| by Sophie Gayot Last weekend, I went to have a family brunch with my brother at Santa Monica’s Tiato, the latest restaurant from the An family. Also known as the House of An, they own Crustacean in Beverly Hills, molecular gastronomy-influenced AnQi Gourmet Bistro in Costa Mesa, and Thanh Long and Crustacean in San [...] | ![]() |
| I was reminded yesterday of why I love Huckleberry. For those who haven’t been yet, Huckleberry is a bakery, cafe, and caterer all in one. As soon as you walk in, you’ll see a line formed around the counter, usually so long that the end is near the back door. This isn’t [...] | ![]() |
| The XXX chocolate layer cake from Baker & Banker. If all goes according to plan, the Baker & Banker Bakery should be opening on Sunday August 1st. The project is from husband-and-wife team Lori Baker and Jeff Banker, and is just around the corner from their restaurant. On the menu: Four Barrel drip coffee and espresso [...] | ![]() |
| Photo by Blair Sneddon Photography.Open for dinner on Wednesday July 28th, is Zero Zero, the SoMa pizzeria and restaurant from executive chef/owner Bruce Hill (BIX, Picco, Pizzeria Picco) in the former Azie space. The Bay Area is no stranger to Hill’s stellar pizzas at Pizzeria Picco in Larkspur, so SF diners are pretty fired up [...] | ![]() |
President Obama had a busy Wednesday in the city this week, which began with a taping of his appearance on The View. After an intense interrogation by Elisabeth Hasselbeck, the president sought a safe space at The Four Seasons Restaurant. Anna Wintour continued the fund-raising fun at a dinner in her West Village townhouse, where the $30,000 seats were filled by VIPs like Harvey Weinstein and Andre Balazs. On the previous evening, another big group of celebs gathered at a table at the Lion; this star-studded crowd included Lucy Liu, Mick Jagger, and Lenny Kravitz — as well as Alex Rodriguez and Cameron Diaz, who aren't letting the lack of an official confirmation slow their relationship down. But still they play coy (who are they fooling?): Cameron left early, and alone. Billy’s Bakery: Penn Badgley snacked on a red-velvet cupcake (and skim milk) while waiting for a dozen cupcakes to go. Treats for his Gossip Girl castmates, perhaps? [People] Read more posts by Alex Rees Filed Under: celebrity settings, alex rodriguez, barack obama, cameron diaz, four seasons restaurant, the lion | ![]() |
Bensonhurst: Tommaso’s hosts an Italian-American Wine Dinner on Friday, August 20 at 7 p.m. The five-course meal fuses Italian and American cuisine with dishes like soft-shell-crab Santiago, roast leg of American lamb, and aged Pecorino cheese from Tuscany. The meal costs $75 per person; reservations are recommended. [Grub Street] Fort Greene: Junior’s honors National Cheesecake Day with 30-cent slices; they're free with the purchase of a meal. [Local/NYT] Filed Under: neighborhood watch, cocoron, kings county distillery |
| At Chowpatty Beach in Mumbai. When the SF Chefs opening night wraps up on Friday (yes, on Friday the 13th!), the evening is still far from being done. You’ll want to walk a block up to E&O Trading Co., where tablehopper (yes, yours truly) is co-hosting Happy Ending, a full-tilt Asian street food party. Get ready [...] | ![]() |
While NYC Food Guy has a preview of La Newyorkina’s honeydew-cucumber Popsicle (debuting at the Hester Street Fair tomorrow), we’re told another fair favorite, Guerrilla Ice Cream, is really going nuts. The start-up will be outside of Burger Shoppe from August 4 till the 6th, serving Bear Raid, a new flavor consisting of (get this) caramelized-Vidalia-onion ice cream topped with cured pork guanciale and the Burger Shoppe’s sweet-potato fries. The cart’s creators, Ethan Frisch (formerly of Allen & Delancey and Tabla) and ad man Ori Zohar, say it’s “sweet and sophisticated.” Even if you end up disagreeing that onion ice cream is “the quintessential summer flavor,” you can at least rest assured that all profits go to the Street Vendor Project (the pop-up will be donating to charities on a rotating basis). Check out the other flavors below.
Read more posts by Daniel Maurer Filed Under: what to eat, burger shoppe, guerrilla ice cream, hester street fair | ![]() |
| Veteran Vancouver Barman and Cocktailian, Jay Jones, and Melody Fury are ecstatic to announce the potent itinerary for the Gastown debut of Vancouver Food Tour’s Craft Cocktail Tour Series. [ Thursday August 19th, 5:30 - 9 pm ] The hands-on tour presents fundamental cocktail-making theories and techniques in a stylish and delicious fashion. The [...] | ![]() |
Filed under: Drinks Photo: Demián Camacho Santa Ana Whether you're having guests for brunch or just nursing a hangover alone, the Bloody Mary is without a doubt the quintessential brunch drink. What we know today as the Bloody Mary actually started off as a simple tomato juice and vodka drink without all the seasonings. Try mixing up equal parts vodka (gin and aquavit also work well) and tomato water as a nod to the Mary's origins without all the trash. If you're pressed for time, tomato water can be as simple as opening a can of tomatoes and draining off the liquid or taking fresh tomato purée and straining the liquid through a fine sieve. Mix the vodka and tomato water over ice in your Boston shaker, pouring the mixture from glass to metal tin until chilled and thoroughly mixed (or shake if you don't mind a little foaminess). Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. If you can't resist adding more, perhaps rim the edge with smoked salt, celery salt, or a chunky salt-and-pepper mix and add a lemon wheel for garnish. If coffee is the only way to start your day, you must try a cocktail that goes by a variety of names -- Espresso Martini, Vodka Espresso, and Pharmaceutical Stimulant. Supposedly it was created by a bartender in London after a customer asked him for a cocktail that would wake 'em up and screw 'em up. Recipes after the jump... Continue reading Breakfast & Brunch Cocktails -- LeNell it All
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Filed under: Recalls Photo: jessicareeder, Flickr You might want to think twice before tossing those sprouts in your salad. They're the latest packaged food product to be recalled for potential contamination. Specialty Farms Organic Alfalfa Sprouts Blend (upc 509800108) and Specialty Farms Organic Sprout Salad (upc 8192400024) have been added to the list of sprout products recalled by Specialty Farms, Examiner.com reported. Both have a "best if sold by" date of 8/03/10. The sprouts are being recalled for potential Lysteria Monocytogenes contamination. Listeria can be especially harmful to children, the elderly and pregnant women as it can cause miscarriage and stillbirth. Symptoms include headache, fever, abdominal pain, stiffness, vomiting and diarrhea. Specialty Farms issued the voluntary recall on July 29, 2010 after lab tests showed positive results from retail samples. No illnesses have been reported, the FDA said in a statement. The company is working to determine the source of the potential contamination in its facilities and will be immediately remedying problems as they are identified, the agency said. Continue reading Specialty Farms Brand Sprouts Recalled
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According to City Room, Burger King’s foray into the world of glamburgers, the Whopper Bar, opens its first New York location tomorrow at 40th Street and Seventh Avenue. But it won’t be serving beer until next month (a spokesman hopes). That’s right, not even the King can finagle a liquor license in this town. As with its three other locations in Miami, Memphis, and Orlando, the “flame-broiled premium dining experience” will offer a Bourbon Burger made with bourbon sauce (it “does not contain alcohol,” according to the South Beach menu) as well as other offerings like a California Whopper topped with guac, and your choice of slightly less humdrum toppings (blue-cheese crumble, “angry” onions, etc.). Just don’t expect elk and boar burgers, like at Fuddruckers. Even if you know you’re never setting foot in here, you’ll want to check out the website — the soundtrack may finally keep restaurants from ever using house music on their sites again. [One Burger Bar, Hold the Beer (For Now) [City Room/NYT] Read more posts by Daniel Maurer Filed Under: openings, bk whopper bar, burger king, midtown | ![]() |
Filed under: Trends, Eco-Friendly Photo: Jason Morrison, Flickr Yesterday, the Stop & Shop supermarket chain announced complete installation of solar panels on eight of its stores in Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey. We're guessing this news will elicit one of three reactions: satisfaction that another company has signed on to the reusable energy cause; disinterest because so many already have; or disbelief that any of these mounted plates are worth what they preach. Many of us have seen the price comparison of what a standard home will save with Energy Star equipment, but imagine what a grocery store, open 24-hours with a 500K-sq-ft paneled roof, can save. Many big name grocery stores like ShopRite, Costco, Walmart, Safeway and Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market are starting to see the benefit, too, but it didn't come without technological tweaking and decades of convincing. It all started back in the 1860s -- actually, right around the time commercial refrigeration was invented -- when a man named Alexandre-Edmond Becquerel started playing with solar cells. Continue reading The Rise in Supermarket Solar Panels
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| The Edge offers a large, modern, yet comfortable room with both dining and lounge seating, as well as a generous outdoor patio that runs along the front of the restaurant which is set deep into the large street front courtyard. We’re focused on delivering a unique experience, so we’ve redefined [...] | ![]() |
| When you talk about the best and/or most successful restaurants, or have a conversation about the best restaurants Vancouver has ever seen, it’s impossible to not mention Provence Marinaside. Needless to say, we’re honoured to have them be part of the LetsGoForDinner.com family, and we’re excited to be able to offer them to our members. Go [...] | ![]() |
Restaurant owners may have lost the fight over letter grades, but at least for now, they’ve dodged another controversial measure, the paid sick leave bill. City Hall reports that Christine Quinn has tabled it while the Partnership for New York City (in conjunction with Ernst & Young) studies its impact on small businesses. Another hearing on the bill is expected in November. Opponents of the study say it’s a politically motivated stalling measure that will give businesses an undue influence on the outcome of the bill, while Kathy Wylde (CEO of the Partnership) says previous studies were biased toward workers: “In particular, Wylde said the claim by proponents of the bill that paid sick leave for restaurant workers costs 8 cents an hour needs further examination.” With Paid Sick Leave Back In The Waiting Room, Both Sides Take Stock [City Hall] Read more posts by Daniel Maurer Filed Under: health concerns, christine quinn, paid sick leave bill | ![]() |
It’s 4 p.m., and that means it’s time to play Two for Eight. We just asked ten restaurants the best time they could squeeze a couple in for dinner; you need only make your chosen reservation. (As always, we make the calls but don’t guarantee the results.) Today: Gourmet French. Adour Alain Ducasse (Menu) Allegretti (Menu) Balthazar (Menu) Bar Boulud (Menu) Benoit (Menu) Daniel (Menu) L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon (Menu) Le Bernardin (Menu) Le Cirque (Menu) Filed Under: two for eight, | ![]() |
Filed under: Health & Medical, News Photo: hectorir, Flickr Say you're in the meat aisle at the grocery store, choosing a chicken for tonight's dinner. The first bird claims to be "natural"; the next one doesn't. You put the first bird in your cart -- but are you getting what you think you're getting? "Natural," according to the US Department of Agriculture, does not equal "unadulterated." Per the USDA, poultry can be labeled "natural" if it contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or added color. However, this leaves a lot of room for other additives, such as salt, water, or broth (all perfectly natural ingredients). Sometimes these additives can increase the bird's weight by upwards of 15 percent, according to the Associated Press -- which strikes some politicians and consumer advocates as (you guessed it) unnatural. One politician pushing for more clarity in labeling is California Senator Barbara Boxer. In a statement last spring, Boxer pointed out that hidden sodium in a chicken misleadingly called "natural" creates a public health risk. "[T]here is nothing 'all natural' about chicken injected with sodium additives," she maintained. "Consider that a serving of poultry unaltered by additives contains about 40 to 65 milligrams of sodium, while sodium injected chicken can contain more than 330 mgs of sodium - five to eight times more salt per serving than a real natural chicken." Continue reading How "Natural" Is Your Chicken?
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Filed under: News Photo: YouTube
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