I first fell in love with Tina Nordström's cooking 2 years ago when I found her show, New Scandinavian Cooking, on public television. In this series Tina travels all over Sweden, preparing regional foods while she travels, and often cooking outdoors against the stunning backdrop of the Swedish countryside.Tina's recipes are simple and elegant, and feature ingredients that we don't often use in the US (but should!), like cloudberries, elderflower, herring, fennel and vodka.
Although the show no longer airs in my area, you can purchase the DVD of all of Tina's episodes on the show's website, as well as her cookbook, A Culinary Tour of Sweden. Most of the recipes from her shows are also listed on the website, including her recipes for Dill Schnapps, Cloudberry Zabaglione and Royal Swedish Meatballs.If you ever happen to see New Scandinavian Cooking pop up while you're channel surfing, check it out... Tina will win you over with her amazing smile in mere moments!
Even the most vapid reality show premise can usually muster some addictive drama. Top Chef goes well beyond that, adding real fire and spice to the entertainment. This season in particular has been especially fierce, and of course the most melodramatic character (Lisa) has managed to make it into the very last episode, even though she's been in the bottom two week after week. Like Jade from ANTM Cycle 6, she just won't go away!
Thankfully my favorite is still in the running, and I'm hoping that Stephanie will pull through with a well-deserved victory tonight. She has the best attitude and the best dishes, but Richard has contributed the favorite recipes in the past couple of episodes, so it's still anyone's game. 
Stephanie made reality TV history when she actually avoided drama by trying to pair her competitors with the castoffs that she thought they would work well with. Can you imagine a combo of Dale and Lisa? Dale and Stephanie are actually friends from before the show began and except for his mistake of leaving porkbelly out overnight in Finale Part 1, I think Dale will be an asset to Stephanie in the home stretch.
I will definitely be tuning in this evening to see what happens, and to see what the fabulous apronista-of-the-moment, Padma Lakshmi, will be wearing. She has a keen eye for delicious dresses and accessories, like the gorgeous sundress she's wearing on the right. 
