Hi! I’m Joanie.
Welcome to my virtual kitchen, the home base for all my best recipes. I live in Phoenix, Arizona with my husband, our two boys and an Australian Shepherd named Bruce.
Origin of The Dinner Bell
The name “The Dinner Bell” came from my Grandma Joanie (for whom I’m named!) She loved a party and her house was the go-to for all holidays and special occasions. As grandkids, we knew it was time to eat when she rang the bell just outside the kitchen door.
The Dinner Bell symbolizes a love for feeding others and gathering around the table together. From weeknight dinners to Sunday brunch and special occasions you’ll find all of our family’s favorites on this site.
All Eaters Welcome!
You’ll also find allergen-friendly and refined sugar-free recipes here. In the past few years, friends and family members have been diagnosed with allergies and conditions including celiac and type 2 diabetes. I never want my guests to feel left out when we share a meal together, so I celebrate the opportunity to make things that everyone can enjoy.
I also want to provide myself, my husband and my kids with nutritious food that gives us the energy to do our best every day.
Where It All Began
I have been food obsessed since childhood. I blame it on 90’s PBS cooking shows.
My first culinary exploits started when I was ten years old, attempting things like homemade pasta and Tandoori Chicken. I didn’t grow up in a “foodie” household, but my mom was always supportive of my fascination with the culinary arts.
In high school I would read cookbooks in my spare time (that certainly hasn’t changed).
When my husband and I moved to New York City as newlyweds, we didn’t have a lot of money. Any extra funds that we did have went toward dining out and exploring all the amazing food that NYC had to offer.
Then when we moved back to our hometown of Phoenix, Arizona I worked in the restaurant industry and soaked up all the insights I could from local chefs and purveyors. I even had the opportunity to show off my skills in an episode of Guy’s Grocery Games on Food Network.
The Best Culinary Training
Since 2015 I’ve worked professionally as a food photographer which has afforded me the opportunity to not only capture lots of beautiful food, but to experience it and learn from top professionals in the food world. The best culinary training comes from hands-on experience, and it’s this first-hand knowledge that informs all of the recipes I share with you.
The recipes you’ll find here are all:
- Well tested! I do not want to give you a recipe that won’t work in your kitchen.
- Well tasted! In addition to friends and neighbors, my toughest critics are my kids. Every recipe I share has officially received two thumbs up from them.
- Made for your average American household. I do love fancy ingredients, but I don’t want to send you on any wild goose chases through the grocery store.
- I have modified some of the old family favorites that have been handed down to me to omit some of the processed food items.
When I’m not dreaming up recipes for this site or capturing cookbooks for clients, I also teach food photography and video through my YouTube channel and website, The Bite Shot.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Interested in sponsoring content on this site or need food photos for your business? E-mail me at joanie@joaniesimonmedia.com.
