Monday, December 28, 2009

GoGo SqueeZ Applesauce

Congrats #86, 89 - missrantsypants and Donna M. Clark

Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your prize! You have 2 days (48 hours) to respond or the prize goes to alternate winners

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Welcome to Finance Foodie Presents: Pioneering Products. These series brings you the exclusive 411 at the new and cool products that have recently come into the marketplace!

“Vacation, all I ever wanted...”

During busy holiday shopping days, nothing refuels my (spending) engine up faster than a quick trip to the mall's food court. At the food court, my choices usually lie between delicious fresh baked cookies at Mrs. Fields or the rich smooth ice creams at Marble Slab – both highly pleasing to the taste buds but highly damaging to the waistline (especially on top of all the already heavyset holiday meals). Fearing that I would be carrying more than just extra presents back to Boston after the holiday break, I decided that I need to find some type of snack that would satisfy my mid-shopping day sugar cravings but also keep my pants size from creeping up more than necessary*

Monday, December 21, 2009

Divine Delights Petit Fours

Congrats #4 - MomForeverandEver

Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your prize! You have 2 days (48 hours) to respond or the prize goes to an alternate winner


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Welcome to Finance Foodie Presents: Pioneering Products. These series brings you the exclusive 411 at the new and cool products that have recently come into the marketplace! 
 

By: Anne M. Raso

Sure, cupcakes might be all the rage at the chicest New York parties of the moment, and in case you haven't noticed, the bakeries servicing all the finest fetes-featuring cupcakes make them waaaaaaaaaay too sweet (and that includes YOU Magnolia and Crumbs)! Give me some artisan, handcrafted petit fours any day. As a matter of fact, they are all I want for Christmas! My fave rave petit four maker of the moment is Divine Delights of Petaluma, CA, who you might have encountered at the Fancy Food Shows in New York and San Francisco and has a huge mail order business.


Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Days of Wine and Chocolates from 2 Chicks with Chocolate

By: Anne M. Raso

We recently caught up with the ladies of 2 Chicks With Chocolate at a charity benefit held at the Chill Spa in Gramercy Park and we couldn’t help but go back for thirds, fourths and fifths on their Cabernet Caramels. We admit that we also noshed on their plain white chocolate discs (the creamiest around), but these caramels peaked our curiosity and taste buds. We seem to be seeing everything from wine ice cream to even “wine blossom” candles (I got one as a birthday gift last month), so it makes sense that chocolates were the next item to be hit with a touch o’ the grape!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Top of the Line at the Viking Designer Series Launch Party New York

By: Patrick Chang

Nothing says top of the line kitchen equipment like Viking. As someone who grew up in a home fully equipped with all Viking Professional appliances, the slick shine of the stainless steel and the durability of appliances bring comfort to my heart!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Heavenly Divine at Hotel Chocolat Boston

By: Finance Foodie 

Nothing puts me in a better mood that the approach of the Christmas season! The sight of the bright lights that illuminate the forest-like trees on Commonwealth Ave and the festively decorated shops ablaze with jolly shoppers can turn my frown upside down any day of the week – even when I have a case of the Mondays!

Now, one of the main reasons I love the holidays is that it’s my excuse to indulge in whatever fattening food delicacies I desire (because there’s always New Year’s Resolutions around the corner). After a rather gluttonous Thanksgiving trip to Texas (aka the land of larger portions and low prices), I resolved to at least cut back somewhat in my return to Boston (as my “fat pants” probably would not be appropriate attire for the numerous Christmas parties I plan to attend). However, this resolve was all made before I passed by the Hotel Chocolat store (ironically) on my way back from the gym…

Friday, November 20, 2009

Tour de Champagne New York


by: Patrick "Lone Star" Chang


Champagne connoisseur, I am not - but a fan of the bubbles, I am. The Tour de Champagne New York was held on Thursday, November 12, at the La Venue on 28th and 11th avenue. This multi city tour allowed guests to sample champagnes from more than 20 champagne houses, enjoy live music, taste bites from local restaurants and, best of all, vie for the chance to win a trip for two to Paris! The anticipation for the event turned my week leading up to the Tour de Champagne into one of my longest and most agonizing weeks ever!


Wednesday, November 18, 2009

One Year Blog-Birthday!

Congrats #26 - ECWorldTraveler

Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your prize! You have 3 days (72 hours) to respond or the prize goes to an alternate winner
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“Party in the USA…”

Woo Wee! Can you all (y’all) believe it? Almost one year since my first post! It’s been quite a journey for me as I went from novice blogger to…well…less of a novice blogger (at least my picture taking skills have improved).


Thursday, November 12, 2009

2009 Cook. Eat. Drink. Live New York

By: Ethan Shen

This past weekend was the 2009 Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. food extravaganza in New York City's Meatpacking District. From the wineries and mixologists to the restaurants and celebrity chefs, the three day festival was overflowing with an eclectic assortment of comfort foods and edible finery. After getting a week’s worth cravings satisfied in one afternoon, I was certainly a believer.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

New York Goes Around the World in 80 Sips

By: Anne "M" Raso

Yes, I survived Friday the 13th - and it was spent drinking the night away at the Around The World in 80 Sips event held in recently renovated Delano & Aldrich building on 583 Park Avenue. Despite not quite being able to sip all 80 varieties of wine offered, I did sample a few morsels of cheeses from the Artisanal Premium Cheeses Company (artisanalcheese.com) and Rick's Picks Smoked Okra and Phat Beets (rickspicksnyc.com) in between sips. If I did sample all that vino, no doubt a 911 call would have had to have been made by effervescent publicist Marybeth Bentwood of Delicious PR on my behalf!


Monday, November 2, 2009

Sweet Tooth Friendly at The Chocolate Show New York

By: Finance Foodie

Halloween in New York – home to the crazy and creative costumes, the over the top parties, and the infamous West Village parade – just got a little sweeter (literally) for me. That’s because this year I was finally able to attend the Annual New York Chocolate Show (I missed it every year when I lived in the City due to my crazy work hours). Held in the Metropolitan Pavilion, this three day affair showcased all things chocolate – as a raging chocoholic – I think I might have just died and gone to heaven!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Ring the Alarm: 100 Mile Brunch @ New York Fire Museum

By: Finance Foodie
The second day (Sunday) of the New York Wine and Food Festival took me to the New York Fire Museum for the 100-Mile Brunch, hosted by Farmer Bob of the Katchkie Farm in Upstate NY. The inspiration for this event was to use ingredients and foods sourced from within a 100 mile radius of New York City - very creative!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Mixed Messages at Megu New York

By: Patrick Chang

Ever since I heard the seductive line on The Travel Channel’s show Steak Paradise “At Megu, beef is king and there is no better beef than Kobe beef,” I immediately fell in deep infatuation with Megu. As a Texan, there’s no better comfort food than a nice juicy steak and those words were a sweet temptation to me. I knew I had to try it out, and right upon booking my reservation, I was as giddy as a little girl thinking she’s getting a pony for her 5th birthday. During the episode of Steak Paradise, the manager of Megu demonstrated just how delicate their Kobe beef was. I couldn’t believe my eyes, but he melted a block of beef just by rubbing the meat gently between his fingertips. I didn’t know such thing was possible and was impressed with disbelief. I was convinced that my steak experience was going to be magical.

My trek to Megu was miserable. NYC was in the middle of a cold front, the temperature was blistering and the snow was pounding. I barely had any senses left by the time I got there, but as I stepped into the establishment, I was met with a sense of comfort. It was an energetic, trendy, and hip place. First thing I noticed were the techno beats blasting from the speakers. The second thing was how I was greeted by an array of alluring hostesses ready to seduce my wallet. The hostess led us to a waiting area with a bar, where there was another glowing angelic figure. I questioned myself “have I died and gone to heaven?” That’s when I realized that my mouth was salivating, but couldn’t figure out if it was from all the walking beauties or the scent of steak permeating the air.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Progresso Soup Cooking Set

Congrats #39 JanetFaye


Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your prize! You have 3 days (72 hours) to respond or the prize goes to an alternate winner

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"Bowling for Soup..."


For those who have been (un)lucky enough to try my cooking creations in the past, they will usually say "good effort" (and then politely excuse themselves from the rest of dinner). Since this has happened more times than I would like, I made a resolution at the beginning of this year to learn to cook. Now almost 11 months into the year, I still haven't made good on my resolve :(

Thankfully, the good folks at Progresso Soup stepped in and decided to send me a carton of their new chicken broth and panko bread crumbs yesterday (as well as a few cooking utensils) to help me get started. Knowing that I would not know what to do with these ingredients by themselves, they also included some helpful cooking tips and recipes from celebrity chef Michael Chiarello (which can also be found here Progressofoods.com and Progressobroth.com)! Hooray! I cannot wait to try these goodies out!


Monday, October 19, 2009

ATASK's Silk Road Gala 2009 Boston

By: Finance Foodie

As the temperature drops in Boston, my motivation for leaving my warm and cozy apartment also dwindles - nights basking by the warm glow of Top Chef and Rachel Zoe Project marathons in a Snuggie just seem so comforting when the weather is so harsh outside. However, when I was invited to attend the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK)’s Silk Road Gala at the Mandarin Oriental Boston this past Saturday night, not even the Snuggie could keep me in – I got to support my people after all!

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Tea Seduction at the Soho House New York

By: Finance Foodie

This past weekend took me back to my old stomping grounds – the city of bright lights and big dreams – none other than New York City. I was invited to attend two events at the New York Wine and Food Festival and boy was I PUMPED (you might recall the "sweet" time I had at the SWEET party last year). As I sat on the Fung Wah Chinatown Bus (which was really not as scary or dangerous as Wikipedia made it out to be) enroute to
the City, I could barley contain my excitement when I thought of the fun food filled weekend that was ahead.

The first event I attend on Saturday was Tea Seduction, which was billed as an aphrodisiac afternoon tea party served with foods that stimulate the senses and arouse the appetite. Looks like a sexy afternoon in store for me! As I entered the Library of the uber- posh Soho House, I was greeted to neatly set tables with beautiful place-settings.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Mountain Rose Herbs Macadamia Nut Oil

Welcome to Finance Foodie Presents: Pioneering Products. These series brings you the exclusive 411 at the new and cool products that have recently come into the marketplace!

"You and I are like oil and water, and we've been trying, trying, trying to mix it up..."

I have been a fan of the macadamia nut for a long time. In fact, I've been known to polish off a whole can of Mauna Loa Macadamia Nuts in one sitting. Terribly unhealthy for sure (both for the waistline and for the complexion), but intensely satisfying - especially after a long day at the office! However, after suffering from a severe case of acne - which I am am sure was a result of my Macadamia Nut addiction - I decided to find a better (and less ascetically damaging) way of enjoying this nutty delight. I sat on my couch and pondered,


"How can I have my macadamia nuts and eat it too?"

Luckily, my answer came in the mail the next evening - in the form of a bottle of Epicurean Organics Macadamia Nut oil from the Mountain Rose Herbs company. Since my cooking skills are ermmmm...very basic (i.e. making grilled cheese sandwiches usually sends me into a paniced frenzy), I decided to try my new discovery to as substitute for butter on my morning toast. MMMM! The subtle but nutty flavor of the macadamia nut totally enhanced the whole grains by tenfold! And the best part is, a little (oil) goes a long way (in flavor), so the only thing that expands is my wallet. If a cooking dunce like me can make a yummy dish using this miracle oil, Imagine what a culinary expert can do (macadamia nut oil can be used as a substitute for cooking oil)!

I am uber glad I found this cool product - my skin is clearer, my waist is trimmer, and I still get my Macadamia nut fix. So thank you Mountain Rose Herbs for letting me have my cake and allowing me to eat it too!

Sunday, October 4, 2009

A Fine Time at Taste of the Good Life in New York

By: Anne M. Raso

I had a great time at the Taste of the Good Life, a benefit for the charity Partnership for the Children, held on September 30th at the recently renovated Prince George Hotel ballroom in Manhattan. The finest wines from around the world were there to imbibe, but being a foodie, the wine could wait! The first set of delectables to catch our eyes were made by Aureole's pastry chef Jennifer Yee--you can see her pictured below with assistant pasty chef Taiesha Martin.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Dessert Diva: Boston's New England Dessert Expo 2009

By: Jessica Cickay

Loosen those belts and bring out your baggiest t-shirts sweet freaks, it's time for the 2009 New England Dessert Showcase! Marilyn Monroe may have claimed that diamonds are a girl’s best friend, but clearly she never met up with this girl--a dessert diva to the very last bite. At this year’s event, confectionery creators from around New England gathered to give out samples of their finest foods and promote why their products simply take the cake.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Butterfly Fly at the Night of the Monarch Ball Boston

By: Finance Foodie

This past Saturday evening, the Ovations for the Cure organization hosted the Night of the Monarch Ball at the Westin Boston Waterfront. This event was held to conclude the National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, to honor Ovations’ founder – the late Patricia Franchi Flahtery, and to raise funds for continued ovarian cancer research. I had attended an Ovations event (Couture for Cancer) a few months back that was filled with yummy food, beautiful décor, and lovely fashions - so I was stoked to attend the much-buzzed about Monarch Ball.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Harlem Nights at Chez Lucienne New York

By: Erin Douglas

New restaurants in the city can be found on an everyday basis on any given corner. But in Harlem, not so much. Harlem has just recently been acquiring great buzz for its new shops, restaurants and nightlife. As someone who has lived in Harlem for over 4 years now and love its historic, charming, community vibe; good places to eat was one thing it was lacking. So of course I was astonished when the only good pizza joint close to me closed down last year. But, low and behold, several months later I see a cute little restaurant had taken over its place: Chez Lucienne.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Jet Set: New York Fashion Week Looks for Boston Life

By: Finance Foodie

So another Fashion Week in New York as come and gone. The frenzied fashionistas have returned home and Bryant Park is calm and serene once again.

As I think back to some of the shows I attended last week, I can’t help but think about how the Spring/Summer 2010 runways can be translated to work, eat, and play life in Boston. Below are some ideas for outfits that will ensure that all eyes are on you wherever you go.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

New York Fashion Week: Drinks on Me!

By: Finance Foodie

Bryant Park’s usual state as quiet and peaceful place to watch the birds and catch up with friends has again been invaded by the frenzied fashionistas and flashing lights of the photo hungry paparazzi. This only means one thing: another New York Fashion Week is in full swing!

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Legal Sea Foods’ Bivalves and Bubbles in Boston

By: Finance Foodie

Last night, I was invited to Legal Sea FoodsBivalves and Bubbles cocktail party to celebrate the wonderful Mister Oyster (and Mister Alcohol, natch). Even though I’ve been a long time lover of foods from the sea, it was only recently that I was introduced to this water dwelling mollusk - the slimy texture made me nervous and kept me at bay (literally) for the longest time.

When I arrived at the Legal Sea Foods - Park Plaza, I was ushered downstairs where I was greeted with a fully stocked raw oyster bar. I saw Mister Oysters from New York, Maine, Massachusetts, Prince Edward Island, and the Baja Peninsula all calling my name and waiting to be consumed. Call me the dunce, but I wasn’t even aware that so many varities of oysters existed in this world! My favorite was Mister Baja Peninsula – Kumamoto was his name – I felt his meat was sweet and plump, yet clean and fresh with a cucumber-y finish.

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

New York Fashion Week: The Day Before the Storm

By: Anne M. Raso

Well, the countdown to New York Fashion Week is almost over--it starts on September 10th and so the diet is in full title boogie. It's time for Slim Fast and the occasional sauteed or steamed veggie at a quickie Chinese 'hood hang. I went to Tang's Garden (formerly Tang Tang before being closed by the Board Of Health last year) and ordered "long beans" sauteed with just one tablespoon of peanut oil. The waiter looked at me if I was nuts when I specified the amount of oil I wanted, but hey, this is New York and attitude is a little more acceptable here, than say, Mayberry RFD.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

In For the Fill: Domino's Pizza Pasta Bread Bowls

By: Finance Foodie

Even though I've eaten my way through many a critically acclaimed and wallet unfriendly restaurants, there are some nights where I love to just curl up on my couch, slip on some aesthetically unfriendly sweatpants, and watch some trashy reality show.

Just the other night when I was watching Tool Academy 2 (please don't judge me), I saw an ad for Domino's Pizza offering a FREE Chocolate Lava Crunch Cake with every purchase of a Pasta Bread Bowl. For those of you who don't know, the pasta bread bowl is basically Domino's newest line of single-meal pasta portions of chicken alfredo, primavera, mac and cheese, Italian sausage marinara, and chicken carbonara pastas, baked into edible bowls. In other words, carb-o-holic heaven!


Sunday, August 30, 2009

Om Restaurant & Lounge: A Dieter's Friend

By: Finance Foodie

So as many of you know, I am currently on my “Countdown to Fashion Week” detox and revitalize diet plan because:

a) I will probably be drinking most of my calories that weekend
b) I need the stamina to stand around all day in my fabulously gorgeous but terribly painful stilettos
c) I do not want to be called out for my rotund hips this year

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt

Congratulations #63 #40 and #44- purango, sharonjo, and Storm!

Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send your prize! You have three (3) days to claim your prize before it goes to an alternate winner

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…Continued from Part 1 (see previous post)


I received a follow up email from the folks at MyBlogSpark shortly after posting my review on the Yoplait Whips and the Wanchai Ferry frozen meals. Apparently, they were disappointed to hear that the Whips were not to my liking for breakfast, so they remediated this situation by sending me a 4-pack of Yoplait’s new (breakfast appropriate) Fiber One yogurts. Once again, I pushed aside my attempt at learning to cook and agreed (not unhappily) to be the guinea pig for this project.


Thursday, August 13, 2009

Wanchai Ferry Frozen Meals / Yoplait Yogurt Whips

Congratulations #8 and #63 - Tricia and K.Rock!

Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address and prize choice (Yoplait or Wanchai giftpack) so I can send your prize!*

*In case of the same request from both winners, the one who emails me first with their contact info will claim that prize, the other winner will receive the alternative prize pack. You have three days (72 hours) to contact me before you forfeit your prize to an alternate winner. 
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As many of you know, I love testing new foods and am a huge sucker for cool food products at the grocery store. So I was pretty pumped when the folks at MyBlogSpark offered to sponsor my breakfast and lunch for the day with a few new products that were being introduced to the market. Although this was a detour in my (somewhat futile attempt at) learning to cook, I was excited to see what was in store for me!

For breakfast, I was sent a gift pack with two cups of Yoplait Whips (Yoplait’s new line of fluffy whipped yogurt), a travel cooler, Popsicle molds (?), and a set of 12 color-changing spoons. I was a bit confused on why I received the Popsicle molds but then realized I could freeze the Yoplait Whips in the molds to make a yogurt crème pop! Although I thought the Whips were way too sweet for breakfast, I could see myself enjoying these cups (or pops) as a yummy and healthy snack on a hot summer day.


Monday, August 10, 2009

Cake Batter Battle: Cupcake Cagematch New York

By: Grace Yang 

Hey there, Finance Foodie readers! I just finished a REALLY comprehensive cupcake tour and wanted to tell you guys all about it! I held it on August 1st, in my apartment with my brother, David. How do you do a comprehensive cupcake review, do you wonder? Well, you call all of the bakeries in NYC that sell cupcakes (I counted 25), ask them to donate cupcakes, and have your friends pick them up to review them! We had 25 bakeries (out of the 25 bakeries, only 3 didn't donate!) and I also made Sprinkles Cupcakes (the bakery that is only on the west coast at the moment). Each bakery donated a vanilla, chocolate, red velvet, and wildcard cupcake. We did a blind tasting of the cupcakes so the tasting would be fair, and everyone had a really good time figuring out where the best cupcakes in NYC came from. You might be surprised with some of the results!

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Culinary Charity: The Taste of Park Plaza Boston

By: Finance Foodie

Last Tuesday, I attended the Taste of Park Plaza at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel. This event was held to support the Great Boston Food Bank, one of my favorite non profits in Boston (because food = good, charity=good, charity that helps end hunger=awesome) and of course, for Boston foodies to sample some delicious treats from local restaurants.

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Tony Fantastico Does Up Ancora Ristorante New York

By: Ethan Shen

Tony Fantastico greeted us as we walked into Ancora, and yes, that’s his real name. He’s not the host, not a waiter or staff, but instead one of the owners of the restaurant. Every night either he or Elio Albanese is here making customers feel welcome and attended to. The effect isn’t immediately apparently, but as the meal unfolded we’d soon discover that, like the owners, Ancora adheres to more than just passion for great food, but a zealous attentiveness to the ageless and unhurried ritual of eating well.

It started with the table; dining with a lady, we found a name plate inscribed “Princess” placed next to her table setting. Unsurprisingly, this touch was a crowd pleaser, and apparently Ancora regulars even have their own personal nameplates. That same spirit of inclusiveness and winking sense of humor would be the continuous thread of the evening.

Friday, July 31, 2009

National Cheesecake Day!

What a close contest!!! The #1 and #2 commentor separated by just a few seconds!!!

Congratulations Rafael for being the FIRST person to share your favorite cheesecake flavor!


Please email financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your mailing address so I can send you your prize!

And don't forget to enter my Au Bon Pain gift card giveaway, winners will be chosen on Aug 8th using a random number generator (so the last entry could even be a winner!)

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"Who moved my cheese?..."

Thursday, July 30, is National Cheesecake Day and the The Cheesecake Factory's participation in the beloved event.


Tuesday, July 28, 2009

TWIST Ravioli Scrubby

Welcome to Finance Foodie Presents: Pioneering Products. These series brings you the exclusive 411 at the new and cool products that have recently come into the marketplace! 
 
“Let's get dirrty..”

Now as many of you know, I am a terrible cook. During the few occasions where I attempted to cook, the only things I managed to make were small fires and large messes. Luckily (or maybe strangely), I find it rather calming to clean up these messes – in fact, nothing makes me happier than seeing a sparkling countertop and cupboard full of neatly stacked shiny dishes and pans (I’m going to make a great wife one day, minus the not cooking part)!

Since I am a sucker for cool kitchen cleaning aids, imaging my excitement when I discovered the Ravioli Scrubby from TWIST! A kitchen sponge made to look like food…how ironically awesome! This hemp burlap pouch is filled with a biodegradable sponge and it does an awesome job in clearing off baked on (or in my case, burnt) food. And it’s an eco-friendly product – tough on stains but friendly to the Earth.I later found out at my local Whole Foods that TWIST makes a whole slew of food inspired cleaning products (i.e. Dish Dumpling, Sponge Cake, etc.)…witty! The products are a bit more expensive than your generic sponge from Wal-Mart, but well worth the investment (plus they are just so darn cute!).

To see more TWIST products, check out their website at www.twistclean.com

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Au Bon Pain Gift Card Giveaway!

CONGRATS to #3 and #32, Shirley and Stoner!!!!
Please email me at
financefoodie [at] gmail [dot] com with your contact info and address so I can send you your prize!

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On many days, my biggest motivation for not hitting that snooze button is the thought of a tall cup of hot (or iced – weather depending) coffee served with a toasted corn muffin from the Au Bon Pain. Lucky for me, there is an Au Bon Pain at every block corner in Boston, so I’m never far from a “morning motivator.”

Monday, July 20, 2009

Interesting Italian: Tavolo Ristorante Boston

By: Paola Mesadieu

Going to dinner with a bunch of food bloggers can be quite an experience. Aside from all of the cameras flashing and the scribbling sounds of bloggers’ jotting down their notes in between each bite, I’d say this is a great way to dine in Boston. Chris Lyons of Chris Lyons Communications, organized last week’s Bloggers Dinner at Tavolo Ristorante in Dorchester. With 25 years in the PR business, Lyons has found that hosting these dinners for foodies is a win-win situation for both bloggers and restaurant owners.

In the case of Tavolo’s Ristorante, the owners wanted to get the word out about their unique dinner menu. In addition to their pizzas and pastas, Chef/Owner Chris Douglass and Chef Maxwell Thompson are cooking up some interesting combinations that highlight the different specialties of Italian cuisine. Our five-course dinner started consisted of:

Watermelon Salad – feta, lemon, herbs


Saturday, July 18, 2009

Music to My Ears: One Kendall Square Music Lab Boston

By: Marico "Mari" Corbin

A stream of jazzy notes and raspy lyrics float up to my ears as I approach the One Kendall Square Music Lab last Wednesday. The band, 3rd Left, is the featured entertainment for the evening. Hailing from Plymouth, MA, the rock and jazz inspired four-man ensemble creates the perfect mood for an evening of food, drinks, and mingling.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Getting Old School at Delmonico's New York

By: Ethan Shen

As I walked up to the door of Delmonico’s I couldn’t help humming the opening theme to Wall-E.
“We’ll see the shows, at Delmonico’s, and we’ll close the town in a whirl!” Turns out, it’s no coincidence, Delmonico’s is the oldest fine dining restaurant in America and has been open since 1837, more than enough time to earn its honorific place in some song lyrics. But we’re not here for nostalgia, we’re here to be fed.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Fancy Food Show 2009 in New York

By: Eleonora Herdean

The Fancy Food Show at the Javits Convention Center is massive, filled to the brim with hundreds of thousands of products from all over the world. It was so exciting, I didn't know where to begin!

After drinking a little too much Australian wine, I "stumbled" into the amazing Chocolove booth. Ooh chocolate and wine! How much better can it get? Besides the chocolate being yummy goodness, each of the wrappers included a different poem inscribed by a famous poet. What a great gift to your sweety pie!

Now, sticking to the wine and chocolate theme, I cannot think of a better way to enjoy vanilla ice cream than to top it off with champagne mint chocolate sauce! Whoever came up with this is genius!

I had an amazing time and wish I could have stopped by every booth, but my journey stops here. I wish you all the best wine and chocolate dreams.....

For more highlights, check out my guest post about the Fancy Food Show on Grace's blog, GraceNotesNYC!


And for more pictures, please click here

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Taste of Cambridge 2009

By: Paola Mesadieu

On Thursday, June 25th, the rain gods took a break from dousing New England with unrelenting rain showers just in time for the 7th Annual Taste of Cambridge food festival. With cuisines from India to Ireland, the Taste of Cambridge “celebrates the diverse dining scene of one MA’s most historic cities”. Held in the court yard of the classically chic, Charles Hotel, Thursday’s savory food bazaar was jammed packed with food aficionados and curious tasters alike. Proceeds from this event benefited Youth on Fire, a care center for homeless / street-involved youth, and Club Passim’s Culture for Kids/Music Speaks, a free, monthly, multicultural program whose goals are to provide children with exposure to other cultures and peoples.

Starting off with something familiar

I ventured into the festive melee of food, music, and laughter for my first sampling. As the fates would have it, I stumbled upon Koreana, Cambridge’s premier Korean restaurant (and my shameless addiction). I sampled their kimchee (pickled cabbage with spicy seasoning), Gal bi (grilled, marinated beef), and chapchae (stir-fried cellophane noodles). The serving size was just enough to leave me with room to move on to the next food station.

Trying to stay cool

I will admit, the warm weather did play somewhat of a role in my sampling choices. Due to the humidity, I gravitated to any table that offered a cool and refreshing treat. Therefore, I found myself enjoying a creamy summer gazpacho from Small Plates and a flavorful shrimp gazpacho from Legal Seafoods. I topped off my night with a scoop of delicious homemade Black Raspberry ice cream from Lizzy’s Ice Cream.

Want to see some of my highlights for TOC, check out the following clip

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Free 12 oz Drink at Borders!

Welcome to Finance Foodie’s new series: Fiscally Fun Freebies. Working in the finance field has taught me a lot about hardwork, the value of a dollar, and the importance of saving for a rainy day. This series will bring you the scoop on all the free food and product offerings from around the nation – because who doesn’t love a truly free lunch!

The Finance Foodie knows that in this tough economy, every dollar (or in this case $4.00) counts. Therefore, for this installment of my "Fiscally Fun Freebies"

Free 12 oz Drink at any Borders' Seattle's Best Cafe!





From June 26-July 2nd, with a Borders Card (application is free and easy in stores)

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Birthday Bonanza at O Ya Boston

By: Finance Foodie

This past Saturday, I had my two-week belated birthday dinner at O Ya, the Japanese restaurant located in Boston’s Leather District. I had already heard the rave reviews about the wonderful and innovative the dishes at this place, so I was uber excited to actually see/ taste the food for myself. A recap of the night as follows:

5:50pm:
Arrive at O Ya, 10 minutes early for our 6pm reservation. Decide to wander around the neighborhood for bit. Stop by the bookstore nearby hoping to catch up on the latest gossip from . No luck, but the rainbow flag displayed prominently outside the door should have tipped me off that this wasn’t your local Borders.

5:55pm: Walk inside the restaurant. Notice that O Ya is really tiny and seats
about 30 people max. Also, the place was already half full. Bostonians eat really early compared to New Yorkers!

6:00pm: We sit at the “chef’s table”, so we get to watch the sushi chefs prepare each dish. How entertaining! Also, noticed I am completely overdressed in pearls
and heels compared to the rest of the patrons. Was told later that O Ya’s dress code is “come as you are”. So that explains all the jeans and basketball shorts (!) I saw.

6:30pm: The plates at O Ya are served tapas style, which means small plates at entrée prices. First dish of sushi is out: salmon with unfiltered wheat soy moromi and yuzu. Very flavorful but nothing too special.


Monday, June 15, 2009

Arty Party: MFA Summer Masquerade Party Boston

By: Finance Foodie

I have gotten the opportunity to attend a plethora of eclectic parties in Boston - from the star studded fabulosity (RoxComp) to the awesomely over the top (GPOE) to the just plain delicious (Taste of South End, Taste of Beacon Hill). All these events have shown me that Boston is definitely not the sleepy city I assumed it to be, but yet I still wondered, “What is the must attend party of the year here?” This past Saturday, I found my answer: The Museum of Fine Arts Summer Party. Over 400 of Boston's most social, esteemed, and beautiful young professionals attended this sold out event, which was organized by the Museum Council and held to benefit the Museum's Artist in Residency Program.

Below is my “pseudo twitter” of the night. Note that I do not actually have a “Twitter” (pro-blogging!), but this was what would have appeared if I did twitter.

9:00pm: I arrive on site at Museum of Fine Arts. Two lovely sopranos are outside serenading the guests as they enter the building. Classy.

10:10pm: Head up the grand winding staircase. Enter the cavernous main hall where the festivities are already in full swing. This was my first time visiting the MFA in Boston and I was completely blown away by the sheer beauty of the place. Felt like I had just walked into a party at the Palace at Versailles.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

Taking the Tasty Off Beaten Path to Spiga

By: Jessica Cickay

Some of my friends may say that I’m a creature of habit—and by some, I mean most, and by most I clearly mean all. Either way, last night I surely shed my predictability and shocked them with my impromptu trip to Southern Italy after work—and by Italy, I mean Needham, and by Needham, I mean the all new Spiga Trattoria Italiana. With a well-seasoned chef, a fresh menu and an inspired décor, the new Spiga with its old name treated my taste buds and me to a fabulous evening of food and drink.

Apparently blogs are the new black nowadays, and Chris Lyons of Lyons PR got that email. Instead of relying on the traditional restaurant reporter to critique her clients, Chris celebrated the art of the blog with a lovely tasting dinner—bloggers only—to spread the word about the restaurant’s revamp. Executive chef Marisa Iocco entered Spiga in April 2009 and since then, the warm glow she naturally brought with her has only seemed to burn brighter. This “name brand chef” is responsible for the critically acclaimed menus of Mare, Umbria and Bricco, and now she’s the proud Italian mother of this latest venue. Her demeanor was humble, her look a bit funky and her food was, well…

We began the evening with a toast, our glasses filled with a crisp pinot grigio, and some homemade foccacia and cannellini bean “hummus.” In retrospect, the delicate bread and smooth, garlicky bean paste were omens of good things to come.The table decided to order antipasti, primi and secondi family style and I can’t lie—I was a little scared. I have this problem come 6pm where I become hangry—or the perfect combination of hungry and angry—and I cry like a three year old if I don’t get what I want to eat or enough of it. However, in a way I never could have predicted, Chef Iocco’s creations and their layers of flavor and genius ingredient combinations, quelled even my body’s most torrid attempts at becoming hangry. Her insalata of octopus was a mix of tender baby octopus atop a bed of shaved celery and potato sticks, all drizzled with the faintest reminder of a lemony olive oil.

An array of sea scallops came next, accompanied by sweet red and yellow peppers that truly lived up to their sugary name, and then a plate of buttery shrimp, which leaned against a creamy mountain of avocado and farro. Somehow, the coating-less shrimp maintained an all-natural crunch, and they were piqued with a tart hint of citrus.


Chef Iocco and her endearing family of wait staff then brought us free-form scallop lasagna and hand-made pappardelle Bolognese. Persnickety eater that I am, the Bolognese aspect of the Bolognese didn’t tempt me, but I made a dent in the delicate broth-bathed layers of crepe that formed the cheese-less lasagna. The flavor was light and oceanic, with its minimal flavor still somehow allowing for maximum satisfaction.

In this blogger’s opinion, seafood swam into the spotlight at Spiga. The black and white sesame seeds encrusting the flaky filet of trout were countered with a colorful kiwi and striped beet salad. It was crunchy—yet tender—and it was sweet—yet aromatic—but somehow the flavors didn’t fight.

To accompany our main dishes, Chris requested Chef Iocco bring out her inventive tray of parmigiano Oreo cookies, or thin tuile’s of melted parmigiano cheese bookending a pillowy cloud of rich mashed potatoes.

Thick cuts of sockeye salmon arrived from the kitchen perfectly seasoned with a one-two punch of fresh herbs. Chef Iocco shredded zucchini and red onions into shoestrings and kissed the spongy “noodles” with a roasted garlic ragu. I pretty much hoarded the plate of salmon—my bad—because I just couldn’t get enough of the veggie pasta that cradled the coral fish.

Although our table of bloggers requested that we eat dessert first (my type of eaters!), we followed directions and saved the sweets for last. The chef’s streamlined trio of chocolate delights was comprised of a gentle and rich cocoa gelato resting on a platform of silken chocolate flan and a dense, hazelnut cake dipped in a bittersweet chocolate cloak.

The final scoop of my spoon was into Chef Iocco’s signature vanilla bread pudding. A simple dessert with complex flavors, this baked beauty was soft on the inside and toasty on the outside, compliments of removing the brioche’s crusts. A drizzle of vanilla caramel and garnish of minted strawberries topped off both the bread pudding and my belly’s ability to indulge any further.

Today’s Spiga is definitely off the beaten path in Needham, but with a menu as varied and interesting as Chef Iocco’s, choosing the road less traveled is the tastiest decision you’ll ever make.

Spiga Trattoria Italiana
18 Highland Cir
Needham, MA 02494

Spiga on Urbanspoon
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