In honor of its 10th Anniversary in the Culinary Products arena, Viking Range Corporation is pleased to introduce a new line of 3-ply cookware. Featuring the most advanced combination of stainless steel and aluminum alloys in the world today, Viking 3-ply cookware offers a lighter-weight cookware alternative that conducts heat evenly and quickly for optimum results.
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Viking 3-ply cookware is suitable for all cooking surfaces including gas, electric, halogen, ceramic and induction.  The Viking exclusive multi-ply construction features three layers with an 18/10 stainless steel cooking surface, aluminum alloy core and magnetic stainless steel exterior.  The line of Viking 3-ply cookware offers a Viking Design exclusive ergonomic stainless steel handle that stays cool and rolled edge vessel for easy pouring.  Additionally, this product line is oven-safe up to 600 degrees F, dishwasher-safe and backed by a lifetime warranty.

"The new Viking 3-ply cookware is an extension of our already successful product offerings," said Richard Beattie, Director of Sales - Culinary Products, Viking Range Corporation.  "For ten years, we have been dedicated to designing more culinary product choices for the home chef who wants professional-caliber equipment."

Viking 3-ply cookware is available as individual pieces such as fry pans, saute pans, and sauce pans or as complete five-, seven-, or 10-piece sets.  Select pieces from the 3-ply line are priced from approximately $105 and are available through select retailers.

Allowing culinary mavens to further expand their collection of kitchen tools, consumers can take advantage of significant cookware and cutlery savings with Viking's 10th Anniversary Sale.  Available through December 24, this promotion offers 30 to 44 percent off all Viking 7-ply cookware and professional cutlery.  Visit a local dealer for further details. For more information on the Viking product line or to find a local dealer, visit www.vikingrange.com.


December 7, 2011 / category: Cooking / link / comments (0)
It has been announced that Pol Roger is the official Champagne of the Royal Wedding!  It will be served before the sit-down meal prepared by Anton Mosimann and hosted by Prince Charles. It seems the Brits favor Pol Roger, since it was Winston Churchill's favorite. And the Champagne house even has a special cuvee named after him (Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill).

If you care to celebrate the Royal Wedding in the same style, pop open a bottle of the Pol Roger Brut Reserve NV, it typically sells for between $35 and $43 a bottle.  "A beautifully gold straw yellow hue, fine bubbles, a bouquet of floral and fruity aromas, ripe and thirst-quenching on the palate, with a superb taste of brioche."

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New York's Sherry-Lehmann in midtown Manhattan has it for $39.95.

It is interesting to note that traditionally, Pol Roger has not been served at royal weddings. Queen Victoria issued a royal warrant to Bollinger in 1884, and Prince Charles chose it both for his stag party and for his marriage to Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.

April 22, 2011 / category: Wine / link / comments (0)
Royal Watchers in New York, will be pleased to know that they can watch the big event on Friday April 29th in style at the New York Palace Hotel!

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Guests will view the Wedding Ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton on flatscreen TVs in the Drawing Room while enjoying a traditional English breakfast, including scones with marmalade, scrambled eggs with Devonshire cream, and breakfast bangers.

Those in attendance will enjoy an experience that is reflective of a wedding event with traditional celebratory frills, including personalized place cards, elegant floral arrangements, "In Honour Of" printed menus, and commemorative wedding "favors" (scented glass candles with an embossed crown logo). To best ensure that early risers are well taken care of it, all attendees will receive keepsake Palace slippers, and pillows and blankets will be available throughout the breakfast to ensure the "coziest" of dining experiences.

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The Drawing Room is housed in the renowned Villard Mansion at The New York Palace. With its motifs from 15th-century Italian cathedrals that reflects Gilded Age grandeur, The Drawing Room features exquisite carved wood paneling and twin fireplaces.

The event, priced at $150 per person inclusive, will commence at 5:30 AM with coffee and tea service. At 6 AM, breakfast service will begin to correspond with the 11 AM wedding start time in London, and will conclude at 8 am with a champagne toast. 

It starts really early, thanks to the time difference, so one could even book a room at the hotel for the night before!

More information here.  Cheers to William and Kate!


April 12, 2011 / category: Breakfast / link / comments (0)
Sherry-Lehmann has released their Unsung Heroes of Bordeaux Spring Sampler. For decades they have sought out the smaller lesser-known properties of Bordeaux that consistently excel in their quality-to-price ratio... these are the Unsung Heroes and they release a new sampler each season!  I love trying these wines because they are tasty and affordable!  Many are Merlot forward so they're quite approachable and easy drinking with nice medium body and fruit.

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It includes:
* Chateau Beynat 2006
* Chateau Jouanin Cuvee Prestige 2006
* Chateau Labatut-Bouchard 2008
* Chateau Lascaux 2005
* Chateau Maison Neuve 2006
* Chateau Mayne Vieil 2006
* Chateau Peyraud 2005
* Chateau Puynard 2007
* Chateau Roland La Garde 2006
* Chateau Roquefort 2005
* Chateau Thebot 2005
* Chateau Vieux Dominique 2006

The case of 12 is $159.95.

March 25, 2011 / category: Wine / link / comments (0)

Frozen Heaven from 16 Handles
February 16, 2011

A couple months ago 16 Handles frozen yogurt opened its first Upper East Side store at 1569 2nd Avenue between 81st and 82nd Streets I was SO excited because I love Pinkberry (on the same block) but get frustrated by the super slow and dim-witted service there.  16 Handles is great because you get to make your own, and combine as many flavors as you like.  They also have a huge topping bar, that is also self service.  Nearly all of the flavors are non-fat.  The only wait can be for the topping line and to pay sometimes, but so far, I guess since it's Winter, it hasn't been that bad.

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The flavors are great - 16 of them - but I only like the "tart" flavors which limits me to about 4.  They had been Original Tart, Euro Tart, Pomegranate and Pina Colada.  Last night when I went in, they had swiched out Pomegranate and Pina Colada for Green Tea and Apple.  I was ecstatic to see the Green Tea... and it is FABULOUS!

Here is the full flavor list from their website.  You can check daily flavors on their facebook page.
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I love it so much, I actually have this for dinner sometimes... you know, dessert as dinner, and a hot tea for dessert (to help warm up).  I'm afraid come warm weather time the secret will be out and it will be a madhouse!
February 16, 2011 / category: New Restaurants / link / comments (0)
To keep up the culinary excitement, Monday I went to the new Food Hall at the Plaza.  It's been open for a few months now, and I've been dying to go!  Even though it was a Monday night it was almost full around 8 pm.  The space is beautiful with white marble bar tops, dark wood and mosaic tile floors.  It definitely has the European flair that they were looking for!

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The space is divided up into different sections, each with their own bar area: wine bar, grill, pizza, dumpling bar, sushi bar, ocean grill & oyster bar, bakery, cheese & charcuterie.  You can sit anywhere and still order from any of the sections.

Here is the pizza bar:
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And the wine bar:
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Both of the two things I sampled were fantastic!  From the tapas menu, the chermoula marinated shrimp ($8) with smoked paprika, cilantro and cumin was perfectly cooked and seasoned.  The tapas portion is 2 shrimps with a little bit of shaved fennel salad.  I could have eaten 4 portions it was so good!  Then from the pizza menu, the spit roasted chicken pizza ($14) with carmelized onions, aged provolone and arugula pesto... it was larger than expected - a nice long oval size that they cut into 8 pieces. I was sitting at the pizza bar so I got to watch him make it.  The oven is seriously impressive, at over 700 degrees it cooks really fast and with the perfect char and crisp crust.  The combination of flavors was incredible, I think it was the arugula pesto that really made it!  I paired these food items with the Chianti Rufina from the wines by the glass menu ($9).  All in all, it was splendid and I can't wait to go back!  Also, very reasonably priced... especially considering it is the Plaza after all!

Take a look at the full menu here, and wine menu here.

The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English, Fifth Avenue at Central Park South, enter on the 59th street side facing the Park and take the escalator down to the basement.
February 1, 2011 / category: New York / link / comments (0)

Sunday Night at ABC Kitchen
January 31, 2011

On Sunday night I finally made it to Jean George's new and very popular ABC Kitchen (35 East 18th Street between Broadway & Park Avenue).  The concept is organic, local, market table sort of thing... from their website: "abc kitchen has a committed focus to local, sustainable and organic seasonal produce that does not use pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, insecticides or GMOs; meat, fish and dairy 
 that is locally sourced where possible, from humanely treated pasture-fed animals free of antibiotics 
 and hormones; teas, coffees, spices, organic wines, juices and elixirs that are organically cultivated on fair trade cooperatives celebrating and honoring sustainability, artistry and our global diversity.

"

The vibe is barn meets South Beach... with rustic barn beams contrasted by white plastic chairs and white tables.  The tableware is quirky with unmatched china bread plates and vintage mixed flatware.  The food is all brought out on interesting handmade white porcelain plates and bowls with unique shapes (they sell these at ABC Carpet, porcelain dinnerware by jan burtz).

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We started with the crab toast ($15) which had a nice quantity of peekytoe crab with lemon aioli on a toasted rustic bread.  It was very fresh and tasty.
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I had the black sea bass ($27) with chilis, herbs, baby potatoes, spinach and lemon confit.  It was in a very light broth and not spicy at all, kind of "spa food".  The spinach was beautiful, obviously super fresh. I had hoped the dish might be a bit more spicy because of the chilis and have more flavor in general... but, while it was good, I was underwhelmed.  Maybe I caught the dish on an off night?
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I have to say what really blew me away was the extraordinary salted caramel ice cream on the dessert menu. The flavor was amazing!  Just what you'd expect of a Jean Georges restaurant, so I definitely finished off the meal right!

January 31, 2011 / category: New Restaurants / link / comments (0)

A Halloween Treat
October 26, 2010

Here's a great Halloween gift (for adults of course): Crystal Head Vodka.  It's a quadruple distilled and filtered three times through charcoal followed by triple filtration over polished crystals (aka Herkimer diamonds). It's made in Newfoundland, Canada. The most amazing part though is the skull bottle! It's made by master artisans at Milan's Bruni Glass Company.
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Here's a link to their where to buy page.  Prices in the marketplace vary greatly from $40 to $65 so it might be worth calling a few places.  It seems that most places sell if for $49.99.

October 26, 2010 / category: Spirits / link / comments (0)
On Oct. 26, Michelin will formally introduce its complete selection for the MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2011, the company's fifth Bay Area edition. To whet the appetite of Bay Area residents, Michelin has announced its list of 74 "Bib Gourmand" restaurants in its 2011 guide. Also known as the "Inspectors' Favorites for Good Value," Bib Gourmand restaurants offer two courses and a glass of wine or dessert for $40 or less (tax and gratuity not included). Introduced in the 1997 editions of the MICHELIN Guides in Europe, Bib Gourmand restaurants are identified in the guide by a red symbol depicting the head of Bibendum, the Michelin Man.
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This year, 29 new restaurants have earned the Bib Gourmand designation. San Francisco boasts 74 Bib Gourmand restaurants in total. The full list of San Francisco Bib Gourmands appears below. The volume of Bib Gourmand restaurants in San Francisco makes the city a global leader in culinary value. No city of comparable size offers as many Bib Gourmands.

The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2011 covers a wider geographic region than most of its peers, stretching from Los Gatos in the south to Geyserville in the north. Over the past year, Michelin inspectors have analyzed restaurants throughout Northern California, always anonymously. At the end of their investigative process, they gather to debate the region's restaurants in full, determining which restaurants should be retained in the selection, and which merit one, two or three stars. The inspectors also give a special nod to restaurants that deliver exceptional value. Those restaurants are designated as Bib Gourmands. These restaurants often reflect neighborhood favorites and overlooked gems, and are of particular interest to the full-time residents of a given city.

A full list of Bib Gourmand restaurants can be found here: www.facebook.com/MichelinGuides.

The Bib Gourmand selection includes:

(* denotes new selection for 2011)







A 16

Bistro 29*

C Casa*


BarBersQ

Bottega*

Chapeau! *


Bay Wolf

Brown Sugar Kitchen

Chevalier


Bellanico

Burma Superstar

Chu*


Betelnut

Cafe des Amis*

Coa*


Bistro Aix*

Cafe Gibraltar

Colibri


Bistro Jeanty*

Camino

Cook St. Helena


Corso

Kitchen (The)

Sauce


Crouching Tiger

K & L Bistro

Slanted Door (The)


Cucina Paradiso

Kokkari Estiatorio

Slow Club


Delarosa*

La Costanera*

Sociale


Delfina

Laurus*

Sons & Daughters*


Domo*

Le Charm

SPQR*


Dosa

Mamacita

Starbelly*


eVe*

Marinitas

Sumika*


FIVE

Market

Sushi Ran*


flour + water

Monti's Rotisserie

Tavern at Lark Creek


Gather*

Nopa

Thai House*


Hachi Ju Hachi*

Oenotri*

the girl & the fig


Henry's Hunan

Perbacco

Troya*


Hibiscus*

Pican

Vanessa's Bistro


Hong Kong Flower Lounge

Risibisi

Willi's Wine Bar


Incanto

Rivoli*

Wood Tavern*


Insalata's

Sakae

Yank Sing


Kabab & Curry's*

Santi*






"You can stretch your dining dollar in San Francisco, perhaps more than in any other city in the world," says Jean-Luc Naret, director of the MICHELIN Guides. "Starred restaurants earn an outsized share of the attention every year, but those restaurants only represent 10 percent of those included in our guides. The Bib Gourmands deliver everyday excellence at a reasonable price. And they can be found throughout this entire region."

To celebrate its fifth year in San Francisco, readers can start enjoying the MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmands in advance of the Oct. 27 on-sale date. The San Francisco Bib Gourmand selections can be found online at www.facebook.com/MichelinGuides. Michelin inspectors also share insider secrets via Twitter at @MichelinGuideSF and can be seen in a video interview for the first time ever online.

Thanks to a rigorous selection process that is applied independently and consistently around the 23 countries by the MICHELIN Guide, the MICHELIN Guide has become an international benchmark in gourmet dining. The selection is made by anonymous, professional inspectors who are Michelin employees and is based on the same working methods in all countries. They pay all their bills in full. This guarantees a total independence of the Guide regarding the hospitality industry.

The MICHELIN Guide San Francisco, Bay Area & Wine Country 2011 goes on sale Wed., Oct. 27 at $18.99


October 22, 2010 / category: San Francisco / link / comments (0)

Dinner at Maya
October 15, 2010

I recently went to Maya for dinner after not having been in several years.  I got a great deal from Open Table, which was a $50 for $25 coupon.  I have to imagine that things are slow or that they want to drum up new customers for them to do that...

Maya in on First Avenue on the Upper East Side between 64th and 65th Streets.

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I didn't realize that Maya is actually part of a mini restaurant empire.  The chef, Richard Sandoval, has 6 other restaurants with some of them being multi location.  Like Maya, for example, there is another one in Dubai of all places!

We started dinner with the Maya Margarita which adds tamarind to jazz it up.  Good!  The appetizers were so compelling we ended up not being able to decide so we shared three and split one entree.  For appetizers, we went with: Tostados de Atun (seared tuna on plantain chips with pineapple salsa), Tacos de Puntas de Filete (soft tacos with organic filet mignon) and Chile Relleno (pepper stuffed with shrimp, scallops, calamari).  For entree the Huachinango a la Veracruzana (red snapper with tomato, olive, caper sauce and plantain mash).  For wine, to be different (for us anyway), we got a Tempranillo from Spain.

The tostadas had perfectly seared tuna of beautiful quality and were presented in an artistic fashion on the plate.  The tacos kind of blew me away because I hardly ever eat meat - - the filet was cooked medium/rare, just how I'd want it, and was a nice amount (not stingy) it paired nicely with the salsa, cilantro, avocado etc.  Wow, I wanted to order seconds of that!  The Chile was a HUGE pepper with the seafood, black beans, a chili sauce, cheese etc. I had never had this before and it was quite interesting, in a good way.  The flavor of the pepper itself was really nice.  After all that, the snapper was almost not needed... but we love snapper so we braved on.  The sauce had a unique flavor that I can't place, like there was a secret ingredient in addition to the tomatoes, olives and capers.  It was good and the plantain mash was a nice accompaniment.  No room for dessert, that's for sure!  Which is too bad because they looked good.  I am a sucker for anything that's served with cinnamon ice cream and that's what comes with their Mexican chocolate tart.. oh well, next time!
October 15, 2010 / category: Restaurants / link / comments (0)
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