Foodie Interviews

Interviews with food professionals

New Chef at Solea, South Beach

In the brief time since 32-year-old Marc Vidal was named executive chef of Solea at the W South Beach hotel, his menu, offering the savory classic cuisine of Spain, has made it the place to dine for celebrities, foodies, tourists and trendsetters. He serves up artful plates of the finest authentic ingredients from a palette of fresh, soulful flavors that honor the vibrant cuisine of his homeland. Solea offers a food and wine experience from an innovative South Floridian viewpoint. The well-educated Vidal — who honed his skill under Ferran Adria in Spain, and Alain Passard and Alain Ducasse in Paris — showcases his talent with his delightful menu that [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:23-04:00February 5th, 2010|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Julia vs Julia

Most foodies have likely heard of Julie & Julia by now; a recent film with Meryl Steep depicting the immortal Julia Child and Amy Adams playing Julie Powell, a woman on a quest to cook her way through Child's best dishes. I admit I'm a Julia Child fan. (There is even a famous photo in our household of yours truly as a baby, in the arms of the one and only Ms. Child.) With the movie so popular and so much press about Julia recirculating, I came across an article juxtaposing two 'great' tarragon chicken recipes... one from Julia Child and one from Meryl Streep. It's real Julia vs. screen [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:27-04:00December 1st, 2009|Breads, Sides & Salads, Entrees, Foodie Interviews, Recipes, xyz misc|Comments Off on Julia vs Julia
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Michelin-Star Update 2010

The 2010 Michelin Guide was released this month with a number of enhancements, including new symbols highlighting restaurants with: a notable cocktail program a notable cocktail program or a notable sake list small plates valet parking The Bib Gourmand category — AKA “Inspectors’ Favorites for Good Value” — features restaurants serving a meal (two dishes and a glass of wine or dessert) for $40 or less. This latest edition included 85 affordable, yet incredibly delicious recession-proof dining options, with 31 new ones. The Michelin Guide New York City 2010 is now on sale; $17.99. Available at amazon.com.

By |2017-08-31T16:20:29-04:00October 30th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|1 Comment
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New York Edition: La Palapa Serves Up Antojitos

Dinner at La Palapa was a must after meeting chef owner Barbara Sibley at Share’s sixth annual A Second Helping of Life in September and sampling her refreshing Sopa de Aguacate con Cepitas – Chilled Avocado Soup with Spiced Pumpkin Seeds. Barbara and her co-owner and co-author Margaritte Malfy have two La Palapa restaurants — one in the east village (77 Saint Mark's Place); the other in the west village (359 Sixth Avenue) both serving authentic Mexican cuisine. While perusing the menu, I sipped on their signature Margarita Cazaorees Nectar Agave — a fresh lime margarita with tequila cazadores blanco, cointreau, organic agave syrup and a splash of orange. Before [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:29-04:00October 29th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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StarChefs.com New York Rising Stars Tasting Menu – Boston Next

StarChefs.com's 2009 International Chefs Congress ended with a gala tasting high-concept cooking done by the 2009 New York Rising Stars held at the Mandarin Oriental (Columbus Circle).  Each dish was paired with ultra-premium wines selected the the Rising Star Sommelier Claire Paparazzo from Blue Hill. We began the evening sipping Palmes d'Or Champagne and nibbling yummy Pertossian caviar on a buckwheat waffle, with each indentation filled with either caviar or chopped red onion, egg yolk or egg white —  a dish created by host chef Brandon Kida from the hotel's Asiate restaurant. Once the doors opened to the tasting room, we sampled the chef's delicacies and the matching wine. Since [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:29-04:00October 26th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Table ONE – Hawaiian Dining

Another restaurant read that was too inspiring to keep to myself. I love the concept of dining a bit too much at times. A good restaurant review or announcement will keep me as glued to the page as a good novel... and a novel has yet to make me salivate... Orchid surrounded tasting menus, it's bordering on regal... Halekulani is an iconic Hawaiian luxury hotel, long celebrated for its award-winning cuisine. The hotel recently announced a new addition to their already one-of-a-kind dining experience. TABLE ONE is a restaurant where diners sit, surrounded by exotic orchids and overlooking open-air panoramic views of  Waikiki Beach. TABLE ONE features the culinary prowess [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:31-04:00October 1st, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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The 100-mile Menu

In July, The Plaza Hotel (in New York) unveiled a new signature drink, the POMONA. The drink was created to further promote The Plaza's '100-Mile Menu'. The POMONA is a locavore creation; made only from ingredients hailing from the 100-mile area surrounding New York City. The cocktail includes American Fruits' Black Currant Cordial, Lieb Family Cellars Blanc de Blanc, and locally produced honey. The signature drink was fittingly named the POMONA for the Roman goddess of abundance and orchards. A statue of POMONA actually adorns the fountain outside The Plaza's main entrance. The concept of the 100-Mile Menu is a culinary movement that marries seasonal fare with elegant style. It's [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:33-04:00August 27th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|4 Comments
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Avec, Chicago – Well Worth the Visit (…and the Wait)

I made a date to return to Avec, as soon as I knew I was heading to Chicago for the BlogHer conference last month. I had been before, but used any excuse to return this time with my camera in hand so  I could share photos. Avec is a wine bar located next door to Blackbird, where I've eaten a couple of times (both owned Paul Kahan). I'd go back to Avec every time I'm in Chicago, but not  Blackbird. There are no reservations at Avec; you sit at communal tables with many others. Aptly, Avec means "with" in French. Each time I've befriended (and sometimes even shared food with) [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:35-04:00August 14th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards: Call for Entries

Did your non-profit organization publish a community cookbook in 2008 or 2009? If so, consider entering it in the 20th annual Tabasco Community Cookbook Awards; entries will be accepted until Friday, September 25, 2009. McIlhenny Company (makers of Tabasco products) established these awards to recognize the role these community cookbooks play in chronicling and preserving local culinary traditions. Community cookbooks were first published during the Civil War. To date, these awards have honored more than 250 exceptional cookbooks. Winner receive the following (for local charities of their choice) first place, $2,500; second place, $1,000; third place, $750; and regional awards $500 — and they receive awards stickers for their books. I [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:36-04:00August 11th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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27th American Wine & Food Festival

The 27th American Wine & Food Festival is upon us! For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.AWFF.org. The celebration, benefiting Los Angeles chapters of Meals on Wheels, takes place October 2-4 on the Universal Studios Back Lot. Pre-Sale Tickets and VIP Perks to this amazing epicurean event, hosted by the Wolfgang Puck, are now available! The American Wine & Food Festival, hosted by the Puck- Lazaroff Charitable Foundation, is serving up a world-class culinary celebration. This star-studded food Festival taking place October 2 - 4, 2009, in Los Angeles, features world-renowned chefs, vintners and spirit purveyors at the most anticipated epicurean event of the year. The Festival features [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:22:03-04:00August 7th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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.Food: The web’s goes foodie!

Open the oven doors Hal... It's a new age we live... We are surrounded by computers. Why should we think food would remain above the fray? Forget .com and .org... We've got a new kid on the block! .FOOD Web Address: A New Top Level Domain Designed for Food Lovers Worldwide! Wolfgang Puck (renowned chef, author and entrepreneur) has joined forces with some Internet pioneers to create the .FOOD domain. Website names and email addresses ending in .FOOD will provide restaurants, food retailers, caterers, food-lovers and chefs worldwide a unique opportunity to brand their web addresses. “This is a great way for the finest food enterprises to stand out from [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:37-04:00July 29th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Grilling: The Reading Essentials

I recently came across the Barnes & Noble Review, an online publication offering appraisals of current books, music, and films. The site publishes exclusive material from a number of critics, reviewers, and authors while highlighting special topics and collections in interesting ways. One featured section, Five Books, offers a quick, yet in depth, study on a specific topic each week. With the grilling season upon us, I had the luck to happen upon The Review in a week focusing on backyard grilling (and the masters that practice it). Their suggested collection has some big names and some great titles: Bobby Flay's Boy Meets Grill sits beside bestselling, James Beard Book [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:39-04:00July 3rd, 2009|Foodie Interviews, xyz misc|0 Comments
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From Iberia to Latin America: Second Stop Bespoke Restaurant

"Where do I get green apple juice?" asked Arturo Franco-Camacho, as he smiled and sliced a green apple before putting it through a juicer. "Simple!" The rooftop of Bespoke restaurant was the second stop of the From Iberia to Latin America foodie tour at the Arts & Ideas Festival this past weekend. If you haven't yet dined al fresco at Bespoke (266 College Street, New Haven, 203.562.4544), make a plan to do so this summer. It's up two flights of stairs, but it's worth the walk - and it's obviously only open weather permitting. Tour participants enjoyed Arturo Franco-Camacho's cooking demonstration of the Apple-Inspired Ceviche -- consisting of shrimp, scallops, [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:40-04:00June 17th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|0 Comments
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From Iberia to Latin America: First Stop Ibiza Restaurant

The Foodie tours have commenced with the first of seven — for the International Festival of Arts & Ideas 2009 — held on Saturday June 13. Flavors from Iberia to South America's first stop was Ibiza, 39 High Street, New Haven (203.865.1933) hosted by owners Juan Carlos Gonzales and his wife Maria. Chef Manuel Romero demonstrated vieiras (scallops). Specifically Seared George Bank sea scallops with asparagus, butternut squash, grape tomatoes in a potato foamy emulsion. The chef first lightly seasoned the scallops with a pinch of salt and then seared them in extra virgin olive oil; he set them aside as he added thinly diagonally sliced asparagus, diced butternut squash [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:41-04:00June 15th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, Recipes, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Economist’s Food for Thought Dinner

It's hard to ignore something so bold; So I must let you know about an event where two of my favorite things collide (The Economist magazine and French cooking). The Economist has paired with Chef David Bouley for an exclusive dinner party called 'Food for Thought'; an event to celebrate the release of the book 'An Edible History of Humanity' by the magazine's business editor, Tom Standage. The evening will feature a customized three-course menu, cocktails and conversation between Bouley and Standage.  The menu will explore many of the themes in the newly released book. Tom Standage (www.tomstandage.com) Tom Standage is business editor at The Economist, he is also the [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:42-04:00May 28th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Jamie Oliver says you’re too fat

If you are not aware of Jamie Oliver, you will likely to soon be. Chef Oliver is a staple of British culinary entertainment and has has slowly been making inroads in U.S. markets. He will certainly further his recognition on this side of the pond after recently completing a deal with ABC for a series seeking to persuade Americans to swap hamburgers for home-cooked food (Join the club Mr. Oliver!). The program will be a combination of Oliver's two British television series, Jamie's School Dinners and Jamie's Ministry Of Food. The 33 year old chef plans to visit unhealthy American cities to try and improve eating habits by using local [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:43-04:00May 22nd, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|1 Comment
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Taste of the Nation

I had the extraordinary experience of attending Taste of the Nation this month. The event was held at the breathtaking ballroom of the Georgia Aquarium and showcased many of the city's top culinary talents slinging their wares from their restaurant's booths, in a trade show, buffet-style format. A carnival atmosphere prevailed as we meandered through the aromas and colors of the various foodie samplings flying in ever direction. This is an event that is not to be missed if you have the opportunity. Since 1988, Taste of the Nation has brought together the most creative culinary minds from across the country; key figures of modern cuisine and national culinary celebrities [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:43-04:00May 14th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Double Accolades for WineWise: Your Complete Guide To Understanding, Selecting, and Enjoying Wine

Last month WineWise: Your Complete Guide To Understanding, Selecting, and Enjoying Wine by Steven Kolpan, Brian H. Smith and Michael A. Weiss (John Wiley & Sons; Hardcover $29.95) was named the 2009 Georges Duboeuf Wine Book of the Year. That prestigious award was established to recognize authors whose books help promote and advance wine appreciation and education. But that's not all the accolades this illustrated book won. This month WineWise also received  the 2009 James Beard Foundation Book Award for the best book in the Beverage category. The three authors have been wine professors  at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York for more than two decades. [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:43-04:00May 13th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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James Beard Foundation Awards

The place to be and be seen last Monday, May 4 was at Avery Fisher Hall (NYC), where the so-called "oscars" of the food world were awarded to top culinary professionals. Some sightings included Emeril, Martha, Lydia, Jacques Pepin, Stanley Tucci, Richard Gere, Ted Allen, Nora Ephron and so, so many more... Some highlights of that evening's James Beard Foundation Awards include: OUTSTANDING RESTAURATEUR AWARD - (A working restaurateur who sets high national standards in restaurant operations and entrepreneurship. Candidates must have been in the restaurant business for at least 10 years. Candidates must not have been nominated for a James Beard Foundation chef award in the past 10 years.) [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:43-04:00May 11th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, xyz misc|0 Comments
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Iron Chef Atlanta

Battle Rhubarb... Allez Cuisine!!! A recent fundraiser for the Atlanta Dogwood Festival took on an interesting dimension when it adopted the 'Iron Chef' format. Guests to the event were privy to a selection of silent auction items, passed appetizers (a pimento cheese 'slider' impressing most) and wine... all while taking in the competitive 'battle' between two local chefs. The secret ingredient was rhubarb (oddly, a rather Northeastern ingredient by my account). Shaun Doty represented his restaurant (aptly named Shaun's) while Chip Ulbrich showed what South City Kitchen was all about. The pair produced a dinner for the judges; Chip offering an entree of seared pork belly atop a sweet potato, [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:20:46-04:00April 7th, 2009|Foodie Interviews, Other happenings, USA Restaurants, USA Travel, xyz misc|2 Comments
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