Watch Chef Mark Salter on WUSA on May 13

On Wednesday, May 13, Chef Mark Salter will make an appearance on WUSA's 9 a.m. News here in Washington. Just in time for summer, Chef Salter will share some great picnic ideas, creating fabulous dishes for everyone in the family to enjoy!

Salter will present a variety of dishes using his signature Pub Sauce "Ketchup for Big Kids"-from chips and dips to a great baster for shrimp. You'll have to watch the segment to get a real taste of how Pub Sauce can add a bit of pizazz to your food!

Simple Solution for a Gourmet Dinner

I am really excited about one of my latest projects. In addition to the fabulous work that I've been doing for Share Our Strength, I've received another opportunity, with a chef that I am honored to be working with-Chef Mark Salter of the Inn at Perry Cabin (an amazing inn in St. Michaels, Maryland).


Like many of us, Chef Salter is ready to come home to relax and spend time with his family so after a long day at work, he wants to enjoy delicious meals with them, but not spending too much in the time creating them-of course.

In 2004, Chef Salter and his wife launched a line of gourmet dressings and products called Chesapeake Gourmet. His inspiration came from not being able to find dressings and marinades that suited his palate so he created his own (naturally, what else can a chef do!).

Well, in the next few weeks (once I get some samples), I'll be creating fabulous dishes with them. In the meantime, you can check out salterschesapeakegourmet.com.

Spring in D.C.-Cherry Blossoms Bring Out the Best of Everything!

Spring in Washington, D.C. It's my favorite time in the nation's capital. Why? The misery of winter has faded away along with the gray skies, snow, sleet, rain and wind (well, the wind is still around) ...replaced with longer days, warmer temperatures and cherry blossoms! When the cherry blossoms bloom so does the city. There is a sense of excitement in the air and you can see it and feel it everywhere. Scarfs, winter coats, and unhappy people have been replaced by smiling faces in bright colors-happy to be outside.

Restaurants create menus around the festivities. Bakeries create commemorative cherry blossom cupcakes in honor of the festival (check out Hello Cupcake) and local mixologists concoct unique cocktails around them.


But, it's the cherry blossoms themselves that always steal the spotlight. Thousands of people from across the nation and abroad always find themselves in awe as they walk through groves of cherry blossoms, search for the perfect spots to have picnics and click hundreds of photos, hoping to get the perfect one.


This was my fourth time to experience the cherry blossom festival in D.C. The first time I had ever seen these delicate flowers was in Okinawa, Japan, in February. I was only a teenager then and don't think I appreciated them the way I do now. As we meandered through the tidal basin to the Jefferson Memorial, our final destination, I found myself experiencing so many emotions--happiness, peace, excitement. I don't know if it was the pink that tickled me or simply knowing that spring had finally arrived, but I can tell you this-it's my favorite time of year in this amazing city!

Hello Cupcake! Does Something Sweet to Help End Childhood Hunger

One of the nation capital's top cupcakery's is doing its part to help end childhood hunger in America. Hello Cupcake located in the ever-hip Dupont Circle will be hosting its very own Great American Bake Sale for Share Our Strength. Between May 11-16, Hello Cupcake will be donating 100 percent of its proceeds from its original flavors to Great American Bake Sale. So,if you're having a sweet craving for a delicious chocolate or vanilla cupcake then seriously consider stopping by Hello Cupcake! You won't need to feel guilty for this indulgence because your treat will help feed a child.

In Charleston? Stop by Cupcake for a treat and help end childhood hunger

This week, be sure to stop by Cupcake in the Belle Hall Shopping Center for a treat that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but also help a very worthy cause--helping end childhood hunger in our community. Cupcake, one of the Lowcountry's favorite cupcakeries, has created a commemorative cupcake for Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale to raise awareness and funds of an issue that affects children in our community and across the nation.

According to recent studies, the poverty rate among children under the age of 18 is above the national poverty rate. Twenty-one percent of children live below the poverty line in South Carolina compared to 18% nationally.

Childhood hunger is problem is a problem in our community, but you can make a huge difference. So, this week, please be sure to stop by Cupcake because the funds raised through this promotion will help feed kids in our community.

And, if you're planning to attend this year's Family Circle Cup, be sure to stop by the Family Circle Magazine Bake Sale. A number of favorite shops have donated delicious baked goods, including Charleston Cooks!, Cupcake, Whole Foods Market and Ashley Bakery.

Is PR as Glamorous As Hollywood Portrays it to be?

I've been in PR for close to 10 years now (it's hard to believe). In college, I studied Journalism, hoping to be the next Christine Amanapur, but my dreams shattered in during my Junior year in college when one a college professor pulled out my story on commercial real estate and told the entire class that this was by far the worst piece of Journalism that he ever heard (okay, maybe not exactly those words, but he did say it was far by terrible), and that very same day, I dropped the class and changed tracks-I was now a PR student. I learned everything about PR, and I knew I was on the right track, especially after I aced my PR Campaigns Class, presenting a 75-page campaign on how to educate Americans in Tibet for the organization, Save Tibet.



Since then, I've worked for a number of organizations. I've even launched a PR & marketing Company during my 10 years, and I can tell you this-it can be hard; it can be dirty; and it's not as glamorous as Hollywood claims it to be. Yes, compared to some other careers, it's a lot of fun. You have the opportunity to attend fabulous events; wine and dine editors at fine restaurants, and meet and mingle with celebrities in some cases. But, you may also find yourself, touring a cement plant in a small town miles out of the city, chase down news vans when they can't find you minutes before your very first press conference, lugging an 24 pound themose of coffee for an event from Starbucks at least two-three times in a less than four hour period, and most of all, be the one to bring bad news if not all the time-most of the time. Sound glamorous?



Look, I am not here to discourage young, aspiring public relations professionals to not move forward with their dreams because the truth of it all is this-I love it, and I would not trade in my job for another one. I love the adrenulum I get everyday; I love the fact that I don't have to sit in a cubicle, five days a week adding numbers, I love being creative, and what I love most, is at the end of the day, your clients really need you and appreciate everything you do for them, and you appreciate them for believing you. And,as a person, I feel that my job brings out the best of me everyday. It gives me confidence and even on the worst days, there are things that can perk you up, i.e.: great placement or just simple thank you from your colleague or client.

Exciting News: My Mom Takes Her Cooking Talents to the Front of the Class

I am really excited to announce that my mother, Mrs. Kuki Bakshi, will be returning to the front of the class, teaching Charlestonians how to make authentic Indian dinners. She began teaching at local gourmet shop and cooking school called In Good Taste when I was only nine years old, but motherhood took over, and she stopped teaching until last year. But, then again, the daily grind of running our family's business took over her life again, and she had to put her teaching aside yet once again. But, now that my parents have officially retired (my father is a retired orthopedic surgeon who later ran a local hardware store)-she's back on track. And, I am really excited about her going back into something she really enjoys, and I love the benefits of being her apprentice (they're delicious!).

When people think about preparing Indian cuisine, two things pop in their head--spicy and difficult. Mama will be the first one to tell you that compared to other foods it can be time consuming, but it's not always spicy. She has spent years honing her recipes, and simplifying them in the process (thanks to me and now my sister-in-law).

I learned how to cook from my mom (of course), but I am not the only one. She was first featured in the Evening Post in 1986. Her recipes have also been featured in Audrey Magazine, a national Asian-American women magazine and Charleston Magazine, which not only featured her, but our entire Charleston family celebrating Diwali, the Indian Festival of Lights.

Details about her classes will be up soon, but I can you tell you this, it will be just in time for grilling season! Stay tune for more details. And, also be sure to check out clips and recipes from her classes on this blog later this spring.