Foodie Interviews

Interviews with food professionals

Heirloom’s Macaroni and Cheese (New Haven’s Sneak Peak Week)

In the past couple of weeks, I've posted a few TidBites about Sneak Peak Week in New Haven (a preview to the summer's International Festival of Arts & Ideas) and mentioned the restaurant tours. I've been remiss at not yet detailing what the tours are about. They are fun, informative and delicious. For each tour, three restaurants are lined up to share tastes of their cuisine. A group of no more than 30 people travel from one restaurant to the other where the chef dialogues with participants, sharing info on the restaurant and menu items, while doing a cooking demonstration for the group. Participants then get to sample what the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:48-04:00February 16th, 2009|Breads, Sides & Salads, Entrees, Foodie Interviews, Recipes, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Bespoke’s Arturo Franco-Camacho’s Milk Chocolate Banana Terrine

During the Global Tastes Restaurant Tour as part of Sneak Peek Week in New Haven, Arturo Franco-Camacho demonstrated this incredibly easy Banana Terrine. Seriously -- you can make the actual terrine in a few minutes with melted chocolate, heavy cream, overripe bananas and a blender or food processor. To do so, melt 1 pound of milk chocolate in the top of a double boiler set over boiling water. Bring 5 ounces of heavy cream to a boil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat.  Blend the melted chocolate, the hot cream and 3 peeled overrripe bananas in a blender or food processor until smooth. Pour the mixture into a Saran [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:49-04:00February 11th, 2009|Endings, Foodie Interviews, Recipes, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Chef Denise Appel’s Spring Rolls from Zinc (New Haven) During Sneak Peek Week

The first stop on the Slow Food restaurant tour during Sneak Peek Week was at Zinc (964 Chapel Street, New Haven). Denise — a fan of Vietnamese-inspired cooking — demoed her Market Vegetable Rice Paper Rolls with a Peanut Sauce. Denise changes the ingredients for the rolls depending on the season. For this winter demo, she used julienned blanched snow peas, water chestnuts and carrots, rolled those veggies inside rice paper along with a spicy cooked shrimp (cut in half through the middle) and mache, and served with a peanut sauce. (For another version of her recipe, click here.) Denise softened the rice paper sheets in warm water to soften [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:49-04:00February 9th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Recipes, Starters, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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4th & Swift

My Atlanta renaissance continues, and this time right down the street! The Old Fourth Ward is part of what makes up my neighborhood; created in the 1870s under the city ward system, it's a historically African American district on the east side of Atlanta’s Downtown, birthplace of Martin Luther King as well as the location of Ebenezer Baptist Church. The area (to my delight!) is experiencing a period of rapid growth and reinvention, with a variety of bars, cafes, and cutting-edge restaurants gracing these so recently forgotten streets. 4TH & Swift is certainly central to the party... Housed in a long forgotten dairy's abandoned engine room, the restaurant retains much [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:49-04:00January 30th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Global Flavors: A Conversation with Top Chefs

Earlier this week — during the Sneak Peek week for New Haven's International Festival of Arts & Ideas — I moderated a conversation with some of New Haven's local heroes -- four of the cities top chefs. The chefs candidly discussed how they came to the Elm City, what life events influenced their cooking style, the global influences on their dishes and more. Featured restaurant chefs included Zinc's Denise Appel, Bespoke's Arturo Franco-Camacho, Miya's Bun Lai, and Union League Cafe's Jean Pierre Vuillermet For the next two weeks or so, you can listen to — and watch — the hour conversation by clicking here.

By |2017-08-31T16:20:50-04:00January 28th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Craft Atlanta Birthday Dinner

I posted a tidbite a while back about the promotional lunch with Tom Colicchio at Craft Atlanta. Today I have the luxury of writing about an actual dining experience at Craft. My good friend spoiled me this year, taking me to Craft Atlanta for a celebratory dinner on my birthday. I must say that there is little better that can be done for a true foodie than treating them to a fine meal with company... and what a meal we had!! We started with a bit of bubbly... (how else can you celebrate??). A small amuse bouche of pulled-pork gougeres followed before we really hit full stride with the food. [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:50-04:00January 22nd, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Craft Restaurant Atlanta – Tom Colicchio

Recently, I was lucky enough to get to attend a media event for the opening of Tom Colicchio's (of restaurant empire and 'Top Chef' fame) newest restaurant, Craft Atlanta. Craft is the latest dining experience to be added to the Rosewood's most recent property, The Mansion on Peachtree. Though the Mansion currently offers an amazing fine-dining, Italian restaruant, NEO (full report to come!)... Craft adds an alternative, casual, upscale element while also delivering with its renowned, excellent food. Chef Colicchio hosted the casual event, ducking questions about current Top Chef developments and entertaining the lunch crowd with antics from the dishwashing line a few nights before. Passed apps included samplings [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:53-04:00December 14th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Puerto Vallarta Restaurants – Cafe des Artistes

By far, the best perk of my main undertaking (running www.villascaribe.com) is the travel. Experiencing the delights of a tropical destination as part of a legitimate business outing is an unbelievably enjoyable part of my life. I recently returned from Mexico; the beautifully lush hills and beaches of Puerto Vallarta served as backdrop for a few real-estate meetings we had planned. Of course, in our downtime, we sampled the best of what PV dining had to offer. Our villa, Casa Salinas, had an excellent chef, so our group generally took dinner at home. Despite the cuisine available while overlooking the Pacific from our al fresco dining table, we did venture [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:53-04:00November 28th, 2008|Bites from the Road, Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Whole Animal Cuisine – Are You Gonna Eat That Tongue?

I've been hearing more and more buzz about the concept of 'the whole cow' as an ever growing number of young chefs attempt to revive the craft of butchery. The idea is beautiful in its simplicity, start with properly raised and fed animals and leave nothing to chance, by allowing your kitchen staff to break down chickens, pigs, cows and more; as needed for their dishes. Why have an up-charging, semi-skilled, meat-packing middle-man dictate your kitchen's menu when there are talented chefs with sharpened knives standing at the wait? The Times dining section recently highlighted a few of the more distinguished restaurants basing their kitchens on the butchery concept, most [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:54-04:00November 10th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Wisteria – Atlanta Dining

There are certain restaurants that you pass-by all the time. You might say to yourself, 'why haven't I tried that place yet?' or 'I keep meaning to eat there!'. For me, the latest check on my proverbial culinary bucket list (which is ever-expanding) was an Atlanta restaurant, Wisteria. I must have driven by this cute little brick building 50 times before I even noticed it was a restaurant. The next 50 times I drove by, I kept thinking I really should've tried it already.. and, last week, try it I finally did. I had the opportunity to dine with a friend of mine who was 'up for anything', and we [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:54-04:00November 8th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|2 Comments
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The Women’s Advantage: A Page-A-Day Calendar of Advice

Earlier this year Mary Cantando approached me — and literally hundreds of other woman business owners who are members of the National Speakers Association — to submit with some pithy advice for other women entrepreneurs, to be included in her second annual page-a-day calendar. "Your personal advice can be on the topic of strategy, life balance, marketing, or anything else that enhances your business or life…" wrote Mary in her email pitch. She continued to explain how if you were selected to be a part of her enterprise you would  receive a press kit to customize to market your “Day” to your trade press as well as local newspaper, radio [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:55-04:00October 28th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|2 Comments
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NYC Michelin-Star Update

The just released New York City 2009 MICHELIN guide bestowed even more stars upon Big Apple restaurants.  Currently there are 31 holding a one-star rating, seven a two-star rating (Adour, Daniel, Del Posto, Gilt, Gordon Ramsay at The London, Momofuku Ko, and Picholine) and four with three stars meaning exceptional cuisine and well worth the journey (Jean-George, Le Bernardin, Masa, and Per Se). According to the Michelin Guide, the ratings are "determined by anonymous evaluations by trained inspectors following established, international standards in place for more than a century," For more information visit www.michelinguide.com

By |2017-08-31T16:20:55-04:00October 14th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Top Chef Richard Blais

For all of you eagerly awaiting the next Top Chef season like I am, I thought I would engage in some fond memories of last season. A while ago I dined at Home Restaurant & Bar, a newer release from one of Atlanta's established restaurant groups. I'm not the biggest fan of the group but I'm not down on them either; their restaurants are always pretty good for food quality but their ambiance can be a bit 'mall'. I was excited though as Home had recently taken on Richard Blais (Top Chef finalist) as their head chef I started with the most interesting twist, foie gras torchon with fruit preserves [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:56-04:00September 22nd, 2008|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Foodie Holiday Gift for only $9000

With most every other food story focusing on saving consumers money, I had to laugh as I opened the email touting this ultimate holiday gift for the gourmet. For that $9000 — really only $8999 — you get 2-hour, private cooking lesson with chef Jean-George Vongerichten in the kitchen of his eponymous restaurant, Jean Georges; 3 nights with arrival on a Thursday in an Executive Park View Suite at Trump International Hotel & Tower New York, a 3-course meal for two, breakfast for two daily and — of course — a signed cookbook. Jean George is his New York Times 4-star and Michelin 3-star French restaurant housed in Trump Tower. [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:58-04:00August 9th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|1 Comment
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James Beard Foundation Awards at Avery Fisher Hall

Kim Cattrall (yes, that Kim) and Bobby Flay co-hosted the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony last night, at a star-studded red-carpet event at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center. Some notable winners from last night include: Danny Mayer's Gramercy Tavern (NYC) - Outstanding Restaurant Central Michel Richard (Washington, D.C) - Best New Restaurant Gavin Kaysen, Cafe Bould (NYC) - Rising Star Chef of the Year The River Cottage Meat Book by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall (Ten Speed Press) - Cookbook of the Year Eleven Madison Park (NYC) - Outstanding Wine Service A special note about my friend Peter Reinhart's Whole Grain Breads: New Techniques, Extraordinary Flavor (Ten Speed Press) winning the best Baking [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:21:02-04:00June 9th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Baked Apple BBQ

I don't know how the chefs did it. The temperature hovered around 98-degrees in Madison Square Park — and that was standing in the long lines, not near the blistering hot BBQ grills where the pitmasters did their craft. The crowds didn't seem to be fazed by the heat at the sixth annual celebration of mouthwatering barbecue — some waited hours to sample the foods that the 14 top pitmasters produced for the event. Smart New Yorkers purchased a $100 fast pass — the food equivalent of E-Z pass — that got them to the fast service area with a much shorter line. Worth it for the time savings alone. [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:21:02-04:00June 8th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Secret Power of Blogging

A blog? When I first contacted ContentRobot — the company who built BOTB — a blog was furthest from my mind. What I wanted was a website with a weekly NewsBite newsletter. Karen and Dana (the principals of the company) convinced me that what I was trying to do was a blog. I was planning a weekly a web log (aka blog) about new products. They created this blog for me (yes, Bite of the Best is a blog), and I've never looked back. But I do look forward — which is why I've read and recommend Bruce C. Brown's "The Secret Power of Blogging: How to promote and market [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:21:03-04:00May 12th, 2008|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The Best of the Best Dining

Bet you thought with that title, this would be about a new Zagat survey. Not! "Opinionated About Fine Dining Survey 2008: The 100 Best Restaurants of North American & Europe" is a copycat of those popular guides. This guide's written by Steven Plotnicki. It's his list of best of the best places to dine culled from a survey of only 600 respondents from around the world. To be fair, Tim and Nina began their eponymous guides in a similar fashion, that is, surveying their friends. Is this $6.95 survey worth it? Not really, unless you're a world traveler who likes boasting rights. In fact, each person I've showed the guide [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:21:04-04:00March 21st, 2008|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Azul Restaurant, Mediterranean + Asian = Innovation

While in Miami last week for the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, I slipped across the causeway for a sampling of the creative cuisine of Clay Conley (a Todd English protégé) at Azul at the Mandarin Oriental hotel. Fine dining with service the way it should be - there when you need it, but not hovering. Don't let his boyish charm fool you, Clay Conley's mature talent comes through in each of his unpretentious dishes where he adds an Asian twist to Mediterranean flavors. Two of my favorite combinations included a delicate braised veal shank ravioli with caramelized onions, Parmesan cheese and black truffle butter. I opted to top [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:48:49-04:00March 3rd, 2008|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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Pity It’s Not Scratch and Sniff! Introducing TasteBook

CondéNet (the internet unit of Condé Nast) has invested in TasteBook, a startup that binds recipes culled from its cooking site, Epicurious.com, into a personalized hardcover book. Imagine creating your very own  cookbook to keep or give as a gift this holiday season. Or, how about a one-of-a-kind truly personal present for a bride-to-be? Using TasteBook's print-on-demand tools, you can choose from over 25,000 online recipes and also upload your own. Organize, group into collections, store and create a unique  cookbook. Add your kitchen tips or helpful hints to any recipe. Producing one with 100 recipes costs $34.95.

By |2017-08-31T16:21:07-04:00October 29th, 2007|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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