New Year's Eve in Boston: The What-to-Do Guide

"So raise your glass if you are wrong in all the right ways..."

Oy! Christmas is over, but don't fret yet -- the party continues to rock on as New Year's Eve approaches! NYE has always been one of those holidays I never intend to celebrate, but always get dragged into due to peer pressure (and my friends can be sooo persuasive!). This year I'll be in Texas with my family, so the celebration will most likely be a low key (but delicious, natch) dinner. Although it would be super cool to be in Boston celebrating at what look like a slew of awesome events, family comes first (plus who who wants to leave the 70 degree weather in Texas prematurely during wintertime? ;).

The Last Supper: Season to Taste Catering’s Private Dinner Party [Cambridge]

“May the calendar keep bringing happy holidays to you…”

For my last supper (of 2010) in Boston, I knew I had to make it count. Takeout from Bostone Pizza? – no dude(tte), that’s totally not a proper way to end the year for foodie. That’s why when I was invited to attend the media preview for Season to Taste Catering’s new private dinner Table series last Tuesday night, well tickle me jolly, I thought, “what a perfect way to end the year on a yum-tastic note”!

Bravo's Top Chef Returns with a Chance to Win a Trip for Two to Tuscany, Italy!

"My Bella Mi..."

Where will you always find me on Wednesday nights now? Probably like the rest of the foodie enthusiast community: in front of the TV watching Top Chef All Stars.  Bravo TV's Top Chef series returned to New York a few weeks ago for its 8th season, featuring an all-star cast of former contestants who nearly took home the top prize in past seasons. With culinary stardom on the line, these "cheftestants" return to the high-pressure world of competitive cooking for a chance at redemption.

Finance Foodie + Friends w/ Chef Hung (Top Chef Season 3 Champ) at Solo NYC

Elvis Presley For The Holidays: From Monopoly To A Mug Shot "T"!

By: Anne M. Raso

We have to hand it to the folks at Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises for being the architects behind a whole slew of clever Elvis gifts for the holidays--and all are available on shopelvis.com and elvis.com. The official Elvis merch team wanted to make sure all the gift items were super-special this year since it's the 75th anniversary of Graceland. I'm happy to say that this writer was the second person in NewYork City to be gifted with the new runaway hit, the Elvis Presley Mr. Potatohead, and we couldn't be prouder of that fact. It was NBC's Al Roker who got the very first Elvis Mr. Potatohead back in October--simply because so many people who saw pics of it on the web thought it looked as much like the famed weatherman/anchor as The King himself! We here at financefoodie.com have this as our very top pick as a kitschy but collectible Elvis holiday gifts in the 20 buck range (it retails for exactly $20.00, as a matter of fact).

It's All About the Bling!: Lia Sophia Holiday Preview [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with the shop-at-home (or on the net) line of fine costume jewelry called Lia Sophia during the last new York Fashion Week and then also attended a holiday preview party they gave at a New York Hotel. I have to say that there's something for every taste, and thus, I am giving them kudos for being the best place to pick up last minute gifts for ladies in your life who like gliz-and-glam, for the fussy palate of a Justin Bieber loving 13-year-old, or for the great grandmothers will more traditional tastes.

Lunch for the Brrrrr Winter Days! Bread and Soup Pairings from Panera Bread

"How I'll hate going out in the storm..."

Brrrrrrrr! The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, we might as well get some bread and soup delivered so we don't have to go out in what feels like snow!

Haha. So my lyricsit skills are probably questionable, but one thing is for sure: nothing beats a steaming bowl of soup with fresh baked bread on a cold winters day. Luckily, Panera Bread has a whole host of options for warming your head, shoulders, knees, and toes (and they deliver for those days where stepping outside even for lunch is painful!).

After listening to my plight, the Panera Team sent me some fun and creative options to try for my next lunch week!

Boston Brunchers at KO Catering and Pies [South Boston]

"G'day mate..."

When I was growing up in the pseudo-Pleasantville suburbs, the extent of my exposure to Australian cuisine was the local Outback Steakhouse. Looking back now, after my years of culinary adventure, I realize oh how naive I was, as Outback's nosh was far from authentic "down under". Luckily, I had a chance to remedy this vast 18 year oversight with breakfast (or as they say, "brekky") with the Boston Brunchers at KO Catering and Pies.

Dinner with a Chef - Armand Toutaint, Turner Fisheries

"One fish, two fish, three fish, blue fish..."

Chef Armand Toutaint is prime example of where hard work and tenacity can lead to great success. This New Hampshire born and raised chef started his career as mere dishwasher, but fought to rise through the restaurant ranks to eventually land at Boston's Turner Fisheries, where he has served as the chef de cuisine for the past two years. As I chatted with Toutaint over dinner the other night, I noticed that Armand is a man of few words; clearly what he lacks in sentences is made up for in his dishes.

Q: Hello Chef, why don't you start by telling me a bit about yourself and how you end up in the restaurant industry? Did you perhaps grow up cooking with a food loving family?

Playing Chef for a Day at the McGladrey Culinary Challenge! [Boston]

“Hey batter batter…”

Since I started this blog, a question that I often get is: “If you love food so much, why not cook more?” My answer has always been that, a) I work about 70 hours a week in my day job – so last thing I want to do is come home and make a mess/clean up a mess in my kitchen b) Why cook something mediocre, when I can enjoy a meal done well by a professional? This is not to say I hate cooking, in fact it’s quite the opposite – I totally love firing up the oven and sautéing the greens…I only wish I didn’t have to clean up afterwards! 

Luckily a few nights ago, my wish came true when I was asked to be the “sous chef” for Chef Dante de Magistris at the McGladrey Culinary Challenge in Charlestown. This evening of delicious dishes paired seven local renowned chefs with seven charitable organizations to raise funds in support of community-based projects in the Boston area.

Holiday Foodie-izing at Murray's Cheese and the Broadway Panhandler [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

For those of you New Yorkers wondering where one of the best places in town to create holiday "gift boxes" is, we here at FinanceFoodie.com recommend Murray's Cheese. A few nights ago, we got the chance to go make up our own holiday boxes (really, cute wooden crates with foodie expressions in red lettering!) and found that this Village legend is about much more than just cheeses (even though you get they have the good old-time custom of letting you try anything you'd like behind the counters).

Cheese Please: An Interview with Cabot Creamery's Favorite Foodie

"Big Cheese..."

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Finance Foodie and I am a turophile. Yes you heard right - a turophile. Let me explain (before anyone with their mind in the gutter forms an opinion) -- a turophile is another term for a cheese lover. And nothing makes me happier than coming home after a long day of number crunching to chilax on the couch with a ooey-gooey piping hot grilled cheddar and gruyere cheese sandwich. That's why when I had the opportunity to have a quick chat with Candace Karu, the lifestyle commentator & "favorite foodie" (yes, that is her title) for Cabot Creamery -- well that just put a big "cheesy" smile on my face. Ms. Karu, will be in Boston on Dec 9th for the Massachusetts Conference for Women, a day long conference that provides connection, motivation, networking, inspiration and skill building for thousands of women each year. Candace will be representing Cabot at their booth as well as speaking on a panel about work / life balance (something I will definitely be checking out -- finance by day, foodie by night gets to be a struggle at times!).

Finance Foodie’s Favorite (Foodie) Things: Holiday 2010

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”

….Well, not really, as the unseasonably warm weather this year has left the grounds devoid of fluffy white power (thanks global warming :p). Regardless of the awkward weather situation, the holiday season has indeed snuck upon us. So trim that tree, light the menorah (or kinara), and get ready for some holiday gift exchanges!

A Suite Life! Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trailblazers

"Heart of a Champion..."

The Boston Celtics 99-95 win against the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night marks the team's fifth straight victory -- let's go Celtics! It was a seat gripping game -- Portland was in the lead for the first half before the Green brought out the big guns for the win (to the home court crowd's delight!).