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Food & Beverage

Valentine’s Day Recipes with Van Gogh Vodka!

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on February 14th, 2012

This Valentine’s Day, Van Gogh Vodka invites you to indulge with their deliciously romantic cocktails and chocolate flavors!

Impress a loved one with the Dessert Fizz cocktail, created by The Cocktail Guru himself, Jonathan Pogash. This sensual concoction blends Van Gogh Dutch Chocolate vodka with fresh ingredients and is topped with Champagne – the ultimate toast for the evening’s festivities!

Crafted in small batches by Master Distiller Tim Vos at the Royal Dirkzwager Distilleries in Schiedam, Holland, Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka actually tastes and smells exactly as the name suggests: like decadent, rich dark chocolate – perfect for this romantic holiday. This sophisticated dark chocolate vodka has a complex, dark cocoa taste that is beautifully complemented by notes of coffee, chili pepper, caramel, and exotic spice.

So, this Valentine’s Day, raise a chocolate-y glass with Van Gogh Rich Dark Chocolate Vodka. With its naturally infused flavors, it is appreciated well-chilled and straight in a simple RichDarkTini. It also pairs well with a touch of cream. Recipe below:

Posted in Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage

Valentine’s Day Cocktail Recipes by Travis London

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on February 9th, 2012

Looking for some Valentine’s Day inspiration? Whether your staying home with a special someone in your life, or hosting a soiree for your friends, these Valentine’s Day cocktails will surely be a hit!

Below are three recipes created by celebrity chef, Travis London, and not only are these cocktails tasty, they look sexy too!

Travis London is a weekly contributor to OK! magazine and founder of the popular food and lifestyle website, HealthyChicEats.com. He has spent years cooking for some of Hollywood’s most famous young talent before enrolling in the French culinary institute. With his appreciation for style and locally-sourced ingredients, Travis has made a name for himself as an expert on living well and staying chic. Cheers!

Posted in Cocktail Recipes, Food & Beverage

Tags: Cocktail Recipes, London Travis, Valentine's Day

The Inspirational Story Behind the Cheesecake Factory

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on February 8th, 2012

Blueberry Cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory

The Cheesecake Factory…You’ve eaten there but do you know their story?

Believe it or not, this restaurant has been around for a long time!

“Always known as an excellent cook, Evelyn created her Original Cheesecake recipe that everyone loved and by the late 1940′s, she opened a small cheesecake shop in Detroit. Then, in order to raise her two small children, David and Renee, Evelyn chose to close up the shop. Rather than give up her dream, however, she moved her baking to a kitchen in her basement and continued to supply cakes to several of the best local restaurants.

More After the Jump…

Posted in Food & Beverage

Tags: Cheesecake Factory

Restaurant Review: Cedar’s Steakhouse at Foxwoods

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on January 31st, 2012

During my recent stay at Foxwoods Resort and Casino, I had dinner at the lounge in Cedar’s Steakhouse. The entrance to Cedars is located by the Great Cedar Casino on the Concourse Level and is welcoming with high ceilings and a lit fireplace that warms the room. There are some comfortable chairs and sofas in the lobby as well to sit in if there’s a wait. (If you’re not a wait-by-the-fire-kinda person, they also take reservations). I had a pretty big lunch, so I decided to skip out on a main entree and just order a soup and salad. I chose the lobster bisque and classic Cedar’s Salad with artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, and a creamy, blue cheese dressing. It was delicious topped with fresh ground pepper! The complimentary bread that was served was pretty extraordinary; among the flavors was a cranberry bread paired with cranberry butter. The lobster bisque, however, was by far the best part of my meal; topped with Sherry – See pics below!

Posted in Food & Beverage

Tags: Cedar's Steakhouse, Foxwoods Resort and Casino

Lincoln Square “Fashion Plate” Prix Fixe Participants

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on January 27th, 2012

Restaurants continue to sign up for the Lincoln Square BID’s successful fashion week dining promotions: Fashion Plate Prix Fixe and Lincoln Square Crew Cuts. Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York runs from February 9-16th and the area’s most popular restaurants are stepping up to the plate with great deals for everyone coming to the fascinating Lincoln Square neighborhood. Nougatine at Jean Georges, Bouchon Bakery, Lincoln Ristorante, Nanoosh and Gastroarte Restaurante are the latest additions to the promotion. Crew members working fashion related events can even grab take-out offerings from a wide range of affordable food establishments in the Lincoln Square Crew Cuts program.

“The Lincoln Square community is very excited to welcome visitors from all over to enjoy our growing Fashion Plate Prix Fixe and Crew Cuts programs, which have grown significantly over the years, seeing a large increase in the number of local restaurants stepping up to host more wonderful deals,” said Monica Blum, Lincoln Square BID President. “Fashion Plate Prix Fixe is a great way to be a part of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in the exciting Upper West Side neighborhood even if you’re not attending any of the scheduled runway shows.”

For a complete list of participating restaurants, please see below.

Posted in Food & Beverage

David Burke Prime at Foxwoods Resort and Casino

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on January 16th, 2012

Tonight, I had the pleasure of dining at David Burke Prime at Foxwoods Resort and Casino and let me tell you that hands down, this restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic dinner or a dinner with friends and family. Walking in, you’re greeted with a very enticing, modern decor and great customer service. The menu is created by David Burke himself and is beyond amazing. Blurring the lines between chef, artist, entrepreneur and inventor, David Burke stands as one of the leading pioneers in American cooking today.

I happened to be here on a Monday so I was able to partake in the Monday night lobster special which consists of an appetizer, an entree, and dessert all for $29. Plus, each meal is accompanied by freshly baked pop-up bread and cotton candy for dessert – yum! See pics below.

Posted in Food & Beverage

Tags: David Burke Prime, Foxwoods Resort and Casino

Harmony Valley’s Healthy NEW Veggie Burger Alternative!

Posted by Donna Breault on January 10th, 2012

There’s little arguing that the food industry is becoming more diverse, and healthy alternatives to time-tested favorites are increasingly available. But let’s face it: Many of these healthier options do a poor substituting job when it comes to taste.

Harmony Valley aims to change that with their introduction of Healthy NEW Veggie Burger Alternative.

The difference between Harmony Valley other veggie-burger items: it’s a DRY Mix, and is perfect for Meatless Mondays! Read more below.

Posted in Food & Beverage

Tags: Burger Alternative, Harmony Valley, Vegan, Veggie Burgers

Poached Pears in Honey by Giada De Laurentiis

Posted by Kristen Colapinto on January 10th, 2012

Recipe: Poached Pears in Honey, Ginger and Cinnamon Syrup by Giada De Laurentiis

Emmy Award winning Giada De Laurentiis is a beloved celebrity chef for her down-to-earth cooking style and charming personality in the kitchen. Just last week, the Giada De Laurentiis for Target Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce won top honors from Consumer Reports magazine!

Known for her easy to follow (and scrumptious!) dishes, the Italian-born Food Network star and Le Cordon Bleu alum shares her recipe for a decadent fruit dessert: soft, poached pears in a sweet wine syrup flavored with honey, ginger, real vanilla bean and spicy cinnamon. The result? Complete bliss. See recipe below.

Posted in Food & Beverage

Tags: Dessert, Recipe