DadCooksDinner

  • Home
  • Rotisserie
  • Recipes
  • Tools
  • Books
  • Merch
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Books
  • Tools
  • Merch
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Books
    • Tools
    • Merch
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Ramblings

    Year One of DadCooksDinner

    Published: Aug 25, 2009 · Modified: Feb 12, 2015 by Mike Vrobel · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

    It's been a great first year. In honor of one of my favorite movies, I'm going to celebrate year one of DadCooksDinner with a set of Top Five lists.
    Yes, I'm a geek. If you haven't figured that out, you haven't been paying attention...

    Top Five Moments in year one of DadCooksDinner
    5. Memorial Day Weekend
    When you write a blog that is grilling and rotisserie centered, the opening of grilling season gets you a lot of readers. My average daily readers doubled on Memorial Day Weekend!

    4. First question from a reader
    I got a question about my rotisserie baby back ribs. Holy cow - someone is actually reading!

    3. Rotisserie Cornish Game Hens recipe tops google
    ...and is still there, if you google "rotisserie cornish game hens". You get my most popular post, though the next post is gaining fast...

    2. Winning the Taste of Akron Steak Cook Off:
    I think writing this blog for a year is what got me into the finals. Writing recipes for a year will teach you how to get them to make sense.
    I was linked to by some of my favorite food blogs, Casual Kitchen and The Kitchn
    My name was in my local paper, the Akron Beacon Journal
    I won $500 worth of wine, cheese, and Prime graded beef from West Point Market

    *I was mentioned in Jane Snow's newsletter, twice! Which brings me to number one...

    1. Email from Jane Snow telling me she loved my blog
    *I've been a big fan of Jane's since I moved to Akron in 1998; she was the food writer in the local paper. She left the paper and started her own newsletter, which I can't recommend highly enough. She was the original source on a lot of the Akron ethnic markets that I write about from time to time, and I have always enjoyed her writing. In her email she encouraged me to keep writing about food! Me! I know that you couldn't stop me anymore, but it still meant a lot to hear it from her.

    Top Five quotes that my (very patient) wife got tired of hearing:
    5. Yes, we're having the steak again. I'm practicing for the cook-off!
    4. I need a new (...cutting board...color of FiestaWare...All-Clad pot...) It will look better in the pictures.
    3. Before we go, let me check my traffic on Google Analytics.
    2. I'm sorry dinner's late; I had to take notes for the recipe.
    1. Wait! I need to take a picture of that for the blog before we can eat it!

    Top Five culinary heroes:
    5. Pam Anderson
    *How to Cook Without a Book - taught me that basic techniques are more important than recipes

    4. Michael Ruhlman
    *Beyond basic techniques, you need the Ratios that are behind all recipes
    3. Rick Bayless
    *There's nothing wrong with being obsessed about a food culture

    2. Cooks Illustrated
    *There's nothing wrong with being obsessive about perfecting and understanding recipes either (as long as you understand where they're going with their basic techniques).

    1. Alton Brown
    *My Hero! Food as an entry to science, politics, culture, art...and he ties it all together in an entertaining package that only lasts a half an hour. And forget good eats...it all tastes great!

    Top Five pictures on the blog:
    From: Rotisserie Ham
    From: Grated Carrot Salad
    From: Grilled Steak with Herb Butter
    From: Rotisserie Spareribs
    From: Red Wine Vinaigrette



    Top Five blogs that influenced DadCooksDinner:
    All of these have influenced my writing style. I'm still trying to find my "voice", but thanks to their inspiration I'm making progress.

    1. Joe Posnanski at joeposnanski.com
      Influenced isn't a strong enough term here. "Shamelessly stole his style of writing with footnotes in italics" is about right. When I grow up, I hope to have Joe's sense of humor and fun in my writing.

      2. Carol Blymire at French Laundry at Home and Alinea at Home
      I was thinking about doing something online with food, but I thought I was too late to find an uncrowded topic. What Carol's blog made me see was it wasn't if you were too late, it was if you could write with your own voice. To me, the recipes she's working on are secondary. When I'm reading her blog, it feels like I'm sitting in her kitchen, shooting the breeze while she works on the recipe.

      3. Michael Ruhlman at ruhlman.com
      *This is more inspirational than anything else. Michael is my favorite food writer, and Donna's pictures on his blog are awe-inspiring. I know I need to improve my writing and photography, and this is where I go to see what the best of both are like. I know this blog is just a sideline to his books, but even his throwaway writing is great.

      4. David Lebovitz at davidlebovitz.com

    *David's another writer who's voice I admire. It feels like you're sitting in his tiny Parisian kitchen, chatting with him while he puts together another show-stopping dessert. And the photos! While Donna Turner Ruhlman makes art, David makes pictures that make me want to lick my computer monitor. I think I gain weight just looking at them.

    5. Virtual Weber Bullet at virtualweberbullet.com

    *This is where I got my start on cooking and the internet. The VWB Forum is where I cut my teeth on writing posts and recipes. I've drifted away from the barbecue-centric cooking featured here, but if you want to know how to barbecue ribs, brisket, or pork shoulder, you won't find a better site on the internet.
    Top five things my kids want to eat (instead of the food I'm cooking for the blog):
    5. Macaroni and Cheese from the blue box
    4. Goldfish crackers
    3. Mom's homemade Pizza
    2. Chicken Nuggets
    1. Hot Dogs

    Thank you, everyone, for making this a fun year. I'm looking forward to seeing what the next year brings!

    *Wait...I forgot Casual Kitchen and CheapHealthyGood should be on the blog list! Oh, and Judy Rodgers and Mark Bittman in the influences. And Steven Raichlen. And the kids would rather have Tortillas. But what gets bumped off the list? Oh, bother...


    Questions? Comments? Other ideas? Leave them in the comments section below.

    Subscribe
    BirdSend Email Marketing Tool

    More Ramblings

    • Summer Vacation 2022
    • Rancho Gordo Bean Club Box | DadCooksDinner.com
      The Rancho Gordo Bean Club Is Open to New Members
    • Lit up "Happy" sign at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo Wild Winter Lights festival
      Happy New Year 2022
    • Lit up star with a woman standing inside, with the Fulton Road Bridge in the background, lit up with holiday colors
      Merry Christmas 2021

    Sharing is caring!

    Comments

    1. MikeV says

      August 26, 2009 at 9:02 pm

      Thanks, Tino! Good to know I'm not the only one who's food blogging in Akron.

      Reply
    2. Tino says

      August 26, 2009 at 6:31 pm

      I found your blog through a Google search on "Tom Loradich" and have enjoyed several of the posts you have made. It's always nice to be able to find other Akron area food bloggers.

      I also understand the "Whoa!" factor of Jane Snow not only reading your blog, but then also taking the time out of her day to comment on it. That happened to me just one month ago. I'm actually still a little numb from it.

      If you want to check out my blog, feel free to visit me at http://exploringfoodmyway.blogspot.com. I've added a link from my blog to yours.

      Reply
    3. Paris says

      August 25, 2009 at 8:03 pm

      Love your blog Mike and all your top 5. I can imagine those comments too from your family. Looking forward to more receipes in the next year 🙂

      Reply

    Questions? Made the Recipe? Leave a Comment Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Welcome to Dad Cooks Dinner!

    I'm Mike Vrobel, a dad who cooks dinner every night. I'm an enthusiastic home cook, and I write about pressure cooking, rotisserie grilling, and other food topics that grab my attention.

    More About Me →

    Popular

    • Three bowls of cooked Pinto Beans on a wood table
      Instant Pot Pinto Beans (No Soaking)
    • Pressure Cooker Beef Shank (Osso Bucco)
    • Pressure Cooker 7 Hour Leg of Lamb (in 90 minutes)
      Pressure Cooker 7 Hour Leg of Lamb (in 90 minutes)
    • Pressure Cooker Brown Jasmine Rice
    • Grilled Tomahawk Steak (Long Bone Ribeye, Reverse Seared)
      Grilled Tomahawk Steak (Long Bone Ribeye, Reverse Seared)
    • A green bowl full of chicken noodle soup
      Instant Pot Rotisserie Chicken Noodle Soup

    Seasonal

    • A bowl of asparagus risotto
      Instant Pot Asparagus Risotto (Pressure Cooker Recipe)
    • Grilled Butterflied Chicken with Garlic Butter
    • Sous Vide Rack of Lamb with Dijon Bread Crumb Crust
    • A bowl of beef stew with asparagus, carrots, and radishes.
      Instant Pot Spring Vegetable Beef Stew
    • A Rotisserie Chicken (Pollo Asado)on a platter of shredded cabbage
      Rotisserie Chicken Pollo Asado
    • Rotisserie Pork Shoulder Roast with Carolina Mustard BBQ Sauce
      Rotisserie Pork Shoulder with South Carolina Mustard Barbecue Sauce

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    Copyright © 2025 Dad Cooks Dinner

    2 shares