(Photo of Cynthia from her website.)

She said she’d never do it, but she went ahead and did it anyway.

Freelance writer and cookbook author, Cynthia Nims, recently debuted her new food blog, Mon Appetit. I met Cynthia a few years back and interviewed her for this site; later she got me involved in one of her many projects, the IACP committee which hosted the 2006 kickoff gala at Pike Place Market.

Cynthia’s food writing ventures also span the gamut. In fact, I began compiling a list for this post, but it quickly became crazy-long and a bit overwhelming, so I decided to lazily link you at the appropriate spots. Among other things, she’s written and co-authored several cookbooks; written product reviews for Amazon.com’s kitchen retail section; contributed to many magazines, such as Cooking Light, Gastronomica, Sunset and Cheers; and was the food editor for Seattle Magazine. (Check out her bio here and here.) (I love the photos featuring Cynthia holding large oceanic specimen!)

With all the serious writings of Ms. Nims, who’d a thunk to see a post on Napoleon Dynamite and tater tots? But there it was with a photo of tots ‘n ketchup, a link to a Portland tot-serving restaurant, her sheepish tot-purchase confession, and facts from NPR – did you know tots were invented to use up leftover French fry bits? I suddenly got a hankering for tater tots and picked up a bag at Whole Foods this afternoon - they’re swell with taco salad. And, in response to her momentary notion of homemade tater tots, perhaps we should have an online contest.  Anyone got a good recipe?