Gray Cargill

What’s your job? What do you love about it?
I work in fundraising for higher education. Probably the thing I love the most is knowing that my work results in gifts that will help students attend college and get a quality education for generations to come. I could not have gone to college myself if it hadn’t been for scholarships and financial aid, so I feel like I’m “paying it forward”.

Gray also runs a great blog called SoloFriendly. For excellent info when you’re traveling solo, click here: http://solofriendly.com/

Why do you like Invite For A Bite?
I love the idea of having a way to connect with other women when I’m traveling on my own (or here in my own town) over dinner and shared interests. I love meeting new people and this seems like a great way to do it.

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
Accidentally? I almost swallowed a shrimp eyeball in Madrid when I was eating paella. I have a new rule now: Never eat anything that still has a face on it. On purpose? I tried frog’s legs once when I was young and brave. I’m pretty grossed out by that now—even though, yes, they do taste like chicken. Oh—and escargots (snails). Overall, I’m not the most adventurous diner.

What’s your guiltiest food pleasure?
Any chocolate dessert that also contains alcohol.

Which women, living now or in the past, would you invite to an ifab dinner party?
Eleanor Roosevelt Nellie Bly
Amelia Earhart Dorothy Parker
Sally Ride Mary McDonnell

Where are you from, and when you’re traveling what food from your country do you miss the most?
I’m from the US. This may sound crazy, but when I go to Europe, the thing I miss the most there is thick yogurt. My favorite is the Yoplait light thick and creamy. I eat it every day.The yogurt in Europe is drippy, almost soup-like. Not exactly stick-to-your-ribs yogurt, if you know what I mean.

Name a country you’ve visited whose food you love. What not-to-be-missed dish should people eat there?
I have not visited a single country whose food I universally love. Some meals are good, and some are not so good; everywhere is pretty much the same in that regard. I will say that I love escargots with a passion. I don’t think I’ve met a plate of buttery, garlicky escargots that I didn’t love. But I’m not sure I’d recommend a particular dish to anyone unless I knew their food preferences really, really well, because it’s all subjective, isn’t it?

Waikiki

If you could be in one place right now, where would it be? Why?
Hawaii. I just visited Hawaii for the first time in February and totally fell in love with everything about it—the climate, the landscapes, the people, the food, the laid-back vibe. I could live there.

Nosy, we know, but what are you having for dinner tonight?
Tilapia, creamed spinach, and couscous salad.

Lilian in a cookery class

What’s your job? What do you love about it?
I work as a Project Manager for a non-profit organization overseeing production of multi‐media products and campaigns. I love the fact that everyday at work is different and I can use my creativity and organizational skills. I also love photography and enjoy blogging about my life in New York, one picture a day, at http://theforeignview.com/.

Why do you like Invite For A Bite?
Invite for a Bite is a wonderful opportunity to explore, on many levels. I can make new friends, get to know new restaurants and new cuisines. What is there not to love?

What have you invited people to on Invite For A Bite?
I’ve invited people to have sushi and currently I’m looking forward to meet some fabulous women at Republic, which serves impressive dishes from Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and China. If you are planning to be in New York on April 20th, you should join me! (If you’d like to join Lilian, click ‘search invites’ and enter New York. Simple!)

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
Probably curry goat in a Jamaican restaurant. Delicious!

What’s your guiltiest food pleasure?
Dumplings. I am obsessed with those little balls of dough and will travel for good ones.

Which women, living now or in the past, would you invite to an ifab dinner party?
My grandmother Celina, who was the most amazing cook and gave my childhood a taste that I’ll never forget.

Where are you from, and when you’re traveling what food from your country do you miss the most?
I am originally from Brazil and have been living in New York for the past eight years. Feijoada is my favorite national dish (basically black bean stew with beef and pork), and that is always the food I miss the most!

Name a country you’ve visited whose food you love. What not-to-be-missed dish should people eat there?

Cupcake, mmm!

I haven’t had the opportunity to travel much but I take advantage of New York multi-cultural environment as much as I can. I am always trying new cuisines and I’m a huge fan of Mediterranean and Asian dishes.

If you could be in one place right now, where would it be? Why?
I would love to be home, baking Brazilian cheese rolls with my mom and sharing stories while drinking coffee. It is wonderful to live abroad and conquer your space and dreams, but home will always be where you belong.

Nosy, we know, but what are you having for dinner tonight?                                                Tonight I am going to a Turkish restaurant uptown Manhattan. I heard wonders about their kebabs, baklava and belly dancers!

What’s your job? What do you love about it?
Right now I’m on a sabbatical, but I’m trained in Architectural Science and Interior Design.  I also recently started doing custom designed party cakes and wedding cakes.  I’m one of those people who know how to do so many things but cannot decide on which one to truly follow.  I also blog frequently about my life and do product reviews and giveaways on my blog, Bewildered Bug.

Check out Serena’s blog here: http://www.bewilderedbug.com/

Why do you like Invite For A Bite?     
Since September 2011 my husband and I have been living in separate countries.  For the decade we’ve been together, we have done everything together and used to love trying new restaurants and just going to our favourite familiar haunting grounds for an evening out with a good bottle of wine.  Now that he’s not here, I need a partner in crime.  Invite a Bite is excellent to connect people in similar situations just to get you to go out there and socialize.  Very exciting stuff.

What have you invited people to on Invite For A Bite?
I’ve only joined recently and I invited anyone in the Greater Toronto Area to join me for dinner somewhere – anywhere, preferably a good restaurant downtown – just to get to know each other and have an enjoyable dinner with new people.

(If you’d like to join Serena on April 19th, check out her invite. Go to ‘Search Invites’ at the top of this page and input Toronto. Simple!)

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
This is a fascinating question….um probably wild meat?  I’m originally from Trinidad (in the Caribbean) and they sometimes say that “Trinis eat anything that moves”.  When they hunt they hunt EVERYTHING.  I’ve had some meats that I’m not 100% sure what they were – they were good but very gamey.  Other than that, I’m pretty tame I think with regards to what I’ve eaten.

What’s your guiltiest food pleasure?
I’ve now been gluten and dairy free for about four years because of a gluten intolerance and a casein allergy.  Before that though, I used to eat everything.  Guiltiest food pleasure – definitely my sister’s cheesecake!  Now?  I sneak dark chocolate when I am down.  Definitely not the same but does the trick.

Which women, living now or in the past, would you invite to an ifab dinner party?
This is a hard question because there are so many to choose from!  Um. Definitely a mish-mash to make things interesting.  Mother Theresa, Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe, Margaret Thatcher, Dita Von Teese, Jodi Foster, Jennifer Hudson, Dita Von Teese….I think….the more I think of it the more names pop into my head.  Maybe all of Henry VIII’s wives?  Mary Queen of Scots?  Mata Hari?  ”The Little Rose” St Therese?  Mary Magdalene?  Mary, Mother of Jesus? There are so many spectacular women in both real & fictional history that would definitely make interesting evenings!

Where are you from, and when you’re traveling what food from your country do you miss the most?
I’m from quite an eclectic family.  I was born in England, grew up in Trinidad, moved to Toronto for school and married a Canadian.  That’s only my story.  I think I miss sancoche.  It’s a thick, flavourful soup they make in Trinidad.  I miss it because it was just so comforting and no matter what I do I can’t seem to make it right.  Also, Trinidadians use a lot of shadow beni (bandanya) in their food.  It is a really strong flavour similar to cilantro…I substitute cilantro at times but it’s just not the same.  I also miss the fresh seafood of the islands – “Fresh” means something completely different when you live inland in a city like Toronto as compared to what you get on a small island.

Name a country you’ve visited whose food you love. What not-to-be-missed dish should people eat there?
I was pleasantly surprised by Malta.  My husband is Maltese-Canadian so we went there a few years ago.  The rabbit stew is spectacular. Their seafood is usually caught the day of and usually across the road from the restaurant in the bay. Their fruit was spectacular – the watermelons were huge!  There’s prickly pear EVERYWHERE.  Their ice creams and iced drinks are really good.  Their pizzas to die for!I also loved having authentic tapas in Spain.  In Valencia my family and I discovered this little hole in the wall who made the most spectacular paella.In Jamaica, you definitely have to go to the birthplace of Jerk.  It’s called Boston and is quite a drive, but so worth it.  They make it with fresh spices and barbecue it the traditional way in the ground between pieces of galvanized steel.  Very raw and real, but so good.  Just tear off a chunk of hardo bread, eat it with some jerk sausage and festival.  Wash it down with a Ting.  Perfection.

If you could be in one place right now, where would it be? Why?
England, because my husband is there and I miss him.

Nosy, we know, but what are you having for dinner tonight?
I have no clue at the moment.  Possibly pasta and pre-made Christine Cushing sauce (boring I know….that’s why I need iFab!!)