• New York

    8 Days til @GoogaMooga


    On May 19th & 20th, 2012, Brooklyn’s historic Prospect Park will transform into an amusement park of food and drink, The Great GoogaMooga. Approximately 75 food vendors, 35 brewers, 30 winemakers and 20 live music performances will be on hand to help us relish some of life’s greatest pleasures—gathering with friends and neighbors to eat, drink, talk, laugh, dance, linger and just . . . be together.

    We envision a place where the best chefs and purveyors can serve their food and bring about instant elation. Where everyday food lovers can discover and share amazing new tastes, and where the right slice of pizza can be as treasured/praiseworthy as four-star fois-gras.

    And with such an inclusive feel that it will appeal to everyone who eats.

    In order to take this idea from the imagined to reality, we reached out to a team of collaborators, contributors, dreamers and tinkerers that includes Anthony Bourdain (author and host of No Reservations), David Rockwell (founder & CEO of the Rockwell Group), Tom Colicchio (chef & judge of Top Chef), Garrett Oliver (brewmaster of the Brooklyn Brewery), Paul Grieco (sommelier/co-owner of Terroir & Hearth), Eddie Huang (chef/owner of Baohaus) and several others.

    As the presenters behind some of today’s most successful festivals, we’ve been inspired by the rich food traditions of New Orleans where Superfly got its start, the stick-to-your-ribs goodness of Tennessee down home cooking at the Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival and the vibrant flavor of the Bay Area’s Californian cuisine, wine and produce which is omnipresent at Golden Gate Park’s Outside Lands Festival.

    After a quick look around, there was no question but to hold The Great GoogaMooga in New York, amid Brooklyn’s swagger, enthusiasm, and adventurousness and of course, in beautiful Prospect Park. Already America’s food capital, New York is experiencing a culinary revolution that is transforming a whole generation into food enthusiasts. (“Food,” noted one critic, “is the new rock.”)

    Here is a sneak peek on the FOOD VENDORS:

  • New York,  WorldWide

    @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 egg

    This 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

    Egg

    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 tea

    Best 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 Vegetables

    Such 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

    EMVI Chocolate

    Doughnut Plant: P&J doughnuts

    One 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 cheese

    Delicious…don’t judge me!

    Until next time!!

  • New York,  WorldWide

    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, NYC

    Tweet me if you come to the event…@OAAinNYC!

  • WorldWide

    Feature Chef Ingrid Hoffmann @SimplyIngrid @CRMWineFoodFest


    Ingrid Hoffmann is passionate about food and entertaining and spends each day sharing her enthusiasm and talent with an international audience. She hosts Simply Delicioso on Cooking Channel while her clever 60-second food and entertaining tips, Un Minuto Delicioso, air daily on Galavision. In September 2010, her Spanish-language show, Delicioso, moved from Galavision to Univision/Telefutura and relaunched as a weekly one-hour lifestyle cooking show. Considering Ingrid’s loyal fanbase in the English and Spanish-speaking communities, she published her cookbook in both languages, SIMPLY DELICIOSO: A Collection of Everyday Recipes with a Latin Twist (Clarkson Potter/Random House) and DELICIOSO: Una Coleccion de Mis Recetas Favoritas con Sabor Latino.

    Ever the businesswoman, Ingrid has expanded her brand beyond television and partnered with top cookware and kitchen appliance manufacturer, T-fal, to develop her own Latin-influenced line, Simply Delicioso by Ingrid Hoffmann. The line includes a Paella Pan, Stockpot, various-sized Calderos and even a 12-piece set. It launched on HSN in late 2009 and in addition is now sold at Target, K-Mart, and HEB stores. Ingrid also partnered with Furi to create her own cutlery and kitchen gadgets, which are also available on HSN.

    Ingrid’s fascination with food, cooking and style began as a little girl. She started cooking with her mother, a Cordon Bleu chef, at such a young age that she needed a stool to reach the stove. She discovered not only a love of cooking, but a flair for entertaining, and in no time developed her own distinctive style.

    Raised in Colombia and the Netherlands, Ingrid moved to Miami where she opened La Capricieuse, a high fashion luxury boutique in Coconut Grove. Ingrid also opened Rocca, the first restaurant to feature tabletop cooking on heated lava rocks. Appearing regularly on local TV, Ingrid was noticed by Hearst Entertainment who signed her for her first cooking show, Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffmann, which initially launched in Latin America. In 2006, the show moved to the Spanish language network, Galavision. Ingrid’s English show, Simply Delicioso, premiered on the Food Network in 2007 and moved to the Cooking Channel in summer 2010. She writes a monthly column in People en Espanol and appears weekly on the #1 Spanish language morning show Despierta America. Ingrid has also made appearances on Ellen, Oprah, Martha Stewart, Regis & Kelly, The Today Show, The Early Show, and Good Morning America.

    Ingrid’s success has afforded her the opportunity to give back to the community. She is currently a board member of New York City’s Food and Education Fund and Miami’s Amigos for Kids, as well as an active supporter of Manhattan’s Food and Finance High School, Believe for Colombia Foundation and the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

    Get excited for Chef Ingrid Hoffman’s creations + 30 more international gourmet chefs at the CRM Wine & Food Fest! See you there!


    http://crmfest.com

  • WorldWide

    Feature Chef Ferran Adrià @CRMWineFoodFest


    MEET WORLD LEGEND Ferran Adrià
    (elBulli Restaurant)

    Enjoy an 8 course molecular gastronomy dinner cooked by Star Chefs from Mexico, who studied in Spain at elBulli and adopted Adria’s techniques and values. This epicurean experience will be remembered for years to come, with the best wines fron Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Spain and USA, paired with each delightful dish and followed by an award in honor of chef Ferran Adrià.

    Meet and taste Ferran Adria at CRM Wine&Food Fest! There are 30+ international gourmet chefs at this festival. This is something you CANNOT miss!
    www.crmfest.com

  • New York,  WorldWide

    @EditorShowcase Snack Attack

    I never claim to be a foodie but I am definitely a serious snacker. I went to the Editors Showcase Snack Attack at Marriott by Time Square.  It was amazing!  I will be posting about each of my favorite snacks in separate posts but here is a sneak peek…

    sorry for the blurry pic… was a little bit excited!

    Whoopies.. Looks scrumptious

    Falafel – Microwavable




    The Raisin from California!

    I love these… omg!

    Beautiful!