The Iron Pundit and the Iron Skillet are parting ways.

 I have decided that in order to better find my voice as a writer, I need to give this blog some focus and direction.  For me, that means choosing what I want to write about and sticking to that in this space.

At the end of the day, my dearest wish is to have this space, the one that bears my name, be focused on providing an interesting female voice in political commentary -- one that is capable of being both intelligent and substantive, yet uniquely female. 

The problem with choices is that they both open doors and close them.  In choosing to explore this voice I want to develop, that means my Top Chef liveblogging project must find another home. 

Notice I did not say "stop."  Because I will not leave the Top Chef fans among us in the lurch.  I am breaking my Top Chef/foodie type entries off into a new place...the Iron Skillet:

http://open.salon.com/blog/iron_skillet

 That said, the Iron Skillet will remain dark this week for the 2nd episode of Top Chef Las Vegas.  This is for two reasons:

1) With all the changes, I am trying to focus on revamping this space.  Iron Skillet will resume next week, in the form we have all come to expect.

2) I have unexpectedly received an invitation to dine tonight at Cafe Atlantico in DC.  Jose Andres' brainchild and purveyor of Nuevo Latino cuisine has often been cited as one of the major highlights of the DC foodie scene.  Trust me, if they ever do a Top Chef DC, and they don't include Cafe Atlantico in some way, they will have f-ed up big time. 

As any good foodie will tell you, if it is a choice between writing about food and actually eating good food, you put away the keyboard and grab the fork.

 I'll see you next week at the new place......