Featured Food Blog: Umami Girl

Full Name: Carolyn Cope
Name of blog: Umami Girl
Twitter: @umamigirl
Location: London

How would you describe your culinary style?
My culinary style is equal parts “live to eat” and “eat to live.” I start with clean, whole foods (most of the time!) and try to make them as fabulous as possible. I’m a fan of big, bold flavors, especially umami.

What is the main source of inspiration for your recipes?
When I started Umami Girl back in the day, it was a resource for the members of the Community Supported Farm I was helping to coordinate. Fresh seasonal produce is still a major inspiration, though now it comes from the farmers’ markets of London. I’m also a voracious consumer of food writing and photography from all over the world, so what interests me at any given moment is influenced by what other folks are putting out there. And then, of course, hunger is the ultimate inspiration. 

If you could have one food while stranded on a desert island, what would it be? 
I guess it would depend on whether I’d eventually be rescued or not. If yes, then let’s go with a huge, colorful salad with a goodly schlog of hummus from my favorite hummus-monger, Olive’s in Princeton, NJ. If not, then unlimited spicy tuna avocado sushi and a Veuve Clicquot fountain. That’s one thing, right?

For someone new to your blog, which recipe do you recommend they try first? 
Eggplant and Brown Rice Salad is very representative of my style of cooking. Or, if you like salt and vinegar potato chips, try Salt and Vinegar Roasted Fingerling Potatoes. It’s one of my most popular recipes.

What is your ultimate guilty food pleasure? 
I was contemplating giving you my job interview “what’s your greatest weakness” answer: Omigod, I just love carrots SO much, and they’re SO full of carbs! But honestly? Ridged sour cream and onion potato chips dragged through that wonderful/horrible onion soup dip that you make from an envelope. It’s like a once a year thing for me, and it literally gives me a migraine half the time. But somehow I just can’t resist.

Define Yummly.
Wait, didn’t you guys do that already? I like that by making yummly an adverb, you’ve turned deliciousness into a way of life. I live yummly. And you?