Other happenings

Odds ‘n ends posts about things happening in NYC area , plus leftover posts from original BIte of the Best site

Virginia Tourism Event in the Big Apple

Earlier this month at a private reception hosted in Trump Tower atrium, Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia Bob McDonnell and Donald Trump touted Virginia wines and food and promoted the film industries and tourism. Along with over 200 other guests, I sampled a number of Virginia foods and 11 of their award-winning wines from five different wineries. My favorites were both a Virginia Viognier: The dry and crisp 2008 Viognier from Michael Shap ($28) and the smooth-textured and slightly fruity 2010 Viognier Reserve from Barboursville ($22). Both are 100% Viognier. Or course, we sampled Virginia ham and peanuts - but the event's star was the tender roast beef sandwich [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:36-04:00April 22nd, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Supermarket Sampler Goodbye….

Supermarket Sampler has said goodbye, ending a quarter-century of syndication. Our final goodbye's have been said over two week's time in newspaper across the nation, as well as online. Here's at taste those farewell columns... 04/01/2012 This week we depart from our usual format of reviewing three new products to think about the 4,000 products we've reviewed for this column in the past 25 years. We're saying, "Enough! It's time to push away from the table." Yes, we're ending Supermarket Sampler. Ironically, we have an unsuccessful new product to thank for our start. Carolyn: It was New Coke. Coke had changed its formulation and people were going crazy! I was [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:36-04:00April 12th, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|2 Comments

Food Tours at International Festival of Arts & Ideas

Linda Guica, former Hartford Courant food editor, will now be leading the foodie tours at International Festival of Arts & Ideas that I had led for many years. The food tours at the year's festival (June 16 through the 30) showcase New Haven’s impressive culinary scene. You'll meet the chefs and peek into their kitchens, watch demonstrations and sample house specialties. Tours include: • Vegetarian Voyage: Saturday, June 16 at 1:30pm, $40 includes Thali Too, Claire’s Corner Copia, Red Lentil • Latin Flavors: Date/Time not yet announces is $40 and includes Ibiza, Geronimo, Oaxaca Kitchen • The Downtowners: Saturday, June 30 at 1:30pm, $40 includes Hierloom, Union League Café, Zinc [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:27-04:00April 11th, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Pumpkin Ravioli with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream Won A Million Bucks

Christina Verrelli's Pumpkin Ravioli with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream was the winner of a million dollars at the Pillsbury Bakeoff last month in Orlando. Martha Stewart announced all the winners live on her television show broadcast from the Bakeoff. Martha first awarded the four category winners of which Christina was won in the Sweet Treats category. The other winners included Maria Vasseur from Valencia CA won Breakfast and Brunches for her Sausage-Pomodoro Brunch Bake; Terri Sherman from Palos Heights, IL won Entertaining Appetizers with her Asparagus, Artichoke and Red Pepper Pizza and Donna Wolfe of Hamilton, NJ won Dinner Made Easy for her Chicken Empanada Cones. For recipes and photographs [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:37-04:00April 2nd, 2012|Endings, Other happenings, Recipes, xyz misc|0 Comments

25 Years, 3900 Reviews = 25 Favs

It's over. In some ways I'm sad, and in many ways I'm glad to change my routine after 25 years. This isn't about dissolving a marriage, but about ending the penning of "Supermarket Sampler" — one of my syndicated columns with Universal/Uclick — after 25 years, 3900 reviews. Here's a list of 25 products that have won my fancy during the testing of what's new on the supermarket shelf. How many have made it into your kitchen? These are listed alphabetical order. 1. A Taste of Thai Pad Thai Sauce 2. Birds Eye Steamfresh long grain brown rice and plain unadulterated vegetables sans sauce 3. Cabot's Private Stock, Cloth Cheddar...actually [...]

By |2019-05-06T16:06:40-04:00April 1st, 2012|Other happenings|3 Comments

Ditch Sugary Soda To Lose Weight

A study of 318 overweight adults found that those who replaced sugary drinks with either water or diet beverages were more likely to lose at least 5% of their initial body weight than those in the control group, reported Reuters. The study was funded by Nestle Waters. Details of the study findings appear in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. bonnie : This advice is logical and can be a good first step to changing your eating habits and to losing weight or keeping it off. Follow @BonnieBOTB

By |2017-08-31T16:19:37-04:00March 17th, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Apothic Red Wine

Apothic Red, with its blend of spicy Zinfandel, rich Syrah, bold Cabernet Sauvignon and creamy Merlot, has cherry fruit aromas with a hint of vanilla. - bonnie: I found that this full bodied red blend went well with ricotta-filled ravioli sauteed in butter topped with freshly grated parmigiana reggiano, grilled soy-ginger marinated skirt steak,  chile-spiked dark chocolates or on its own,  just enjoyed while nibbling  some roasted almonds nuts and fresh chevre  Follow @BonnieBOTB

By |2017-08-31T14:01:09-04:00March 13th, 2012|Food & Drinks, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Make a Night of it in New Haven in March

Known for its culinary prowess and impressive theatrical offerings, New Haven (CT) is pairing together what people love most about this sophisticated, charming New England city – dining and theater. Restaurants and theaters have teamed up to offer three opportunities to experience delicious cuisine and inspiring theater for an evening out in New Haven at a great price. The three offerings are at the Long Wharf Theatre (March 7-13, 2012), Shubert Theater (March 8-11, 2012) and Yale Repertory Theatre (March 19-21, 2012). When you purchase tickets at each of these venues during the specified time period, you'll  receive a special deals at New Haven restaurants that include Thali, L’Orcio, Sage, [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:40:27-04:00March 6th, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Choice Eats Tasting Event

The Village Voice's Annual Choice Eats Tasting Event takes place Tuesday, March 13, 2012 from at 6:30-9:30 pm at Choice Eats located at 69th Armory, Lexington Avenue. The event will include sampling food from over 50 restaurants including the Blue Stove, Doughnut Planet, The Good Batch, Dean Street, Court Street Grocers and more. Also included will be complimentary drinks, dessert sampling and entertainment. General Admission is $50.00 and VIP is $70.00-$80.00 (includes extra sampling and/or access to the first annual Village Choice Streets Food Truck Tasting Event). All guests must be at least 21 years old. For for more information or to purchase tickets, click here. -guest contributor  

By |2017-08-31T14:11:02-04:00March 3rd, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

American Fine Wine Competition 2012

The American Fine Wine Competition celebrates the finest wines produced in the United States and consists of several events, ending with a Gala Dinner on Thursday, April 19, 2012 at the Boca Raton Resort Club & Spa in Mizner Center. The celebration starts off with the Allied, Kitchen & Bath VIP event on Thursday, March 8, 2011 at their showroom in Fort Lauderdale. Professionals will have an opportunity to network and meet the judges while learning about the upcoming Gala and enjoying a meal featuring American wines from last year’s AFWC event. Next is the Consumer Challenge Fundraiser hosted by AFWC on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at Bogart’s restaurant, located [...]

By |2017-08-31T15:42:30-04:00March 3rd, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Charleston Wine and Food Festival

Charleston Wine and Food Festival will be held March 1 - 4, 2012. This wine and food festival lets you indulge in the unique flavors of the Lowcountry and revel in the offerings of the country’s best chefs, authors and wine professionals. You’ll learn about — and get a taste of — the best Southern cuisine and its distinctive food styles, heritage and recipes at various events and venues throughout the weekend. Ticket prices range from free to $450 depending on what the event is and which day. For more information or tickets, click here.

By |2017-08-31T16:19:38-04:00February 27th, 2012|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Food and Film

As one might guess, Film Movement, a company dedicated to distributing the best award-winning films from the world’s top film festivals, loves learning about different cultures. But that doesn’t mean only movies… Each month, Film Movement releases a new film on DVD to its club members to own, and pairs it with a special delicious recipe via a monthly newsletter. January's recipe of Algerian Spiced Potato Cakes goes with that month's film selection of  Free Men directed by Ismaël Ferroukhi. It's  from "North African Cooking : Exotic Delights from Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Egypt" by Hilaire Walden, In German-occupied Paris, a young unemployed Algerian named Younes (played by break-out star, [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:38-04:00February 26th, 2012|Other happenings, Recipes, Starters, xyz misc|1 Comment

“Kitchen Nighmares” Wants Restaurants in Need of Help

Do you know a restaurant trying to make some green, but still running in the red? Or maybe it has a great location, but is unable to bring in the customers... Well, the senior casting producer for Fox TV's show "Kitchen Nightmares" starring Gordon Ramsay contacted us at Bite of the Best to tap our network of readers to see if any of you know of restaurants in need of Gordon's help. If so, email twinsworld@aol.com and include  name, contact info, name of the restaurant, where it's located, type of cuisine, number of seats, how long it's been open, photos or website if available — and most important — why  [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:39-04:00February 1st, 2012|Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|3 Comments

New York Butcher Shoppe Now To Serve Dinner

The New York Butcher Shoppe  is extending its hours to meet customer requests to offer its lunch items for dinner. The Dunwoody location will stay open until 9:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for diners looking for daily ground hamburgers, award-winning BBQ, fresh salads, beer, wine and more. Additionally, the store will have Blue Plate Specials. Use the extended hours to call ahead and have chef prepared entrees and sides ready for pickup with one hour’s notice. The New York Butcher Shoppe 2458 Mount Vernon Road Dunwoody, GA 770-399-6328 - submitted by company

By |2017-08-31T14:08:47-04:00November 29th, 2011|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Project Foodie

Finally a website that allows you to find and organize recipes from multiple publishers. Project Foodie — a search site providing access to over 125,000 recipes from magazines and food shows  — allows individuals to search from more than 40 different publications and television shows. Publications include Bon Appétit, Cooking Light, Cook’s Illustrated, Fine Cooking, Food & Wine, Gourmet, Southern Living and many more. As a bonus, Project Foodie allows members to organize their recipes by personalizing them with Project Foodie categories or according to their own personal needs. To search recipes or start your own account, click here. -guest contributor

By |2017-09-02T10:09:48-04:00November 17th, 2011|Other happenings|0 Comments

First Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival

Mark your calendars as the countdown to the First Cancun-Riviera Maya Wine & Food Festival has begun. Bringing national and international consumers to one of the most visited and picturesque destinations in the world, the inaugural event will take place March 15 - 18, 2012. Celebrating Star Chefs, Wines and Spirits of The Americas, Mexican Gastronomy and special guest of honor, Ferran Adrià — this festival will feature approximately 30 events over four days, including the best that Canada, USA, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru have to offer in terms of talent, wineries, spirits and culture. A sampling of the festivals events include: Beyond El Bulli: The Future of [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:40-04:00November 13th, 2011|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Five Point Snacks Help Veterans

Five Point Snacks recently announced the launch a line of salty snacks with a pledge and commitment to helping U.S. veterans. The company will donate the greater of 11% of its profits or up to 3¢ per bag sold to organizations that support, care for and benefit veterans. Each of the five products commemorates one of the five branches of the U.S. military : Marines — Major Murphy, kettle cooked potato chips,available in 9-ounce or 2-ounce bags ($3.49; $1.49) Navy — Flotilla Tortilla, whole grain white corn tortilla chips in 10-ounce bag ($3.99) Coast Guard — Sailor Knots, mini pretzel knots, 16-ounce and 2.25-ounce bags  ($3.29; $.99) Air Force — [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:40-04:00October 29th, 2011|Food & Drinks, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Chefs with Heart

Join the New England Culinary Group as they present Chefs with Heart — an evening of cuisine, music, and dancing — on Wednesday, November 2, 2011, at the Westport Inn (1595 Post Road East Westport, CT) for a 6:30 pm cocktail hour, followed with dinner and dancing at 7:30 pm. The night will feature various chefs each preparing one course + hors d’oeuvres and music by the Bruce Coviello Group. The event is $150 per person with proceeds from CHEFS with HEART going to The American Heart Association. To make reservations or to learn more, click here. -guest contributor

By |2017-08-31T16:19:41-04:00October 25th, 2011|Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments

Snooze, an A.M. Eatery – Fort Collins, CO

Just like Tom (Patrick Dempsey) in Made of Honor said while waiting in a long line "This is the best bakery in the world. That’s why it is worth waiting for," I have found an eatery worth waiting in line for called Snooze — a small chain of four restaurants currently in Colorado. Established in 2006 by hospitality, journeyman turned entrepreneur Jon Schegel, Snooze’s success has lead to the opening of  an additional Colorado-based Snooze eatery this year plus one in California. Open only for breakfast and lunch (Monday - Friday from 6:30 am - 2:30 pm and Saturday - Sunday from 7:00 am - 2:30 pm), Snooze's goal is to [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:41-04:00October 20th, 2011|Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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