Gracefully You: Jenna Dewan's Book Launch at Mr Purple

By: Finance Foodie

Last week, I attended a lunch hosted by The Mom's, a modern motherhood group, and Spin Master toys (best known for their adorable Hatchimals eggs) celebrating superstar dancer / actress Jenna Dewan's new book Gracefully You.  The event was held at the LES hotspot Mr. Purple, a rooftop bar located in the Hotel Indigo known for its outdoor pool and hip patrons.

Entrance

I had been wanting to check out Mr. Purple for a while now, as my younger and cooler co-workers constantly rave about their weekends at joint, so I thought this was the perfect excuse to visit. I really love the loft like space, the abundance of seating options both indoor and outside (because who wants to stand for hours on end) and the industrial yet artistic feel.  While I probably didn't get the full experience of the bustling nightlife crowd, there was something refreshing about talking babies with the mom influencers, mocktail in hand, under the disco ball, with a expansive view of downtown Manhattan.

Loft Like Space

During the Q&A session with The Moms (Denise Albert and Melissa Gerstein), Jenna, who is currently expecting her second child, gracefully (pun intended!) answered questions about her current pregnancy (she's more tired and nauseated this time around) and discussed how to feel better, focus on what’s important, and maintain a sense of balance while juggling the demands of life (sounds like everyone who lives in NYC needs to read this book!). She even busted out a dance move with The Moms - impressive especially when you are carrying another human in your belly!

Jenna Dewan with The Moms (photo credit: TheMOMS.com, by Jonathan Breton)

At the end of the event, all the attendees were gifted Jenna's book and some Hatchimals toys to take home. After the inspirational and fun interview, I cannot wait to read more of Jenna's mantras and tips for living your best life!

Noodles and More at Pasta Eater New York City

By: Finance Foodie

This past weekend, the Mister and I found ourselves hungry, cold and wet from the rain in the Union Square are during lunch hour. We were going to head back home but then found ourselves passing by Pasta Eater, a newly opened Italian bistro that specialize in a variety of authentic Italian pasta dishes made with their freshly made (in-house) pasta. As the restaurant looked so cozy and inviting versus the dreary weather outside, we decided to sample the goods and head on in.

Pasta Eater 

Dining Around the River at SHARE's A Second Helping of Life 2019 Tasting Event

By: Finance Foodie

SHARE, the New York City-based national nonprofit that supports the community of women affected by ovarian and breast cancer and their loved ones, celebrated its 16th Anniversary of A Second Helping of Life this past Monday evening at the gorgeous Chelsea Piers' Pier 60 event space.

Mushroom Chorizo dish from La Palapa Cocina Mexicana 

2019 Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City Roundup

By: Finance Foodie

It's that time of the year again - a gathering of fine food purveyors from all over the world descending on the Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan for the 2019 Specialty Food Association's Summer Fancy Food Show!

Entrance

During this three day event, we saw (and obviously tasted) thousands of food items - here are some of the highlights - from sweet to savory!

Feasting of the Seven Fishes at Casa Barilla Radio City

By: Finance Foodie

To celebrate the holiday season, Casa Barilla, unveiled a special “Feast of the Seven Fishes” menu at its restaurants in New York and California. The two dishes on the menu pay homage to the Southern Italian custom of La Vigilia (the Vigil) and the Italian-American tradition of the “Feast of the Seven Fishes” in which in observance of an abstinence of meat on Christmas Eve, guests feast on an abundance of seafood in the form of a “grand-meal.” I had a chance to sample the menu recently at Casa Barilla's Radio City NYC location and it was a real treat!

Barilla's Feast of the Seven Fishes

Get Your Drag On at Lucky Cheng's Dinner Show

By: Finance Foodie

Lucky Cheng's, NYC's original and longest running drag queen cabaret, recently celebrated its 25 year anniversary with a spectacular dinner show hosted by Drag Queen OG Paulina the Princess of Power. Yours truly had a chance to attend this spirited performance while noshing on a three course meal - and all I can say is - WoW what an interesting and fun-filled night!

Lucky Cheng's

A Vegetarian Delight: Taste Testing Thug Kitchen x Barilla Restaurants' Red Lentil Pasta

By: Finance Foodie

The other night, I headed down to the Barilla restaurant in Rockefeller Center to check out their latest menu offering. Partnering with the viral vegan cooking site Thug Kitchen, Barilla recently debuted a new limited-time menu item featuring Barilla’s Red Lentil Penne and Sundried Tomato Pesto and toasted almonds. Packed with protein and vegetarian friendly, I was excited to see what was in store.

Red Lentil Penne

Ten on Top at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2018

By: Finance Foodie

One of my favorite events every year is the Specialty Food Association's Summer Fancy Food Show. Held in the massive Javits Center, this three day spectacle is every food lover's dream - aisles upon aisles of gourmet food products just waiting to be imbibed and indulged!

Entrance

There was a lot to see and eat, but I narrowed down my Top 10 for 2018 below.

Fun and Fine Dining: Bagatelle Part Deux

By: Finance Foodie

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to revisit the Meatpacking hotspot Bagatelle for dinner. It had been a few years since my previously impressive gluttonous feast at this joint,  so I was excited to taste some of the new menu items!

Interior

Celebrating Carbonara Day at Barilla Restaurants

By: Finance Foodie

The other night, I visited the Barilla Restaurant in Herald Square to celebrate pre-Carbonara Day. Carbonara Day was established in Italy last April 6 as a way to hail a particularly delicious pasta that most believe was first made in mid-20th Century Rome as a hearty meal for Italian charcoal workers. Barilla Restaurants will bring Carbonara Day Month to the States by adding Chef Alfonso Sanna’s signature Pasta alla Carbonara on April 6 to its menus and keeping it until May 6. However, yours truly got got a special sneak peak at this tantalizing menu item along with a special cooking demo by Chef Sanna himself!

Carbonara

Pizza, Pasta and Pizzazz at Acqua Restaurant NYC

By: Finance Foodie

During the President's Day long weekend, the Mister and I journeyed to the south end of Manhattan to visit the Seaport District (aka/fka South Street Seaport). As both of us hadn't visited the area since pre-Hurricane Sandy, we were excited to see the new restaurants, stores and buildings that have redeveloped the area from yesteryear.

Exterior on a snowy night

A Slice of Italy at Margherita NYC

By: Finance Foodie

On most weekends, the Mister and I head to south to Chinatown for some satiating noodles and dumplings. However, we decided to mix it up this weekend and veer West to neighboring Little Italy to check out Margherita NYC, a Southern Italian shop known for their brick oven pizzas and rich pastas.

Exterior

A Pescatarian Italian Gem at Osteria 57

By: Finance Foodie

It's no secret that the Mister and I are fans of Italian cuisine and are always in the hunt for our next great pasta meal.  Therefore, when we heard about Osteria 57, a brand new Pescatarian Italian resto in the heart of Greenwich Village, we had to check it out.

Exterior

Crazy for Carbs at Mandolino Ristorante & Pizzeria

By: Finance Foodie

This past weekend, the Mister and I were in the Union Square area of Manhattan when the hankering for some pasta and pizza hit. As luck would have it, we happened to walk by Mandolino Ristorante & Pizzeria, a fairly new Italian addition to the neighborhood - we heard good things already about this place through the grapevine, so we decided to stop on in.

Exterior

Flavors Galore at the Summer Fancy Food Show 2017 in New York City

By: Finance Foodie

One magical time a year, the Specialty Food Association's Summer Fancy Food Show descends upon NYC, bringing lots of good eats and treats.  For three days straight, attendees eat and drink and be merry with over 1,000 purveyors peddling their sweet, savory, sour and spicy delicacies.

Exhibition Hall

I always look forward to this blessed event - not only does my stomach thank me, but it's also a great way to see the newest products and coolest trends in food and drink coming to market. Below are a few highlights from this year's show.

Brilliantly Good Pub Grub at The Spotted Dog

By: Finance Foodie

The Lenox Hill section of Manhattan is probably more known for its namesake hospital than the selection of restaurant options. However, the Mister and I happened to be in the area last weekend checking out the new Second Avenue Subway line when the hunger bells struck, so we decided to have dinner in the area. We walked around perusing some of the neighborhood joints down 1st Avenue and finally decided on The Spotted Dog, a newly opened Irish/British/American gastro pub.

Entrance

C'est Magnifique at Brasserie 8 1/2

By: Finance Foodie

When I first moved to New York City over a decade ago, Brasserie 8 1/2 was the first "finer" restaurant I dined at. I still remember it felt so chic and sophisticated walking down the swooping circular staircase into the dining room - in that moment, it was like I had made it and Manhattan was mine (then I went back to my box apartment that I shared with 2 other roommates and quickly came back down to earth...)

Fast forward to present day - I still live in a box apartment (sans roommates, at least) and Brasserie 8 1/2 is still very much alive and grand (no small feat considering the ultra competitive NYC dining arena). Given its prime Midtown location, this French brasserie is usually packed during the weekdays for business lunches but tends to quiet down for dinner service. The Mister and I, looking to unwind after a stressful workday and escape the hustle and bustle of the area, decided to have dinner here a few nights ago.

Octopus

A Financier Feasts: Midtown Italian Edition

By: Finance Foodie

It might be no surprise that one of the things I look forward to most each day is lunch, especially during the work week (sometimes, Foodie by Night seeps into Foodie by Midday). Working in Midtown Manhattan, I feel blessed that I can walk to a myriad of food options each day.

Midtown Manhattan

But where to go? Well I generally go for my favorite cuisine Italian. And as a Finance Foodie, naturally the financial markets dictate exactly which Italian destination - when I'm having a good day (read: making $$$), I get the urge to splurge. But when I'm on the wrong side of the trade, I go for the value orientated option (as they say: good food can be found at every price point). Below are my top go-to Italian spots for whatever the work day is throwing at me.

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North Italian South of Houston at San Carlo Osteria Piemonte

By: Finance Foodie

Last Sunday, inspired by the unexpected sliver of warm(er) weather, the Mister and I decided take a stroll around the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan. A planned hour walk turned into three so we happened to be in the area during dinnertime. We stumbled up upon San Carlo Osteria Piemonte, a cozy and newish resto specializing in Northern Italian cuisine, specifically from the Piedmont region (hence the name, obviously) and decided to dine there. I had worked up an appetite walking around all day, so I was excited for some rich and delicious Italian feasting.

Exterior

10th Annual Taste of the Upper West Side 2017

By: Finance Foodie

The 10th Annual Taste of the Upper West Side is making an exciting return this spring to bring one of the city’s most exciting culinary events to the UWS on Friday, May 19th and Saturday, May 20th, 2017.

Source: www.tasteuws.com

Featuring two nights of celebration, this fabulous event will delight guests with fantastic food from world-renowned chefs of the Upper West Side. Presented by the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District, all net proceeds will be donated to the local community for neighborhood improvement and beautification.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.tasteuws.com