Jessica Merlin and Chef Jeff on the set of "Flip My Food with Chef Jeff.", M.D., MBA, assistant professor in the Divisions of Infectious Diseases and Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care at the UAB School of Medicine, will be featured on the Oct. 31 episode of “Flip My Food with Chef Jeff,” a Raycom Network show that airs in more than 50 TV markets across the United States.Merlin moved to Birmingham in 2011 with her husband, and together they blog about exploring the diverse food scene in the Magic City at whattoeatinbirmingham.com. Merlin says they are not food critics; they are food enthusiasts, commonly referred to as “foodies,” and the purpose of their blog is to talk about their favorite foods at their favorite places across the city.
The blog caught the eye of “Flip My Food” producers during the summer. This new series, hosted by celebrity chef Jeff Henderson, “flips” dishes to make a healthier version that is just as tasty. Shortly after being contacted, Merlin was shooting the show with Chef Jeff on his mobile food truck in the Birmingham Botanical Gardens. They made soba noodles with lobster.Read more about the episode shoot.
Merlin’s show will air around the U.S. on Friday, Oct. 31; in Birmingham it will be on WBRC Fox 6 at 11:30 a.m. CT. Visit www.flipmyfood.com/tune to find the station airing the episode in other cities.
In addition to her food interests, Merlin’s research interests are the intersection of HIV and palliative care, specifically the impact of chronic pain, alone and in the context of psychiatric illness and substance abuse, on health behaviors and clinical outcomes in patients with HIV.