FAQ

Why La Dolce Pita?

I thought long and hard about what to name my blog.  My Dad came up with La Dolce Pita (bad puns are his specialty) – I loved it, not only because it sounded cute, but because it sort of encapsulated everything I want this blog to be about – living a full life and good, healthy food.  It just clicked.

When and how did you start blogging?

Getting this blog up and running has been a slow progressing labor of love since October 2010.  I’m a bit of a perfectionist, and I want to do it justice.  I started blogging for a couple reasons – first, I started reading some food and health blogs in the fall of 2010 and really fell in love with the idea of being part of such a fantastic community of like-minded people.  Secondly, my sister suggested I start one as a way to explore a potential career in food/writing while I was still struggling with the decision to quit my desk job.

What camera and lens do you use?

I have a Nikon D3000.  Most of the pictures on the blog (up until late 2012) were taken with the 18-55mm kit lens, but I’ve recently started having fun with my new toy, a 50mm f/1.8 prime lens.

Are you a vegetarian/vegan?

I’m a vegetarian, and but I eat vegan the large majority of the time.  I gave up meat/pork in elementary school, and stopped eating poultry and fish when I was 14.  Recently, I’ve eliminated almost all dairy from my diet, but occasionally “cheat” for really great cheese or pastry.  You might still see recipes containing dairy on the blog, but with far less frequency.  My motives are summed up well in this book.

What’s the deal with your insistence on using locally raised eggs?

Eggs you buy in the supermarket are produced under the worst of conditions – even if the package says “organic”, “cage-free”, “vegetarian diet”, etc.  Don’t be fooled by labeling!

If you’re going to eat eggs, you will find the healthiest and most humanely produced eggs at a local family-owned farm – chances are, there’s a farmers market nearby where these eggs are available for purchase.

If you want to learn more about supermarket eggs (and why you should never buy them), read this or this.  There’s a wealth of information out there about the subject.

What are your favorite things to cook and eat?

I love experimenting in the kitchen and trying new, unfamiliar things.  I try to buy and eat locally sourced and organic foods whenever possible – Long Island is fortunate to have some pretty great farm stands in the warmer months.  I adore foods that reflect my Italian and South American heritage.  And I could probably finish a container of peanut butter, by myself, with a spoon (and/or with my fingers when no one is looking).

So do you have any other hobbies?

I love to read and write.  I spend a lot of time with my family.  When the weather is nice, I enjoy hiking, running and kayaking.  That all being said, travel is my biggest passion after food.  I always say I would spend my last dollar on a plane ticket (if any one knows of $1 international round trip plane fares, please let me know).  Oh, and I’m trying to get better at photography, so there’s that, too.

What was your experience at the Natural Gourmet Institute like?

I wrote two blog posts on this very subject!  Read them here and here.

Do you get paid to review products/hotels/restaurants/etc.?

No – all of the reviews/opinions on this blog are 100% my own, and I do not receive payment for featuring products, restaurants, hotels, etc. on La Dolce Pita.  Should I ever receive compensation for something featured on the blog, it will be clearly stated within that post so there is no confusion!