Food

Autumn Culinary Retreat Package at Australia's Luxe Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, an Emirates property and Australia's first luxury conservation-based resort, is celebrating autumn in Australia with the "Autumn Retreat" package for gourmet aficionados.

A member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, the luxe resort is located within its own 4,000 acre conservation reserve nestled between two national parks. This secluded refuge features 40 individual suites surrounded by private decks, each with its own indoor/outdoor swimming pool. The resort's architecture is designed to be reminiscent of traditional rural Australian homesteads.

The Autumn Retreat package includes an on-site cooking demonstration by a Wolgan Valley chef featuring fresh autumnal produce from the resort's kitchen garden and local suppliers, showcasing uniquely Australian cuisine enhanced by a seasonal, regional and organic food philosophy.

Tags: Australia, cooking, Emirates, food, luxury resorts, suites, Wolgan Valley Resort Spa

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New York City Mozzarella Bar Introduces Missing Link

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Nothing beats sitting down with the fresh mozzarella and pasta fare available at Obika, the midtown Manhattan mozzarella bar. Rather than disrupt your perfect city Saturday by scarfing down the heavily tourist fare available within striking distance of the shop's location on E. 56th Street and Madison Avenue, you can amble into the public atrium at the IBM Building and enjoy bufala at its finest.

The only thing missing has been a great glass of wine to accompany it. Well, the good news is that it won't be a problem anymore.

Anthony Fauci, managing partner of Obika's New York location, told me over the weekend that the restaurant has just received its liquor license, and that the libations are flowing. The offering is so new that the wine menu hasn't even been published on the Obika website yet, though Fauci tells me to expect options from Campagnia, Veneto,Tuscany and Puglia, not to mention "a few surprises." For now, the only way to find out is to head over and order a glass with your dish. I'm hoping to get there within the next few days.

Gallery: Obika: Mozzarella Bar in Manhattan

Fresh bufala is flown in three times a week

Even without a chef, the creations are delicious

Tags: food, manhattan, mozzarella, MozzarellaCheese, new york city

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The 13th Annual New York Chocolate Show

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Services, Events

The 13th annual New York Chocolate Show, presented by Event International and running from Thursday, November 11 - Sunday, November 14, at The Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W. 18th St.), is the largest show in the United States completely dedicated to chocolate. Considered the chocolate hub of North America, the show brings together more than 65 fine chocolate companies that will present an array of fine chocolates and chocolate-inspired products that will reach 12,000 consumers, members of the trade, and press.

This year's Chocolate Show will feature book signings by award-winning authors; cooking demonstrations in two culinary theaters featuring renowned chocolatiers and pastry chefs who will share secrets of the trade; a Kid's Zone, presented by Young Chefs Academy; and -- something I'm sorry I missed on the 10th -- a Chocolate Fashion Show.

Founded in 1997 by Sylvie Douce and Franois Jeantet, French entrepreneurs with a passion for chocolate, The Chocolate Show was quickly adopted by New York City as one of its favorite shows, and has become the largest and one of the most popular events devoted to chocolate in the United States. The New York Chocolate Show is one of many international Salon du Chocolat events produced annually by Douce and Jeantet. In 2010, shows were or will be presented in Paris, Tokyo and six cities in Japan, Shanghai, Madrid, Cairo, and Moscow.

The New York show is open this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and this Sunday till 6 p.m. Get tickets here.

Tags: chocolate, food, New York, New York City, The Chocolate Show

Stay Puft Marshmallows Specially Made For Ghostbusters 3 Movie Are "World's Finest"

by Ariel Adams (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Why didn't they make this before? Direct from the Ghostbusters universe and in time as a promo for the upcoming third installment of the Ghostbusters movie, you can now get your very own box of Stay Puft Marshmallows. Yes, it is possible for marshmallows to be luxurious - especially when they cost almost a buck a pop. Right on the box they proclaim to be "the world's finest..." These sugary treats are made in very small batches by hand in the US and come in a reusable collector's box (I know for a fact that I will be keeping this box forever as I was a hardcore Ghostbuster fan as a kid).

1980's Saturday morning cartoons never tasted so good. In addition to being delicious blocks of marshmallow goodness, Stay Puft brand marshmallows will keep you pumped as they are loaded with caffeine. That's right, these are energy marshmallows! At least this time the compound "giving you life" is mere caffeine and not highly concentrated Ectoplasm!

Gallery: Stay Puft Marshmallows

Tags: food, luxist reviews, man, marshmallow, marshmallows, stay puft

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Bufala Break: A Bite at Obika on Madison Avenue

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Toting shopping bags up and down Manhattan's Madison Avenue can become tiring. After wearing out your elbow signing credit card slips, you'll find yourself with a daunting appetite, and you'll want to take care of it without deviating from your upscale excursion. There aren't many dining options, and most will lead you to a side street where the fare is mundane at best -- it's Midtown, after all. You can keep your luxury momentum going without having to trot far from your fashion binge at Obika, a mozzarella bar on the corner of Madison Ave and E. 56th Street.

The setting may strike you as strange -- nobody would expect to find a chic establishment in the IBM building's public atrium. Well, you'll have to suspend disbelief for a moment, because the bufala that awaits you is worth it. Popular with the local business crowd because it's easy to get in and out while still indulging, managing partner Anthony tells me that he sees plenty of visitors to New York come through.

Gallery: Obika: Mozzarella Bar in Manhattan

Tags: cheese, dining, food, madison ave, Madison Avenue, manhattan, mozzarella, MozzarellaCheese, new york, new york city, new york city restaurants, prosciutto

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Levity Gourmet Marshmallows

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Are marshmallows the new cupcake? The founders of Levity Gourmet Marshmallows say yes they are and after sampling their brownie-sized delicacies I'm inclined to agree. Started by a pair of young college grads that found inspiration after baking marshmallow treats for a family birthday, Levity Gourmet Marshmallows is quickly carving out a niche in the world of fine confectionery desserts by offering delicate handmade specialty marshmallows that are just as comfortable floating in a cup of hot chocolate as they are being served as a stand-alone dessert. The array of available flavors includes old favorites like Vanilla and Strawberry as well as new and unique ones like Coffee Caramel Swirl (pictured above), White Chocolate Macadamia, and S'more. My personal favorite (so far) is Peanut Butter Crunch.

Levity Gourmet Marshmallows are available exclusively via the online boutique and are priced at $14-$18 for a pack of fifteen.

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Tags: food, gourmet, marshmallows

Omnivore Friendly Dinner At Wall & Water

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

No omnivore's dilemma here, instead an omnivore's celebration. The Omnivore Festival comes to Brooklyn, New York on June 4 and 5 bringing master classes and a bunch of fabulous feasts. The Omnivore Festival's Friendly Dinner on June 4th at at Wall & Water in the Andaz Wall Street Hotel will host Chef Gregory Marchand of Frenchie's in Paris along with Chef Maximo Lopez May of Wall & Water. Menu items will include duck, prosciutto and salami from the Hudson Valley; smoked trout, avocado and cucumber pickles; line caught hake with spring minestrone and bitter lemon; spice and honey glazed pork belly; and a delicious dessert with Frenchie's caramelized passionfruit tart with salted butter caramel and the Wall and Water apple pie with anglaise sauce. The price is $115 per person with wine. For reservations, please call 212-699-1700.

Tags: andaz wall street, food, food and drink, food festivals, frenchies, gregory marchand, maximo lopez, omnivore festival, omnivores dilemma

Miami Wine and Food Festival

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Wine, Charity

The Miami Wine and Food Festival is all set to offer a wide variety of gourmet delicacies, rare vintages, and fun experiences for food and wine lovers in South Florida. Celebrating its 15th year and scheduled to take place on the 22nd - 24th of this month, one of the highlights is the return of chef Todd English to the festival for the "Food, Friends & Fun Interactive Dinner" where tables will team up to cook their own 3 course meals under the direction of Chef English. Other events include live music, the "Taste and Toast" extravaganza (with VIP tasting), and The Champagne GH Mumm reception with silent auction.

The Miami Wine and Food Festival benefits Camillus House and United Way of Miami-Dade, and more info and event tickets are available here.

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Tags: festival, florida, food, food festivals, miami, Todd English, wine

The Best (and Worst) Anti-Aging Foods

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Everybody wants to look and feel young, healthy, and vibrant, but unfortunately our lives don't always make achieving that goal easy. Stress, pollution, activities, and even the food we eat can affect how fast and how gracefully we age. Are you making diet choices that will keep you looking young?

The best anti-aging foods:

Berries like blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries are especially high in Vitamin C that helps to reduce wrinkles and age-related skin dryness, fiber that boosts heart health and helps maintain a healthy weight, antioxidants that fight against environmental and dietary toxins, and polyphenols that are thoughts to battle age-related mental decline.
Green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, and swiss chard have high levels of Vitamin K that helps keep bones strong and lutein and zeaxanthin that together keep vision sharp by protecting eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light.
Whole grains such as whole wheat, brown rice, and oats are full of a wide variety of nutrients and minerals that help prevent heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and even gum disease. Whole grains are also full of appetite-curbing fiber for help maintaining a healthy weight.
Low-fat dairy because its protein can help maintain healthy strong muscles (age-related muscle loss makes you look and feel older) while its minerals can help keep bones strong and blood pressure within healthy limits.
Water helps all of the functions in your body, including waste and toxin removal and skin rejuvenation, work better and faster. Dehydration strains body systems but is especially bad for the skin, making it appear dull, less supple, and wrinkles more pronounced.

Tags: anti-aging, antiaging, beauty, beauty-pedia, dining, food, skin, skin care, skincare

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Esslack Gold and Silver Food Paint

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

The Deli Garage in Germany is offering a unique way to dress up your food: edible gold and silver food spray paint. Called Esslack, it makes anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to baked goods like pretzels suddenly look like solid chunks of precious metal. Personally I think the tomatoes in the picture above look totally unappetizing (as does this pretzel done in silver) but there could be some interesting and attractive uses for it, perhaps on wedding cakes and cookies, or maybe accents on fancy hors d'oeuvres. Get it here.

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Tags: dining, edible gold, esslack, food, gold, spray paint

Fashion Week Comfort Food At 10 Downing

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

For Fashion Week fuel ups, 10 Downing Food & Wine in Greenwich Village has extended its prix-fixe Restaurant Week menu through NYC Fashion Week, February 11-18. The restaurant has already seen some attention from the fashion world, designers who have dined there include Peter Som, Cynthia Rowley, Christian Siriano and Erin Fetherston. The prix fixe three-course menu of "Farm to Table" cuisine created by Executive Chef Jonnatan Leiva (a rising star from San Francisco who joined the restaurant last fall) uses fresh locally sourced ingredients. The menu, which costs $24.07 includes a celery root and apple soup, a rosemary roasted pork shoulder sandwich with cabbage, apple and celery slaw and a desert of butterscoth pot de crème. The full menu is after the jump.

Tags: 10 downing, 10Downing, food, greenwich village, GreenwichVillage, new york city, NewYorkCity

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A Guide to Meat Cuts

by Andrea Hangst (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

When it comes to grilling a steak, many home cooks often think that they can quickly run to the grocery store, pick any cut or steak they see, and just slap it on a hot grill and - voila! - a good dinner. However, many of us who have tried this have inevitably run afoul of the Great Beef Gods, with cinder-dry steaks or tough hunks of gray meat. Here is a very simple list of great cuts of beef for grilling, and the best ways to prepare them.

Steaks for One or Two

Filet Mignon: Butter soft, boneless and best served rare to medium-rare, this tenderloin steak is considered a delicacy. From the short loin, these exceptionally tender steaks are ideal for the high-heat sear of the grill because they are best served between rare and medium in doneness for best flavor. While filet mignon is famous for its tenderness, it lacks the deep meaty flavor and richness of the rib eye and strip steak. Consider topping the steak with a dab of butter after grilling.

New York Strip: Another meaty, big-flavored grilling classic, the New York Strip is cut from the tender short loin of the cow. Less marbled than a rib eye, but with a thick band of fat around the edge, the strip steak sears beautifully using direct heat over hot coals.

Porterhouse: The Porterhouse, like its little brother, the T-Bone, is a highly prized, and highly priced, cut. One half of this steak is the New York Strip, while the small meaty bit on the other side is a filet, cut from the tenderloin. These steaks come from the extra-tender "short loin" of the cow, which is located on the steer's middle-back. The meat is highly marbled and usually quite tender. They are excellent for grilling or quickly seared over hot coals and finished slowly over indirect heat. Marinating and seasoning can vary, but just sprinkling salt and pepper on it prior to putting it on the grill can also suffice.

Rib Eye: Arguably the champion of the grill, the rib eye steak is tender, flavorful and marbled with fat. The rib eye - named as such because it is the center cut of the rib section of the cow - are extremely flavorful but benefit from a good marinade. These can come bone-in or bone-out, or with a giant bone sticking out also called a "Tomahawk." Choose the bone-in rib eye to ensure a juicy, complex flavor. Most steak lovers prefer their meat served rare to medium-rare; this cut can even stand up to extra cooking time and still be richly flavored.

Tags: Beef, Cooking, Food, grill tips, Grilling, grillt ips, GrillTips, luxist-awards, main-pedia, meat, meat cuts, MeatCuts, outdoor-entertainment-pedia, Steak

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"The Best of Beef & The Beauty of Barolo" With Chef Michael Lomanaco, February 9

by Lisa Palladino (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Services

A few months ago New York's famed Time Warner Center opened a new culinary club, Circle of Taste, free to join.

COT has just announced its first ticketed event -- "The Best of Beef & The Beauty of Barolo" -- a dinner to be hosted within Porter House New York's wine cellar by Chef Michael Lomanaco (shown) and Master Sommelier Roger Dagorn. All the wines will be a selection of highly-sought-after and difficult-to-acquire Barolo wines produced in limited quantities.

Erpacrife Nebbiolo Metrodo Tradicionale

Bollito Misto
Tender poached filet mignon, cotechino sausage and salsa verde
La Querciola Barolo Donna Bianca 2004 'cru Costa di Rose'

Brasato al Barolo
Homemade Pappardelle Pasta, Braised Beef Short Ribs
Scarzello Barolo 2004 'cru Sarmassa'

Arrosto di Costata
Roasted Dry Aged Prime Rib of Beef
Cascina Ebreo, Torbido VDT 2001 'Novello di Monforte'

Dessert - Torta al cioccolato alle pere
Pears with mascarpone and chocolate
Ca'de' Mandorli, Brachetto d'Acqui 2008

Dinner begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $175 per person, and the multi-course tasting menu is all-inclusive. COT members may reserve two seats. Perhaps get an early start to the Valentine's Day weekend!

Tags: beef, Circle of Taste, CircleOfTaste, food, New York, New York City, NewYork, NewYorkCity, NYC, Time Warner Center, TimeWarnerCenter, Valentines Day, ValentinesDay, wine

Silver Spoons and Party Tips From Park Avenue

by Amanda Gordon (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Dining, Books

There's a lot to like about the Park Avenue lifestyle, especially as it is captured in the book "Park Avenue Potluck: Celebrations," published by Rizzoli. This book takes us inside the apartments facing the broad boulevard with a European feel, to tell us, if not everything, then just enough, to entertain Park Avenue style. Hint: there may be a cook for hire involved, and you'll want to get out the china, write place cards, and dust off the napkin rings. As for what you'll be serving: The ladies are not cutting-edge professional chefs, so this is not the place to find culinary revelations on par with "Momofuko." Rather the recipes are for comforting dishes, not too healthy or unhealthy, and presented simply but beautifully. Vetted by New York Times food writer Florence Fabricant, these are gold-plated go-to dishes. And some, such as Coco Kopelman's baked latkes, are a real find.

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Tags: cookbook, dining, entertaining, florence fabrikant, FlorenceFabrikant, food, park avenue, ParkAvenue, recipes

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Chicago French Market Brings La Campagne to Chicago's West Loop

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

There are more than a dozen Euro-inspired food markets in Chicago, but they're seasonal. If you wanted your favorite bottle of Brittany's cidre doux to keep you warm in December, you had to stock up on it in September. Good news, then, for the francophiles: with the opening of the open-year-round Chicago French Market on Thursday, December 3, that kind of unholy abstinence -- and planning ahead -- is no more.

Taking its place in the Metramarket in The Windy City's West Loop, the French Market will be the only 365-day, Euro-chic indoor purveyor. Offerings from local farms and artisanal shops include certified organic produce, meat, fish, bread, pastries, small batch cheeses and wines, and flowers. And don't forget the chocolates and Lavazza coffee. Prepared meals can also be had for when you want an evening in Provence without spending business-class fare.

Six days a week the 15,000-square-foot market will exist to serve you, and there's covered, ground-level parking to entice you further -- validated for an hour free if you spend $20. The adventure begins at 7:30 Thursday morning, just in time for a pain au chocolat and a cafe creme.

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Tags: chicago, chicago french market, ChicagoFrenchMarket, food, food-awards, french, luxist-awards, market, organic

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