Rambling

Random musings on Life in the Big Apple

Practice Makes Perfect Spring Fling

Practice Makes Perfect Spring Fling will be held May 6, at Midtown Loft & Terrace (267 Fifth Avenue, New York City) from 7-10 pm. The event will have dancing, food, an open bar and an auction that includes Yankees tickets, a 2-night stay at the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan  Delta Voucher, Knicks tickets and a private dinner provided by Celebrity Chef Gabe Kennedy, winner of ABC’s The Taste. Guests will enjoy beverages from Gunhill Brewery, Banfi Winery, Lagunitas Brewery, and food from Kitchen Provance, Shake Shack, and Joanne’s Restaurant. A 100% of the proceeds go to Practice Makes Perfect to allow them to provide summer educational programming in low-income neighborhoods. Practice [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00April 22nd, 2015|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Carnevale at Tommaso’s, Bay Ridge, Brookyn

The celebration of Carnevale at Tommaso’s (1464 86th Street) in Brooklyn continues it's 42nd year of tradition. The festival celebration — from Friday, February 6th through Fat Tuesday February 17 —  features a  food, wine and music from a troupe of classically trained singers, who perform Italian arias, folk songs and Broadway standards. The feast begins with a parade of 15 hot and cold antipasti — many prepared only for Carnevale — and continues with a choice of pasta and entrée, followed by coffee and dessert. The fee is $45 to $60, depending upon the day. For information visit their website or call for reservations call 718-236-9883. - Guest submission [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00January 22nd, 2015|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Long Island (NY) Restaurant Week November 2014

Long Island Restaurant Week runs Sunday, November 2 through Sunday, November 9, 2014, featuring a variety of restaurants and prix-fixe three-course menus for $27.95. For additional information or list of participating restaurants, click here.

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00October 29th, 2014|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

New Taste of the Upper West Side in May

The 2014 New Taste of the Upper West Side  begins in Theodore Roosevelt Park on Tuesday, May 27th (with a rain date on Thursday, May 29th) at 7 pm with a cocktail event under the stars to celebrate and raise funds for New York City’s Theodore Roosevelt Park ($150/person) Travel Channel’s Adam Richman and  Food Network star and Iron Chef Alex Guarnaschelli (Butter Restaurant) will host Friday, May 30th's Comfort Classic from 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm, at the Grand White Tent on Columbus Avenue between West 76th and 77th Streets. The duo will oversee 40 restaurants from the Upper West Side showcasing their comfort dishes and competing to win [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00April 17th, 2014|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

A Taste of Excellence, Time Warner Center, NYC

Attend the  epicurean event on Thursday, April 24th, 2014 beginning at 6:30 pm on the second floor of the Time Warner Center, NYC. The Restaurant and Bar Collection at Time Warner Center offers an evening of fine dining, wine and entertainment. Enjoy canapés served by Union Square Events and sip specially crafted cocktails from Center Bar and Stone Rose Lounge during an open-bar cocktail hour. Dine on dishes from A Voce, Landmarc, Porter House New York and Masa. End the evening on a sweet note with desserts and cordials, accompanied by live jazz from Jazz at Lincoln Center. To purchase tickets ($95/person), click here.  

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00April 16th, 2014|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

NoLA’s Michael Stoltzfus at City Grit, NYC

Led by Executive Chef and Owner, Michael Stoltzfus, Coquette’s culinary team will be prepare a “Fall in New Orleans” themed dinner on November 14th at City Grit (38 Prince, between Mott and Mulberry, New York City) Chef Stoltzfus — who was nominated for a 2013 James Beard Award for Best Chef in the South as well as Food & Wine Magazine’s People’s Best Chef in both 2012 and 2013— will create a multi-course experience that includes: a New Orleans root vegetable salad with cashew butter, satsuma vinaigrette and olive praline; butternut squash cavatelli with fried chicken and maple syrup; suckling pig and for dessert apple cardamom snowball and sweet potato [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00November 6th, 2013|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Sancerre… yes, Rouge

"A red Sancerre?" I said somewhat bewildered. Until that moment, Sancerre was Sauvignon Blanc, I hadn't a clue that Sancerre Rouge even existed! I learned about the Loire Valley red through a chilled bottle of Lucien Crochet: La Croix du Roy, an elegant light-bodied, bright but earthy, Pinot Noir at dinner at Montmartre. The sommelier had kept the wine at 50 F, making it much more drinkable with the French foods. Interestingly, I also drank Pinot Noir chilled while dining with master sommelier Fred Dexheimer early this summer. "Chill ... and the natural beauty comes out," Fred explained. We were at Artisinal, where Fred — spokesperson for Pays d'Oc IGP [...]

By |2017-09-02T16:06:21-04:00August 18th, 2013|Food & Drinks, Rambling|0 Comments

Floor Mats Comparison: to Bite or Not to Bite?

I waited until I got my book club friends settled in before I sat down on one chair and put my feet up on another. Every bone and muscle in my body hurt. “Are you okay?” “The tile floor did me in!”  I responded, having been standing for a couple hours prepping for the gathering. Before discussing the book, advice immediately turned to soft floor mats to cushion the hard floor and reduce achy joints. After that discussion, I decided to compare some of what’s available. I contacted a couple companies for samples to find out whether floor mats are worth the cost. Or as we ask at BiteoftheBest.com, to [...]

Flea & Food Market in Long Island City

Long Island City is home to the newest flea and food market in NYC:  LIC Flea & Food, which will operate every Saturday and Sunday this summer.  and that overlooks the Manhattan skyline. The food and festivities are conveniently located in a 24,000-square-foot lot at the corner of 5th Street and 46th Avenue in the heart of LIC with a view of the Manhattan skyline. It's easy to get to as it's just blocks from the 7, E, M and G trains as well as the East River Ferry and parking across the street.  Buses will run to and from the ferry to the parking lot. Community partners include TF [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:10:59-04:00June 21st, 2013|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Big Apple Barbecue Block Party

The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party will take place at Madison Square Park and its surrounding streets on June 8 - 9 with food, music and grilling classes hosted by Kevin Kolman.  Cue experts including Kenny Callaghan, Joe Duncan and fifteen others will be participating. Admission is free to the event, cooking demos, culinary discussions and music performances unless noted otherwise. Food starts at  $9 per plate. For more information, click here.

By |2017-08-31T14:11:00-04:00May 31st, 2013|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Taste of Tribeca, NYC

The Taste of Tribeca is  an outdoor culinary festival that celebrates downtown local flavor. Now in its 19th year, this annual event will take place on Saturday, May 18th from 11:30am to 3pm, on Duane Street (between Greenwich and Hudson Street) in Tribeca. All proceeds from the event will ensure the continuation of arts and enrichment programs at local public schools, PS 150 and PS 234. The festival will bring together Tribeca’s top chefs and restaurants, including Tribeca Grill, Landmarc, Kutsher’s Tribeca, Bubby’s, The Palm, Blaue Gans, Duane Park Patisserie and newcomers, such as Dirty Bird To Go and Aamanns-Copenhagen. In addition to restaurant tastings, there will be a special [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:11:40-04:00April 26th, 2013|Rambling|0 Comments

Flavors from Spain: Two Pop Ups at Openhouse Gallery

Openhouse Gallery is a food-loving event space specializing in pop ups. This month they are hosting two Spanish dining pop ups at its location off the Bowery. The first — happening from April 18-20 — celebrates the opening of Chef Jonah Miller’s restaurant Huertas. Miller will be serving a bevy of pintxos,  finger-food from northeast Spain. Pulpo gallego, jamón and peas, and white anchovy with green olive and pickled peppers are just three examples of the traditional Spanish snacks on the menu. Anthony Belliveau-Flores of Rowan Imports will be serving two Spanish ciders from the Asturias region along with the pintxos. Traditionally, these ciders are poured from a height with [...]

By |2017-08-31T14:11:00-04:00April 15th, 2013|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Arrival of 2012 Beaujolais Nouveau

At the stroke of midnight on November 15, corks popped across the country as Georges Duboeuf officially celebrated the release of his 2012 Beaujolais nouveau. In New York City, the wine was unveiled at a celebration Manhattan’s Highline Ballroom featuring a performance by techno-illusionist Marco Tempest. The annual arrival  is a feted occasion that happens every third Thursday of November, in accordance with French law and in observation of the tradition of this festive wine – the first of the harvest and of the vintage. Always a harbinger of the holiday season, the 2012 vintage is the 30th anniversary of Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Nouveau in the United States. Both Peter [...]

By |2017-09-02T16:05:06-04:00November 19th, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Eleven Madison Park’s Daniel Humm

I’m in love with Daniel Humm, chef/owner of Eleven Madison Park.  (Okay, so I do have a tendency for hyperbole!) I recently met and chatted with this tall, trim chef (he's a marathon runner), who lives in northern New Jersey with his wife and two young children. He is undoubtedly one of the most down to earth, unpretentious New York chefs I’ve ever met. My first meeting was earlier this week at a special "Best of the Alps" luncheon at Eleven Madison Park, and then last night at the Four Seasons Restaurant at the James Beard Foundation Silver Anniversary Gala, celebrating 25 years of outstanding chefs. For last night’s event, Daniel [...]

By |2017-09-03T08:12:29-04:00November 17th, 2012|Foodie Interviews, Rambling|0 Comments

I Love Umbria Events in NYC

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg officially declared November 2012 in New York City " I Love Umbria Month!"  During the month (and for the first week of December) New Yorkers can learn about the food of this part of Italy through cooking classes and at food and wine tasting events. Many of the events are free. Thursday, November 15, 2012 Chef’s Kitchen: Food and Wines of Umbria 6:30 – 8 PM La Scuola Grande at Eataly- 200 5th Avenue (Entrance on 23rd), New York, NY 10010 Price: $60 Menu: Crostini di Lenticchie, Strangozzi con Burro al Tartufo, Torta Umbra all’Olio d’Oliva & Gelato Wines: Perticaia, Arnaldo Caprai Friday, November 16, 2012 [...]

By |2017-09-01T16:53:39-04:00November 13th, 2012|Rambling|0 Comments

Lower East Side Pickle Day

DayLife presents Lower East Side Pickle Day will take place on Sunday, October 28 from 12 - 5pm on Orchard Street from East Houston to Delancey Streets in New York's Lower East Side. The picklers will be selling their brine-soaked delicacies. Orchard Street, which will be covered in AstroTurf,   will have  30+ food and fashion vendors selling their goods and goodies all  from modern-day pushcarts. The event will also include entertainment and activities, including  face painting, balloon animals, belly and ballroom dancing and instruction, a costume contest and a home pickling competition. - Guest submission

By |2017-08-31T14:11:01-04:00October 21st, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Seventeenth Harvest in Square, Union Square

Last Thursday night I attended the Harvest in the Park - an event raising money for the ongoing beautification and maintenance efforts in Union Square Park put on by Union Square Partnership. With the nearly 1200 people who attended, they raised $330,000, up $30,000 from last year. Those funds have been used  for enhanced seating, plantings, the free Wi-Fi and the addition of bistro tables, chairs and umbrellas. Silly me,  I tried all the main signature dishes from the district's most popular restaurants, which used fresh produce from Union Square's own Greenmarket. And I washed all that down with wines from a dozen plus wineries. Beer from microbreweries were also [...]

By |2017-09-02T16:10:53-04:00September 23rd, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

Harvest in Square, Union Square

The 17th annual Harvest in the Square will transform Union Square Park, West Plaza into a dining haven on Thursday, September 20 from 6 to 9 pm. VIP entry is at 6; general admission 7:30pm Join friends and foodies for a festive celebration of community and cuisine at this local food & wine extravaganza. Harvest in the Square supports an excellent cause – the Union Square Partnership’s ongoing efforts to beautify and enhance Union Square Park. Tickets available by clicking here are $125, general admission; $400 VIP.  

By |2017-08-31T14:11:01-04:00August 25th, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

NYC’s Biggest Julia Child 100th Birthday Celebration, Sept 12

Les Dames d’Escoffier New York (LDNY) and the New York chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) will co-host a 100th Birthday Celebration in honor of Julia Child at the French Consulate of New York (934 Fifth Avenue) on Wednesday, September 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The reception will feature a menu by Diane Gordon Catering inspired by Child’s best selling cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” with wines donated by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits and Southern Wine & Spirits of New York. General admission is $65 per person. Click here for reservations . LDNY is an organization of professional women in food, fine [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:33-04:00August 17th, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments

New York City Wine & Food Festival 2012

Tickets for the fifth 2012  NYC Wine & Food Festival October 11 - 14, 2012, are now on sale. The event is sponsored by Food Network and presented by Food & Wine. One hundred percent of the proceeds benefit the Food Bank For New York City and Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. To date, the Festival has raised over $5 million to help fight hunger. The kickoff party — a twist on the signature dessert party — is on October 12 at 82 Mercer in SoHo. Other festival highlights include Bobby Flay's Tacos & Tequila, Giada De Laurentiis's Meatball Madness; Rachael Ray's Blue Moon Burger Bash; "On The Chopping [...]

By |2017-08-31T16:19:35-04:00June 25th, 2012|Rambling, xyz misc|0 Comments
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