mm
http://www.thecharlot1epost.com
Section
See what’s
cooking at
the CIAA
‘Home Plate ’
chef here for
tournament
By Cheri.s F. Hodges
cherishodgesP thechartouepostrom
“Home Plate” chef Marvin
Woods is cooking his way to
the CIAA.
On March 3-4, the TYimer
South star is bringing his
down home
way and
recipes to the
Charlotte
Convention
Center where
hell be cooking
on Friday with
Woods Mayor Pat
McCrory and
Saturday with CIAA
Commissioner Leon Kerry
“Friday I’m going to be
doing a chipotle rubbed sir
loin steak with Gorgonzola
cheese and on Saturday, Ill
be doing benne (black sesame
seeds) crusted catfish fin
gers,” he said.
As good as it may sound,
only about 30 people are
going to get to sample Woods’
culinary skills. But everyone
will be able to take the
recipes home. Woods said it is
easy to recreate anything he
cooks whether it is on his
highly-rated show “Home
Plate” or at a live demonstra
tion.
“I speak directly to people. I
don’t get into the mystique of
me being a chef,” Woods said.
Other cooking shows that
he’d seen didn’t give viewers
^jnetliiii^ C9i4d. walk .
away with and everything
was so regimented and pre
cise, Woods said.
“But if you don't like thyme,
you should be able to substi
tute it for rosemary or some
thing else because you’re the
one who has to eat the food,”
he said.
Another thing that Woods
offers is healthier soul food
recipes. He said by no means
is he calling the food he does
low-fat or low-calorie, but it’s
healthier when you use herbs
and oil to season collard
greens than hamhocks.
“It's a hard sell,” he admit
ted. “People automatically
think if something is good for
you that it doesn’t taste
good.”
That was proven by slow
sales of Woods’ “Home Plate
Cookbook,” which he said
was marketed to the health
conscious.
“When you read those
recipes, you can’t tell that
they are different,” he said.
“It’s just common sense.
Some people cook coll£irds for
ei^t hours and after cooking
them for that long they can’t
have any nutrients in them
as opposed to cooking them
for 45 minutes,”
Woods, whose parents live
in Salisbury, seiid he’s famil
iar with the CIAA tourna
ment. He’ll be chewing on the
Blue Bears of Livingstone
College and meeting new peo
ple.
“Charlotte is one of the
places where I definitely
want to put a restaurant,”
Woods said.
In January Woods closed
his south Florida restaurant
to tackle the real South:
Alabama, Geoigia,
Mississippi, and the
Carolinas.
“That’s my market .”
Want to go?
Vdiat; “The Taste of Food
Lion Stage” Featuring Chef
Marvin Woods and Mayor
Pat McCrory and CIAA
CommissiOTier Leon Kerry
When; Friday and
Saturday at 4-5 45 p m.
Clinrlottc ^o£!t
LIFE
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2006
WEDDINGS
May and December romance
Chronological differences dosen’t cramp love or style
PHOTO/CURT FETTERS
PHOTO/WADE NASH
Left: Gene and Hattie Anthony were married on September 19,1993 with the desire for a smaii wedding. Right:
Pete and Carla Cunningham’s huge wedding, with over one hundred in attendence, took place on March 25,
2005.
By Fran Farrer-Nash
VIE CIIMUJOTTE POST
“May and December
Romance” means there’s a
m^or age difference
between the couple
involved, at least 10 years
but more likely 15 or more.
Most often this means
the man is older than the
woman, but it could also
be that the woman is older
than. The term refers to a
romantic pairing, fium the
younger person being in
the spring of his or her life
(i.e.. May), while the older
partner is in his or her
winter (i.e., December).
Tbday it is more politically
correct to say “age-gap
relationships.”
Believe it or not, there is
even a website called
www.maydecember.net for
couples seeking “Age Gap
Relationships.”
Older woman,
younger man
Married September 19,
1993, Hattie and Gene
Anthony planned a simple
ceremony that they
intended to take place in
the pastor’s study immedi
ately following the Sunday
service. Hattie’s pastor,
the Rev. Dr. Don Steger,
had another vision.
Following the benediction
he annoimced the union
and invited the congrega
tion.
her leaving. Gallantry was
alive and well. He not only
escorted her to her car, but
also followed to make sure
she got home safely Three
■«(
Mr. & Mrs Anthony
(^ne’s senior, Hattie
recalls their first meeting
at the Gold Room, a pc^u-
larspot located in uptown
Chaiiotte. "He was differ-"
ent, he gave off a special
aura, and was a perfect
gentleman," she said She
admits flirting with him,
which allowed him to
make the first move by
sending her a drink. To
acknowledge his fnesence,
she sent wie back prior to
The Anthonys
days later he placed his
number on her windshield
and asked her to call. She
did. In the early days of
dating Hattie foimd Gene
to not only be different,
but spirited — very much
into his chvirch, a man of
principal, and that’s what
truly attracted her to him.
Even though Gene’s a
member of the CTiurch of
God and Saints of CTirist,
they pray to the same God.
Initially did the age
difference ever bother
her? No. She’s been A-
typical most of her life,
and her own individual.
They dated for several
years. When Gene pro
posed, Hattie said yes.
She acknowledges that
communication is key
They talked about the
potential impact of the
relationship. "It’s tough
being different. The out
side woiid wants you to
operate in the norm as
defined by society There
have been times when Tve
had to make a non-verbal
statement that this is my
husband. Therefore, you
have to be tough," she
said.
There have been times
recently since her retire
ment, and since she’s not
as active that she does
think about it. But even
with the challenges, She’s
a very secure person.
What does Gene have
to say? "I have no regrets.
Hattie’s a great lady, and I
know she loves me. I was
attracted to her first, then
her cooking."
Suggestions to others
facing the age differ
ence dilemma: "First, be
honest and true to your
self Define for yourself
what your needs are when
it comes to your mate.
Then go after that. Open
conmiunication is the key
Have healthy discussions
of the past, and your
future. You have to ask
yourself what would I do if
this person could one day
no longer make love, or if I
couldn’t. Do I feel this per
son valued the relation
ship enou^ to hang in
there with me? Take the
time to pull the skin back
and see who’s there —
who’s this person really?'
Hattie Anthony
Older man,
younger woman
Carla and • Pete
Cunnin^am were united
in holy matrimony March
26, 2005 in a more tradi
tional setting in the chapel
at Johnson C. Smith
University The wedding
party consisted of their
children, Kamesha and
K>de Rorie (Carla’s),
Ronnie, Garry and
Carla bringing given
away by her uncle
Christina (three of Pete’s
five children. Kenneth and
Peter were unable to
attend), grand-children,
family and fiiends. Over
100 guest were in awe as
Carla graced the aisle to
wed her soul mate.
After nine years of dat
ing, Pete broke his age-old
conviction of never re-mar-
rying. Why? When they
met at the Excelsior (Hub,
which he owned at that
time, Pete was first
attracted to Caria’s physi
cal features.
“She was very attractive,
had a since of humor, and
after a tat of conversation
we found we shared simi
lar ideas about what a
relationship should be
based on W’e had a lot in
common,” said Pete.
‘Yes, I had some reserva
tions about our dige differ
ence. But, I’d already
accepted that the good
Lord had brought me this
fai’, I just asked Him to
keep me around at least
until about 80. I know
some people talk about the
age difference, but I’d
rather smell perfume than
liniment any day” he said.
Did the children have
a problem with his
marrying a younger
woman? “No. If they did
they said nothing, maybe
because they realized it
wouldn’t make a differ
ence,” Pete said as he
smiled.
Carla confesses that she
was first attracted to
Pete’s eyes. Learning she
had knowledge of body
lifts, he began asking her
questions that may assist
E.C.H.O. (Excelsior (Hub
Humanity Organization)
provide one for Bingo
Smith Bingo was para
lyzed as the result of an
automobile accident his
last year at N.C. Central
University The lift would
enable him to be mobile
with the assistance of only
one caregiver. And, one
thing led to the next.
Did age difference
ever bother you? “No.
He’s just more traditional -
old school, and Tve ac^ust-
ed better than he has,”
says Carla. “Td been alone
for 17 years, and he had
also for many years. After
nine years it was time, it
was marry or go our sepa
rate ways. Plus, spiritual-
Cunningham wedding
was high fashion affaire
ly we wanted to do what
(jlod’s will was. Knowing
he’s my husband makes a
significant difference in
our relationship.”
See WEDDINGS 2B
Your big
day on a
dime
ARTICLE RESOURCE ASSOCIAIIOS'
A wedding to tieasure doesn’t
have to break the bank. In fact,
with smart planning and a little
research, you can have a beautiful
and memorable wedding with
money left over for the honey
moon.
According to experts at The Art
Institutes, the best way to begin
planning your wedding is to^ start
with a ballpark budget in mind.
Determine your high and low
price and then head online to do
research. By using the Internet,
experts say, you can find prices
for everythijig fh)m wedding
gowns to photography to recep
tion halls. This gives you a great
starting point.
Once you know what you can
spend, Suzanne Morrison-
^\^lliaIns, Academic Department
director of interactive media
design at The Art Institute of Fort
Lauderdale, suggests involving
fiiends and family to help offset
costs. For example, she says , you
may have fiiends who are DJs or
amateur photographers and are
willing to donate their talents for
your big day
“Friends can also help with dec
orations and flowers,” she says.
“Flowers can take up a big part of
your budget. While roses are
beautiful, they can be expensive.
Instead, look for flowers that are
in season and usually cost less.” If
your heart is set on expensive
blooms, she says, use fewer for
more dramatic impact.
Experts all agree, though, the
bluest cost of almost any wed
ding is the reception, including
the location and food. But with a
httle imagination, there are inex
pensive and creative alternatives
to the traditional reception haU.
Alison Paster, academic director
of the Fashion
Merchandising/Visual
Merchandising pre^ams at The
Art Institute of Philadelphia,
recently attended a lovely and
quaint wedding on the beach.
“The venue was fiee, and it was
a stunning backdrop,” she says.
The bride purchased a dress on
sale fiom David’s Bridal for $99,
and the reception included simple
covered dishes and grills for bar
becue.
Other ideas to borrow fix)m a
simple beach wedding, says
Paster, include table centerpieces
of beach glass in fish bowls, white
M&Ms in netting with a silver
bow for favors, and wedding
invites and programs done on the
computer using decorative paper
and hand-made accents. Paster
recommends finding inspiration
fiom your setting, and shopping
at local craft stores for table set
ting and wedding favor ideas.
If a beach wedding isn’t your
stjde, you can still find a baigain.
As the Academic Department
director. Culinary & Pastry Arts
for The Art Institute of New York
City, Robynne Maii wanted a
restaurant wedding reception,
and with a little negotiation, she
got just what she wanted, at a
good price. ‘When we originally
started asking about renting a
restaurant for our reception, the
prices were very high,” says Maii.
“However, when you speak direct
ly with the owners, prices go down
significantly especially if you
want a limch or brunch.”
More tips for weddings on a
budget fiom experts at The Art
Institutes include:
• If you have your heart set on
the $1,200 dress, find a dressmak
er and you can get it made for
$500.
• For elegant food, simpler is
better. Guests do not need a large
variety of hors d’oeuvres or entree
choices. It is bett^* to be specific
with what the coi^)le wants and
have it executed well. Don’t try to
please everyone. You always have
better quality with less quantity
• For the location, try some
thing ofifloeat like a peirk with a
Rease see YCXIR/2B