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

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

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.

• 12 ounces Lillet Rose
• 12 ounces Ruby Red grapefruit juice
• 6 ounces gin
• 6 edible flower blossoms (optional; chefs-garden.com)

Combine 6 ounces Lillet, 6 ounces grapefruit juice, 3 ounces gin, and ice in a cocktail shaker. Shake until well chilled. Strain and divide cocktail among 3 stemmed cocktail glasses, such as Champagne coupes. Repeat.
Garnish with flowers. Serve immediately. Serves 6.

 
Mango Mojito
Recipe from Cooking Light

• 2 lime wedges
• 5 fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup club soda
• 3 tablespoons rum
• 2 tablespoons simple syrup
• 1 tablespoon mango nectar
• Crushed ice

Squeeze the lime wedges into a small glass; add wedges and mint to glass. Crush with the back of a spoon for 30 seconds. Add soda, rum, Simple Syrup, and nectar; stir gently. Serve over ice.

 
Strawberry Basil Smash
Recipe from Cookie & Kate

• 1 1/2 ounces vodka
• 5 strawberries, leafy ends removed
• 5 fresh basil leaves
• 1 lemon (plus more for garnish)
• Drizzle honey
• Club soda

In a mixing glass, thoroughly muddle strawberries with the basil. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon and a drizzle of honey. Swirl with vodka.

Fill a Collins glass with ice and pour your mixture into the glass. Top it off with club soda.

Mix by pouring the drink back into your mixing glass, then back into your drinking glass. Garnish with lemon round and a strawberry.

 
Raspberry-Lemon Prosecco Cocktail
Recipe from Cooking Light

• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
• 2 (750-milliliter) bottles prosecco, chilled
• 36 fresh raspberries (about 1 cup)

Combine sugar and juice in a small saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 1 minute, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Stir in rind. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Strain mixture through a fine sieve into a bowl; discard solids.

Combine lemon syrup and prosecco in a pitcher. Pour about 1/2 cup prosecco mixture into each of 12 Champagne flutes; garnish each serving with 3 raspberries. Serve immediately. Serves 12.

 
Mint Julep: A Derby Day Tradition
Recipe from Redbook

• 6 leaves fresh mint
• Crushed ice
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons simple syrup or corn syrup
• 1 sprig fresh mint

Place mint leaves in a mint julep cup. Using an iced tea spoon, mash the mint.

Add ice to almost fill glass. Add bourbon and syrup. Stir to combine and pour into decorative glass, if desired. Garnish with mint sprig and serve.
  
Captain Morgan Citrus Squeeze Punch
Recipe from Captain Morgan

• 2 (750 mL) bottles Captain Morgan® Original Spiced Rum
• 15 ounces orange curaçao
• 1 (59 ounce) carton orange juice
• 15 ounces fresh lemon juice
• 7 ounces almond syrup

Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl. Stir well and ladle punch into glass. Garnish with an orange slice, a lemon slice, a lime slice, citrus peels and/or a mint leaf. Serves 30.
 

Captain Morgan Black Tortuga Nights
Recipe from Captain Morgan

• 1 (750 mL) bottle Captain Morgan® Black Spiced Rum
• 1 (750 mL) bottle White Zinfandel
• 24 ounces pineapple juice
• 1 (2 L) bottle lemon-lime soda
• 4 limes, sliced
• 30 cherries

Chill all ingredients. In a large punch bowl, combine Captain Morgan® Black Spiced Rum, wine, pineapple juice and soda. Add a large block of ice. In each wine glass, add two cherries and a slice of lime, crushing the fruit with a spoon to extract juices. Ladle punch into the prepared glasses for serving. Serves 30.
 
Images courtesy of Martha Stewart Living, Cooking Light, MyRecipes, Redbook and Captain Morgan

On May 16^th, 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 16^th at 7pm for this uniquely delicious fundraiser to benefit fellow New Yorkers in need. Tickets are available here. Hope to see you there!

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 

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

As if all this wasn’t enough, VIP guests were invited inside a full hour before general admission for a live culinary demo from City Grit’s Sarah McSimmons and offerings from a dozen local restos including Pig and Khao, Qi Thai Grill and Exchange Alley. VIPs also indulged in the exclusive “Choice Sweets” dessert lounge featuring confections from Butter Lane, Grandaisy Bakery, Ovenly, and more.

A few of the night’s many standouts included Anella’s velvety handmade burrata with tomato jam and basil salt, fresh seasoned shrimp rolls from both Luke’s Lobster and Red Hook Lobster Pound, tangy buffalo chicken balls from The Meatball Shop, Porchetta’s savory crackling-topped pork crostini, John Brown Smokehouse’s succulent pastrami sliders with sweet ‘n’ tangy slaw, moist red velvet squares from Carlo’s Bakery, and perfectly indulgent fudge brownies from Robicelli’s. A selection of suds from Blue Point Brewing Company, Lagunitas and Stella Artois, along with creative cocktails mixed with Sidney Frank spirits and Prairie Organic Vodka, helped wash it all down.

Whether you prefer savory, sweet, spicy, ethnic, Americana, inventive, classic, vegetarian or carnivorous, Choice Eats aims to please any palate. And with a surprisingly reasonable ticket price point, the bang-for-your-buck appeal is just another reason to attend the eating extravaganza next year.

Fan of Village Voice events? Don’t miss out on the 2nd annual Choice Streets on May 7th to taste the best fare on four wheels from NYC’s most beloved food trucks. Get your tickets here!

A panel of esteemed chefs and judges, along with the crowd, voted for their favorite of the day. Besides scoring the ultimate bragging rights, the winning chef was crowned Princess of Porc and will advance to compete at Grand Cochon during the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. Cochon 555 founder Brady Lowe invited me to shoot a video at the action-packed event. Check out the clip below to see which fierce female was crowned 2013 NYC Princess of Porc!

Congratulations to Brady and everyone who participated!

Last Friday during the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, I had the pleasure of sitting down one-on-one with Giada at Miami’s Casa Tua restaurant, before her ‘Italian in Paradise’ dinner event. She candidly shared details of her incredibly busy life and dished about cooking at home with her family, embarrassing moments, common misconceptions and more.

I’ve seen you at at all these food festivals, in NY, LA, everywhere — what makes SOBEWFF so special?

It’s the first food festival I ever did. Lee Schrager, years ago, took a chance on me and brought me to the festival. He said “let’s try you out, do one demo, we’ll see what the crowd says and we’ll figure it out. I have a good feeling about this.” Oh, I was so nervous. And Alton Brown, who I am good friends with now, at the time had some sort of conflict and wasn’t able to attend. So, Lee had me cover for him and all of a sudden I went from having one demo to three demos. I was terrified! But I just remember having the best time ever even though nothing went right—I couldn’t even get my water to boil because of the crosswind on the beach, so I kinda just did a Q&A. Even though it was the scariest, it actually ended up being the best. I feel like it all started here, and I have a really close connection to South Beach because of it.

 
What do you cook at home, when the cameras are off?

I make a lot of things that my daughter and husband like to eat because they are my favorite people to cook for. My daughter is a big pasta fan, so lately we’ve been making stuffed pastas, a lot of homemade raviolis, and pizzas too. She’s into anything in a ball shape—meatballs, burgers… she’s been grilling a lot with my husband. And lately, mac ‘n’ cheese cupcakes. She is in love with cupcakes, so instead of sweet cupcakes, we’ve been doing savory ones. My daughter, Jade, eats depending on her mood. She knows what she wants and when she wants it.

 
Other than Italian food, what types of cuisines do you like to cook and eat?

I’ve been cooking a lot more Greek food, and have been playing with Indian food too. And Thai food! My husband, Todd, is a huge Thai fan. And I just went to Thailand in December to shoot my show, so I’ve sort of come up with all these new Thai recipes. I brought a bunch of spices back with me, things that I don’t usually cook with, so I’ve just been experimenting and trying out dishes. It’s been a lot of fun to explore these new flavors.

 
What’s the worst thing that’s happened to you on TV?

The first time I ever did live television was on The Today Show, maybe 10 years ago when my first cookbook came out, and I made a grilled chicken breast with spinach and basil pesto. I was on the air with Al and Matt and there was also a food stylist on set. So I’m having a conversation with Al, but out of the corner of my eye, I see Matt cut into a chicken breast and I thought to myself, “that chicken doesn’t look cooked.” It had grill marks on it, but the food stylist never finished cooking it! Matt put the chicken in his mouth and realized it was raw. He ran off set to spit it out in the trash, of course the cameras followed him, and he came back and said “Giada tried to poison me! She will never, ever work on TV again.” I almost died! I couldn’t tell if he was being serious or not, since I wasn’t used to him or his humor. I was horrified.

But that appearance got me a correspondent role on the show and I’ve been there ever since. Sometimes when you think of a disaster, it actually ends up being the best thing in the world. You just never know in life.

 
If you could cook a dream meal for one person, who would it be and what would you make?

Marilyn Monroe. I find her fascinating. It’s amazing to me that someone who died so many years ago could still be such an icon. And I kinda just wanna know what her secret was, what was going on in her head. I’d probably make her a nice creamy vodka sauce since I know she liked her vodka, serve it with a good bottle of wine and probably some chocolatey, luscious strawberry dessert. Sexy, romantic, sumptuous and sensual, like Marilyn.

 
If you weren’t a celebrity chef, what career would you want?

I probably would work in politics somehow. Or maybe be a CIA agent or something, I’m fascinated by people that can live in such secrecy.

 
But since you are such a public figure, what’s something most people don’t know about you?

I think people think that I am just so perfect all the time. Ya know, I’m more spontaneous than people think I am. And something I’ve been working on for years is to not use my potty mouth so much. I tend to speak a certain kind of language that I probably should not. And people that know me well say to me, “how can those words come out of that face!? How is it possible?” Hey, I’m working on it.

 
If you had to be stuck in a kitchen with one of your Food Network Star co-mentors, Bobby or Alton, who would you choose and why?

First reaction — Bobby. But, truly, I’d pick each one of them for different reasons. Bobby would have my back and and he’s a great chef. Alton, on the other hand, would make me laugh. He has such a witty personality, so he’d probably be more entertaining in the kitchen, but I don’t think he has the skill set that Bobby has. Alton thinks he has the skill that Bobby has, but he doesn’t. So they both would bring very different things to the kitchen.

 
What would you want for your last meal?

My last meal would be a seven layer chocolate fudge cake. I am such a chocoholic and if I could just eat cakes and sugar and chocolate for the rest of my life, I would. It’s my first choice, always and forever.

 
Grazie, Giada! It was an absolute pleasure chatting with you.

Follow @GDeLaurentiis on Twitter to keep up with all things Giada, including exciting new projects and shows, two children’s storybooks she’s putting out in September and a new cookbook in December.

 
Image courtesy of Food Network

One of the country’s most action-packed, indulgent and fun-filled festivals, SOBEWFF features non-stop epicurean events including Moët Hennessy’s The Q with Paula Deen, Amstel Light Burger Bash presented by Pat LaFrieda Meats hosted by Rachael Ray, Thrillist’s BBQ & The Blues blowout with Geoffrey Zakarian, Andrew Zimmern’s food truck fête, a swine & wine soiree hosted by Michelle Bernstein, Guy Fieri & Ziggy Marley’s crazy reggae jam closing party, seminars, tastings and more. I’m getting my appetite ready…
Don’t miss out! There are still tickets available for select events at sobefest.com.  

For the second year in a row, I was asked to be an official media sponsor, which is an incredible honor and pretty darn exciting. So if you’re eating and drinking your way through the festival, be sure to look for my logo on signage around the area. Stay connected with me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to savor delicious details from all the festivities. And if anyone else is partaking in the #SOBEWFF madness this weekend, let me know!

Fun And Fit As A Family Ticket Giveaway

Ready for family-friendly fun in the sun? One of the perks of being a media sponsor is being able to give away several tickets to the highly-anticipated Fun and Fit as a Family Event on Sunday, February 24th.

Presented by Florida Blue and sponsored by Carnival, this family-focused, interactive celebration lets parents and kids learn the basics of healthy eating alongside acclaimed celebrity chefs Sunny Anderson, Aaron Sanchez, Robert Irvine, Anne Burrell, and more. Children can discover delights in the food garden, play sports on the beach, get their hands messy in the interactive Kellogg’s Kidz Kitchen and explore the animals of Jungle Island—all while learning the basics of preparing nutritious meals and having a blast doing it.

Want in on all the action? If you’ll be down at SOBEWFF and want FREE TICKETS to Fun and Fit as a Family, just comment below, email me at megan@thisgirlcaneat.com, tweet me @ThisGirlCanEat, or post a comment to my Facebook page telling me why staying fit is important to your family.

Good luck and I’ll see you at the beach!

Images courtesy of SOBEWFF

Cayman Cookout headlining chefs Eric Ripert, José Andrés and Dean James Max have shared a few of their recipes that capture authentic island flavor, yet can be easily created using ingredients found Stateside. For a true taste of the Cayman Islands at home, try the zesty chicken and mushroom paella that José fired up during his beachfront cooking demo, Eric’s grilled swordfish that he served at the Barefoot BBQ event, or Dean’s refreshing tuna coconut ceviche from the Harvest Dinner at The Brasserie. Bon appétit!


Chicken and Mushroom Paella (serves 6)
Recipe by José Andrés, as served during his Cayman Cookout Demo

Slice tomatoes in half, and grate each on a box grater over a bowl. Discard skins; set pulp aside. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pan over high heat. Lightly season chicken pieces with salt and pepper, and brown on both sides until deep golden. Remove chicken from pan and set aside.

Fry mushrooms until browned in oil and chicken fat. Set aside. Set 18-inch paella pan over two burners at high heat on the stove top, and heat 1/3 cup olive oil. Add tomato pulp and cook until darkened, about 5 minutes. Add paprika and saffron, and cook for about 1 minute. Add chicken pieces and mushrooms; add sherry and cook until evaporated. Add chicken stock; bring to a boil.

In a food processor or mortar, puree parsley, garlic and almonds, with a tablespoon or two of water until smooth and stir into pan. Sprinkle rice across the pan and stir until the grains are submerged, then don’t stir again. Cook on high heat for 10 minutes, rotating the pan on the two burners to distribute heat. Using a small spoon, test rice and stock and add salt as needed. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking for 6 minutes. Test rice again. If it is still hard, continue cooking for 2-4 more minutes.

In the final 2 minutes, sprinkle frozen peas over the top and return heat to medium-high, listening for a crackling sound to ensure the bottom is toasting but not burning. Remove from heat, cover with paper towels and let sit for 5 minutes. Use a metal spoon to scrape toasted rice from bottom of pan and serve.

Image courtesy of Creations Unlimited, Cayman Islands


 Grilled Swordfish with Fennel & Tomato Vierge (serves 6)
Recipe by Eric Ripert, as served at the Cayman Cookout’s Barefoot BBQ

Grilled Swordfish & Fennel

Season the swordfish fillets with salt, pepper, Herbes de Provence, and olive oil. Reserve. Grill to desired temperature.*Swordfish can be replaced by Striped Bass or Halibut

Place the sliced fennel in a small bowl; dress with lemon vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. Top fish with this mixture before serving.

Tomato Vierge

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and let marinate for 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle over fish of choice.

Image courtesy of Creations Unlimited, Cayman Islands


Ahi Tuna Coconut Ceviche (serves 6)
Recipe from Dean James Max, as served at The Brasserie’s Harvest Dinner

Tuna

Trim and cut tuna into smaller workable portions. Slice tuna into thin strips and small dice.

Coconut Sauce

Dice the peppers (keep seeds for extra spicy) and ginger. Add to the pot with the coconut milk, sugar and fish sauce. Bring to a boil and immediately turn down to a low simmer for about 10-15 min. Take off the stove and let sauce completely cool. Strain and refrigerate.

Ceviche Mix

Chop the cilantro; thinly slice the bell pepper and Serrano peppers. Slice the green onions and combine all the ingredients together.

To Serve: In a bowl, add the diced tuna, the ceviche mix and coconut sauce. Mix well and season with salt, pepper and squeeze of fresh lime juice. Serve in coconut shells over ice!

Image courtesy of The Brasserie


Local Pumpkin Soup with Land Crab, Honey & Barrington Espresso Cream (serves 6)
Recipe by Dean James Max

Soup

Sauté onions and leeks with butter in a small stockpot until soft. Add the chopped garlic and lightly sauté. Scoop out the pumpkin flesh from the squash and add it in the mixture with the honey and cook for 2 more minutes. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the cream and bring the soup back to a boil. Season with clove, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Blend the soup in your bar blender, strain, and reserve. The soup can be held in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Cayman Land Crab

Brown butter in sauté pan, once golden remove most of the oil and leave browned butter solids. Heat pan on medium heat and sauté seasoning pepper and chives for 3 minutes. Turn heat up to high and add land crab quickly sauté crab for 2 minutes. And season with salt and pepper.

To Serve

Place the warm land crab equally in 6 serving bowls. Spoon a tablespoon of cream next to the crab. Pour the hot soup in the bowl and garnish with the chives.

Image courtesy of The Brasserie

Image courtesy of The Daily Meal

According to Bourdain, most people murder their steaks on a daily basis. His impassioned plea was that the crowd, at the very least, would walk away knowing how to properly treat their meat.
 
 
And while most of us Northerners won’t be firing up the grill anytime soon, those in warmer climates (or brave souls willing to bear single digits!) should get the barbecue basics down before their next steak craving hits.

Steak grilling tips à la Eric & Tony:
 
Bring to temperature. “Take your steak out of the fridge for at least 15-20 minutes before cooking it. This way, you will be able to sear the steak nicely, get a nice crust, and have the insides cook to your liking. If you don’t do that, you can burn the outside and the inside can still be raw. Bringing the meat to temperature is very important.”

Get your grill hot. “You want to be sure your grill is nice and hot before throwing your meat on there, but you don’t want the flames to be roaring and destroy your steak. Don’t go crazy. It’s more about how it tastes on the inside, and not about how it looks on the outside.”

Don’t mess with it. “After you throw it on a reasonable fire, leave it alone. Don’t poke it, don’t stab it, don’t start peeking into it by jabbing holes in it! If you must move it, move it once—45 degrees, thereby giving those perfect checkerboard grill marks that make steaks look so sexy. Beyond that, you don’t want to flip it over, and flip it back over…no good will come of it.”

Let it rest. “The single most important thing that everybody gets wrong, generation after generation…they take a perfectly good rare or medium-rare steak off the grill, and cut right into it prematurely. They figure that steak served hot is better. It isn’t! A steak should rest for about 5-7 minutes after you take it off the grill. It won’t become cold, but the muscle will start to relax and become tender. And all the blood and juices start moving around and settling in really interesting ways. That’s the way to go.”
 

What do you think of Eric & Tony’s techniques? Any other steak tricks you’ve learned?

Check out my gallery here for more images of Eric, Tony and the Cayman Cookout crew.

“Fully delicious is what interests us…Millions of Americans are now excited about food that is local, global, authentic, fresh, slow, organic, heirloom, heritage, artisanal: real food.” -Scott Mowbray, Cooking Light Editor in Chief

Hungry to dive in and get cooking? Find out where to grab yourself a copy here (available for tablet, too) or enter my giveaway below for the chance to win a special signed copy!

{ ENTER TO WIN }

Whatever you resolve—whether it’s cooking more at home, eating smarter, or sampling new adventurous cuisines Bourdain-style—I’d love to hear the food resolutions you’re tackling this year.

Just comment with your resolutions below, on Facebook, or tweet me @ThisGirlCanEat. I’ll be picking a winner next week to receive a copy of The New Way To Cook Light personally signed by Cooking Light’s Editor in Chief, Scott Mowbray.

Wishing you the very best of luck with all your resolutions & cheers to a happy, healthy 2013!

Images courtesy of Cooking Light

As if his plate wasn’t already full, Spike has recently teamed up with Captain Morgan to create unique recipes featuring the spiced rum and their newest signature liquor, Black Spiced Rum—a bold flavored Caribbean rum blended with natural spices. So how’d this new partnership come about? “I’ve always been a fan of Captain Morgan, so for me it was an exciting opportunity to partner with them. As a chef, it was kind of an adventure to create these new food and cocktail recipes for the brand. It’s been really interesting and a very fun campaign.” Spike shared with me.

And how he got creatively inspired? “Literally, I pictured myself in a pirate’s outfit on a pirate ship, sailing around the Caribbean and being inspired to create some really delicious food and drinks that incorporate Captain Morgan.” he mentioned. Aye aye, Captain Spike.

Spike was kind enough to share a few of his exclusive recipes, which are sure to spice up all your holiday celebrations. Enjoy!
 

 
Captain Morgan Spiced Sweet Potato Marshmallow Casserole

 
Bake sweet potatoes on 375°F for 25-30 minutes, until tender. Remove pulp with a large spoon and place in a large bowl. Stir together the sweet potatoes, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg allspice orange juice and Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum. Salt and pepper to taste.  Next, butter a casserole pan and layer sweet potato mixture then marshmallows. Do as many layers as you can, finishing off with the remaining marshmallows. Lastly, sprinkle brown sugar on top. Bake at 350°F for 20 – 30 minutes, or until topping is golden brown.

 
Black Apple Harvest

 
In a shaker, add ice and shake it like your momma taught you. Fill a rocks glass with ice, take a lemon rind and rim the glass. Next, take a thin slice of ginger and rim the glass and then put both garnishes in the glass. Pour cocktail through holes of the shaker. Cocktail should still have some apple sauce texture, but shouldn’t be thick. Lastly, drizzle with honey.

Note: If you don’t have apricot liquor on-hand or don’t want to make a run to the store, feel free to try without it.

 
Port Royal Punch (serves 25)

 
In a punch bowl or large serving vessel, add the above ingredients and stir. Serve over ice in a punch glass – or glass of your choosing.
 

Additional recipes can be found on Captain Morgan’s Facebook page.

Images courtesy of Taylor Strategy and Kraut Rocks

The prix fixe and à la carte menu debuts fresh starters, like a salad of sliced roasted beets, pickled onions, marinated cucumbers and velvety smoked ricotta. Precise fire-grilled preparations let the flavors and beautiful qualities of the ingredients shine in each dish. An entrée of grilled duck presented succulent smoky medallions, rimmed with a thin layer of fat beneath the skin, plated over tender Swiss chard. Perfectly seared scallops laid atop a bed of grilled fennel and spring greens, drizzled with vibrant saffron-dill aioli. A subtle smokiness permeated every element on the plate; it was lovely.

Grilled vegetables, like wild ramps and hen of the wood mushrooms, along with fruit-based desserts, artisanal cheeses and house-made ice creams complete the menu. Creamy ricotta and local honey ice creams were already melting when placed on our table; nonetheless, they provided a tangy, refreshing finish to an overall wonderful meal.

My review as published in the Clean Plates Manhattan 2013 Restaurant Guide Book (purchase it here) and on CleanPlates.com. Photo courtesy of Mas (la grillade).

For a delicious twist on a cream-filled classic, milk’s favorite cookie gets spiffed up and smothered in chocolate. Cocoa-covered cookies are surprisingly simple to make and are as easy on the eyes as they are the palate. Get creative with a mixture of toppings—like festive sprinkles, peppermint snow and chopped nuts—or unleash your inner Jackson Pollock by splattering each indulgent Oreo with drips of multi-colored chocolate. These impressive-looking confections are melt-in-your-mouth decadent and make a great homemade gift idea.

Chocolate Smothered Oreos

*one 1-1/2 lb bag of melting chocolate is enough to cover one bag of Oreo cookies

First, lay parchment paper flat onto a baking sheet. Melt chocolate in a double broiler until smooth, stirring frequently. If you don’t have a double broiler, a microwave-safe bowl will do (heat chocolate in short 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted). Tips on melting chocolate can be found here.

Dip each Oreo cookie into the warmed chocolate until completely coated, then with a chocolate dipper or fork, place onto parchment paper. Sprinkle on peppermint snow, sprinkles or chopped nuts. Repeat until all cookies are covered with chocolate and topped, then place tray into fridge to cool completely, at least 20 minutes.

If you want to create multi-colored chocolate stripes across the tops of the cookies: Remove from the fridge and place the cooled chocolate cookies next to each other, creating lines that run from the top to the bottom of the tray, leaving an inch in between each line. Melt different types of chocolate (milk, dark, white) in the same fashion as mentioned above.

Dip a fork into the chocolate and fling back and forth from side to side, creating a striped pattern. Repeat multiple times until the stripes look as you wish.

Cool completely in fridge. Before serving, cut off excess stripes that go over the edge of each cookies with a knife, so you have a rounded edge.

These delightful little Oreos are sure to be a hit at any holiday party and will stay fresh for about 2 weeks if stored in an air-tight container and kept in a cool place. Pour yourself a tall glass of cold milk and enjoy!

While the atmosphere charms, the simple, straightforward cuisine is most likely to entice a repeat visit. Served with crusty, chewy Italian bread, the house-made ricotta is a must have starter. A pillow of soft curds garnished with sugar snap peas, toasted pine nuts, mint, granola and a swirl of honey offered an inviting sweet-savory sensation. Another knockout appetizer of Manila clams arrived resting in zesty roasted pepper and garlic broth, thick cubes of pancetta sprinkled throughout.

Vegetable contorni, charcuterie and fresh pastas, seafood and meats complete the menu. Try the delicate twirls of “busiate” pasta coated with almonds, anchovies, sun-ripened duana tomatoes and capers. For a heartier entrée, the signature spit-roasted short ribs presented large chunks of tender, peppery meat edged by darkened, chewy bark. They were both exceptional mains.

Offering breakfast, lunch and dinner, Il Buco Alimentari & Vineria is a solid choice for a romantic date night or breaking bread with a group. Make a reservation to guarantee a prompt seating—then prepare to mangia.

My review as published in the Clean Plates Manhattan 2013 Restaurant Guide Book (purchase it here) and on CleanPlates.com. Photo courtesy of LocalEats.com.

Besides having a jolly good time, you can feel great knowing that event proceeds will be donated to the Food Bank of NYC to help feed hungry New Yorkers. Last year alone, they raised approximately $14,000!

Want in on the fun? Get into the holiday spirit and register today at 12barsnyc.com. Donations of $25 in advance or $30 at the door are kindly required from each participant. Happy crawling, my friends!

Throughout the taping, the entire cast and production crew made the experience a complete blast, while co-hosts Mario Batali, Carla Hall, Michael Symon, Daphne Oz and Clinton Kelly also provided incredible holiday mealtime inspiration and helpful entertaining tips. All the wonderful Thanksgiving recipes and ideas that The Chew crew shared can be found at ABC.com/TheChew.
   
One of the show’s recipe standouts was Carla’s cranberry pear relish, which she generously scooped over her brined carved turkey. It was perfectly tart, sweet and zesty all in one—and complimented the poultry beautifully. The below is Carla’s recipe to a tee, with my additions of nutmeg and cloves (two of my favorite fall flavors), some mandarin oranges for extra sweetness, and grated lemon peel garnish. Enjoy!

Cranberry Pear Orange Chutney (adapted from Carla Hall’s recipe)

 
Place onions, sugar, red wine, ginger, lemon zest, cloves, nutmeg and salt in a medium size pot. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer for 15 minutes. Add the cranberries and pears to the pot, and continue to simmer for an additional 20 minutes or until the cranberries and onions have softened, and the color is a rich scarlet.

Remove lemon zest strips. Mix in mandarin oranges; allow relish to cool. Serve at room temperature. May be made two days in advance. Adjust seasoning, if necessary. Garnish with grated lemon peel.

TIP: Prick each cranberry with a pin or needle before cooking them. This will keep the cranberries from bursting and getting mushy as they cook.

 
Hungry for more from The Chew? Tune in weekdays on ABC at 1PM EST for flavorful recipes, easy-to-make crafts, and tons of fun with the show’s multi-talented celebrity hosts.

A heartfelt thank you to ABC and Cooking Light for sending me to the show. And I wish you all a safe, healthy & happy Thanksgiving! xoxo

Alobar’s owner Jeff Blath and chef Ian Kapitan

To celebrate its first anniversary on November 15th, Alobar is hosting a week of especially delicious events:

Whiskey Tuesday with Four Roses Bourbon | Tuesday, November 13th: To kickoff the celebrations, Beverage Director Chess Lankford presents a complimentary tasting of Four Roses Bourbon, along with a brand rep to share insights on each variety of the Kentucky spirit.

Alobar Charcuterie Night | Wednesday, November 14th: Paying homage to its favorite meat curing styles, Alobar is offering one large platter of eleven of the tastiest house-made delicacies ($50; serves 2-3), with varieties including: Pig Ear Terrine, Duck Breast Prosciutto & Foie Gras-Apple Terrine.

Anniversary Beer Dinner | Thursday, November 15th: Commemorate Alobar’s one-year with an indulgent 5-course menu (including Smoked Trout, Grilled Quail & Rosemary Sausage, Roasted Rack of Lamb & Braised Shoulder, and more) paired with beers from San Diego’s Stone Brewing Company ($50 for dinner & pairings, view the full menu here).

Weekend Pig Roasts | Friday & Saturday, November 16th-17th: Kick up your heels and get ready to pig out at Alobar’s weekend-long pig-filled feast served family-style ($30 per person for mains & sides).

Reserve your spot today! AlobarNYC.com | 718.752.6000 | 46-42 Vernon Boulevard, LIC NY
 
 And to savor the flavor of Alobar at home, mix up their addictive Maple Bacon Popcorn recipe:

 Maple Bacon Popcorn | Recipe from Alobar (serves 6)

 
Preheat an oven to 350°. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add bacon strips and cook until crisp, turning occasionally. Remove bacon to a paper towel-lined plate; reserve 2 tablespoons bacon drippings.

Crumble bacon. Toss bacon, drippings, maple syrup, black pepper, and salt with popcorn. Spread popcorn mixture in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes, rotating trays halfway through, stirring occasionally. Serve hot. Enjoy!

Images courtesy of Alobar Restaurant

Former Bravo cheftestants Angelo Sosa, Dale Talde, Kevin Sbraga and Jennifer Carroll are joining forces this Monday night at Sosa’s Hell’s Kitchen hotspot Añejo Tequileria y Restaurante to raise needed money for the victims of Hurricane Sandy. “The devastation from this storm is heart-wrenching and we are passionate about helping those affected in the Tri-State area and beyond,” explained Sosa. “We are trying to do our part by helping with relief efforts the best way we know how, through food and community support.”
  
Each chef will put their culinary skills to the test by creating a unique dish in true Top Chef-style as part of a four-course tasting menu with cocktail accompaniment. Additional specialty libations created by Añejo’s Beverage Director Joshua Wortman will also be available to raise funds for relief efforts. Spirits will be generously donated by Herradura Tequila and local producer, Jack from Brooklyn.

Seatings are at 6pm and 8pm, tickets are $100 and all proceeds will benefit the Red Cross. Reservations can be made at anejonyc.com, by calling 212.920.4770 or emailing rsvp@anejonyc.com. I hope you’ll join me in supporting this fantastic cause!

Añejo Tequileria y Restaurante is located at 668 10th Avenue (at 47th Street) in NYC

Keep up with the latest on Twitter: @AnejoNYC  @AngeloASosa  @DaleTalde  @KSbraga  @ChefJenCarroll  @jrwortman

Additional Añejo coverage: Celebrate Cinco De Mayo with Añejo Tequileria

Adapted from Cooking Light

 
Preheat oven to 475°.

Place squash on a nonstick jelly-roll pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 475° for 20 minutes or until tender, turning after 10 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 325°. Combine broth, water, wine, and rosemary/tarragon in a saucepan; bring to a simmer. Keep warm over low heat.

Cook pancetta in a large ovenproof Dutch oven over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove pancetta from pan; drain on a paper towel. Discard pan drippings. Add onion and oil to pan; sauté 10 minutes or until onion is tender. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add rice to pan; sauté 1 minute. Stir in broth mixture; bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat, and simmer over low heat, uncovered, for 10 minutes. (Do not stir; rice will have a liquid consistency similar to stew.)

Place pan in oven; bake at 325° for 15 minutes. Remove from oven. Stir in the squash, pancetta, cheese, salt, and pepper. Cover with a clean cloth; let stand 10 minutes (rice will continue to cook). Sprinkle with pine nuts. Garnish with rosemary/tarragon sprigs, if desired. Serves 4.
 
Love butternut squash? You’ll fall for the flavors in this Butternut Squash & Pumpkin Soup recipe.

The large-scale tasting showcased dozens of the city’s best chefs, who rolled out their version of the perfect bite. Hundreds of meatball maniacs packed into SoHo’s 82 Mercer to sample 36 different types of saucy spheres—in styles ranging from traditional Italian polpette with tomato gravy to pretzel-stuffed Austrian balls and Spanish oxtail albondigas.

Judges Alex Guarnaschelli, Geoffrey Zakarian and Anne Burrell, along with Pat LaFrieda and Mark Pastore of sponsor La Frieda Meats, crowned Gabe Thompson of the soon-to-open L’Apicio the night’s big winner for his Amatriciana version. The carnivorous crowd also casted their votes and Donatella Arpaia snagged the coveted People’s Choice Award for her mother’s classic recipe of melt-in-your-mouth tomato braised veal meatballs.

Aperol Spritz cocktails, a selection of vino and sparkling San Pellegrino refreshed partygoers, while a display of cake pops from pastry hotshot Johnny Iuzzini provided some sweet relief. Meatball Madness started off the NYCWFF in delicious fashion and everyone seemed to have a ball—while devouring dozens!

In the past three years, she has raised thousands of dollars for breast cancer foundations by selflessly dedicating all of her tips—the bulk of her salary for the month. And at the end of October, Michelle will shave her head as an act of solidarity to everyone with the disease.

Be sure to stop by Neely’s Barbecue Parlor and say hi to Michelle. Drink up, tip till your heart’s content, and help in the fight!

Image courtesy of Neely’s Barbecue Parlor

Some of the highlights and best bites from Meatopia 2012:

The talented lineup of chefs and pit masters showcased at this year’s “City of Meat” (including Marc Forgione, Alex Guarnaschelli, Franklin Becker, April Bloomfield, Naomi Pomeroy and many others) focused on utilizing whole animals, and dished up a dizzying array of meats prepared in every way, shape and form. A few of the most mouthwatering dishes included Pat LaFrieda‘s whole marinated Creekstone steer, Justin Smillie‘s succulent spit-roasted short ribs, Portuguese paella with soft egg and jalapeños from Anthony Goncalves, tender grilled rib steak with bone marrow butter and pickled grilled onions from Marc Forgione, and the undeniable crowd favorite, Aaron Franklin’s BBQ beef brisket—which blew away any preconceived notions of what brisket should taste like.

While the event was in full swing, dark grey clouds rolled in and the sky opened up on the carnivorous crowd. Luckily, the Amstel Light and Diageo tents provided shelter from the rain, along with music, entertainment and unlimited tasty beverages. While weathering the storm in the George Dickel Tennessee Whisky tent, I had a blast watching Discovery Channel’s Jimmy DiResta handcraft an entire wooden bar from scratch and downed delicious whisky cocktails like the “Possum Eatin’ Peach Pits”—my favorite drink of the night, and the perfect complement to the savory all-meat menu.

Congrats to another successful Meatopia! Looking forward to even more meaty madness in 2013. And to tempt your taste buds in the meantime, dive into the peachy punch cocktail recipe below:
 

 
Possum Eatin’ Peach Pits Recipe

1 ounce George Dickel Tennessee Whisky
1/4 ounce Stirrings Peach Liqueur
1/2 ounce Olorosso Sherry
1 teaspoon Amaro CioCiaro
1/2 ounce black tea
1/2 ounce fresh lemon juice
1/4 ounce simple syrup
Slices peaches and strawberries for garnish

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker; Shake well. Pour contents into a rocks glass. Garnish with sliced peaches and strawberries. Cheers!

So what to make when you’re brown-bagging it? It’s easy to get stuck in the same boring weekday routine, but my friends at Food Network aim to change that. They’ve invited me to be part of today’s Communal Table lunch party, where members of the online food community share recipes for midday mealtime inspiration.
 
 
My lunch table contribution is a simple, satisfying sandwich recipe that tastes sophisticated, yet is easy to put together on busy mornings (or the night before). This chicken salad’s high protein content will help combat mid-afternoon slumps, while hearty cashews, curry powder and sweet-tart grapes deliver a dynamic flavor and texture punch.

Since this recipe was adapted from Cooking Light, it’s a wholesome option for school lunch boxes too! Kids are sure to love the combination of crunchy nuts and juicy grapes—plus, the curry is subtle enough that it won’t overwhelm picky little palates.

Dig into the recipe at the bottom of this post, and check out the below links for more fantastic lunch ideas from around the web. Want to join the party? Get in the conversation and share your favorite recipes on Twitter by using hashtag #pullupachair (@FoodNetwork @ThisGirlCanEat).
 

Tidy Mom: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl Peanut Butter Cookies
Made by Michelle: Almond Butter and Banana Sandwiches
Chez Us: Healthy Tuna Salad
And Love It Too: Healthy Lunchbox 2012: The Ultimate Collection
Napa Farmhouse 1885: Back to School Roasted Chicken Legs
Bacon and Souffle: Gruyere Grilled Cheese With Apple Salad
Zaika Zabardast: Fresh Corn Cakes With Black Bean Salad Tossed in Cumin Vinaigrette
This Girl Can Eat: Cashew Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Jeanette’s Healthy Living: Spicy-Korean “Ramen” Noodle Soup
Haute Apple Pie: Edamame Hummus
Feed Me Phoebe: Deviled Egg Salad Sandwiches
Creative Culinary: Margarita Watermelon
Big Girls Small Kitchen: Swiss Chard Turnovers With Parmesan and Pistachios

Cashew Curry Chicken Salad Sandwiches (serves 2)
adapted from Cooking Light

 
Combine first 3 ingredients in a large bowl, stirring until well blended. Add chicken, celery, cashews, and green onions; stir well. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve chicken salad on rolls and garnish with lettuce and tomato (optional).

Happy lunching!

The 2^nd Annual Travel + Leisure Global Bazaar is an exciting multi-cultural extravaganza taking over NYC’s Lexington Armory from September 28–30. During this fun-filled weekend of events, you’ll feel like you’re being transported from region to region around the world — as you enjoy authentic international cuisine and beverages, cultural performances, live music, artisan shopping and tons of interactive experiences.


TASTE YOUR WAY AROUND THE GLOBE
Savor mezcals from Mexico, spices from Morocco, rums from Barbados, global street food from some of NY’s most popular food trucks and so much more! And at select sessions, you can sample flavors from celebrity chefs including José Andrés, Scott Conant, Michael White, Masaharu Morimoto, Tim Love, Johnny Iuzzini and Jose Garces.

I’m honored that Travel + Leisure asked me to be an official Global Bazaar Ambassador. Join me for an international experience like none other by purchasing your tickets here. And for schedule info, visit TravelandLeisure.com. Hope to see you there!

And be sure to stay connected with me on Facebook and Twitter — I’ll be giving away 4 VIP All Access Tickets within the next few weeks!

On September 8, the massive meat celebration presented by Whole Foods will feature the most ambitious line-up of chefs and entertainment in the event’s history. “For as long as I’ve been putting this event on, this is the coolest one by far,” says founder Josh Ozersky.  “…we have the greatest chef roster that’s ever come together preparing dishes that aren’t available in their restaurants… You go there to eat and drink and learn about the joys of progressive meat-eating.”

Highlights from Meatopia 2011:

All the meaty madness is happening at Randall’s Island Park and tickets (which include a ferry ride to and from the event) are available at Meatopia.org. Get yours today!

And check out my recap from last year’s Meatopia here.