10/7/11

New York Taste


the 13th Annual New York Taste where 40 top local chefs, restaurateurs, and mixologists will showcase their talents at Skylight Soho.

New York Taste brought to you by New York Magazine is the city's premier culinary event that celebrates the many global influences found within the most creative restaurants of the five boroughs.

New York Taste
Monday, November 7, 2011
6:00PM - 9:00PM
Skylight SOHO
275 Hudson St.
Tickets On Sale Now http://nymag.com/taste/2011/tickets.html

10/6/11

Ultimate Blast 2011

Cocktails, Spirits & Wine
New York Marriott Marquis Hotel

Broadway Ballroom, Times Square
Friday October 14, 2011
5:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Your chance to sample amazing libations from around the world – all in one place.
over 100 delicious cocktails, 300 extraordinary spirits,120 remarkable wines, too many celebrity bartenders to count… add up to one unforgettable tasting event!

Cocktails, spirits and wine to be featured at 2011 Ultimate Blast

Ultimate Blast offers you the opportunity to sample products:

Exciting array of vodkas, tequilas, rum, gins, whiskeys, brandies, liqueurs and more...

Classic and cutting-edge cocktails created by the country's leading mixologists

Wines, Champagne & sparkling wines from all over the world

Book signings by celebrity authors

Live music all evening long

Lots of Legal-Age fun

Buy Tickets Now
VIP ticket holders: Doors open at 5:30 pm.
VIP tickets: $175.
General admission: 6:30 pm.
General admission tickets: $125
 

10/4/11

New York Wine Experience












Critics' Choice
Grand Tastings
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20 • FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21

Two nights to taste wines from more than 250 prestigious wineries and châteaus from the world's best winegrowing regions.

Order Tickets Now!
http://www.winespectator.com/micro/show?id=4031q

10/3/11

Joy of Sake


The Joy of Sake is the largest sake-tasting outside Japan, and has been held annually since 2001. It features premium sakes submitted as entries to the U.S. National Sake Appraisal, a rigorous blind tasting held every year with ten judges from Japan and the U.S.

This once-a-year event features the world's finest sakes in peak condition and the best in traditional and contemporary Asian cuisine. There will be 326 sakes available for tasting, along with appetizers presented by 13 of New York's finest restaurants.

Tickets on Sale http://www.joyofsake.com/DrawProducts.aspx?ProductID=NYTicket

10/2/11

NYCWFF Grand Tasting 2011

Click here to view these pictures larger


Just when you thought the Food Network Wine & Food Festival Grand Tasting couldn't get any grander... IT DID! Big tent, big stars from the Food Network and people with big appetites took over Pier 57 for the Grand Tasting. There was plenty of cooking, eating and drinking, which means there was a lot of learning, chewing and slurping going on.

For the first time the festival decided to make the Grand Tasting a full day event. That meant more eating, more drinking, more bang for you buck! Food Network celebrity chefs where all under the big tent at Pier 57 holding cooking demonstrations at the Kithen Aid stage rather than at solo ticketed cooking demonstrations as in years prior. Alton Brown, Paula Deen, Anthony Bourdain, Ming Tsai.... Everybody was there, it was a great!

There was copius amounts of wine vendors pouring until your hearts contents and of course some of the best restaurants of New York City available to give you a taste from their talented chefs and kitchens. Sponcers such as Buick, Delta, Buitoni and Shoprite had lavish displays where you could relax, get free wifi, get a drink, celebrity cookbook signings, even silly dress up  character pictures or just pose on a Vespa with your very own Italiana!

Grand Tasting was on Saturday and Sunday and can be summed up with one word... Sample!  Attendees got to sample everything! Sample some great wine, sample some great NYC restaurants, sample some great food products and even take home some samples too! Thank goodness you get a nifty gift bag to carry it all in, which already comes filled with goodies like Barilla pasta, Colavita olive oil, chicken stock, Badia spices, even a wooden spoon. Phew... what a fun day!

8/10/11

NYC Wine & Food Festival

WOWZER.... is it that time of the year already? Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Foodies doing cart-wheels down the sidewalks, winos... I mean wine connoisseurs lip smacking their way through vintage tastings, and cocktalians at cocktail seminars staring into the bottom of their glass thinking "Where did it all go right?" THAT'S RIGHT... Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival is back for another year of fabulous chef's showing off their crazy culinary artistry,  genius mixologist's creating cocktails worth salivating over, all in events and parties that take over the city for four tasty days.

The impressive line-up of events include favorites like Burger Bash, Meatball Madness and SWEET and with new events like The Best Thing I Ever Ate Between Bread hosted by Duff Goldman which should be the next best thing since sliced bread; or you can Rock Out with your Bowling ball out with Anne Burrell, where you'll eat like a Rock Star while bowling at Lucky Strike. Too cool! Of course there's also FRIED, yes FRIED. Where eveything you indulge in will be... you guessed it, FRIED! Don't be chicken, you know this event is for you because it's going to be HOT!
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The Grand Tasting presented by ShopRite with KitchenAid Culinary Demonstrations presented by Buitoni will be an all day event on Saturday and Sunday. Expect the big tent to be even bigger with lots of food, drinks, and your favorite Food Network Chefs. On hand personalities smoking up the kitchen stage will be Sunny Anderson, Anthony Bourdain, Alton Brown, Jamie and Bobby Deen, Bobby Flay, Duff Goldman, Masaharu Morimoto, Michael Symon, Ming Tsai, Beekman Boys; and that's just a few to wet your palate.

Top it off  by attending one of the many wine tastings and cocktail seminars where you'll do some pinky-up sipping to your taste buds content, socializing with fellow cocktalians getting smarter about the new trends conjured up by mixologist extraordinaires whom call their drinks libations.

So hurry and get your tickets to the events of you choice because they are selling out faster than you can say BAM! (sorry, couldn't resist)

http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com/2011
https://www.imgtickets.com/OnlineCustom/default.asp?brand=NYC

8/2/11

Ford Focus at Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival

NYC Sidewalker was selected to participate in a cool partnership with the Fordcast Tour at the Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. We were thrilled by the opportunity to help spread the word about the Focus VIP treatment that we got to experience first hand. NYC Sidewalker also had a ticket giveaway on Twitter and our winner also got to be a Focus VIP. We had a wonderful time. The Fordcast Tour Team was not only professional but a lot of fun too.

Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival was hosted by Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Resort, Showboat and Bally’s where Robert Mondavi Discover Wines Presented The Grand Market and Italian Village all weekend within several sessions. There was food, copius amounts of different wine and liquor companies. It was a large event where vendors showed, provided many tastings and sold many products. Foodies attended cooking demonstrations from wonderfully talented chefs, also proffessional wine tasting seminars gave attendees a break from all the sipping to sit and sip some more.
VIP Fordcast Lounge was the center of attention upon arriving at Bally’s Grand Ballroom. It housed many activities meant to keep... um, people's "focus". There were three stationary new 2011 Ford Focus on hand to check out up-close and personal. The Focus Titanium is the top of the line. It features MyFord Touch Technology, push button start, SYNC Voice activated communication and entertainment system, rain sensing windshield wipers, Select Shift Technology that allows you to change gears at the touch of a botton and much more.
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To add to the fun, guests were treated at the VIP Fordcast Lounge to the Digital Station with the Twitter Aggregator and Related Video Content Screen where we were excited to see @NYCsidewalker tweets pop-up frequently.



There were different tables throughout the VIP Fordcast Lounge:
  • Wii Activities (Food Network: Cook or be Cooked)
  • Trivia Challenge (Food Network, Foodie, Atlantic City, Ford Focus Q&A)
  • Contest for the "Neely's Chef On Stage" tickets, $500 Gift Card Raffle, Raffle Gift Baskets, Flyers, Nap Sacks, pens giveaways.
  • Photo Booth with Dress-up chef hats, aprons and other funny playful props.

Event Highlight Video will be posted soon... yay!

It was our first time at the Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival so here's some of our favorites at the Grand Market and Italian Village. Lobster Bisque from Fin made by a mermaid, Vodoo Shrimp by Showboat,  Espresso Infused Van Gogh Vodka, Bally's Scallops with Vanilla Soy Sauce, Paul Goerg Champagne, Jeremiah Weed Lightning Lemonade mixed with Roadhouse Tea, Bakers Peanuts Brittle, Cortez Handmade Cigars and Torrie Espresso and Coffee.


Ultimate VIP Sweepstakes: You can still enter the chance to win the Ultimate VIP Sweepstakes. What does this mean? If you enter and win, you get to design your very own dream vacation! Click here for more information: https://www.fordcast.com

As always pictures were taken with an iPhone and Blackberry... pretty cool, huh?

7/29/11

Ford Focus and Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival

Food Network Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival is pleased to announce the 2nd Annual event taking place on July 28th - July 31st and we're pleased to announce NYC Sidewalker will be there thanks to an awesome partnership with Fordcast Tour!

The Fordcast Tour was created to celebrate the launch of the 2012 Ford Focus in Ford’s Northeast regions (New England, NY/Tri-state, Philly and DC). The tour will bring consumers closer to the sports, music and tastemaker events they love throughout the summer while also introducing them to the all new 2012 Ford Focus.

Focus is giving us the #FocusVIP treatment at the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival and we are thrilled, because we'll be able to nosh on some good food and then check out the features of the new Ford Focus. In fact, my first car was a Ford Focus...ha! It was blue, got me everywhere I needed to go and I loved it!

Ford gave NYC Sidewalker 2 extra tickets to give away on Twitter to one lucky follower by tweeting: 
Ford is also giving one lucky winner and a guest the chance to design their own Ultimate VIP Package courtesy of the Fordcast Tour! This could include baseball games, concerts, a trip to Vegas – you name it! People can enter on our site here: https://www.fordcast.com/

7/5/11

Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival


Let's face it, when it's this ☼ hot in the city there's only one thing to do... ESCAPE NYC!
If you're a foodie, a wino and love the beach and the slots, then you're in luck!!!

Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival is July 28-31 with sizzling events:
So hurry... log onto their website, get your tickets, pack you most stylish flip-flops and get ready to nosh delicious food and sip fancy wine and cocktails.

Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival http://www.caesars.com/acfoodandwine
Twitter: http://twitter.com/foodandwineac
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Food-Network-Atlantic-City-Food-and-Wine-Festival/394280993342?ref=ts

WARNING: ATTENDING THIS FESTIVAL MAY RESULT IN AN EPIDEMIC OF SAND BETWEEN YOUR TOES SYNDROME.

6/1/11

HAMPTONS: DAN’S TASTE OF TWO FORKS


DAN’S PAPERS ANNOUNCES DAN’S TASTE OF TWO FORKS:
HIGHLY ANTICIPATED FOOD AND WINE EVENT TO CELEBRATE THE
BEST OF THE EAST END ON SATURDAY JULY 16th
AT BRIDGEHAMPTON’S SAYRE PARK


Hosted by Acclaimed Chef Marcus Samuelsson and
FOX 5 Anchor Rosanna Scotto as Master of Ceremonies
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Dan’s Papers, the Hamptons’ preeminent weekly newspaper recently acquired by Manhattan Media, owner of Avenue Magazine, is proud to launch the first annual food and wine event celebrating the myriad of wineries and restaurants decorating both the North and South Forks of Long Island on July 16th, 2011. Dan’s Taste of Two Forks (www.danstasteoftwoforks.com) will showcase the best local culinary talent from over forty East End restaurants, Long Island wineries, premiere local purveyors, and local brewers Southampton Ales & Lagers. Taking place under an elegant tent at Sayre Park (154 Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton, NY), the first annual Dan’s Taste of Two Forks is a long overdue celebration of what both the North and South Forks have to offer, from fine dining to wine and everything in between. Acclaimed chef and local Hamptons supporter Marcus Samuelsson, whose new restaurant Red Rooster in Harlem recently earned two stars in the New York Times and whose company, Marcus Samuelsson Group, is invested in popular Hamptons haunt Blue Parrot, has signed on to host, and Good Day NY (WNYW-­‐FOX 5) co-­‐host Rosanna Scotto will help kick off this year’s event as Master of Ceremonies. VIP Reception tickets can be purchased through the event website for $225 with early admission from 6:30pm-­‐7:30pm. General admission tickets for the event from 7:30pm -­‐ 10pm can be purchased for $150.

Dan’s Taste of Two Forks is being produced by Agency 21, the production team behind many of the country’s finest food and wine events along with Manhattan Media, which currently publishes several lifestyle publications in the Hamptons and Manhattan and is producing several other events in the Hamptons this summer. Other premiere sponsors include Zagat, Gilt City, Hampton Jitney, Southampton Ales and Lagers, and Castle Brands Liquors (Pallini Limoncello, Organic Tequila Tierras).

An anticipated 1,800 people from Long Island, the Hamptons, New York City and Connecticut in addition to vacationers from around the globe will descend upon Bridgehampton for the chance to sample fine cuisine from the areas finest chefs and restaurants. A lineup of this caliber has never been seen at an East End food festival before, with culinary giants including: Blue Parrot, Almond, Starr Boggs, Fresno, LT Burger, La Plage, Mosaic, Luce & Hawkins, Nick & Toni’s, Savanna’s, Serafina, Southfork Kitchen, Montauk Yacht Club, and Vine Street Café all signed on to participate, along with confectionary doyenne Dylan Lauren and Dylan’s Candy Bar, and that’s just to name a few. Additionally, The Long Island Wine Council is recruiting Suffolk County vineyards to participate, a true testament to the value placed on homegrown wines and wine makers.

Award winning Southampton Publick House, who has been making ales and lagers on the East End since 1996, will also join some of the many local purveyors that will be showcasing the products that keep Hamptonites coming back for more year after year.
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Samuelsson is an award-­‐winning chef, cookbook author, and food activist. In addition to his success with Red Rooster, he also runs several popular establishments, including Marc Burger in Chicago and Costa Mesa, Street Food with Marcus Samuelsson in Stockholm, and C-­‐House in Chicago. Samuelsson is also a well-­‐known figure on TV, having won last year’s “Top Chef Masters” on Bravo. He is also a regular judge on Food Network’s “Chopped” and has competed on “Iron Chef America.” He also recently launch Food Republic, a food website geared towards men that explores the new culture of food through stories, interviews, global conversations, and experiences. Samuelsson and his wife visit the Hamptons in the summer months and popular East Hampton hot spot Blue Parrot, in which his company, Marcus Samuelsson Group, is invested, is a participating restaurant in the event.

Master of Ceremonies Scotto is no stranger to the restaurant business. Her family has owned and operated the popular Italian restaurant, Fresco by Scotto in New York City for the past 18 years. Scotto has won three Emmys for anchoring FOX 5 News at 10 and Good Day New York and her family’s restaurant Fresco by Scotto is a midtown favorite, open for nearly 18 years serving classic Italian cuisine. A Hamptons summer resident herself, Rosanna loves eating and experiencing all things East End and is excited to be participating in this inaugural event.

Dan’s Taste of Two Forks Restaurant Committee Chairman Donny Evans, owner of Compass Restaurant in Manhattan, notes, “this group of chefs represents the iconic, the hip, and the trendy, along with an exciting group of emerging stars on the North and South forks. This will be the largest assemblage of cuisine from both forks under one roof.”

A portion of the proceeds from Dan’s Taste of Two Forks will be donated to food pantries across both the North and South forks through Have a Heart Community Trust.

Tickets are on sale can be purchased by visiting www.danstasteoftwoforks.com

Portion of Proceeds Benefiting Local Food Pantries Have a Heart Community Trust
VIP Reception tickets are $225 with early admission from 6:30pm-­‐7:30pm.
General admission tickets for the event from 7:30pm -­‐ 10pm $150.
20% Discount Code: 2FORKS

5/16/11

Manhattan Cocktail Classic Kick-Off Gala: The Year of the Negroni

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, the annual five-day celebration of all things cocktail-related, kicked off its 2011 festival in proper epic fashion on May 13 with its exuberant opening night Gala at The New York Public Library. An estimated 3,000 cocktail connoisseurs and smartly-dressed party aficionados from Gotham and beyond filled the marble corridors of this iconic New York City landmark drinking, dancing and making merry at one of the city's most talked about events of the year. Over 40,000 handcrafted cocktails were served by more than 100 members of mixology's royalty, accompanied by live musical performances, interactive art installations and hors d'oeuvres.


Campari whom has been sharing Red Passion around the world for 150 years officially declared 2011 to be "The Year of the Negroni" at the Gala's Campari bar where famous  mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim stirred up the classic Negroni, authentically made with Campari, gin and sweet vermouth in equal parts.
 

The Campari bar was crowded with everyone wanting a Negroni made by Tony Abou-Gamin. As we watched the pro himself stir up a batch of Negronis, we were able to ask him to tell us a little about this special libation, to which he responded, "It's one of my favorite cocktails, the one I make for myself at home, can't find anything better than the simplicity of the three ingredients. I've had a long love affair with Campari for years due to its' superior taste and quality. It really is the best. I even drink it on it's own." After a sip, we could taste what he was talking about; WOW NEGRONI... this smooth and slightly bitter libation had our taste buds roaring for more.

To learn more about Campari visit their website http://www.campari.com/
Photos courtesy of  Hanna Lee Communications, Inc.


Padma Lakshmi and Campari Celebrate the "Year of the Negroni"
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On Sunday Night, Bravo TV's "Top Chef" host Padma Lakshmi enchanted a standing-room only crowd at one of the Manhattan Cocktail Classic's marquee events, Campari's "Year of the Negroni" soiree.

 Padma, who embodies natural beauty, palate sophistication and who is herself a fan of the classic Negroni, served as the muse to inspire worldclass mixologists to create iconic Negroni cocktails. The drinks deftly balanced themes from Ms. Lakshmi's latest cookbook, "Tangy, Tart, Hot and Sweet," for an extraordinary sensory experience.


 

Expert drink-crafters included Jim Meehan, PDT; Tony Abou-Ganim, master mixologist; Jacques Bezuidenhout, master mixologist; Francesco Lafranconi, master mixologist; and, Chad Solomon and Christy Pope, Cuffs & Buttons Cocktail Catering. Their classic Negronis and variations of this world-renowned libation complemented the equally creative fare that saluted Ms. Lakshmi's cookbook themes.
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The evening's revelries benefited a good cause, too, namely Ms. Lakshmi's charity, the Endometriosis Foundation of America. A portion of ticket sales was contributed by Manhattan Cocktail Classic and matched by contributions by Campari and Ms. Lakshmi.


The fête was held at The Box, an otherworldly theater/lounge on the Lower East Side known for its avant-garde entertainment. Surprising performances were featured throughout the evening, artistically framing the mixologists' daring Negroni cocktail creations. Addition, an actor portraying Count Negroni himself was on hand in period costume to regale the guests with the cocktail's unique history.
Photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan Company

5/6/11

Lucky Guy Musical


LUCKY GUY tells the tale of an all-American singing cowboy and a cast of hilarious characters in Nashville, all chasing the same dream: a solid gold hit record. Full of down-home dreamers and low-down schemers, including the Queen of Country Music, who lives in a 28-room trailer, and a fast-talking wheeler dealer who sells used cars of the stars, LUCKY GUY has laughs, heart and a score that salutes Country, Broadway, Vaudeville, Bluegrass, Pop and even Hawaiian music.

This fun and funny new musical stars Emmy® Award-winner Leslie Jordan (Will & Grace, My Trip Down the Pink Carpet), Varla Jean Merman (Chicago, Ugly Betty), Kyle Dean Massey (Next To Normal, Wicked), Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity), Jim Newman (Curtains, Steel Pier) and Savannah Wise (Rock of Ages, Ragtime) and Callan Bergmann, Xavier Cano, Wes Hart, and Joshua Woodie as The Buckaroos.

Come on down to Little Shubert Theatre, NYC where this one-in-a-million, needle-in-a-haystack new musical comedy will get your toes tapping and your heart singing! Previews begin April 28, 2011. http://luckyguythemusical.com/

Answer the question "WHY ARE YOU A LUCKY GUY OR GAL?" in the comments section below for a chance at some free tickets to see the show!

4/1/11

MANHATTAN COCKTAIL CLASSIC

The most anticipated cocktail event of the year is about to rock the hallowed halls of the New York Public Library! The 2011 Manhattan Cocktail Classic will kick off with an exuberant Gala that will bring together Gotham’s cocktail enthusiasts with more than 100 leading mixologists who will ply scores of artisanal tipples. There will be equally enticing eats prepared by world renowned celebrity chefs, live musical performances, interactive exhibits and sensory explorations. Surprises are in store in this fabulous fête that will span four stories and two city blocks of space. Dress code: Extravagant self-expression.

Then for the next four days you will imbibe in style in every uber-swank lounge in Manhattan learning everything you need and want to know about your old favorite and new favorite cocktails made by creatively genuis mixologists. You'll probobly learn a little about yourself in the process (like your limit).

Hurry and get your tickets fast because they are selling out before the ice melts.

WHERE
GALA: The New York Public Library - Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
SEMINARS: Varios Locations
Official Bar: Astor Wines

WHEN
Friday, May 13-17 2011

TICKETS
Library Gala $150
Cocktail Seminars $50
10% Discount Code: 2011FAN
http://tickets.manhattancocktailclassic.com/
www.manhattancocktailclassic.com

Thrillist Martini Week

Thrillist Presents the 2nd Annual Martini Week!                Celebrate the perfect Martini in different creative forms by talented mixologists all over Manhattan for two whole weeks!
APRIL 4th-17th 2011

Participating venues include: 48, Abe & Arthurs, Aspen Social Club, Ava Lounge, Double Crown, Dylan Prime, INC Lounge at the Time Hotel, Merc Bar, Oceana, Public, Rayuela, Revel NYC, Tao, The Pierre: Two E Bar, VIG 27 and Volstead.

Venues and custom martinis they'll be serving: http://www.thrillist.com/files/images/MartiniWeek2011.pdf


About Thrillist: Thrillist.com is a leading men’s lifestyle brand, providing a no-B.S. take on the best in food, drink, entertainment, nightlife, gadgets and gear in your city. Reaching over 2.5 million subscriptions, Thrillist connects daily to young, well-educated, affluent guys in each of its 18 local markets across the U.S. and the U.K.

3/23/11

New Taste UWS


Fourth Annual Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side returns with an exciting new line-up! Friday, May 20th-Saturday, May 21st.
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Adam Richman and Dylan Lauren to co-host Singha Beer Comfort Classics!.

New Taste Event Chair Don Evans and Barbara Adler, Executive Director of the Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District (BID), are pleased to announce the return of the annual Whole Foods Market New Taste of the Upper West Side. Now in its fourth year, the weekend is dedicated to some of the finest culinary talent from this neighborhood. The weekend kicks off Friday, May 20th, and runs through Saturday, May 21st, with proceeds benefitting The Columbus Avenue BID’s Beautification Project.

“The Upper West Side has such a diverse and robust food and restaurant culture. When we established the weekend our goal was to showcase this tremendous energy and to celebrate the creativity and culinary camaraderie of our chefs,” says event founder, restaurateur, and BID board member Don Evans.

The last weekend before Memorial Day, the best Upper West Side chefs and restaurants come together to showcase their biggest flavors and innovations. The weekend begins Friday night when Adam Richman of Travel Channel's "Man v Food" and Dylan Lauren of Dylan’s Candy Bar co-host the Singha Beer Comfort Classics presented by Columbus Square. With the goal of reinterpreting American favorites, 35 chefs including John Fraser of Dovetail, Ed Brown of Ed’s Chowder House, Ellie Krieger of The Food Network, Magnolia Bakery and Shake Shack turn the classics on their heads with mouth watering twists on comfort food. Rounding out the evening will be wine and spirits provided by Southern Wine and Spirits.

Saturday night Dana Cowin, Editor in Chief of Food & Wine Magazine, Upper West Side resident and renowned taste arbiter, will be honored at the star studded "Best of the West presented by ZAGAT" and VIP reception presented by First Republic Bank. With an emphasis on using locally sourced ingredients, this evening will feature 40 of the Upper West Side’s premier chefs encouraged to use the freshest foods from within 100 miles of New York City. Chefs rising to meet this challenge include Daniel Boulud of Bar Boulud, Missy Robbins of A Voce, Michael Psilakis of Kefi, Jonathan Benno of Lincoln, Bill Telepan of Telepan, Rosa Mexicano and Jacques Torres of Jacques Torres Chocolate among many others. Accompanying their creations will be local wines from the vineyards of the Long Island Wine council along with spirits and wine from Southern Wine and Spirits portfolio.

In all some 80 chefs and restaurants will convene to celebrate the culinary diversity of this vital neighborhood. Event sponsors include Whole Foods Market, New York Post, Southern Wine & Spirits, Columbus Square, First Republic Bank, Ford, Gilt City, Rosa Mexicano, Singha Beer, Zagat., 67 Wine, Brusco Group, IN NY & Where Magazines, Manhattan Magazine, The West Side Spirit, Argo Residential, Cascal, Euphoria Olive Oil and Yelp. Proceeds raised from the weekend festivities will go into the Columbus Avenue BID’s dedicated fund for neighborhood beautification.
The exciting roster of events include:


Co-hosted by Adam Richman, of the Travel Channel’s Man v. Food and Dylan Lauren of Dylan’s Candy Bar, features the Upper West Side’s most innovative chefs on a mission to reinvent the classics. An evening of your favorite foods brought to you by over 35 wonderful chefs, including live music and wines and spirits from the Southern Wine & Spirits portfolio.

Best of the West presented by Zagat: $125 General Admission 7PM-9:30PM

Celebrating the vibrant culinary culture of Manhattan’s Upper West Side, this year Best of the West presented by Zagat is going local. Some of the best and brightest chefs in NYC will be presenting signature dishes drawing on the freshest ingredients sourced from within 100 miles of the city. Over 40 of the Upper West Side’s most celebrated chefs, as well as a few special guest chefs will be serving seasonal dishes certain to captivate your taste buds and set your palate ablaze.

Tickets for the 2011 Whole Food’s Markets New Taste of the Upper West Side go on sale March 9, 2011 www.newtasteuws.com or call 212-721-5048 for information.
Updates on Twitter @NewTasteUWS  and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/NewTaste
The Columbus Avenue Business Improvement District, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, represents merchants and property owners along Columbus Avenue from West 67th Street to 82nd Street. Formed in 1999 in a landmark district, its membership includes a diverse range of retailers, restaurateurs and commercial and mixed-use property owners, comprising all of the commercial establishments. In addition, the Columbus Avenue BID’s district includes the American Museum of Natural History, Theodore Roosevelt Park, The New-York Historical Society and the Rose Center for Earth and Space.

2/28/11

Campari: "The Year of the Negroni"




Campari to Declare 2011
"The Year of the Negroni"
at Manhattan Cocktail Classic's Kick-Off Gala Event on May 13th.



Famed Mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim to Stir Up Negronis, Authentically Made with Campari, for Thousands of Glamorous Imbibers from the Big Apple and Beyond.




WHAT
Campari, the legendary one-of-a-kind red spirit, today announced that it is naming 2011 as "The Year of the Negroni" in homage to this timeless tipple at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic's Gala event on May 13. Authentically made with Campari, the Negroni ranks with the Martini and the Manhattan in the libation pantheon. Indeed, the drink has aristocratic roots and was created by an actual Count Camillo Negroni, who asked that Gin be added to strengthen his usual Americano, a time-honored drink made with Campari and sweet vermouth. Since that day, the Negroni has become Italy's signature cocktail that is emblematic of urbane sophistication.

The Manhattan Cocktail Classic is a five-day celebration of everything cocktail-related. It will get off to a flying start on May 13 with its legendary Gala event held within the marble walls of the esteemed New York Public Library. The Gala attracts thousands of stylish cocktail mavens from Gotham and beyond.



WHO
Tony Abou-Ganim ("The Modern Mixologist"), one of the world's top bartenders, will stir up definitive renditions of the true, original Negroni--equal parts Campari, Gin and sweet vermouth. When not mixing drinks and organizing cocktail programs, Tony travels the world teaching professional barmanship, spirits knowledge and cocktail history. He is an accomplished author and winner of Iron Chef America's "Battle Mango" against Chef Mario Batali.





WHERE
The New York Public Library, Main Floor
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street

WHEN
Friday, May 13, 2011
9:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m

2/27/11

SOBEWFF Grand Tasting



It's the weekend and your on your way to the beach. YES THE BEACH! You get there and there's sand between your toes, a copius amount of drinks within reach and bite after bite of deliscious morsels of food from various restaurants. You guessed it... it's the South Beach Food & Wine Festival Grand Tasting!

In epic display under a giant tent where you party in true SOBE style. Celebrating it's 10 Year Anniversary the festival proved its only getting better! The massive tent was bigger than ever with indoor and outdoor space that created a party like no other. People danced and drank and ate and danced some more! Oh yeah and let's not forget all the culinary celebrity chefs from the Food Network displaying their skils and entertaining fans at the cooking demonstrations.

Click here to view these pictures larger



SOBE Food & Wine Fetsival is a spectacle like no other and must be seen to be believed. So do yourself a favor New Yorkers and get over there next year. After all, New York is freezing in February. Couldn't you use some Fun in the Sun?

Happy Anniversary Lee Schrager!

2/26/11

SOBEWFF: Thrillist BBQ & The Blues





Thrillist did it again! But this time by hosting BBQ and The Blues at the 2011 South Beach Food and Wine Festival. Cool grown-ups were in attendance sporting their sandy feet as accessories in the The Oasis at The Raleigh Hotel.



BBQ-lovers gathered to celebrate the two main staples of any man’s diet: delicious smoked meaty goodness and Blues music so good it did not make you blue. The sold-out event was hosted by celebrity chef Tyler Florence and The Royal chef John DeLucie and featured performances by Diablo Dimes. Guests enjoyed drinks from Zacapa Rum and custom-crafted BBQ-inspired dishes from some of Thrillist’s favorite South Florida chefs including:










Tyler Florence – Host (Wayfare Tavern, San Fransico, CA)
Served Santa Maria Tri-Tip with buttermilk toast, bread and butter pickles, piperade, black eyed peas & chickweed.





The Royal Executive Chef and Proprietor John DeLucie
served Braised Beef Short Ribs







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Red Light Owner and Chef Kris Wessel
Served Smoked & BBQ Brisket Sandwiches with creole dipping sauce

4 Rivers Smokehouse Pit Master and Owner John Rivers
served Texas Brisket Shooters with bacon-wrapped smoked jalapenos
 and Banana Dream Pudding Shots

SUGARCANE raw bar grill Executive Chef Timon Balloo
Served Smoked Beef Short Ribs with local vegetable slaw and a cornbread rolls.
 
Oh yeah... Sparky’s Roadside Barbecue Proprietors and Chef Kevin Kehoe and Hans Seitz served Brisket Sliders with coleslaw and collard greens but we ate the picture too!


There really is nothing like BBQ, Blues and Beach, but with Thrillist involved it takes on a whole new element of fabulous! Sign up for Thrillist here: http://www.thrillist.com/
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As always all pictures taken with our IPhone and Blackberry! How cool is that!?!
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All proceeds from the Festival benefit the Florida International University (FIU) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management and Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center located on FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus.

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2/2/11

SoBe Wine & Food Festival 2011


It's a known fact that New Yorkers gravitate to Miami Beach every Winter in true snow bird fashion. But never so much as during the South Beach Wine & Food Festival where gourmands unite! So if you proudly call yourself a foodie, watch the Food Network and love South Beach, then you're probably already planning on treating your palate at the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival February 24-27. The Beach will convert into a chef mecca and foodie haven with events of delectable degustations, celebrity Chefs cooking demonstrations, and hundreds of bottles of wine breathing and champagne corks popping for their 10th Anniversary! Most events are sold out, and some are just about to; so hurry, make your itinerary of events, buy your tickets then enjoy the lovely food chaos that will ensue while you go into senses overload and make those same sounds you make while watching the Food Network, mmm... ah! wha? uh!

There are many delicious
events still available and there seems to be something for every price point, so check it out. Also, don't forget to buy the SoBe Festival Cookbook and get it signed by all your favorite celebrity chefs and SoBe Wine & Food Festival Director Lee Schrager!