Meet our team
Christina Ruotolo Editor
Christina Ruotolo is the editor of Her Magazine, Hot Dish writer, and a multi-media specialist at The Daily Reflector. She is active in the community, is a part-time bookseller at Barnes & Noble and a creative writing instructor. When not going 100 miles per hour, she enjoys binge watching cooking shows, eating chocolate, and is hard at work on her next novel. Emily Leach is a graphic designer at The Daily Reflector. Things that take up her free time are, going to the gym, practicing her cello and piano, getting together with family and spending time with her puppy Miles. Contact her at eleach@ apgenc.com.
Emily Leach Designer
Deborah Griffin, a writer and a photographer, lives on a farm in Williamston with her husband and their two boys. She regularly contributes to The Daily Reflector and Eastern Living magazine.
Deborah Griffin Photographer
Marlen Luna is an editorial and lifestyle photographer based in Greenville. When she is not behind the camera, she is a business development specialist at Hyster-Yale.
Marlen Luna Photographer
Chef LaiSha Ponder is a Washington, D.C. native who enjoys creating fusion healthy cuisine. Currently, Chef LaiSha is a WIC nutritionist and breastfeeding coordinator at the Pitt County Health Department. She enjoys educating clients about the benefits of healthy eating. Chef LaiSha Ponder
Contributor
Mary Mehlich is owner of Wine and Words...& Gourmet located at 220 W. Main St., Washington, N.C. She has over twentyfive years experence in the wine business. For more information, call 974-2870.
Dear Readers, Some of my most treasured items are my mom’s handwritten recipes. After her death, I found a wicker basket filled with hand written recipes from as far back as the early 70s. Growing up my mom and aunt put together our church cookbook filled with amazing recipes from our church community. Many of the recipes are nostalgic from soup based casseroles, cold salads, hot dips, cakes, pies and easy dishes that have graced the tables at cookouts, church socials, baby showers, and Sunday supper tables for decades. My love of food started when I was young. My grandmother Ruotolo owned a bakery in Rhode Island and I remember helping roll and shape their famous butterball cookies or dusting Wandies, which are delicate fried dough with powered sugar. My love of food is how I began writing the weekly food column, Hot Dish three years ago. Each week, I introduce readers to new and established restaurants in eastern, North Carolina. I love meeting chefs, eating incredible food and sharing it with my readers. When we sit down at a table together, we do more than eat. We share our life stories through food and baking with family. This special food issue features cover model, Chrislyn Beresheim, owner of Carryout by Chrislyn in Washington. There are also recipes from local chefs, recipe cards from our readers, a special feature on Bob Garner, and much more. I hope this issue inspires you to dust off your old recipe books, cook with family and friends, or support the restaurants in your area. Cheers,
Mary Mehlich Contributor
Contact Her Christina Ruotolo | Editor | 329-9532 Craig Springer | Advertising | 329-9632 Jasmine Blount | Designer | 329-9606 Email: cruotolo@reflector.com
Contents Cover Story
4-7 Growing Food Roots in Eastern, NC: Carryout by Chrislyn
Inside
8-9 Wine & Cheese Pairings For Any Event 10-13 Recipe Cards
www.reflector.com/her
Christina Ruotolo
— editor
14-15 Meet Him: Sam Jones of Sam Jones Barbecue 18 Meet Him: Massimo Mannino of Nino’s Cucina Italiana 19 Meet Her: Gail Roberts Phelps and Kaye Roberts Owners of GK Catering 20-22 Meet Him: Dinner with Bob Garner 23 Meet Him: Lucas Owens
Her — August 2021
24-25 Her Health: Food & Love 26 Her Ayden Business spotight: Homeplace Events Venue 28-29 Remembering A Life Well Lived: Leo Chen’s Legacy 30 Meet Her: Chrislyn N. Beresheim of Carryout by Chrislyn
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