Meet Tim Mazurek, who shares the many treats that come out of his kitchen on his acclaimed blog Lottie + Doof. Tim started his blog back in 2008 while pursuing an MFA at Northwestern University to satisfy a self-described obsession with cooking, hosting and the politics of food. Since then, it’s evolved into a destination for his original recipes, photos and always-insightful musings on food.
Here, we ask Tim a few questions to get to know him better. Read on to learn about his perfect dinner party menu and what he eats when he’s alone (it may surprise you)!
What’s the story behind the name of your blog?
Lottie was my grandmother’s name. I knew I wanted to name the site after her, but it needed something more. Doof is simply food spelled backwards, and I basically just liked the way the word sounded. I am really happy with the name, even though it leads people to believe that I am a woman and that there are two people writing the blog. I also learned, since starting my site, that doof means dumb in German, which satisfies.
What’s your favorite recipe on your blog and why?
Oh, they’re all favorites. It is impossible to pick a favorite, but two recipes that should be made more often are homemade bagels and the maple and walnut trifle. They are both SO delicious and both feel like real accomplishments for the home cook.
You’re hosting a dinner party tomorrow night. What would you serve?
It is summer, which makes this question considerably easier. I would assemble some sort of giant salad with greens and pickles (maybe the pickled blackberries that are in my fridge) and cheese (I’m really into halloumi right now) and nuts. I like things that can be prepped in advance and thrown together at the last minute. For dessert, I would make a plum pie.
What ingredients do you look forward to the most every year?
Sour cherries are probably the most anticipated food of the year for me, but I also really like tomato and apple seasons.
What do you eat when you’re alone?
What I want to eat when I am alone is fried mozzarella sticks (or “stix” as they are sometimes lovingly called). The truth is that I still have the palate of a 14-year old boy. If left to my own devices my diet would be all pizzas, cheeseburgers, and tacos.
Who’s your ideal dinner guest?
Someone funny who likes to eat.
What’s on your dinner playlist?
Neutral Milk Hotel, Neko Case, Kate Bush, New Order, Mavis Staples, Grizzly Bear, Taylor Swift, Frank Ocean, Aretha Franklin, David Bowie….you know, all of the best music.
What’s the first food blog you look at every day, besides your own?
My favorite food blogs have a point of view and a sense of humor. The trouble is that there are so many of them that it is hard to keep up. I discover fantastic new sites every week. Amelia over at Bon Appetempt is a friend, and she always makes me laugh. Josey Baker’s blog is kind of my favorite thing on the internet; he is so charming and sweet. I wish everyone writing about food had his good humor.
Images courtesy of Tim Mazurek.
1 comment
Just great setting.