IN THE SPIRIT FEATURING: Dawn McCoy, Host of @DineAndDishwithDawn on IGTV

by Christopher Wirth December 01, 2020

TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF:

TV & podcast host, writer and food & philanthropy advocate, Dawn McCoy, is a personality…and, not just in a “TV personality” kind of way. Her IGTV series & iTunes podcast, "Dine & Dish with Dawn" is a food-meets-inspiration interview show "where talking with your mouth full isn't frowned upon... it's encouraged.” Dawn has been a frequent visitor to your television set and radio, appearing on shows such as The Dr. Oz Show, Hallmark Home & Family, Access Hollywood, Extra, The Real, iHeart Radio, SiriusXM and Pandora. Described by Beverly Hills Mayor Bosse, as “Oprah before Oprah was Oprah,” she she has been featured in Glamour Magazine, Huffington Post, Traditional Home, Living Healthy, Cameron Diaz’s The Body Book, Gio Magazine and more. With over 18 million impressions, her work as a social ambassador to Beverly Hills helped to redefine the city’s social media footprint and iconic reputation. She lives in Los Angeles with her greatest inspiration - her 1-year-old son, Waylon.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR MOST RECENT PROJECTS?

Recently, Dawn co-hosted the James Beard Foundation Taste America event in Los Angeles with Chef Curtis Stone and Dave Bernahl, co-hosted the No Kid Hungry LIVE Telethon with Busy Phillipps and Curtis Stone, raising thousands to help feed the 1 in 6 children living with hunger in America. A lover of food, wine and cocktails (of course!), she has worked withPebble Beach Food & Wine, LA Food & Wine and Four Seasons Maui Wine & Food Classic. In 2019, she was honored to be selected by Glamour Magazine as 1 of 9 inspiring influencers to attend their “Empowered Women Empower Women” trip in conjunction with Glamour’s Women of the Year Awards.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RECIPE YOU HAVE COME UP WITH USING AN ACC PRODUCT? WHAT WAS THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT?

Homebound For The Holidays Spicy Ginger Margarita by Dawn McCoy of Dine & Dish with Dawn Serves 4 1 bottle ACC Smokin’ Margarita Mixer 2 mini bottles Jose Cuervo Especial Silver Tequila 6 oz Volley Spicy Ginger Spiked Seltzer with 100% Agave Tequila & Real Juices Salt to rim (Not sure which one this one was?) 4 Dehydrated Orange Slices Salt to rim Chill your margarita glasses if time allows. Pour your provided flavored salt onto a saucer. Dip the rims of your most festive chilled margarita glasses into a shallow bowl or saucer with orange juice (or juice of your choosing) to completely salt the rim of your glasses. Combine your mixer, Jose Cuervo Especial tequila and Volley Ginger Spiked Seltzer together. Fill a martini shaker 2/3 of the way with ice and then add the cocktail mixture as there is room. Pour into salt-rimmed glasses. Continue filling martini shaker and pouring into glasses until all margaritas are poured and ready for imbibing. Oh, wait. Don’t forget that gorgeous garnish - orange slices just sing the holidays to me! Pop that orange slice right on top of your cocktail. Now. Now, you’re ready for imbibing. Cheers! And, here’s to toasting “So long, 2020!" and “Bring it on, 2021…but please be kind!"

WHEN YOU ARE COMING UP WITH NEW DISHES OR DRINKS, DO YOU HAVE A SOURCE(S) FOR INSPIRATION?

I suppose it's a little bit Dickensian with a bit more cheer. I rely on the past, present and future - taking the nostalgic elements I love of my history, what I'm currently passionate about today, and what I'm hopeful for in the coming days ahead. For instance, in the cocktail I created for ACC, I wanted to create an elixir that elicits both the feeling of home...and, the longing for it since so many of us (including) me can't go home for the holidays this year. I relied on the tex-mex flavors I grew up with in Dallas at my family's favorite margarita meccas, the biting spice that 2020 has dealt our way, and the sweetness that the hope of 2021 holds for us all.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE RESTAURANT OR BAR, WHAT DAY OF THE WEEK DO YOU RECOMMEND IT, AND WHAT KIND OF EXPERIENCE CAN A VISITOR EXPECT?

In LA, my musts are Joan's On Third for a power breakfast (and, the best omelet on the planet), El Coyote for a relaxed Sunday afternoon lunch, Spago Beverly Hills for the brown butter ravioli, Jon & Vinny's for the Ham & Yeezy pizza and Gem Lettuce salad with Chile dressing & breadcrumbs, Magnolia Bakery for banana pudding and cupcakes for everyday desserts, and Hansen's Cakes for birthday cakes (and, half-birthday cakes, if you ask me, because I find celebrating whenever we can to be essential - especially in these times!)

WHAT INFO ABOUT COCKTAILS DO MOST PEOPLE MAKING DRINKS AT HOME NOT KNOW THAT WOULD BE HELPFUL TO THEM?

It's not just for bar decor - use that shaker! I sometimes skip the ice and just chill, but ohhhh...the difference an ice-filled shaker makes! But do get a shaker you love to both use and look at! It really is about those daily delights right now -and, always, really. I love my palm leaf shaker from designer Christopher Kennedy in Palm Springs. Also, I always keep a few bottles of Le Grand Courtage bubbly in the fridge for little celebrations that pop up! I feel like by keeping it in there, I invite the good news fairy to visit.

FAVORITE ACC FLAVOR?

Smokin' Margarita

ANYTHING ELSE YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE?

I don't know what I'd do without my show, "Dine & Dish with Dawn" that goes live on my @iamDawnMcCoy on Instagram weekly. What once was a celebrity-meets-food podcast I let lapse has now turned into a series on IGTV, and it has kept me connected during the Covid crisis. I decided to debut it as a video series because so many of my favorite creatives had projects debuting with limited access and opportunity to promote due to the pandemic. While I started out with the intention of it being a good outlet to promote for them, it has turned into a saving grace for me during these challenging times, and something I look forward to weekly. So far, we've had on some of the most talented and inspiring folks I know, including Danny Trejo, Tori Spelling, actress & producer Tammin Sursok, Mr. Robot actress Ashlie Atkinson, actress & director Lynn Chen, the founder of Nyakio Beauty - Nyakio Grieco, the CEO of Jouer Cosmetics, Christina Zilber and so many more. And, we've got some super exciting guests coming up this season!