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@VillageVoice’s @ChoiceEats = Delicious
On Tuesday night I attended Village Voice’s sixth annual “Choice Eats” event.
Just picture this…you walk into the 69th Armory, a huge, historic armory built in the early 1900s, filled with 83 restaurants from the five boroughs, serving tastings of their most delicious dishes. Let’s not forget the craft beer, spirits and wine companies, serving up cocktails and pours to accompany the eats. If you’re even the slightest bit of a foodie, you’d think you died and went to heaven–so imagine how it was for me (definitely, absolutely a foodie)!
Each of the restaurants was hand-picked by Robert Sietsema, food critic for Village Voice.
If you missed this year’s event, there’s always next year. But be sure you buy your tickets early because it sold out completely this year, and I’m sure it will be the same for next year. Also, keep an eye on Village Voice’s calendar of events. They have various festivals throughout the year, like the Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival I attended in October, and the upcoming Choice Streets food truck tasting event in April.
And the winner is…
Allswell: Gentleman’s Relish with roasted garlic and anchovy spread on housemade sourdough and topped with soft boiled eggThis was my absolute favorite dish in the entire event.
My tasting glass
The event was sold out!
Juliette: Cured Arctic Char & Maine Diver Scallop Shooters
From top left: Red Hook Lobster Pound~Shrimp Rolls, O Lavrador~Carne de Porco a Alentejana (pork tenderloin with clam and potatoes), Pataniscas de Bacalhau com Molho Verde (codfish fritters with Portuguese vinaigrette sauce), Smorgas Chef~72 hour house cured aquavit gravlaks with creamy dill cucumbers and mustard sauce.The lox from Smorgas Chef were unbelievable!
Red Hook Lobster Pound’s mascot!
From left: Fay Da Baker~pork bun and honey bubble teaBest pork bun ever!
Whole Foods had bags for everyone!
Dirt Candy: Tomato chipotle cotton candy
Mama’s Food Shop~Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Roasted VegetablesSuch a simple description, but this had to one of the juiciest, most flavorful roasted pork dishes I have ever tasted!
Vandaag~Gravlax Smorrebrod
Surprised to see the neighborhood spot! I can’t even count how much Peppa’s Jerk Chicken I’ve had since moving to Brooklyn!
Enjoying!
Smuttynose~Let’s say I had the random and bizarre impulse to jump over the table to grab a beer or something–I would definitely NOT do it with this guy standing there!!
Yummy cocktails by Bulldog Gin
Goat Town: Goat Face Sangwich
Gazela: makes delicious sangria
Northern Spy Food Co~Savory Buttermilk Pannacotta with roasted carrots, almonds and licorice
Sottocasa: Tiramisu
Doughnut Plant: P&J doughnutsOne of my local favorites! Even though I was sooooo full, I managed to make room for this and it couldn’t have been better!
This guy is so smart. While everyone else juggled their plate, glass, and event brochure, he was super smooth with his items laid out on a lavish platter, er, green tray!
Blue Point: Craft beer
Svedka, anyone?
Ditch Plains: hot dogs covered with mac ‘n cheeseDelicious…don’t judge me!
Until next time!!
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I’m Going to @VillageVoice’s @ChoiceEats Tasting Event!
I love Fridays and I love weekends, but I really wouldn’t mind if it all just flew by and I was plopped down right in the middle of Tuesday. Why, you ask? Because Tuesday, March 13 is the Village Voice’s sixth annual “Choice Eats” event, which I am attending!
If you haven’t heard of “Choice Eats,” it’s a foodie’s ultimate paradise: a tasting event featuring 83 handpicked restaurants from all five boroughs, along with complimentary craft beer pairings, wine and liquor beverages.
In addition to tastings, guests will enjoy DJ sets by Andy Rourke of The Smiths, the legendary alt-rock band that materialized from the British indie music scene in the 1980s, and guest chef-celebrity, Ty-lor Boring, of Bravo’s hit show, Top Chef Texas. Ty-lor will host a demo for all VIP ticket-holders during the VIP hour from 5:30 – 6:30 PM.
VIP tickets have sold out, but a limited number of General Admission tickets are still available at choiceeats.villagevoice.com for $50 each. A complete list of participating restaurants and sponsors is also available on the event website.
Here are the deets on the event:
WHEN: Tuesday, March 13 from 6:30pm-9:30pm with a VIP-only preview from 5:30pm-6:30pm
WHERE: 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue @ 26th Street, NYCTweet me if you come to the event…@OAAinNYC!
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Holiday Dip + WIN $1million
Dave Hirschkop and his team are sharing one of their delicious holiday dip recipes with us, and giving YOU a chance to win $1 million!
Easy Holiday Dip
1 ½ cups roasted red peppers (from jar or canned)
1 8-ounce package of cream cheese
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
1 Tablespoon olive oil
½ teaspoon paprika (I like smoked but any will do)
Salt and pepper to tastePut everything into a food processor and pulse until smooth, creamy and delicious. Serve with fresh-cut veggies (carrot sticks, celery, you know the drill folks) pretzels or pita chips. For you chile heads, add a couple drops of your favorite Dave’s Gourmet hot sauce to spice things up.
Here’s how you can win $1 million:
Dave’s Gourmet is looking for a winner to add to its product line. The winner will get the royalties for six years as well as up to $1 million. The payday starts immediately with a $2,000 advance!!Just submit your original recipe for a sauce, salsa or dip by Dec. 31st to www.davesgourmet.com. Dave’s team will test the recipes and choose semifinalists, who will then be taste-tested by a Dave’s Gourmet panel. Finalists will be notified Jan. 12-14. The winner (or winners) will be chosen by food professionals attending the Fancy Foods Show in San Francisco. They’ll be notified Jan. 18.
Good luck!
♥Bella♥
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@BCAGlobal Food & Wine Experience
Picture a breath-taking, historic venue, tucked under Manhattan’s 59th Street Bridge, filled with a bounty of multi-cultural food, wine and spirits, all for your tasting pleasure. That was the scene at the 8th Annual BCA Food and Wine Experience, November 18.
At this event, aspiring culinary and beverage professionals learn about the industry; established restauranteurs, sommeliers, and importers network and display their acheivements in the field with booths and tables from their businesses; and the BCA honors the dedication of pioneers of color in the wine industry with the Vision in Wine Award. This year’s winner was David Gonzales of Pernod Ricard USA.
There were over 50 chefs serving tasty bites, from sweet to savory, along with wine and spirits from every region.
Here are some mouth-watering highlights from the evening:
About the BCA: The BCA is a nationwide non-profit, educational and networking organization of hospitality and food service professionals. Their mission is to create exposure and provide educational and professional opportunities for culinary and hospitality professionals of color. For more info, visit: www.bcaglobal.org.
xoxo, Olisa
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DAVOS Supper Club
white wine and creme brulee… yum!
On Wednesday, Davos Supper Club hosted an opening party, and it was super. Lots of food, drinks, and good vibes.
If you live in Toronto, you should go! 417 Danforth Avenue. More info http://www.thelegion.ca/
Thanks for inviting us!Tweet them some L-O-V-E @DavosSC
peace and love
♥Bella♥
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@blushberryfroyo
I’m back…. and I sure hope you are all keeping cool in this amazing summer weather. I’m not going to complain because I’ll complain again in the winter but it’s amazing and though I can’t really breathe outside I’m still enjoying the sun. I’m sitting outside writing this as we speak, and yes I’m wearing sunscreen but getting sunburned none the less. However I discovered a little new (to me anyways) gem that has opened near Queen and John Street. Literally right in from of MuchMusic. Blushberry is Toronto’s premiere frozen yogurt place. The fro yo was so delicious and guilty free. Plus they had such excellent customer service. I have no complaints!!! Now I got some chocolate fro yo with strawberries, and Ferro Roucher sauce on top. How yummy!!!!
follow them on twitter : @blushberryfroyo and on facebook for discounts, and details about their new locations.
P.S. They are open from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. every day ….. SO GET SOME NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
