About Neighborhood Dish

Neighborhood Dish is a show about food and cooking, first broadcast on Malden Access Television (MATV) in December 2007. Why? Because all communities have eating in common. We hope to bring Malden's diverse community together by sharing our culinary heritage, encouraging you to prepare and enjoy delicious wholesome food, introducing you to food-related businesses and organizations in the Malden area, and having fun along the way.

Neighborhood Dish is produced and directed by two Malden residents, Karen Yates and Paula Spizziri. Karen and Paula are excited to share their love of cooking and eating, and breaking bread with friends and family.

Karen and Paula also maintain the Neighborhood Blog, a place where Malden residents can share their:
• Thoughts on food, including their cultural experiences with food
• Opinions and recommendations about area food-related businesses, e.g., restaurants, supermarkets, and ethnic groceries
•Feedback on and suggestions for Neighborhood Dish programs

Be part of our Neighborhood. Visit the Neighborhood Blog ( http://neighborhood-dish.blogspot.com ) and participate by voting in our polls and posting comments.

About Paula Spizziri

Paula Spizziri is a Malden resident since 1987. Born and bred in New Jersey, she likes to think food and cooking are in her blood. Paula was greatly influenced by her father, who was a gourmand and oenophile. Her German Great-Grandfather Bartel was a baker, and her Italian relatives still talk about the wonderful meals made by her Great-Grandmother Iannacone. The first meal she remembers cooking was pizza and pigs-in-a-blanket from her Betty Crocker’s Boys and Girls Cookbook for her 5th-grade sleepover party. When she’s not cooking, Paula works as an instructional designer and trainer.

About Karen Yates

When she was 8 years old, Karen Yates began cooking to get attention. Nobody in her football-obsessed family wanted to play with her on Sunday afternoons, but if she carried snacks into the living room suddenly everyone was happy to see her. Karen’s early recipes mostly involved marshmallows, graham crackers, and peanut butter, revealing the strong influence of her Spam-centric culinary heritage. Other than the Pittsburgh Steelers, the greatest influence on her cooking came from her years in California and discovery of Thai food. Karen has lived in Malden since 2004 and spends her days chasing after her toddler son.