100 Mile Brunch @ New York Fire Museum

"Ring the alarm..."

[Part 2 of my New York Wine and Food Festival Weekend]

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!

Megu [New York]

By: Patrick "Lone Star" 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.

Progresso Soup Cooking Set

Congrats #39 JanetFaye

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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!

Silk Road Gala 2009 [Boston]

“A Public Affair…”

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!

Tea Seduction @ Soho House [New York]

“Just a spoonful of sugar...”

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.

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!

Taste of the Good Life [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.

New England Dessert Expo 2009 [Boston]

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.