridge and it came together really well. In fact, I recall eating this 3-4 times that week.

1. Watermelon-Cucumber Gazpacho

My first attempt at this cold appetizer. I enjoyed the whole process of creating a mixed recipe from what I thought would make a great Gazpacho. As well as adding in ingredients from various recipes and articles on the internet. It turned out to be a great way to cool off on a hot day.