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posts tagged ‘wine’

Tribeca Gets Distilled: New Modern Pub Now Open

Thursday, June 6, 2013 at 11:06 AM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

In 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

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TGCE to Judge the 2013 Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off

Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 10:05 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

Wednesday 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.

winning catfish dish
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

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2013 Cochon 555 NYC: Princess of Porc Competition

Saturday, March 2, 2013 at 01:03 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

The fifth anniversary of Cochon 555 kicked off in NYC with the tour’s first-ever all-female lineup of chefs. The nationwide traveling culinary competition, designed to raise awareness of heritage breed pigs and sustainable practices, challenged Big Apple chefs Alex Guarnaschelli, Missy Robbins, Elizabeth Falkner, Leah Cohen and Shanna Pacifico to create a multi-course menu using an entire 200-lb. porker, from nose-to-tail. Hundreds of swine-loving gourmands gathered in Chelsea’s Pier Sixty to savor the meat-centric spread, while sipping wine from five different producers, a variety of spirits and punches from local mixologists.

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!

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Butternut Squash Risotto with Pancetta & Jack Cheese

Monday, October 29, 2012 at 02:10 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

Early Monday, as New York City and the rest of the East coast was preparing for the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, an unyielding urge to get in the kitchen and whip together something comforting came over me. While I still had gas and heat and power, maybe only for a short duration, cozying up to a big bowl of creamy risotto seemed exactly what I needed to help weather the impending storm.
  
This decadent butternut squash risotto is chock full of fall flavors, with velvety Monterey Jack cheese, toasted pine nuts, and smoky pancetta adding savory richness and depth. Serve yourself a heaping bowlful, pour yourself a glass of a crisp Chardonnay, and settle in to a perfectly satisfying autumn meal.
 
Butternut Squash Risotto with Pancetta & Jack Cheese 

Adapted from Cooking Light

  • 1 1/2 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 3 1/2 cups)
  • Cooking spray
  • 2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 1/3 cups water
  • 2 tablespoons Madeira wine or sweet Marsala
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary or tarragon
  • 4 ounces chopped pancetta
  • 1 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 3/4 cup uncooked Arborio rice or other short-grain rice
  • 2/3 cup (about 2 1/2 ounces) 1/2-inch-cubed Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted
  • Fresh rosemary or tarragon sprigs (optional)
  •  
    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.

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    Food & Wine Announces the 2012 Best New Chefs!

    Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 09:04 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

    From rising food rockstars to acclaimed celebrity chefs, the country’s culinary elite gathered together last night to celebrate the Food & Wine 2012 Best New Chefs. Held at the Liberty Theater in the heart of Times Square, the 24th annual soiree ushered in the latest roster of talented visionaries, as announced by Food & Wine Editor-in-Chief Dana Cowin and Publisher Christina Grdovic.

    During the Broadway-themed affair, Best New Chef alumni Daniel Boulud (1988), Michael Anthony (2002), Shea Gallante (2005), Gavin Kaysen (2007), Matthew Lightner (2010), George Mendes (2011), and Top Chef All-Stars winner Richard Blais prepared tempting signature dishes, as partygoers mingled with the industry’s finest and eagerly anticipated the winners ceremony.

    1. The Liberty Theater set the stage for the 2012 Food & Wine Best New Chefs Party
    2. A few of the industry\'s finest (from left to right): Michael Anthony, George Mendes, Christina Grdovic, Gail Simmons & Gavin Kaysen
    3. The newly named roster of 2012 Best New Chefs celebrated their honor on stage
    4. Past Best New Chefs Gavin Kaysen and Daniel Boulud cooked inspired dishes for the crowd
    5. Ciano chef Shea Gallante\'s creamy burrata wrapped with angel hair and garlicky spring pesto
    6. Food enthusiasts packed into The Liberty Theater\'s main floor and mezzanine for the festivities
    7. Dj Questlove\'s original fried buttermilk drumsticks wrapped in paper-heart origami
    8. Richard Blais offered up bone marrow with braised ox cheek and pickled walnut—a crowd favorite!
    9. Sponsor Godiva served tri-layer panna cotta by F&W\'s Best New Pastry Chef winner Stella Parks

    Every year, the editors at Food & Wine scour the nation to find the most talented chefs with a unique culinary vision. “It is such a delight to honor these incredible chefs, who have made a tremendous impact on the culinary world in a short period of time,” Cowin says.

    Now, introducing the 2012 Food & Wine Best New Chefs:

    Erik Anderson & Josh Habiger, The Catbird Seat, Nashville, TN
    Mario Carbone & Rich Torrisi, Torrisi Italian Specialties, New York, NY
    Danny GrantRIA, Chicago, IL
    Dan Kluger, ABC Kitchen, New York, NY
    Corey Lee, Benu, San Francisco, CA
    Jenn Louis, Lincoln Restaurant, Portland, OR
    Cormac Mahoney, Madison Park Conservatory, Seattle, WA
    Bryant Ng, The Spice Table, Los Angeles, CA
    Karen Nicolas, Equinox, Washington, DC
    Blaine WetzelThe Willows Inn, Lummi Island, WA

    After the big reveal, guests noshed on Creole-seasoned buttermilk fried chicken drumsticks from DJ Questlove—who rocked the turntables and helped take the event to all-out dance party status. In between savory bites and cutting loose on the dance floor with Dana Cowin and The Harlem James Gang, the crowd sipped Belvedere cocktails and Gallo wines, and got sweet on luscious Godiva chocolate truffles.

    Thanks to the entire Food & Wine staff for a truly memorable evening. Wishing many congrats to all the 2012 Best New Chefs!

    Images courtesy of and BizBash, YumSugar & AnthonyGiglio.com
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    SOBEWFF’s Salute to Swine & Wine at The Biltmore

    Thursday, March 1, 2012 at 02:03 PM - Posted by Megan - (2) comments

    On SOBEWFF‘s last day, a smokin’ hot new event made its mark on the weekend lineup. Hosted by Debi Mazar & Gabriele Corcos from the Cooking Channel’s hit show Extra Virgin, the Festival’s first ever Swine & Wine took over The Biltmore Hotel‘s elegant outdoor courtyard. This swine-celebrating evening soiree brought together more than a dozen celebrated chefs who served their tastiest version of whole roasted pig.

    Each pit master spent the day preparing all natural, farm-raised Duroc and Hampshire breed hogs using a variety of techniques. Whether smoked, stuffed, roasted, glazed or rubbed down, succulent pork was spotlighted and paired with a selection of sides, wines and heavy-handed mojitos.

    1. Cooking Channel\'s sassy married duo Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar shared their love of Miami\'s weather, food and culture. \"I\'m a Cuban wannabe at heart,\" Mazar exclaimed.
    2. The beautiful and historic Biltmore Hotel in the heart of Coral Gables, Florida
    3. SOBEWFF\'s first ever Swine & Wine event at the Biltmore\'s spacious outdoor courtyard
    4. Barbuto\'s Jonathan Waxman sliced up swine for his luscious blood orange & avocado pork tacos
    5. Chef Marc Murphy and his team served up succulent Southern-style stuffed porchetta
    6. Marc Murphy\'s tasty porchetta was bursting with flavorful cornbread & andouille stuffing
    7. Seamus Mullen kept it simple and let the swine shine—resulting of one the day\'s best dishes
    8. Seamus Mullen\'s incredibly juicy smoked Berkshire pork jowl & whole suckling pig plate
    9. Chef Michael White\'s savory porchetta tigelle with pesto di lardo and salsa verde
    10. Gabriele Corcos embraced his Italian roots with a Tuscan-style pig sandwich
    11. Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar\'s Tuscan porchetta sandwich with fresh arugula & tomatoes
    12. Aww...this little piggy got all dressed up for the party
    13. Slow-roasted cochinita pibil from Food Network\'s \"Mexican Made Easy\" host Marcela Valladolid
    14. Ingrid Hoffmann\'s pulled pork taco with guava salsa negra & pickled mustard seeds was the crowd\'s favorite dish. Simply delicioso!

    Representing six of the fourteen tasting stations, New York chefs had a strong showing at the swine showdown. Nick Anderer dished out tender Maialino al Forno, Marc Murphy carved up Southern-style porchetta stuffed with cornbread and andouille, and Michael White presented porchetta tigelle with pesto di lardo and salsa verde. Seamus Mullen smoked juicy Berkshire pork jowl and whole suckling pig, while Yuhi Fujinaga paired suckling pig with heirloom bean casoullet, morcilla dip and chicharrón, and Jonathan Waxman rolled out tangy blood orange pig tacos with creamy avocado.

    In between savory bites, the crowd enjoyed the Biltmore’s dessert buffet, puffed Padron and La Flor Dominicana cigars, danced to live Latin beats from the Chirino Sisters and voted for their favorite pork dish. In the end, celebrichef Ingrid HoffmannMiami restaurateur and host of Food Network’s Simply Delicioso—snagged the coveted crown for her savory-meets-sweet mini pulled pork tacos with guava salsa negra and pickled mustard seeds.

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    Wine Pairing Ideas For Your Thanksgiving Dinner

    Friday, November 18, 2011 at 05:11 PM - Posted by Megan - (0) comments

    Thanksgiving is right around the corner. And while food is undoubtedly the star of the show, choosing the right wines to pair with your holiday feast can be just as important to having a delicious celebration.

    With so many flavors and textures going on in your meal, it can be hard to know which wines work best. In general, you’ll want to select light, crisp wines with delicate aromas, which let the food shine. Also, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get a really good bottle. Each variety featured below is tasty, versatile, and typically sold for under $20. And they’re all organic, to boot!

    Sparkling: Bubbly is a hit for any occasion and can be enjoyed as an aperitif, for a Thanksgiving toast, or throughout the entire meal. Light and refreshing, sparkling wine will cleanse your palate so you can properly taste all the delicious food ahead. Pop open a bottle of California’s fresh and zesty Domaine Carneros Brut Cuvée or the delightfully aromatic Mionetto Organic Prosecco from Italy.

    White: To tastefully enhance any course of your Thanksgiving feast, pour a crisp, clean white. Vibrant, citrusy Frey Organic Sauvignon Blanc is excellent paired with everything from turkey and ham (or tofurkey and seitan mains) to potato and veggie sides. Another great option is the creamy Chardonnay from Paul Dolan Vineyards; with hints of crisp apple and vanilla spice, this organic Chard is perfect for holiday sipping.

    Rosé/Red: Rosé—whether sparkling or still—crosses the bridge between white and red, and pairs well with turkey, stuffings and most sides. Food-friendly Bonterra Organically Grown Rosé presents a luscious blend of berries and spice, with a nice dry finish. If you prefer red, I recommend a light to medium bodied Pinot Noir. The fruit-forward earthiness and spicy notes will complement your food, without overwhelming it. New York’s Silver Thread Vineyard produces a velvety Pinot Noir, rich with black cherry and plum, that stands up against the tartness of cranberries and chutneys.

    Dessert: Room for dessert? It’s always a treat to cap off your holiday meal with a touch of sweet wine. While you savor slices of pumpkin and sweet potato pies, sip on a Port-style dessert wine like Coates Red Cap Late Harvest Zinfandel. Or try bright, fizzy Vittorio Bera Moscato di’Asti for a lighter finish.

    The most important thing to remember about pairing is to keep it simple. Selecting wine should be enjoyable, not stressful, so have fun making your selections. Cheers to a happy, healthy holiday!

    As featured on Clean Plates.

    Photo via FoodNetwork.com

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