Michele Laudig is a writer, artist and editor eating up New York City’s deliciously diverse food scene. Currently senior editor at Zagat in Manhattan, she was the staff restaurant critic and food blogger at Phoenix New Times since 2006, where she wrote cover stories, a weekly column and daily blog posts. Michele co-authored 100 Years, 100 Chefs, 100 Recipes, an Arizona Centennial Legacy Project published in February 2012, and has also written for Phoenix Magazine, Edible Phoenix, The Arizona Republic, Sommelier Journal and Hemispheres.
In previous lives, she served as New Times’ music editor, styled fashion shoots, toured with a rock ‘n roll band and lived in Tokyo. She has a B.A. in East Asian Studies from Columbia.
Little things make me happy, like the delicate bamboo scoop I found in Japan a couple years ago -- I can't think of a better utensil for spooning up flakes of sea salt. Last night, the salt turned a bowl of crunchy radishes and soft, sweet butter into a simple luxury. Likewise, one plump, enormous heirloom tomato was the star of dinner. I sauteed it with garlic and fresh spinach, ...