FoodAndDrink

How to Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving, Dine Out

What is the best way to have a Thanksgiving spread that turns out looking like the glossy photographs in your favorite foodie magazine? I'm sure some readers are expecting a list, organizational techniques or special tips on how to create the perfect meal when you are working full time.

It seems that a better idea is to not slave over the stove, but take you and your family to the nearest upscale restaurant for the special meal. Eat, drink and relax, the turkey will be cooked to perfection. Handing the responsibility for a beautifully cooked Thanksgiving feast over to someone else might even make spending the day with your annoying cousins just that much more bearable.

Another bonus of not preparing your own Thanksgiving meal at home is that often the menu includes items for those at the table who really don't like turkey. It may be considered heresy, but there are many who, out of hunger, force down what is often a dry uninspired main course because that is the only option. There is often at least one vegetarian at every table who sits glumly while the rest of the guests are feasting.

For example, at Ken Aretsky's Patroon in New York City, pictured above, executive chef Bill Peet presents a family-style menu in the warm dining room of this midtown restaurant. In addition to the traditional free range turkey with all the old fashioned fixings (mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted Brussel sprouts and giblet gravy) you will find chateaubriand as well as Scottish salmon for the vegetarians in your group. The restaurant will charge $85 per adult and $45 per child for the meal. Whether you live in the tri-sate region, are in the area visiting family or to see the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade I can't think of a better way to make you meal truly stress free.

For those of you who live around the country and are watching the parade or the games on t.v., there are great Thanksgiving menu options at the Craft and Craftsteak restaurants, run by the award winning chef Tom Colicchio, located in Atlanta, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas. (New York too!) The restaurants offer holiday prix fixe menus - everything is served family style, except the choice of main course.

Leave the turkey in the freezer, save it for a random winter weekend, and eat out!

Tags: cooking, Craft, Craftsteak, food and drink, FoodAndDrink, Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade, MacysThanksgivingDayParade, Patroon Restaurant, PatroonRestaurant, stress reduction, StressReduction, Thanksgiving, turkey

Au revoir, Café des Artistes

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining

Au revoir, Café des Artistes. One of New York City's most fabled restaurants, Café des Artistes, has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Southern District of New York. The restaurant, which was located at 1 West 67th Street, just off Central Park West, was once regarded as one of the most sought-after and highly rated restaurants in Manhattan. Owner George Lang closed the restaurant in August for renovations with a planned reopening in mid-September. Sadly, it appears this is never to happen and the restaurant's doors have been shuttered for good. The bankruptcy petition lists assets of $84,500 and liabilities of nearly $500,000 owed to creditors.

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Tags: bankruptcy, cafe des artistes, CafeDesArtistes, food, food and drink, FoodAndDrink, restaurants

Beaver Creek Culinary Classic

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Events

Being a celebrity chef is not a bad life indeed. While many chefs will be golfing and soaking up the sun in South Beach later this month, others are at Beaver Creek in Colorado this week. The Beaver Creek Culinary Classic runs from February 1-5, 2006 and features Eric Ripert, Ming Tsai, Laurent Tourondel and many others. Special events include the Celebrity Chef Ski Race on February 3, pastry competitions including the Cake Relay and the Sugar Showdown which will be filmed by the Food Network, a 'Master Chef Challenge' and the Grand Tasting at the Park Hyatt Resort and Spa on Saturday February 4. Tickets to the Grand Tasting cost $95.

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Tags: beaver creek, BeaverCreek, colorado, culinary events, food and drink, food network, FoodAndDrink, tastings

Gourmet Station Romance Dinner Delivery

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Services

Want to serve your beloved a home-cooked meal on Valentine's Day but you aren't a great cook? You could always order a four-course dinner from Gourmet Station. Their romance menu includes artisan bread, two soups, a choice of two entrees (from a list that includes lamb shank and tortellini with shrimp in lobster sauce served with creamy spinach and artichokes and dessert for two (either cheese cake slices or heat or pop-in-the-oven cookies and coffew or tea served with after dinner candy. The package includes a card with a personal message, a heart shaped candle with matches, and a pair of cloth napkins with crochet trim. The meal for two costs $99.99 but be warned Saturday shipping costs $49.99 and shipping to arrive on Valentine's Day will run you $39.99.

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Tags: food and drink, FoodAndDrink, gourmet dinner, GourmetDinner, romance, valentine's day