Luca Maroni's SensofWine NYC Event – Feb. 4, 2010

Luca Maroni’s SensofWine NYC will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street for the second year in a row this February 4.



Click on the image above to view a youtube video clip of SensofWine NYC 2009.

Maroni, a noted Italian wine expert, will showcase 100 wines from over 40 producers. Last year’s event was a huge success with more than 1,200 attending.

SensofWine NYC 2010

Host: Luca Maroni & Alta Cucina Society

Type: Wine Tasting / Annual Networking Conference

Date: Thursday, February 4, 2009

Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Cost: $35

Location: Cipriani 42nd Street

Street: 110 E 42nd Street

City/Town: New York, NY

The cost of the event for participants is $35. Alta Cucina members pay $30. In order to sign up for the event, please go to Alta Cucina’s store to buy tickets or visit

altacucinastore.com/sensofwine-2010–wine-tasting-e2010.html.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Luca Maroni’s SensofWine NYC Event – Feb. 4, 2010

Luca Maroni’s SensofWine NYC will be held at Cipriani 42nd Street for the second year in a row this February 4.



Click on the image above to view a youtube video clip of SensofWine NYC 2009.

Maroni, a noted Italian wine expert, will showcase 100 wines from over 40 producers. Last year’s event was a huge success with more than 1,200 attending.

SensofWine NYC 2010

Host: Luca Maroni & Alta Cucina Society

Type: Wine Tasting / Annual Networking Conference

Date: Thursday, February 4, 2009

Time: 5:00pm – 9:00pm

Cost: $35

Location: Cipriani 42nd Street

Street: 110 E 42nd Street

City/Town: New York, NY

The cost of the event for participants is $35. Alta Cucina members pay $30. In order to sign up for the event, please go to Alta Cucina’s store to buy tickets or visit

altacucinastore.com/sensofwine-2010–wine-tasting-e2010.html.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Something for everyone: The five best beer destinations in New York City

Something for everyone – The five best beer destinations in New York City

BY CAROLYN ONOFREY

In recent years the popularity of beer has increased dramatically in New York.  What was once a beverage enjoyed by few, usually of the male demographic, with the sole purpose of drinking to get drunk has now turned into flavorful, stimulating, and enjoyable experience suited for men and women alike.  Here are my top 5 beer destinations with something to suit any mood or palate:

Best Brewery Experience


Beer1

Brooklyn Brewery
Williamsburg, Brooklyn
#1 Brewers Row
79 North 11th Street (Btwn. Berry & Wythe St.)
718-486-7422/brooklynbrewery.com

The Brooklyn Brewery is open to the public for drinks straight from source on Friday nights from 6-11pm and on Saturday and Sundays from noon- 6pm. They also offer free tours of the brewery where they brew some (but not all) of their beer, weekends at 1,2,3, and 4pm.

Decor is minimal, essentailly just picinic tables inside a large garage (it IS the brewery afterall), but bringing your own food is encouraged if you can snag a table for you and your friends. Come early on Friday nights, tables go quickly. With six rotating taps of Brooklyn’s finest, there is something for everyone and at about $4.50 per beer, this place is a steal!  If you ask the regualars, “the beer just tastes better here.”

Best Beer Garden

Image from queens.about.com
Image from queens.about.com

Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden
Astoria, Queens
29-19 24th Avenue (at 29th St.)
718-274-4925/bohemianhall.com

No New York beer list is complete without paying homage to the historical Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden.  As the only original beer garden of New York City still standing, it is a must see because not much has changed since Bohemian Hall was constructed in 1910 by the Czech and Slovak immigrants who settled in Queens.  Bohemian Hall and Beer Garden is a great place to grab picnic table filled with friends and family and enjoy a nice selection of Czech and German brews or even some delectable traditional Czech food.  Lines can get long during the day on weekends in clement weather, but it is a lively experience that cannot be missed.

Best Belgian Beer Experience

Photo courtesy of Burp Castle on Flicker
Photo courtesy of Burp Castle on Flicker

Burp Castle
East Village
41 East 7th Street (Btwn. Cooper Sq. & 2nd Ave.)
212-982-4576/burpcastlenyc.wordpress.com

While not all the beers served at the Burp Castle are of Belgian descent, the atmosphere certainly makes it seem that way.  Enter; a dark wood bar area, reminiscent of a library with high top tables and a mural covering every wall of the small, cozy space. Bartenders, knowledgeable and friendly and spotted occasionally in “Brewist Monk” garb.  A quiet, neighborhood bar that will stay that way if the bartenders and regulars can help it… and they do help it, but shushing you if you get too loud.  The taps are constantly changing and the chalk board listing what is currently available is always a thought provoking list of choices that most have probably never even heard of.  While beers are a bit expensive, ranging from $6- $10 a glass (not necessarily a pint depending on the style of beer), it is well worth it to be able to enjoy your company (and your drink) as if you were in your own home.

Best American Craft Beer Bar

Photo by NY Barfly
Photo by NY Barfly


The Pony Bar
Hell’s Kitchen
637 10th Avenue (@ 45th St.)
212-586-2707/theponybar.com

Serving up only American craft brewed beers, The Pony Bar is the #1 spot to get your fix and support your country.  There are 20 taps to choose from and usually 2 that you can find in the casks.  With the tendency to get jam packed during after work hours, your best bet is to stop by on the weekend for a lunchtime beer.  If you decide you’re up for the challenge, join the Pony All Americans, and in true American spirit overindulge in your favorite beers and get rewarded!  100 beers on your list and you’re inducted into the Pony All-American club.  The prize includes an All-American brewery shirt, a video review of a beer of your choosing to be posted on the website, and first dibs on a seat to one of The Pony Bar’s destination brewery trips.  There are also special beer events hosted by craft breweries from around the country fairly frequently.  Check out their website for details on events.  Happy drinking.

Best Selection of Beer

Photo courtesy of The Ginger Man

Photo courtesy of The Ginger Man

The Ginger Man
Murray Hill
11 East 36th Street (Btwn. 5th & Madison Ave.)
212-532-2740/gingerman-ny.com

One of four Ginger Man bars (the other three located in Texas), The Ginger Man NY, with 70 taps and over 150 bottles has the largest selection of beer from around the world that you will find in New York City.  With beer from Sri Lanka to Switzerland to Brazil and everywhere in between, there is truly something for everyone at The Ginger Man.  If you can, stay far away from the afterwork crowd, as it may take you 45 minutes to get a drink at the bar.  Try for a weekday or weekend afternoon for the best chance at grabbing any one of an eclectic mix of beers.  You can even take home your own mixed and matched six-pack of any of their bottled beers.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Best Burgers in the Bronx! Share the mystery! – A Review of Pipers Kilt Restaurant

BEST BURGERS IN THE BRONX! Share the mystery! – A Review of Pipers Kilt Restaurant

BY CLAIRE McCURDY

Pipers Kilt Restaurant
170 W 231st St
Kingsbridge, Bronx
(718) 548-9539

BEST BURGERS IN TOWN/THE BRONX!  Truth in advertising.  A sign outside the Piper’s Kilt makes this bold claim and it is born out by the menu and the customers.  And after your eyes get used to the dim near-religious light, you will see a number of happy veteran (local, Irish descent) customers who can attest to the quality of the food and the beer.   It is truly a neighborhood bar—as soon as customers (most of them) come through the door the barman calls out their drinks and one of his progeny scurries to bring it over as they eddy through the crowd.  It’s also very friendly and sociable.  An elderly customer in a bobble hat at the bar was kissed by no fewer than three effusive ladies.

Photo from cheapassfood.com

Photo from cheapassfood.com

The burgers –- with mushrooms, onions, BBQ sauce, bacon, Swiss cheese, chili-topped— are taken for granted—you can order other things (steak, chicken, wraps, even salad) but really, why would you want to?  Especially when the burger menu alone features a full twelve items including the heretical veggie and salmon burgers, and they’re all REALLY good. [Read more...]

The Chanel of Comfort Food – Ritz Carlton's Classic Desserts Redefined

The Chanel of Comfort Food – Ritz Carlton’s Classic Desserts Redefined

BY ELENA MANCINI

Forget the orchid petal garnished  lavender-chamomile sorbet, the Ritz has introduced a new dessert menu that will make you want to forsake your New Year’s Resolution. Break out your “only this once” excuse and transgress! The taste rewards are worth it.

Molten Chocolate Cake

Ritz-Molten Chocolate Cake

With its recently launched new dessert line, Classic Desserts Redefined, The Ritz-Carlton is restoring the classics of American and continental patisserie to their natural glory by bringing them into the fold of their haute culinary repertoire, and proposing a concept that will goes down as easily as a cup of hot cocoa on a cold wintry night: dessert as the new comfort food.  Not that it would take any effort to convince anyone with a sweet tooth of the healing powers of decadent chocolate or cheese cake,  but comfort food in recent years has generally been associated with the hearty joys of meatloaf or Thanksgiving dinner, not necessarily a gorgeous hunk of  double fudge cake or bread butter pudding. And from the look and the tastes of this new menu, the idea is bound to be a winner. [Read more...]

The Chanel of Comfort Food – Ritz Carlton’s Classic Desserts Redefined

The Chanel of Comfort Food – Ritz Carlton’s Classic Desserts Redefined

BY ELENA MANCINI

Forget the orchid petal garnished  lavender-chamomile sorbet, the Ritz has introduced a new dessert menu that will make you want to forsake your New Year’s Resolution. Break out your “only this once” excuse and transgress! The taste rewards are worth it.

Molten Chocolate Cake

Ritz-Molten Chocolate Cake

With its recently launched new dessert line, Classic Desserts Redefined, The Ritz-Carlton is restoring the classics of American and continental patisserie to their natural glory by bringing them into the fold of their haute culinary repertoire, and proposing a concept that will goes down as easily as a cup of hot cocoa on a cold wintry night: dessert as the new comfort food.  Not that it would take any effort to convince anyone with a sweet tooth of the healing powers of decadent chocolate or cheese cake,  but comfort food in recent years has generally been associated with the hearty joys of meatloaf or Thanksgiving dinner, not necessarily a gorgeous hunk of  double fudge cake or bread butter pudding. And from the look and the tastes of this new menu, the idea is bound to be a winner. [Read more...]

Recipe for Creme Brulee from the Ritz Carlton's Classic Desserts Redefined Menu

Yields 10 individual servings

Creme Brulee - Classics Redefined by Ritz Carlton

Creme Brulee - Classic Desserts Redefined by Ritz Carlton


INGREDIENTS:

26 each large eggs
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 quarts heavy cream
3 each vanilla beans, split and scraped

METHOD:

Heat cream and vanilla bean seeds. Bring cream mixture to 158 degrees F, and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside. Combine yolks and sugar together until well blended. Add warm liquid to the egg mixture. Strain and pour 1 cup of liquid into 10 oven-safe bowls. Bake at 350 degrees F in water bath until custard is set (approx. 50 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

ASSEMBLY:

Dust surface of each with granulated sugar and torch or broil until caramelized. Garnish with fresh berries.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Recipe for Creme Brulee from the Ritz Carlton’s Classic Desserts Redefined Menu

Yields 10 individual servings

Creme Brulee - Classics Redefined by Ritz Carlton

Creme Brulee - Classic Desserts Redefined by Ritz Carlton


INGREDIENTS:

26 each large eggs
2 1/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 quarts heavy cream
3 each vanilla beans, split and scraped

METHOD:

Heat cream and vanilla bean seeds. Bring cream mixture to 158 degrees F, and cover with plastic wrap. Set aside. Combine yolks and sugar together until well blended. Add warm liquid to the egg mixture. Strain and pour 1 cup of liquid into 10 oven-safe bowls. Bake at 350 degrees F in water bath until custard is set (approx. 50 minutes). Remove from oven and allow to cool. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until needed.

ASSEMBLY:

Dust surface of each with granulated sugar and torch or broil until caramelized. Garnish with fresh berries.

Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Vino 2010 – Italian Wine Week in NYC

ATTENTION ITALIAN WINE DEALERS AND AFICIONADOS, *THE* ITALIAN WINE EVENT OF THE YEAR IN NEW YORK CITY IS UPON US:

Vino 2010: Italian Wine Week in New York City

It is the Biggest Italian Wine Event Ever Held Outside of Italy

vino2010

February 2 – February 5, 2010

Venues: Waldorf Astoria and Hilton

Featured will be the regions of Apulia, Calabria, Tuscany and Veneto.

Four days to discover the wines of four of Italy’s most fascinating regions.

For details click on the Vino 2010 logo above.


Share/Save/BookmarkSubscribe

Baccala’ carpaccio with pancetta mousse and espresso and hazelnut crumble

Written and Demonstrated by Chef Enrico Cerea of Da Vittorio Relais & Chateaux at the International Day of Italian Cuisines at Italian Culinary Academy, New York City.

Translated from the Italian by Elena Mancini

Baccala carpaccio with pancetta mousse and hazelnut-espresso crumble

Baccala carpaccio with pancetta mousse and hazelnut-espresso crumble

Baccala’ carpaccio:

100 gr. Filleted baccala’

Roll the fillets of baccala’ into the shape of a cylinder. Wrap the roll in plastic food wrap and place into freezer until frozen. Cut the frozen roll of baccala’ into 1mm. slices. [Read more...]