Rambling

Random musings on Life in the Big Apple

Regional Best Mothers Day Gifts

I recently came across a marketing firm that uniquely focuses their efforts on promoting boutique, local food companies; Regional Best. Now... PR companies are by their very nature spin-machines... but everyone's got some spin, I'm just glad to see it being done for the little guy! Mother’s Day is fast approaching, and it's the perfect time to pamper your favorite foodie with her favorite foods, but this year, try something special. Whether its a sweet or savory goodies you're seeking, you’re sure to find a number of delicious options with Regional Best.  What kind of mom do you have? Here are a few gift ideas to get you started. For [...]

By |2017-09-02T10:51:46-04:00May 3rd, 2010|Rambling|0 Comments
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Big Apple Barbecue Block Party Returns

Get ready for the sights, sounds, smells and delicious flavors of New York City’s much-beloved barbecue extravaganza. Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, Blue Smoke and Jazz Standard proudly announce dates for the 8th annual Big Apple Barbecue Block Party: June 12 – 13th, 2010. Join the crowds in beautiful Madison Square Park and surrounding streets for another unforgettable weekend of great food, music and festivities. FastPasses are on sale now for $125 each at www.bigapplebbq.org — which  includes a $100 value redeemable for food, beverage and merchandise and guarantees exclusive access to express lines for the FastPass holder and one guest throughout the weekend. A limited number of FastPasses [...]

By |2017-09-01T14:43:49-04:00April 15th, 2010|Other happenings, Rambling, xyz misc|2 Comments
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Food & Wine Names Best New Chefs 2010

New York City, April 6, 2010 — At a celebration this week at The Four Seasons Restaurant, Food & Wine Editor in Chief Dana Cowin announced the magazine’s Food & Wine Best New Chefs (BNC) of 2010. The annual award, launched in 1988, recognizes up-and-coming chefs with an innovative style and a distinctive vision creating exceptionally delicious food. "This year we have one of the most exciting rosters of Best New Chefs ever,” Cowin says. “They represent every frontier of cooking in America today, from an avant-garde chef in a remote area of Virginia to the mastermind behind the Korean taco-truck boom in Los Angeles. The future of cooking in [...]

By |2017-10-22T15:01:47-04:00April 8th, 2010|Rambling, USA Restaurants, USA Travel|1 Comment
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Vermilion’s Secret Ingredient Dinner

Vermilion will present a Secret Ingredient Dinner, a mysterious multi-dimensional event to celebrate Executive Chef Maneet Chauhan competing on Iron Chef America and being named one of the Culinary Institute of America’s (CIA) “Best Chefs in the World.”   Chef Chauhan is the youngest and, one of the few women graduates, to be recognized. The Secret Ingredient Dinner will feature the identical five-course menu that Chef Chauhan and her team executed during her Iron Chef America battle against Iron Chef Morimoto, with Vermilion’s hallmark fusion of  Indian and Latin flavors. during the dinner, dinners can watch the show — course by course — with  live commentary by Chef Chauhan about the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:18-04:00April 2nd, 2010|Other happenings, Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Sake Paring at Hakubai Restaurant, New York City

The critically acclaimed Hakubai Restaurant at The Kitano New York Hotel will offer an exclusive sake pairing in the recently redesigned restaurant through March 12, 2010, for $30 per person excluding tax and gratuity. The sake pairing will feature Akira Sake imported from the Kanazawa Daichi organic farm in Japan along with a special tasting menu created by Executive Chef Sato. Sake Sommelier Chizuko Niikawa, known for her knowledge of sake, selected Akira Sake for this tasting. The menu — featuring the sake served warm and presented in a traditional Tokkuri Japanese decanter — will consist of three tasting portions of Ika Syuto Ae (squid marinated in Bonito liver), Alaskan [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:11:10-04:00March 4th, 2010|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Tom Colicchio to Host Beer Dinner at MGM Grand at Foxwoods

You may know him best as the head judge on Bravo’s popular “Top Chef” television program, but it’s in the kitchen where chef Tom Colicchio truly shines. And the lucky diners who attend the beer dinner at Colicchio’s award-winning Craftsteak at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods on March 11 will see — and taste — why. Reservations for the exclusive event, which begins at 7 p.m., are available by calling 860.312.7272 for $150, inclusive of tax and service charge. At the dinner, Colicchio’s five-course tasting menu will be paired with specialty beers from the Brooklyn Brewery, which has garnered worldwide respect for its flavorful interpretations of traditional brews. Colicchio and [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:22-04:00February 24th, 2010|Other happenings, Rambling, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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20th Annual Golden Shopping Cart Awarded

"Clean labels. Whole grains. Gluten-free. Antioxidants. Omega-3s. Those seven words sum up new food-product introductions of 2009," that's what syndicated columnists Bonnie Tandy Leblang (that's me!) and Carolyn Wyman wrote to introduce our year end best and worst picks of the year. Together we coauthor Supermarket Sampler, a weekly review of what's new on the grocers' shelves syndicated by Andrews McMeel/Universal Press and written in two voices: mine, the registered dietitian, and Carolyn Wyman’s, a professed junk foodie. Each year we pick our joint "Double Forks Down" or why-did-they-make them list of foods introduced in 2009, our individual best-of-the-year picks plus the one product we agreed was both tasty and [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:10:36-04:00December 31st, 2009|Other happenings, Rambling|0 Comments
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Wine-themed Wedding Events

From bachelorette parties and bridal showers to food and wine pairing rehearsal dinners, Grand Cru Classes can design the perfect wedding wine event for you. Certified Wine Educator, Tracy Ellen Kamens, combines her passion for wine, love of teaching, and experience as an event planner, to create flawless events that entertain as well as educate. For brides who want a more modern approach to their festivities, a wine-themed event can be a great way to spend time with friends and family celebrating her upcoming wedding." This is an especially fitting approach for brides choosing to get married in the Hamptons or on the North Fork, as these areas are part [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:25-04:00December 29th, 2009|Other happenings, Rambling, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Food Network’s New York City Wine & Food Festival: The Good and the ….

The New York City Wine & Food Festival had more events than a person could attend. I know as I tried. Some were fabulous, some good with one having me note on my calendar, "Skip in 2010." Chelsea Market After Dark hosted by Guy Fieri and Sandra Lee was one of the fabulous opening night parties held from 9 p.m. - midnight ($95)worth every penny of the entry fee. With the shops open for sampling, I was able to try decent sized portions of goodies from Amy’s Bread, Fat Witch Bakery, The Lobster Place, Buddakan, Chelsea Wine Vault, Sarabeth’s and Jacques Torres Chocolate (with handsome Jacques Torres, himself serving those [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:28-04:00November 9th, 2009|Rambling, USA Travel, xyz misc|1 Comment
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The Bloody Mary, 75 Years Old

On October 5th, right after New York City’s mayor, Michael R. Bloomberg declared it Bloody Mary Day,  I — and about a hundred others — were invited by Paul Nash ( the general manager of the St. Regis Hotel in New York City)  to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Bloody Mary at the  King Cole Bar. According to the folks at the St. Regis, the drink began as the “Red Snapper” cocktail in 1934 when bartender Fernand Petiot concocted it for one of his vodka-loving clients who asked him to recreate a tomato juice cocktail he'd had in Paris. At that time, the name “Bloody Mary” was deemed too [...]

By |2017-10-22T15:02:20-04:00October 15th, 2009|City Bites, Rambling, Recipes, Starters, USA Restaurants|0 Comments
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New York Edition: A Second Helping of Life

Share's sixth annual A Second Helping of Life, held on September 21st at Pier 60 at Chelsey Piers with over 700 attendees (New York City) raised $405,000 for SHARE to provide peer support for women living with breast or ovarian cancer. The event — successfully coordinated by M. Young Communications  — featured 25 of New York's female chefs, guest female mixologists, actresses, editors and 22 fine wines and spirits all who donated their time, talents and products to support SHARE, a not for profit organization run by ovarian and breast cancer survivors. I ran into actress Kathleen Chalfant, an incredibly talented actress who I had seen on stage at Long [...]

By |2017-10-22T15:02:32-04:00October 13th, 2009|City Bites, Rambling, USA Restaurants|2 Comments
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New York Food Network Wine & Food Festival: Tyler Florence Thrillist Bacon & Blues

The "Thrillist Presents Bacon & The Blues," hosted by Tyler Florence this past Thursday evening in the High Line Room at The Standard, a trendy new hotel (848 Washington Street at West 13th Street) was one of the opening night's events at the now underway New York Food Network Wine & Food Festival. This is the second year of the festival founded by Lee Brian Schrager. The menu: pork and bacon-inspired snacks served with Canadian Club cocktails; The music: blues. The party: hot and trendy. My favorites included chef Christopher Lee's (Aureole) Bacon and Black Truffle Potato Gratin with Teleggio Cheese (pictured to the right) and chef Brian Murphy's (The [...]

By |2017-10-22T15:02:46-04:00October 10th, 2009|Rambling|0 Comments
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Bite of the Rest

Bonnie: We’ve got news to share!

Bite of the Rest recently launched a section listing what’s new — new food products, new beverages, new gadgets, new kitchen appliances, new anything to do with eating, dining and drinking.

What’s unique is that this section contains no review by us. No stamps of approval. No nothing — other than details about each new product.

As you know, each week we’ve been sharing our thoughts on one outstanding product that we’ve tried and recommended, meaning until now, every product on our site had our stamp of approval as a Bite of the Best (or BOTB as we lovingly refer to the site).

But then, we thought, “What about all the other new products...

Bryan: We created Bite of the Best as a medium to promote our favorite foodie finds and experiences…and the response has been overwhelming! We have been so excited to see our readers’ comments, questions, promotions, critiques and general indications of curiosity that we simply decided we needed more Epicurean fodder for the ongoing “conversation.” Bite of the Best continues to bring you our weekly “Bite” — a product we all think that you must try — while our TidBites section offers a variety of little culinary...

Eric: If you clicked on the link my brother posted, then you might be scratching your head and wondering how the world of Willy Wonka’s “pure imagination” has anything to do with the launch of our newest section, Bite of the Rest. Personally, I believe that being reminded of the antics of Wonka will only help in understanding the imagination, or lack thereof, put in to creating some of the newest products on the market. Although some products are great and others are disgusting, it is up to...

By |2017-09-02T10:58:55-04:00February 25th, 2009|Rambling|33 Comments
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First Ever New York City Wine & Food Festival

The first ever New York City Wine & Food Festival will take place this Columbus Day weekend, Thursday October 9 – Sunday, October 12, 2008, set primarily in the fashionable Meatpacking District. “The festival’s main goal is to pay homage to New York City and everything that makes it one of the best restaurant cities in the world,” says Lee Brian Schrager, Festival Director. Lee is also Director of Media Relations for Southern Wine & Spirits of America and of the popular South Beach Wine & Food Festival (Sobe) sister event held each February. The talent line-up for the big apple event includes: Rachael Ray (30 Minute Meals), Paula Deen [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:58-04:00July 24th, 2008|Other happenings, Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Happy Birthday BOTB!

Bonnie: Happy Birthday, Bite of the Best!

We’ve certainly relished a lot of good eatin’ since we launched Bite of the Best last spring. That’s more than 52 outstanding FeaturedBites — aka products — that we’ve tried and recommended to you.

But we’ve gotta keep moving.

My culinary offspring and the others entrenched in the ever-exploding blogosphere tell me we must keep evolving, so we’re providing more and more content to further engage you in our ever-growing community — a community of people who want to share thoughts about their Bite of the Best foods, dinner experiences, gadgets and more.

So what’s next?

We’re adding a product listing that we’re calling Bite of the Rest — a list of products...

Bryan: So we’ve reached our one-year anniversary; a success milestone in this time of infinite dot-com expansion, I’d like to think. Hooray! It seems that Web sites are the new “restaurants.” With all the exciting new openings and sad, shocking closings every day, we’re very happy to still be serving our “food” as we celebrate our first year together.

Like most first birthdays, this particular party is not about the birthday boy, but about...

Eric: ”Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought.” One-year…although it seems like a short period of time, this past year has been a turning point in my life. I had the chance to visit Israel, Spain and Bulgaria; I finished my thesis for college – “An Analysis for an Internet-based Company on Online Consumer Trends and their Impact on the Development of Internet Strategies and Tactics;” I was able to live and work in a Third...

By |2017-09-03T09:24:21-04:00May 7th, 2008|Rambling|16 Comments
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Bite of the Best Official Launch Party

Bonnie: Pardon our indulgence. Next week, we’ll be back to business as usual. Usual as a BiteoftheBest.com’s NewsBite, that is. This week, instead of sending you a Featured Bite about one recommended product, we’re featuring the details — and tons of photos — of our official launch party.

With Eric home for a couple of weeks getting ready to go to Zanzibar for a hospitality internship, I decided Bryan should fly home too, and we’d celebrate our new site since we’d all be together at home for the first time in a couple of years.

“Thanks for coming,” I said, as I handed each guest their official coded party map detailing the evening’s food, libations and entertainment. “Be sure to turn the map in when you leave to see whether you’ve won the Soda Club Seltzer Maker or a Lean Cuisine Susan B. Komen insulated lunch bag.

“Grab your mug and a spoon for tastings. Everything here has been or will be featured as a Bite...

Bryan: I haven’t been to my hometown in a bit, so returning this past weekend for the launch party was a great time and just another reminder of how good food is so integral to good life. The predicted 100% chance of rain stopped an hour before the party started and everything went smoothly from there. Friends, family, good food and a few cases of wine—what more could you ask for? Flavorful soups and Absolut100....

Eric: As part of my time in The Netherlands, I was able to start a party & event organization, www.thegc.nl. Over the years of spearheading and planning events, and marketing and running operations, I discovered one of my passions: planning and coordinating to the very last detail. I was glad to be able to travel home and help my mother plan and organize our website launch party. It was nostalgic to...

By |2017-09-04T20:59:39-04:00October 31st, 2007|Just For Fun, Rambling|12 Comments
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10th Annual World Pasta Day

"Life is a combination of magic and pasta." –Fellini World Pasta Day—commemorating the first World Pasta Conference held in Rome in 1995—celebrates the nutritional role pasta and the Mediterranean Diet** play in a healthy lifestyle. Pasta—a global food found on all five continents—is an integral part of the Mediterranean Diet Pyramid (developed by Oldways, a food issues think tank, the Harvard School of Public Health, and the World Health Organization). When combined with olive oil, vegetables, fish, legumes, and cheese and dressed in assorted sauces, pasta also has additional health-promoting benefits. Better yet, scientific studies confirm that the Mediterranean diet is the 'gold standard' of healthy eating patterns, and pasta, [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:09:16-04:00October 23rd, 2007|Rambling|0 Comments
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TidBites

BiteoftheBest.com—like any good website—is a work in progress that’s constantly evolving.

I have listened to those of you who’ve emailed, written, called or talked to me at a party or event and given me your impressions of—and suggestions for—improving the site.

Today I’m introducing the first of our major additions, along with one minor one.

Presenting TidBites—tidbits of information.

Think of the TidBites as snippets of easily digestible data—about food, travel, books, contests, events, gadgets, liquors, liqueurs, research, restaurants, wines or happenings that I want to share.

For instance, I’m writing this to you from Marbella on the Costa de Sol (Spain), after enjoying a light seafood meal on the deck of a restaurant overlooking the Mediterranean in Fuengirola. The tender baby squid about an inch or two in size (calamaritos) and sliced boiled octopus (pulpo clasico) they prepared are not worthy of a Bite of the Best–but still worthy of sharing. That’s a TidBite.

The squid ($12) were lightly coated and perfectly fried; the octopus ($15.65) were served atop chunks of potato and sprinkled with a spicy paprika (see photos below)

Just in case you’re in the area and want to try these dishes: La Caracola, Paseo Maritimo Rey España, Parcela 9 Fuengirola.

My plan is to include a few TidBites each week—with something for everyone.

This week's topics range from an upcoming contest where each month from now to December you can win a culinary trip to one of four major cities to the $50,000 prize-winning recipe from last month’s National Beef Cook-Off.

As in those included with today's NewsBite, the type of information each week will vary.

We’ll be posting these morsels on the site as I find and write about them. You can read about them on BiteoftheBest.com, register to receive an RSS feed or just wait for your Wednesday NewsBite, as each week you’ll receive links to the latest ones.

Our second new feature is our (or I should say your) Reader Suggestions that you've recommended to us on the site. These are product suggestions from consumers who like the product, not from manufacturers or others representing it. We have not kitchen-tested these items.

Since we’re continually looking for ways to make our site more useful, stay tuned—or subscribed I should say—to see what’s in store for you next.

And keep those emails coming and continue to post your comments on BiteoftheBest.com.

We are listening.....

By |2017-09-03T09:24:58-04:00October 3rd, 2007|Rambling|0 Comments
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