Bite of the Best

Artisan Restaurant in the Delamar Hotel, Southport, CT - May 10, 2012

The Artisan Restaurant in the Delamar Hotel in Southport, CT is a find!

When you go, walk through the tavern to the back room, as instead of wood the tables are draped in white. It’s much more elegant than the …

2012 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Award Winners - May 8, 2012

2012 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards

Last night celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the awards, the James Beard Foundation honored the country’s best chefs at a black-tie gala at New York’s Lincoln Center.

Over 2000 foodies attended …

An Evening of Science and Senses with Pierre John Sauvion - May 7, 2012

Usually when I drink wine I contemplate the sensory experience over the science of winemaking.  I focus on the aromas and flavors of the wine and how it pairs with the food I am eating. I reflect on where I …

Mole, New Restaurant, NYC - May 3, 2012

Husband-and-wife restaurateurs Nick Cervera and Guadalupe Elizalde just opened their latest  branch of Mole on the Upper East Side.

The restaurant features the traditional, regional Mexican dishes in Mexican-inspired, festive  dining room, with a  tiled sit-down bar featuring a selection …

Olive Oil Receives USDA Quality Monitoring Product Verification - April 29, 2012

Olive Oil Receives USDA Quality Monitoring Product Verification. All that glistens may not be pure gold in the bottle of extra virgin olive oil you purchase at the supermarket. In fact, earlier this month The Journal of Food Science…

The New Orleans Food and Wine Experience - April 27, 2012

Join the New Orleans Food and Wine Experience as they celebrate their 20th anniversary on Tuesday, May 22 – Saturday, May 26, 2012. The five day event will include wine and food seminars, wine dinners at some of the city’s …

Valerie Phillips: Supermarket Sampler Column Will Be Missed - April 27, 2012

Supermarket Sampler column will be missed

By Valerie Phillips, Deseret News

(This is reprinted of Valerie Philips column from the Deseret News in Salt Lake City, UT – one of the newspapers that carried the syndicated column Supermarket Sampler…

Bodegas Farina 70th Anniversary Luncheon - April 26, 2012

Executive Chef Jesus Nunez at GastroArte (141 west 69th, New York City) created such an exquisite luncheon to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Bodegas Farina that I’ve made a mental note to return to the upper west side for dinner. …

Bucatini with Brussels Sprouts, from Corkbuzz - April 25, 2012

The Tasting Table agrees with me as to their favorite Corkbuzz dish: the buttery bowl of bucatini with Brussels sprouts and chile oil. They like it with a glass of Trimbach Riesling Reserve with it — which is why they …

Virginia Tourism Event in the Big Apple - April 22, 2012

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 oth…

Mad Men’s Old Fashioned Cocktail - April 22, 2012

Even if you don’t watch Mad Men, you’ve heard about the hot series based on life in the ‘60s and Don Draper, it’s lead character. The series is so hot that clothing styles and the cuisine and cocktails of …

Napa at the Peabody, Orlando - April 19, 2012

Napa at the Peabody in Orlando is where I met a business associate for a light bite last month while attending the Pillsbury Bakeoff. Napa, of course refers to the wine country, and so serves what they refer to as …

Supermarket Sampler Goodbye…. - April 12, 2012

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 …

Food Tours at International Festival of Arts & Ideas - April 11, 2012

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) …

New Haven Spring Restaurant Week 2012 - April 9, 2012

New Haven Restaurant Week will run from April 15 – 20, 2012, offering diners significant savings at local restaurants. Patrons can whet their palates with a variety of menu options from 34 of the city’s most sought-after restaurants.

Participating restaurants …

Rizzuoto’s, Stamford - April 8, 2012

Having been to Rizzuto’s in Westport, I knew to expect  simple ingredients in classic presentation.

I again ordered the vegetable antipasto ($4.95 each, or the bargain of $14.95 for all seven). It included chickpea puree (hummus) with toasted pine nuts …

The Rose Opens in Jackson Hole - April 7, 2012

Jackson Hole welcomes a swanky new cocktail lounge, The Rose. This classically inspired cocktail lounge offers vintage libations and artfully crafted bar snacks in an elegant 80-seat space. Signature drinks are designed with a minimalist approach to highlight rare and …

Lost Boys Cocktail - April 3, 2012

Just attended a “Destination DC’s 2012 New York Media Reception,” where I met Derek Brown, owner of the Columbia Room in Washington, D.C. He was serving a  cocktail, made with Bowmore Single Malt Scotch —that was well blended,  not too …

Pumpkin Ravioli with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream Won A Million Bucks - April 2, 2012

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 …

25 Years, 3900 Reviews = 25 Favs - April 1, 2012

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 …

Obika Mozzarella Bar New Rustic Italian Pizza Menu - March 29, 2012

Obika Mozzarella Bar in the Westfield Century City Shopping Center announced the launch of its new Italian Pizza menu.

The pizza is prepared with stone ground flour imported from Italy, no artificial yeast, and in Neapolitan tradition, Obika’s Pizzaiolo allows …

Ditch Sugary Soda To Lose Weight - March 17, 2012

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…

Apothic Red Wine - March 13, 2012

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 …

Cafe Terigo, Park City Utah - March 13, 2012

Historic Main Street in Park City, Utah offers many dining options. This time we stopped in at Cafe Terigo, a cafe serving hearty cuisine inspired by both Northern Italy and Southern France.

To start our meal, we nibbled on a …

SHO Shaun Hergatt - March 9, 2012

My friend who works for the Port Authority suggesting dining at the two Michelin Star SHO Shaun Hergatt restaurant after visiting the 9/11 Memorial as they offer an incredible prix fixe bargain of a 2-course lunch for $29,  3 courses …