Odds ‘n ends posts about things happening in NYC area , plus leftover posts from original BIte of the Best site
Phenomenal Femmes Wine Dinner, Ritz, NYC
Marika Vida, wine director at Ritz-Carlton Central Park and a fellow Dame — member of Les Dames d’Escoffier — invited me to attend one of her Phenomenal Femmes Wine Dinners, part of a series highlighting pioneering women of the wine industry. This one featured Audrey Herd-Smith of Antinori, wine pairings by Marika and a four-course dinner created by Executive Chef Mark Arnao. Before being seated, we sipped bubbly Montenisa Franciacorta Rose, as we nibbled jumbo shrimp wrapped in shredded potatoes served with a scampi sauce. With each course and wine, Audrey Herd-Smith shared her wisdom and knowledge about the wines. We sipped the crisp Guado al Tasso Vermentino 2013, as [...]
Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival
Bite of the Best recently attended the 13th annual Hudson Valley Wine & Food Festival, at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck, New York. The two day festival showcased a range of New York State wine and specialty foods, along with sample dishes from local restaurants and food trucks. While New York City may be the center of the restaurant world, the Hudson Valley is an epicenter for much of the locally grown food NYC chefs favor in their dishes, as well as a cottage industry of artisanal food producers. The Festival offered a peek at, tastes of and opportunities to buy many tastes of the region’s bounty, focusing on [...]
SHARE raised $450K at the Annual Benefit
Earlier this week, leading women of stove, stage, screen and publishing united to share their support for breast and ovarian cancer fighters and survivors at SHARE's 11th Annual “A Second Helping of Life” benefit. According to Beth Kling, SHARE's communications director, the event had about 850 attendees, and raised over $450,000. Their highest grossing event, enabling this organization to continue to support those affected by breast or ovarian cancer. Photo credit: Jean G. Bortner
Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival
Hudson Valley Wine and Food Festival opens its gates at the Dutchess County Fairgrounds in Rhinebeck (NY) September 6 and 7 from 11 am to 5 pm for those eager to taste, test and learn about award winning wines, state-of-the-art distilleries and New York State’s food producers. Wineries, distilleries, craft breweries and food artisans will present their wares for other to enjoy wine tasting and food sampling as well as the demonstrations by well-known chefs. The celebratory atmosphere is enhanced by live music and the anticipation surrounding the judging of the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition. Founded 13 years ago by Hudson Valley-based Wineracks.com, the Hudson Valley Wine and Food [...]
A Second Helping of Life Tasting Event September 22, 2014
Over three dozen leading women of stove, stage, screen and publishing unite to share their support for breast and ovarian cancer fighters and survivors at the 11th Annual "A Second Helping of Life" benefit on Monday, September 22, 6 p.m., at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers. Individual tickets are $325, $500 and $750. Tables of 8 and 10 are priced from $5,000 up to $35,000. For information call 212-937-5581 or visit www.sharebenefit.org Participating Chefs: • Anita Lo, Annisa • Rebecca Charles, Pearl Oyster Bar • Alexandra Guarnaschelli, Butter • Amy Scherber, Amy's Bread • Alison Awerbuch, Abigail Kirsch Catering & Events • Einat Admony, Balaboosta, Taïm, and Bar Bolonat • [...]
Taste of Tribeca May 2014 (NY)
Taste of Tribeca — an outdoor food festival featuring a variety food from the top chefs and restaurants of New York — will be held Saturday, May 17, 2014 from 11:30am to 3pm. All proceeds will go towards the continuation of the arts and enrichment programs at local public schools, PS 150 and PS 234. Ticket — which are on sale now —for the general tasting event are $45 for advanced purchase or $50/day of event, which includes six tastes from any participating restaurant. Also available are the premium seating ticket for $350, $680, $950 for tables of two, four and six that includes personal food runners, reserved seating, designer t-shirts and a gift bag from [...]
James Beard Foundation Launches Live-Stream Kitchen Cam
Starting on Monday, you can watch the behind-the-scenes action happening at the James Beard House more than 200 nights a year right from your computer. On Monday, March 31, the James Beard Foundation will launch the JBF Kitchen Cam, a live-stream three-angle camera feed that, allowing any foodie with an internet connection to experience the behind-the-scenes action at the Beard House. That night the cam will capturing multiple JBF Award-winning chef Daniel Boulud and his team from DANIEL as they prep, plate, and serve their multi-course menu for “Dinner with Daniel”. The JBF Kitchen Cam will run during most James Beard House Events, including these upcoming dinners: April 3, Coast-to-Coast [...]
2014 James Beard Media and Book Awards Finalists Announced
What follows are the nominees for the 2014 James Beard Foundation Media Awards — where the winners will be announced on May 2, 2014. 2014 James Beard Foundation Broadcast and New Media Awards Presented Lenox Tableware and Gifts Radio Show/Audio Webcast Here & Now Hosts: Meghna Chakrabarti, Jeremy Hobson, and Robin Young Area: Public Radio Producer: Kathy Gunst The Splendid Table Host: Lynne Rossetto Kasper Area: American Public Media and Public Radio Producers: Jennifer Russell and Sally Swift This American Life Host: Fred Armisen, Ben Calhoun, and Ira Glass Area: NPR Producer: Ben Calhoun Special/Documentary CBS Sunday Morning: “Eat, Drink and be Merry” Host: Charles Osgood Network: CBS Producers: Gavin [...]
2014 James Beard Foundation Restauarnt Award Nominees
What follows are the nominees for the 2014 James Beard Foundation Award — where the winners will be announced on May 5, 2014. 2014 James Beard Foundation Restaurant and Chef Awards Best Chef: Great Lakes (IL, IN, MI, OH) Dave Beran, Next, Chicago Curtis Duffy, Grace, Chicago Jonathon Sawyer, The Greenhouse Tavern, Cleveland Paul Virant, Vie Restaurant, Western Springs, IL Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia, Chicago Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic (D.C., DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA) Cathal Armstrong, Restaurant Eve, Alexandria, VA Spike Gjerde, Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore Brad Spence, Amis, Philadelphia Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, D.C. Cindy Wolf, Charleston, Baltimore Best Chef: Midwest (IA, KS, MN, MO, NE, ND, SD, WI) Justin Aprahamian, [...]
Ritz-Carlton (NYC) Women & Wine Dinner Series
Auden Bistro & Bar — the newly opened restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Central Park — has launched a Women & Wine Dinner series, combining iconic figures of the wine industry with traditional bistro cuisine. Each dinner features a four-course meal prepared by Chef Mark Arnao, with wine pairing by wine director Marika Vida-Arnole using the guest speaker’s. Dinner is served in the private dining room. The upcoming events include the following dinners: • March 18th, 2014 – Debbie Lewis, Owner of Lewis Cellars Winery (Napa Valley) • April 1st, 2014 – Veronique Drouhin, Winemaker • May 21st, 2014 – Stephanie Honig, Owner of Honig Vineyard and Winery (Napa Valley) A [...]
Chocolate Wine Pairing at The Ritz, NYC
Ritz-Carlton’s Wine Director, Marika Vida-Arnold has paired wine from wineries lead by iconic women in wine, with pralinés, orange sticks and ganache created by Pastry Chef Stephanie Grajales. Some sample pairings of "Chocolate takes Flight" with a feminine touch include: Dark Chocolate Ganache Infused with Fresh Mint, Lauverjat Sancerre Winemaker: Karine Lauverjat Dark Chocolate Orange Peel, Dobogó Tokaji Aszu Winery Owner: Izabella Swack Belle Femme Praliné, Veuve Clicquot Demi Sec Homage to Madame Clicquot Ponsardin These pairing are offered in flights of three for $45 per person beginning on February 9th through February 15th in the Star Lounge at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park. For more information, call 212-521-6125. [...]
Casting for Food Network Star in NYC
Interested in becoming a host of your own cooking show? Food Network Star is holding open casting looking for "those with a captivating personality who believe they’re at the top of the culinary game and want to inspire a Food Network audience through their passion for food and cooking." Open casting calls in New York City, October 7, San Antonio, October 14, San Francisco, October 19, Providence, October 26, Los Angeles, November 2, New Orleans, November 12 and Chicago, November 16. If you can't attend you can alternately submit a 3-minute home video. For more details about the casting call and to download an application click here. - guest contributor
The 10th Annual A Second Helping of Life, NYC
More than two dozen of NYC's top female chefs will serve savory and sweet dishes at the Tenth Anniversary "A Second Helping of Life" benefit on Monday, September 23, 6 p.m., at Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers. Chef Amanda Freitag of Food Network's "Chopped" and Cooking Channel's series "Unique Eats" will serve as Executive Chef and author and restaurant critic Ruth Reichl (will serve as host at this fundraiser to support SHARE, a non-profit organization that offers free peer support to women with breast or ovarian cancer, their families and friends. Activities include a tasting reception and live and silent auctions. A Second Helping of Life is an annual fall [...]
Metropolitan Washington D.C. Restaurant Week August 2013
Metropolitan Washington D.C. Restaurant Week runs through Monday, August 19 to Sunday, August 25, 2013, featuring hundreds of participating restaurants and offering lunches for $20.13 and dinners for $35.13. For additional information or a listing of participating restaurants, click here.
Devour Downtown (IN) Restaurant Week August to September 2013
Devour (IN) Downtown Restaurant Week runs through Monday, August 19 to Sunday, September 1, 2013, featuring a variety of participating restuarants and offering 3-course meals at a valued price. For additional information or a listing of participating restaurants, click here.
Valley Food Lovers’ Festival, Hudson Valley, NY
On July 19-20, the 3rd Annual Hudson Valley Food Lover's' Festival is holding two fundraising events at Columbia County's Copake Country Club. The first event, "Hootenanny" Farm Fresh Dinner on July 19, 6-11 pm will include a Hudson Valley cheese course and golf cart drive-in movie. The goal of the second event, "Friends of the Farmer" Festival July 20th, 11 am-6 pm is to raise funds for the Farm On! Foundation and Camp Farm On!, which educates students about having careers involving the local food system. For more information click here.
Share Our Strength: Autumn Harvest Dinner, NYC
Tickets are now available for Gramercy Tavern’s annual Autumn Harvest Dinner, taking place Monday, September 30th at the restaurant (42 East 20th Street New York City). It's the 20th anniversary benefiting Share Our Strength. The stellar line-up of chefs includes Linton Hopkins (Restaurant Eugene) Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat) Marc Vetri (Vetri, Osteria, Amis, Alla Spina) Mindy Segal (Hot Chocolate) The event will include a Champagne & hors d’oeuvres reception, a five-course dinner prepared by the chefs, extraordinary wines paired by celebrated sommeliers, as well as a luxury silent and live auction. For more information or to purchase tickets, please click here.
A Feast to Benefit Cancer Research, Bridgehampton, NY
Chef Todd English and friends present a “Feast” to Benefit Cancer Research on July 27 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the home of Maria and Kenneth Fishel in Bridgehampton, New York. The 9th Annual “A Hamptons Happening,” — an evening of food, drink, music, dancing and an impressive auction— benefits the Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation (SWCRF). Founded in 1976, the SWCRF is a pioneer in cancer research, focusing on uncovering the causes of cancer and reprogramming cancer cells. In addition to honoring celebrity Chef English, the event also honors fashion legend Ruth Finley, creator of the well-known Fashion Calendar. WCBS-TV News Anchor Chris Wragge is the evening’s emcee. [...]