Game Day Snacks

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Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

As much as I’d love to deny it, I can’t. Football season is back. And while I will definitely miss Sunday beach days with my husband, I am looking forward to all of the deliciousness that this gameday snackssport has to offer. Now that we’ve got a couple of weeks under our belt, I’ve easily fallen back into our game day snack routine of wings, chips and dip. But tasty as they may be, I’d still rather spend my Sunday morning relaxing with coffee on the couch instead of prepping food in the kitchen. I haven’t found my go to spot here in St. Pete for pre-made quality goods but I DO know that if you’re anywhere M&D, the bakery has you covered.

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Product Feature: Barr Hill Gin

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Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

As I’m sitting here, on a Monday, wishing the weekend had just one extra day or so, I am already

Photo from Caledonia Spirits site

thinking about happy hour. It’s super hot here and a refreshing gin and tonic sounds just perfect right now. But here’s the thing, my experience behind the bar at M&D (as many years ago as that

may be now), made me a total cocktail snob. I don’t want just ANY gin and tonic. I’m picky about my gin and I’m picky about my tonic. Tonic is a topic for another today but TODAY, I want to talk to you about my favorite gin – Barr Hill. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to interview Todd Hardie, the man behind the gin. His story was so unique and interesting. Today, I want to share with you all that same story but in his own words. Continue Reading

Recipe: M&D’s Dijon Vinaigrette

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Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

Have you ever joined us for dinner at McKinney & Doyle? All of our entrees are served with what we call our Wonderful House Salad. We call it that because, well, it’s pretty wonderful. Mixed greens, diced pears, Stilton blue cheese, spicy pecans and our house made dijon vinaigrette. While I recommend stopping by and letting us prepare a meal for you, salad included, I AM going to share the dressing recipe with you here today. Continue Reading

M&D’s Famous Irish Soda Bread

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Rebecca McKinney

I was born a foodie. My dad is a chef, baker, and restaurant owner and my mom might as well be because she owns whatever kitchen she walks into. I grew up working in my family’s restaurant and bakery in Pawling, New York – McKinney and Doyle. I started behind the bakery counter at 12 years old after begging my parents to let me start working. At 16 I worked as a hostess. By 18 I was serving tables and training behind the bar where I then worked every other weekend throughout my college career. Even now, when I am visiting my family in New York, I help out where I’m needed. To make a long story short, the food and restaurant industry has been my life for as long as I can remember.

I wanted to create this blog for a few reasons. First and foremost, to share tips, tricks, and knowledge about the food and beverage industry in general but also to help people see a different side of the restaurant world. Every restaurant has a totally unique culture and world within it. I want to help open people’s eyes to more than how fast the service is or how easy or hard it is to secure a reservation.

So, thanks for stopping by! I welcome your ideas, input, and feedback and hope you enjoy!

Eat well & travel often,

Becky McKinney

Latest posts by Rebecca McKinney (see all)

Irish Soda BreadEvery March, I share M&D’s legendary Irish Soda bread story. Can any of you recite it by memory yet?Continue Reading