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the sweet scoop
Tribeca Gets Distilled: New Modern Pub Now Open
Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 11:06 AM - Posted by Megan - (0) commentsIn the heart of Tribeca, a modern rendition of a classic American public house is born. The sprawling landmarked space on the corner of West Broadway and Franklin is now home to Distilled, an inviting restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen, chef’s counter, raw bar and elevated outdoor patio for the warm summer months.
Young hotshot exec chef Shane Lyons, formerly of Momofuku Noodle Bar, showcases elevated comfort food in his creative, globally-flavored menu. You’ll find hearty bar snacks like beer-battered onion rings and Distilled’s signature wings, along with entrées of country fried duck & French toast-style waffles drizzled with smoked Serrano maple syrup, and 24-hour slow cooked pork ribs accompanied by watermelon, red onions and pickled mustard seed. A selection of sweet treats includes an apple pie soda float and strawberry cheesecake with pink peppercorn, rhubarb and mascarpone.
Celebrated mixologists Sheldon Wiley and Benjamin Wood are the dynamic duo behind Distilled’s beverage program, which features specialty signature drinks like the ‘Tribecan’ with bourbon, Carpano Antica, chocolate bitters, lemon oil and absinthe rinse, and the ‘Derby Shrub’ with Amaro CioCiaro, apricot shrub, chamomile-infused rye and fresh mint. Not only do my buds Sheldon and Ben totally rock, but their cocktails are killer—making Distilled’s bar definitely one to belly up to. A wine list featuring regional American and international varieties, along with an array of craft beers, round out the beverage offerings.
Check out the full menu here and stay up-to-date on this hot new spot by following Distilled on Facebook and Twitter.
Images courtesy of Distilled
TGCE to Judge the 2013 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off
Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 10:05 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) commentsWednesday kicks off the 21st annual New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, and my excitement over heading down to the Big Easy for all the food, fun, and festivities is overwhelming.
It was an absolute honor to be invited to be one of the judges of the Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off—a yearly cooking competition where celebrated local chefs create their most delicious signature dish showcasing fresh Louisiana seafood in all its glory. Helping select a winner will surely be a tough task, considering the caliber of chefs competing. So am I ready for the challenge? You bet! I may even pack my elastic waist pants.
Last year, chef Keith Frentz of Lola restaurant won over the judges and was crowned “King of Louisiana Seafood” for his “Friday Lunch Special,” a cornmeal-dusted wild Des Allemands catfish with Camellia red beans and local crawfish succotash, braised collards, and homemade tartar sauce (get the winning recipe here). And on Saturday, one of these talented ten will snag the coveted 2013 title. It’s thrilling to be able to play a role in this year’s Cook-Off excitement — wishing all participating chefs the very best of luck! Really looking forward to meeting you and trying each of your dishes.
For delicious updates throughout the entire festival, be sure to stay connected via social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram). Cheers!
Image courtesy of LouisianaTravel.com
8 Unusual Culinary Herbs on The Daily Meal
Friday, May 10, 2013 at 06:05 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) commentsHerbs are some of the easiest plants to grow, whether in a spacious backyard garden or small apartment windowsill. Common varieties, such as rosemary, parsley, and mint, offer both ornamental appeal and distinct culinary value. But as fundamental as these popular greens are, there are many unique and exotic herbs that are worth planting, as well. It’s time to think outside the basil!
Lesser-known culinary herbs can create a more fragrant garden, and introduce bold new flavors and aromatics to your cooking. Green-thumbed gourmands will love the rich essence that chocolate mint can bring to baked goods and herbal teas, or the jalapeño peppery zest that conehead thyme infuses into savory dishes. Want to kick cocktails up a notch? Try muddling in some fresh, citrusy lemon basil. The possibilities are endless.
The Daily Meal invited me to round up eight offbeat herbs to spice up your garden and taste buds — check out my article and slideshow here.
Cheers to Spring! Cocktails to Celebrate the Season
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 05:04 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) commentsSpring is finally in full swing, and there are plenty of reasons to celebrate. Warmer weather, longer days, shorter hemlines, Cinco de Mayo, Mother’s Day, the Kentucky Derby… just to name a few. And what better way to properly ring in spring than with a refreshing seasonal cocktail?
Whether you’re hosting a springtime soirée or just need a reason to raise a glass, here are a few of my favorite fresh and vibrant cocktail recipes to sip this season. Cheers!
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NY Chefs fight hunger with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen
Thursday, April 18, 2013 at 11:04 AM - Posted by Megan - (1) comment
Some of New York City’s top chefs have taken on the 100 Mile Menu Challenge to fight hunger. Their task? To create a delicious tasting menu using only ingredients sourced within 100 miles of Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen.
On May 16th, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen—the largest emergency food program in New York City—will host From Farm to Tray, a sustainable food benefit to raise much needed funds before the busy summer season. This cocktail reception and celebration will feature the locally-sourced, “100 Mile” dishes from participating chefs Colt Taylor (One If By Land, Two If By Sea), Kevin Lasko (Park Avenue Spring), Kurt Kretschmar (Cocktail Caterers), Preston Madson & Ginger Pierce (Freemans, Peels & Isa) and Yvan Lemoine (Season 8 Food Network Star Finalist), with a VIP cocktail hour hosted by executive chef Norma Jean Darden of Spoonbread.
Like the hungry NYers who eat at the soup kitchen every day, From Farm to Tray guests will dine in the beautiful landmark Holy Apostles Church, a sanctuary that New York Times journalist Anna Quindlen dubbed “the most majestic dining room in New York City.”
Join me on May 16th at 7pm for this uniquely delicious fundraiser to benefit fellow New Yorkers in need. Tickets are available here. Hope to see you there!
Time Out New York’s 2013 Food & Drink Awards
Tuesday, April 2, 2013 at 11:04 AM - Posted by Megan - (0) commentsIt was another thrilling year for the New York City dining scene, and last night, Time Out New York held their annual industry awards honoring the best new restaurants, bars and chefs. “It’s been an incredibly exciting year for food and drink,” shares Mari Uyehara, TONY’s Food & Drink editor. “Sensational new restaurants opened on Madison Avenue and in the West Village, but also in Bushwick, Flushing and Red Hook. It also brought national superstars, celebrated cookbook authors and daring upstarts to town. Our roster of winners reflects the astonishing range of drinking and dining experiences in New York City right now.”
Taking over the spacious Stephen Weiss Studio, the 2013 Food & Drink Awards paid tribute to the city’s culinary finest in a grand celebration attended by top toques, restauranteurs, mixologists and industry insiders. Before the winners were announced, guests sampled bites from nominated spots, including L’Apicio, Pork Slope, Dear Bushwick and Gran Electrica, and sipped prosecco, Stella Artois and Frederick Wildman cocktails—all while eagerly anticipating the results.
TONY’s food-obsessed readers voted for their faves out of 40 nominees to determine ten winners in the Readers’ Choice categories—top honors included Best New Restaurant (The NoMad), Chef of the Year (Daniel Humm), Best New Italian Spot (Perla), Best New Cocktail Bar (Pouring Ribbons) and Best New Bakery (Ovenly). Additionally, ten Critics’ Picks were presented, in aptly named categories ranging from Best Big-Pimp’ Brooklyn (Blanca) and The New Nordic Wonder (Aska), to The Same Same But Different Award (Pok Pok NY) and The High Rolling Stoner Sushi Award (Chez Sardine). You can check out the full list of this year’s winners here.
Many congrats to all the winners and nominees!
Related: My Time Out New York Food & Drink Awards coverage from 2012 & 2011
The Clean Plates Cookbook Giveaway!
Monday, March 25, 2013 at 02:03 PM - Posted by Megan - (4) commentsWe can all use a little spring cleaning in the kitchen. And no, I’m not talking about organizing your pantry, but incorporating clean eating as part of a healthy lifestyle.
Nutritional Consultant and Clean Plates founder, Jared Koch, makes it easy with his newly released, The Clean Plates Cookbook, which continues his mission to educate people on how it can drastically pay off to eat cleanly. “Clean eating, as I define it, means eating high-quality real food as often as possible, based on what is right for your body and what stimulates your taste buds.” Jared shares. “In other words: healthy, sustainable, and delicious.”
This cookbook is particularly near and dear to my heart because I was honored to contribute to it and work with celebrated participating chefs including Jamie Oliver, Marc Forgione, Michael Anthony, Bill Telepan, Daniel Holzman and Michael Chernow, Sarma Melngailis, Ed Cotton, Jeremy Bearman, Ann Gentry, and more. It’s a truly incredible resource packed with tons of inspiring information and simple, healthy, delicious recipes—from meat- and seafood-based dishes to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. There’s really something for every body and every palate. Here’s a taste of some the recipes you’ll discover.
Hungry to dive in and get cooking? Find out where to grab yourself a copy here or enter my giveaway below for the chance to win a special signed cookbook!
{ ENTER TO WIN }
What does clean eating mean to you? Just comment with your answer below, on Facebook, or tweet me @ThisGirlCanEat. I’ll be picking a winner next week to receive a copy of The Clean Plates Cookbook personally signed by Jared Koch. Wishing you the best of luck & cheers to a clean, mean 2013!
Images courtesy of Clean Plates
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