Tickets go on sale tomorrow for the South Beach Food and Wine Festival. Since I work during the daytime, I will have a chance to go to some of the parties. Most of the festivities that I wanted to attend (which were also the most expensive) were already sold out. As the date approaches, I will select one or two activities and start the countdown. I love the Food Network so this festival will be my mecca.
While in New York last week, I checked out the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien Hotel. It’s hard to find if you don’t know where to look, so follow the red curtain on the right side of the lobby front desk and you will see a neon sign. The place started to get packed around 2pm, but I snagged a booth to myself. There is no wait staff, so just step up to the window and place your order. I picked up my juicy and hearty burger with a side of fries in a few minutes. The decor is sparse, but the music is awesome. Priced at just $6.50, tax included, the burgers and toppings were fresh and cooked exactly to order. I wasn’t happy about the fries. Perhaps if they were salted, they would be better, but the fries were crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside. I would recommend the Burger Joint for savvy budget travelers looking for something different in NYC.
Some of us have a demanding schedule that doesn’t allow time off to visit family during the holidays, especially Thanksgiving. There are plenty of tips about cooking for the family in magazines or on television, but what about the singletons? So, here are some pointers on cooking for one during the holidays.
Jessica Seinfeld was on Oprah yesterday, plugging her aptly titled book, Deceptively Delicious. I am wondering how she came up with the idea of adding purees to her food. When I worked as a private chef, I always combined pureed carrots and raisins with mashed sweet potatoes. If you make smiley faces or words with the raisins, the kids go nuts! I am thinking of purchasing it, even though I don’t have kids. I like the brownie recipe she uses. It’s a great idea but the success of the book is determined by sales, and I guess it helps if you’re married to Jerry Seinfeld.
I think I have figured out what I want for my birthday. Nigella Lawson is doing a book signing at the Ritz Carlton in Chicago. I have always worshiped her writing, her method, and the way she makes everything, including hummus, sound sexy. I find myself standing in front of the refrigerator, picking at leftovers or eating something blanketed with nutella while reading the paper, just as she would on her television show. The trip would be a double blessing because my best friend lives near Chicago. I will let the idea marinate…
A few weeks ago, I registered for a certification course in England. I secured the tickets, the hotel and transportation with no worries. I was ecstatic to fly to the UK, especially because I have never flown with British Airways. I was sadly disappointed. Our flight was delayed because there was a problem with the pa system. After several phone calls, the flight being canceled, and staying in a hotel without my luggage, I was finally flying across the pond. Airplane food in general is always bad, but for an international flight, I was in shock. I had no choice for beef or chicken, because they ran out of beef. The breakfast sandwich wasn’t even a breakfast sandwich; it was a turkey sandwich! Following the disastrous flight and a long day, I checked-in at the George Inn. It was a lovely and quaint establishment with a very helpful staff. On the evening of the last class, all of the students went to dinner at the Bath Arms. The menu had a wonderful selection of country fair. I had the Pork Belly with Black Pudding and washed it down with lots of Pimm’s. The service was excellent, even though you couldn’t get a snakebite at the bar. On my flight home, the food was much better. I was offered a larger selection of liquors, entrees, and the crew was most courteous. In my opinion, the British know about customer satisfaction. After all, this is the country that created butler-style service.
Florida is nicknamed the Sunshine State, but it is also hurricane central. Hurricane season begins in July and ends in November. The months of August and September are the worst. The only reason I look forward to the hottest, most humid month on the planet is Miami Spice. It’s like Restaurant Week in New York, but it lasts 2 months! Great restaurants offer three-course lunches for $22 and dinner for $35. I have already been to Touch and I plan on going to the Delano as well.
I don’t even know where to begin. I am hoping that this little blog that could will inspire people to cook, or at least go out to dinner at a nice restaurant. I have loved cooking since the first time I made french toast in the third grade. I will post recipes, restaurant reviews and pics of my travels soon. So enjoy!!
