Archive for NYC Foodie Adventure

FFF | November 16, 2010
4 comments

It’s time for tea at new Harney & Sons shop in SoHo

Like samples? Pick a flavor, any flavor, from the vast tea wall

I had the pleasure of attending the preview party for the new Harney & Sons Tea Shop in SoHo last night (perk of being a Food Arts intern), a celebration of the 40 year old fine tea company’s foray into the New York City retail marketplace.  Harney & Sons has long been known for their impressive selection of high quality teas,  supplying restaurants, hotels, and big-hat-wearing-ladies tea parties with classics like Earl Grey, English Breakfast, and Oolongs, but also with unique blends from China and Ceylon sourced by Mr. Harney himself.  The launch of their new tea shop in SoHo, located around the corner from FCI on Broome and Crosby, has been long awaited and will hopefully find a warm welcome in the trendy neighborhood laden with coffee shops and boutiques.  Timing couldn’t be better, with cool temperatures here to stay, nothing sounds better than a hot cup of tea.

The event itself was a real pleasure.  Held inside the vast shop,  people from throughout the food and beverage industry mixed and mingled amongst the sky-high shelves of assorted teas, sipping champagne and enjoying a delicious assortment of tea-infused foods. Tea-cured smoked salmon was served on crispy rice crackers, portobello and shitake mushrooms were wrapped in flaky strudel, and an assorment of cheeses infused with fragrant tea leaves kept guests intrigued. The food was primarily catered by chef’s Lee Morton and Roberto Bonefont from the upstate Harney cafe in Millerton, NY.  There was also no shortage of sweets, a delicate assortment of gluten-free brownies and crumb cakes from Tu-Lu’s bakery in NYC paired perfectly with a cup of tea, and made me believe that gluten-free can taste good. Tea flavored Berskhire Ice Cream from SoCo Creamery was served in mini cones which made for an adorably tasty presentation. Thank you to Alex Harney for the details.

While primarily a retail shop, the new Harney & Sons SoHo also features a tea lounge where guests can sit and enjoy a cup of tea, nibble on scones and other small treats, and take a break from the hustle and bustle in a comfy banquette with soothing lavender hued walls.  Perhaps the most impressive thing about the space, other than it’s sheer size, is the almost endless wall of teas behind the tasting bar that allows patrons to speak with a tea specialist and try a sample of whatever intrigues them.  This is a wonderful way to give tea connoisseurs and novices alike an opportunity to try before they buy.

I’ve never really considered myself to be a tea drinker, my morning routine for years has been a cup of coffee with cream and sugar, but coming from European roots, it’s always something i’ve enjoyed from time to time.  In fact, just last week I was working a food styling gig with Lauren Braun Costello at The View and Lauren had come back from a meeting with Whoppi Goldberg with a handful of tea sachets from Harney & Sons that she had me smell because the scent was so intoxicating.  Turns out it was their Paris tea, a black tea with beautiful scents of vanilla and citrus that made me want to slip on a beret and say bonjour!  Last night I picked up a tin of Paris tea sachets (a great value at $8 for 20 sachets) and am going to let the scents from the City of Light start off my day and see how it goes.

If you are in SoHo, or fancy yourself a tea-themed adventure, stop in the shop to sample their ample varieties, pick up a beautiful tea pot, nosh on scones, or buy a tin of their Holiday tea as the perfect hostess gift for your next holiday party.  Regardless of your mission, you won’t leave disappointed.

Harney & Sons SoHo opens today at 433 Broome St. and will be open daily from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m.  Visit their blog, follow them on Twitter, or do the old fashioned thing and call 212-933-4853 to learn more.  Not in NYC? You can order their teas online by visiting www.harney.com.

Check out the gallery below for a peak at last nights event!

Have one of the tea specialists pour you a "cupa"

Dave Arnold and the FCI crew were on hand mixing cocktails

Bourbon and tea combined in this cool and warming cocktail made by Dave Arnold

Some of the many teas available for sale

Have a seat and enjoy some tea and scones inside the tea lounge

I loved the light fixtures inside the tea lounge


A soothing cup of Paris tea


colorful and unique tea pots for sale

Category: Foodie Events, NYC Foodie Adventure, Reviews | Tags: , , ,
FFF | October 19, 2010
One comment

Gail Simmons’ Pantry Project: My first taste of food styling

pumpkin-bread-pudding-with-whipped-marscapone_456X342

A few weeks ago I received a call from my favorite person, Phil Gutensohn, the career services counselor at FCI that has helped me land all the great opportunities I’ve had since coming to NYC, and he had on his hands yet another fantastic last minute foodie job that he thought I would be great for. Lauren Braun Costello, FCI grad and food stylist to the stars, was doing a shoot for AOL’s KitchenDaily.com segment Pantry Project hosted by Gail Simmons (of Food & Wine and Top Chef fame) and the team needed an assistant in the kitchen.  I of course jumped at the opportunity and was thrilled to get a chance to not only work with Lauren and Gail, but to get a first hand look at what goes on in the life of a food stylist.

For those of you who are scratching your heads and asking a “food what?”, a food stylist is exactly what it sounds like, someone who makes food look good.  Anytime you see food photographed in magazines, on websites, or shot on camera for commercials, cooking shows, and segments on morning TV, a food stylist is behind the scenes making sure the image you see is inviting and looks good enough to eat.  It’s not all smoke and mirrors either, what you see is real food, carefully executed. The food styling team prepares the recipes just as instructed by the chef or author and works hard to make sure it is picture perfect, from every sprinkle of sugar to each slice of pie.

For the Pantry Project shoot, Lauren was working as the culinary producer and had another FCI grad, Erin Merhar, leading the styling duties. Erin, myself, and fellow assistant and FCI alum Emma were tasked with working in the kitchen to produce the food that would not only be shot by the photographer for the website (called beauties), but also to cook some of the dishes Gail would be using in her demo (known as swap outs). You know when you are watching cooking shows and the host is explaining a step in the process and says “I actually have some already prepared…”, we are the magic little elves that prepared it.

I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you more about the kitchen we were cooking in.  One of the producers from AOL offered up her apartment building in Chelsea to play host to the shoot as they had a beautiful community kitchen that served as the perfect backdrop, and along with the room she also allowed the crew to use her studio apartment as storage, test kitchen, and photography studio for the week-long assignment.  My best guess is that the whole apartment was 500 square feet, maybe. Her galley kitchen housed everything we would need, but with very limited counter space.  I included some photos below of the kitchen and apartment so you could get a visual idea of what we were working with.  Sure it was a tight fit, but if you learn anything in culinary school it is how to work in a tight space, so the three of us were more than prepared to make the most out of what we had.

The basis of The Pantry Project is to show people how to make the most out of items they have in their pantry that they never use or have no idea what to do with.  Remember when you bought that bottle of fish sauce for your adventurous foray into Asian cuisine? Well, Gail will show you three ways to finally get rid of it and make something delicious in the process.  The concept is brilliant, in fact one I’ve thought about trying but have yet to have the time/money/resources to devote to it.  Until then, Gail Simmons is on the job and doing a fantastic one that at.

The first episode from this new season to “air” on KitchenDaily.com features a very timely and seasonal ingredient, canned pumpkin (not that pie filling stuff).  This is actually one of the first ingredients I got to work with when I joined the team and am not only excited to share the recipes with you, but to see how it all came together for myself.  Gail’s demo recipe for this fall favorite is a warm and comforting Pumpkin Bread Pudding made with sweet toasted brioche, cranberries, and a hint of rum. This dish is so simple to prepare I am convinced anyone can make it and it tastes fantastic.  It is the perfect thing to serve at a fall brunch, thanksgiving potluck, or really any time you want a sweet and spicy taste of autumn.

Watch Gail prepare Pumpkin Bread Pudding here, and check out her equally delicious pumpkin recipes that include Pumpkin Rosemary Soup with Bacon and Parmesan, and Pumpkin Cheesecake with Honeyed Walnuts and a Graham Cracker Crust.

This beautiful photo of the Pumpkin Bread Pudding was taken by photographer Francis Janisch and styled by Erin Merhar, compliments Kitchen Daily

Did you see the toasted brioche in the video, I made that!

This may have been my first taste of food styling, but I can already tell that it’s a food job I have a serious interest in learning more about.  Food styling allows you to combine cooking with artistic creativity and can be applied to almost any industry and media application.  I look forward to assisting on future projects and working on my eye for plating and design, and when I finally find some free time to get back in the kitchen to experiment I will share my novice attempts with you here!

Category: Foodie Events, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: , , ,
FFF | October 1, 2010
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This little piggie’s going to Pig Island!

Attention all you pork-loving city kids, this weekend on Governor’s Island all your wildest, pig eating dreams are about to come true.  On Saturday, October 2, Governors Island will be transformed into a pork-lover’s paradise known as Pig Island, a culinary festival featuring local food, NY State wines, Six Point Craft Ales, and live music, all in celebration of babe, piglet, and all their friends.  Brought to you by Jimmy Carbone and his Food Karma team (organizers of Meatopia BBQ NYC) the event is a featured component of Eat Drink Local and NY Craft Beer Week.  And if it’s anything like Meatopia, it’s bound to be a good time.

I am thrilled to be involved with another steller foodie-event and will be on hand tomorrow working in the public beer garden they will have set up, featuring craft brews and grilled brats and sausages for all to enjoy.  The event itself requires ticketed admission (tickets are $85 and are still available online and limited number will be available day of), which gets you entrance into the festival and tastes of all the porky-goodness being served up by the impressive list of over 20 NYC chef’s.  According to the event’s website, “all participants will work with locally sourced ingredients, including whole pigs purchased directly from farms, such as Violet Hill Farm and The Piggery”, participants that include Sara Jenkins of Porchetta, Jacques Gautier from Palo Santo, “Chopped” champion Michael Jenkins from Butter Restaurant, along with other barbecue masters such as Hoppin’ John Taylor of Low Country cooking fame and Sam Barbieri with the award-winning Fuhgeddaboutit BBQ Team.

It is going to be a gorgeous 65 degree, sunny day in NYC tomorrow, which will be a welcomed change from the doom and gloom we’ve had all week, so why not get your butt out to Governor’s Island tomorrow for this awesome event!  If you don’t want to splurge on a ticket, you can come and hang out in the beer garden for free and just pay for beers and sausages a la cart, listen to the tunes of bluegrass bands Roosevelt Dime and Nicky Cakes’ Soulgrass, and of course see me :)

For more info and tickets, visit Pig Island’s website.

In the meantime, check out this video:

Category: Foodie Events, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: , , ,
FFF | September 24, 2010
2 comments

Escarole and White Bean Soup with Lidia Bastianich

Lidia

When I embarked on my Italian exploration through Eataly earlier this week I was expecting to find endless assortments of fresh made pastas and imported legs of proscuitto, what I wasn’t expecting was to find everyone’s favorite Italian grandmother, Lidia Bastianich, serving up homemade soup.  It took me a double take to recognize that she was standing behind this station tucked back into a corner in the Piazza, but her trademark smile and glasses gave her away almost instantly.  A small crowd was gathering in front of her and I peeked my head in to see what she was up to.  In front of her was a deep pot of soup shaded in colors of white and green and this warm, savory aroma that drew me right in.  On the menu was a bowl of Lidia’s Escarole and White Bean Soup, a true Italian classic, that was being served up for $9 a bowl.

Lidia Bastianich is one of the most famous and well respected authorities on Italian cuisine here in America and is not only a chef and co-founder of Eataly, but cookbook author, TV star, and restauranteur. Lidia is well known for her outstanding PBS cooking series Lidia’s Italy, as well as her collection of restaurants here in New York City Felidia, Del Posto, Esca and Becco.

I knew as soon as I saw Lidia I had to take the opportunity to walk up, say hello, and hopefully snap a photo as proof for all of you.  I was a bit nervous walking up to her, but she really does have this warm, inviting presence that makes you feel at home.  She was more than gracious to pose for a picture for me, in fact when I told her what I was up to, she got really into it and grabbed her ladle for the shot, then stirred up the pot so I could get down in there.  I was saying my thanks and about to walk away when she stopped me and said “wait, if you’re going to write about me and this soup, you have to try it!”.  She asked the gentleman assisting her to grab a bowl and she poured me some of the hot soup and finished it wish a drizzle of olive oil and some pan-fried garlic bread. Being offered a bowl of soup by Lidia Bastianich on the house is not an opportunity one gets everyday, and I was more than willing to take her up on it.

Check out all this goodness!

I found a free spot to set my soup down and started slurping away.  The aroma alone was intoxicating, but when I had my first taste my taste buds were dancing.  I have had this soup before, well not her soup, but a similar recipe, and I can honestly say i’ve never been a big fan.  The escarole is usually not cooked enough, the beans are hard, and it has a really bland flavor.  This soup was none of those things.  It had just the right balance of creamy white beans with soft, tender escarole, and an almost smokey flavor that warmed the soul.  The crunchy garlic bread was the perfect addition of salty flavor and crunchy texture.  I tried my best to savor every bite, but it was so delicious it didn’t last long.  I made sure I went back to tell Lidia how much I enjoyed her soup and was thankful for her kind gesture.

The whole experience reminded me of the reason why I love cooking so much.  When you make something that you have put your hard work into and are really proud of, you want people to enjoy it and the feeling of sharing it with them is so rewarding. When you make something for someone who really appreciates food, it’s even better.  Thankfully the recipe for Lidia’s Escarole and White Bean Soup was available for me to take home and I have been so excited to share it with you.  This is the perfect soup to make on a Sunday, or really any day you have time to be at home and want a magical smell to permeate throughout your home.  The ingredients are minimal and inexpensive, but the results are worth so much more.  Share some with someone you love and enjoy!

Zuppa di Scarola e Cannellini (Escarole and White Bean Soup)

Lidia says: “In the ideal world, you’ll think about making this soup the day before, or at least several hours in advance-time enough to soak and cook the beans.  In the real world, however, you may not have that kind of time. In that case, it’s OK to blaspheme and use canned beans. (Two 15 oz cans will give you the right amount.) Just promise me you’ll make it the ideal way when you have the time.”

Adapted from Lidia’s Italian-American Kitchen

Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups cannellini, Great Northern, baby lima, or other small dried white beans (or 2-15 oz cans)
  • 2 quarts water
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling over the soup
  • 6 cups coarsely shredded escarole leaves (preferably the tough outer leaves) washed and drained
  • 8 cloves garlic, peeled and cut in half
  • 4 to 6 whole dried peperoncini (hot red peppers)
  • Salt

Pan Fried Garlic Bread

  • 1 loaf Italian bread
  • 1 whole peeled garlic clove, smashed
  • Extra virgin olive oil

Directions

If using dried beans:

  • Quick soak the beans by placing them in a large saucepan, covering them generously with cold water, and bringing them to a boil.  Boil 1 minute before removing from the heat.  Let stand uncovered, 1 hour, then drain and continue with recipe.
  1. Add beans to a 5-or-6-quart stock pot. Pour in 2 quarts of water, toss in the bay leaves and bring to a boil. Adjust the heat to simmering, pour in 1/4 cup of the olive oil and cook until beans are tender, about 1 – 1 1/2 hours. By the time the beans are tender there should be about 1 inch of cooking liquid.
  2. Season the beans to taste with salt.  Stir in the escarole and cook, stirring occasionally, until the escarole is quite tender, about 15 minutes.  Remove the pot from the heat.
  3. Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat.  Add the garlic and cook, shaking the pan, until lightly browned.
  4. Add the whole peperoncini and cook, shaking the pan, just until the peppers change color, about 1 minute or less.  Remove from the heat and carefully-it will sputter quite a bit-pour one ladleful of soup into the skillet.  Swirl the pan to blend the two and then stir the panful of seasoned soup back into the pot.
  5. Check the seasoning and let the soup rest off the heat, covered, 10-15 minutes.
  6. Serve with a piece of garlic bread and a drizzle of olive oil on top.

Pan-Fried Garlic Bread

  1. Cut a loaf of Italian bread in half lengthwise, then cut it crosswise into 3-4 inch pieces.
  2. Rub the cut surfaces with a smashed garlic clove and brush with olive oil.
  3. Brush a large, heavy skillet, preferably cast iron, with olive oil and set it over medium low heat.
  4. Arrange as many pieces, cut side down, in the pan as fit without touching. Weigh the bread down with a slightly smaller skillet and cook until the underside of the bread is golden brown and crispy, about 5  minutes. Remove and repeat as necessary with the remaining bread.
  5. You may keep the cooked garlic bread in a warm oven turned to the lowest setting.
Category: NYC Foodie Adventure, Recipes | Tags: , ,
FFF | September 23, 2010
One comment

Buon appetito! Tasting and touring Eataly

Imagine being able to walk through two double doors off a busy New York City sidewalk and instantly transported to a whole new country where wine flows like a river and the fresh scent of rustic bread and cured meats floats through the air.  No this isn’t Richard Branson’s latest time-space traveling conquest that will cost you $10 million a ticket, in fact it was created by a man in orange clogs and won’t cost you a dime (well maybe a plane ticket to NYC).  The scents, tastes, and communal lifestyle of Italy have been brought here to America in an unassuming storefront off 23rd st and 5th ave known as Eataly.

The 50,000 square foot Italian marketplace was developed by some of America’s most passionate Italian food ambassadors, Mario Batali, Lidia Bastianich, Joe Bastianich, and Eataly founder Oscar Farinetti.  Inspired by the original Eataly located in Turin, the concept behind this food mecca is the belief that quality products should not be limited to a small group of privileged people, they should be available to all and enjoyed by many. Some might say that’s a little overreaching given the prices of products at Eataly, but it goes to highlight the problem with food in this country and the fact that quality loses out to cheap processed food every time.  I commend the Eataly team for doing their part in changing the way we think about and shop for food, as well as their partnership with Slow Food.

It is hard to even imagine the work and effort that went into bringing some of the best products, artisans, and chefs from not only Italy, but around the world to create a marketplace that blends shopping, dining, and learning about Italian food and culture.  The marketplace, which is really more of a destination, is organized into multiple departments that feature everything from freshly made pasta, cured meats, incredible seafood, and delectable Italian pastries, and mixed in with each department are dining areas where you can sit down and the food you see right in front of you.  On top of that, you will find experts in each area to educate and guide you along your journey.

Next to Paris, Italy is at the top of my list of places to visit, so it goes without saying that I was anxious to experience a taste of Italy here in New York.  After my morning at The Martha Stewart Show I made the short walk over to Eataly to check this place out for myself and had an incredible time exploring, tasting, and interacting with the experts (including Lidia Bastianich herself) and meeting new people over Italian coffee.  I documented my experience and have included a photo tour of Eataly below for you to enjoy.  My experience meeting Lidia, her giving me a bowl of her homemade white bean and escarole soup, plus the recipe will follow in my next post.

While it is newly opened, incredibly crowded, and a bit overwhelming, it is without question that Eataly is a one-of-a-kind sensory experience that any foodie and/or lover of Italian food and culture should experience. I wouldn’t classify it as a market in the sense that you do your grocery shopping there, but it is certainly the kind of place you go when you want to prepare something really special.  It is also a great place to go to just explore and take in the sights and smells, have a glass of Asti, enjoy a board of Prosciutto de Parma and Parmigiano-Reggiano, and people watch.  If you live in New York you must visit, and if you don’t, make a point to add it to your list of sights to see next time you come to the Big Apple.  I can promise you two things if you go: you won’t leave hungry and you will want to learn Italian.

Eataly is located at 200 5th Ave New York, NY 10010 and is open daily from 11 am until 11 pm. For more information call (646) 398-5100 or visit newyork.eataly.it/

Behind these unassuming doors lies an Italian food utopia

As soon as you walk in you are greeted by a bounty of fresh produce. Gorgeous selection of over 10 different types of tomatoes.

Fell in love with these adorable peanut fingerling potatoes

For those too busy or lazy, there is a vegetable butcher that will chop and dice whatever you buy.

This guy hand-pulls fresh mozzarella all day long. He gave me a sample and it was out of this world delicious!

Proscuitto is imported directly from Parma and ages here in the store

The formaggio department offers a wide assortment of Italian cheese

Sip espresso and say Ciao!

Little pieces of art line the pastry counter

Picture doesn't do it justice, but they make fresh Porchetta in the rotisserie area, it looked and smelled divine!

I've never seen such a beautiful variety of fresh whole fish in one place, they had black bass, red mullet, and black cod

I grabbed a tasty lunch and people watched in the Piazza. House-made sopressata and provolone panini and a lemon flavored Italian soda

It's easy to get lost in Eataly, there are helpful markers to guide you along the way

Hungry shoppers gather in the Piazza to sip wine, enjoy meats and cheeses, and talk

I sat down for a fantastic Lavazza cappuccino and great conversation

On my way out I met Lidia Bastianich and tried some of her incredible white bean and escarole soup....more to come soon!

Category: NYC Foodie Adventure, Reviews | Tags: , , ,
FFF | September 21, 2010
2 comments

Happy One Year Anniversary FFF!

I can hardly believe it, but it has been ONE WHOLE YEAR since I started Fun Fearless Foodie and I am so thankful to those of you who have been reading about my foodie adventures and supporting me over the last year.  I started this blog at the end of last summer as a result of being sidelined by foot surgery and desperate for a creative outlet to channel my pent up energy. At first it was an innocent hobby and a place to share my kitchen adventures as I experimented with food and recipes, but it quickly turned into a passion that had me wishing it could be my full-time job.

Like a lot of people, I was struggling to find purpose and enjoyment in my day to day work (at the time a HR professional) and was coming to terms with the notion that the rest of my life could very well be stressful and unfulfilling.  I had been dreaming about dropping it all and going to culinary school, going so far as to researching schools, loans, etc. just to toy with the idea but always found a reason to talk myself out of it. I mean who walks away from a good-paying job with the security of a familiar city, friends, and family to take a selfish leap into a new career?  As life would have it, I reached a turning point in my personal life that gave me the opportunity to step outside of myself and think about what I really wanted and what was holding me back from getting it.  It turns out that once I found an answer for every reason not to, making the decision to quit my job, apply to culinary school, and move my life to New York City was the easiest choice I ever made.

If you would have told me a year ago when I started this blog that today I would be living in one of the most exciting cities in the world, attending one of the country’s best culinary schools, interning at the Food Network, meeting incredible chef’s, and living my life as a full-time foodie I would have laughed.  The past four months have been the best of my life and hopefully will only get better.  This blog has given me a purpose and direction in life that has taken me on an incredible journey.  My passion for food and sharing my experiences with others is what keeps me going, I absolutely love to educate people about food and how cooking can be an easy and important part of their life.  Of course I need to turn this passion into a paying career, but as scary as being a student and intern again is, something tells me that my dedication will lead me to good things.

So thank you to those of who you have been reading and following me on this journey, I hope you have learned something new about cooking and a flame, even a small one, has been lighted to get or keep you in the kitchen.  And if I can give any kind of non-cooking related advice it would be to remember that life’s journey is what you make of it. If there is something you’ve always wanted to do, do it.  I know changes like this aren’t easy and sometimes take time, but life is too short to spend it doing something you don’t like.  When you really stop and think about it, the change you’ve always wanted might be easier than you think.

Bon appetit!

Category: Culinary School, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: ,
FFF | September 21, 2010
2 comments

Spending a morning with Martha Stewart

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a live taping of The Martha Stewart Show here in New York City as apart of the initiate class of #MarthaTweets, a small group of tweeters who were sending out messages throughout the show to give at home viewers a front row seat. I found out about the opportunity from following the show on Twitter @TheMarthaShow and was thrilled to be selected to take part in the first go round.

Myself and seven other Tweeters were on set for the episode based on vintage fashion and watched as Martha showcased beautiful, high fashion finds. The segments featured big fashion names on consignment from local upper east side shop Roundabout, a vintage fashion collection from style icons Tatiana Sorokko and Irs Apfel, and a how-to segment on turning a frumpy old skirt into a fresh new dress with the owners of NYC vintage shop Some Odd Rubies. Martha even asked our #MarthaTweets section to stand and be recognized on camera which was incredible.

I was slightly disappointed that there wasn’t a food segment on the show as that is why I tune in most days, but seeing Martha up close and partaking in a studio audience was an unforgettable experience all on its own. The highlight definitely came at the end of the show when one of the producers asked us to go up on set and take a picture with Martha! I stood shoulder to shoulder with the domestic diva herself and was star-struck for sure. Her presence is completely intimidating so I withheld any urges to introduce myself and tell her all the reasons I adore her, but I will say that in person she is beautiful and elegant, and of course, put together in every way.

Tune into The Martha Stewart Show on it’s new home on the Hallmark Channel every morning at 10 am EST, or catch the replay at 5 pm for all the best food, fashion, home, and gardening tips.

To check out our live-tweeting stream from yesterday’s show, or to view future streams, click here: #MarthaTweets

To follow Fun Fearless Foodie on Twitter, click here: @FunFearlessFood

Category: NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags:
FFF | September 20, 2010
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Laugh, cry, and cringe at Kings of Pastry

Imagine spending four years of your life preparing for a competition that is so competitive only 16 people are invited to participate, it spans three entire days, and the winner is crowned by the President of France.  If you’re thinking of a French Olympic team, good guess, but no.  Athletic training is no match for the craft and skill required by French pastry chef’s who compete to win the title of Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best Craftsman in France) or more commonly referred to as MOF.  The art of pastry is a serious profession, especially in France, and just like the Olympics, the MOF only comes around every four years and requires a serious level of dedication.

The intense journey to earn the title of MOF, and the red, white, and blue collar that comes with it, has been documented for the first time on film in Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker’s documentary Kings of Pastry that premiered in New York City last week.  I had the pleasure of attending the opening night screening of the film at the Flim Forum last Wednesday, along with an introduction by the filmmaker’s themselves and MOF judge and FCI Dean of Pastry Arts Jacques Torres.

The film follows the journey of three of the 16 MOF contests, including chef Jacquy Pfeiffer. co-founder of Chicago’s French Pastry School, as they train, practice, and compete in what can only be described as the most nail-bitting, nerve-wracking, 84 minutes of film i’ve seen in quite some time.  As you begin to learn about the dedication and sacrifice that these chef’s have endured to make it to the competition you can’t help but become invested in their success and hopeful that each one takes the title.  When the competition begins, you are on the edge of your seat as each chef hustles to create a variety of sugar, chocolate, and pastry masterpieces in the three day window and attempts to walk each delicate, and oh so fragile piece to the judging area free from falls and disasters.  Well that’s the goal anyway, you will have to watch for yourself to see how each chef fares.

Whether you love pastry, hate pastry, or could really care less about it all together, Kings of Pastry is a film worth watching. Human struggle and sacrifice, big or small, is a fascinating thing to observe on screen and witnessing people willing to risk it all in order to win a prestigious title will have you talking and give you a new perspective on passion.  Kings of Pastry is screening here in New York City until September 28th, then moves on to a variety of cities across the country throughout the rest of the year.

To judge for yourself, check out the official trailer below and visit http://kingsofpastry.com/ to learn more and find out when Kings of Pastry is playing in a theatre near you.

KINGS OF PASTRY Theatrical Trailer from Pennebaker Hegedus Films on Vimeo.

Category: NYC Foodie Adventure, Reviews | Tags: , ,
FFF | September 16, 2010
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The Next Food Network Intern

After my short but oh-so-sweet stint working over at the Food Network on Iron Chef America I’ve been itching with excitement to get another opportunity to work with the FN team.  When I departed last month I made sure I told everyone who needed to know that I wanted the chance to interview and test for their official intern program and was stoked when a week later I was greeted with an email inviting me to do just that.  So for the last month i’ve been anxiously awaiting the big day and trying my best to keep the whole thing quiet so that in the event I didn’t get the internship I could avoid the awkward letdown, or at least publicly.  Well friends, I’m excited to announce that the interview went great and I have been offered a 3 month internship at the FN starting in January!

I know this doesn’t make me the Next Food Network Star or anything, but getting an internship at FN is a very cool opportunity and can open a lot of doors down the line in terms of career potential so I plan on taking advantage of it to the fullest.  The whole interview process was more of a practical test than a traditional interview.  When I arrived at the studios last Friday I was given a worksheet with a variety of tasks that I needed to complete, showcasing my knife skills, cooking skills, and practical knowledge of recipe writing and editing.  I won’t reveal my assignments in an effort to maintain the mystery and competitiveness of the process but I will say that my culinary school know-how and the fact that I had worked there before were advantageous.  This simple technique was also handy.

I felt pretty confident throughout the interview, but to make things more nerve-wracking they were also filming an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay in the test kitchen at the same time I was completing my test. Lookout for the back of my head in an upcoming holiday episode!

My internship begins on January 4th, 2011, a great way to kick off the new year.  I will be working at the studios located above Chelsea Market full time for 3 months at the same time I finish up my last 3 months of school at FCI.  It’s going to be a hectic time, but everything I’ve been wanting all at the same time.  I’m not sure what shows and projects I’ll be working on during my stint there, but I will get the chance to rotate throughout different departments, working with the test kitchen, product development, production, and research.  My goal for this whole process is to hone in more on what it is I truly want to do when my “life as a student adventure” ends and make some great connections that will hopefully lead to bigger and better things.

Until then, I’ll be working in my own test kitchen whipping up delicious dishes to share with you here on Fun Fearless Foodie and look forward to a beautiful and bountiful fall in NYC!

Category: Culinary School, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags:
FFF | August 10, 2010
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A sign from above

So tonight I ventured down to Bryant Park to check out the free HBO movie in the park that has been going on every Monday all summer, one of those New York events that I always talk about going to but never have. The feature film this evening was “The Goodbye Girl“, a Neil Simon picture staring a young Richard Dreyfus (who won an Academy Award for the role) and centered around a struggling actor who is forced by odd circumstance to room with a struggling dancer and her young daughter in a small apartment in New York City.  It was a lovely evening for a romantic comedy and I was lucky to find a tiny piece of real estate on the lawn for my blanket and bag of goodies.  As luck would have it I couldn’t round up anyone with an open schedule to join me but I went anyway, having my heart set all day on enjoying a night out not working or in school for a change.

Sitting there alone on the lawn for the hour and a half that I waited for the movie to start gave me all kinds of time to think about big things and small things, something i’ve been too busy to do until now, but spending time alone with your mind can be a dangerous thing.  As I gazed around and observed groups of friends, cute couples on dates, and families it all sort of hit me that I don’t really have any of those things here in the city.  It was almost three months ago that I packed my bags and moved to this crazy place on a wing and prayer, leaving my friends and family behind. In a city as big as New York it’s very easy to feel like a very small, miniscule blip on a giant radar.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not regretting my decision one bit, but I did start to question where this journey is going to take me and if ultimately it will turn out to be the best decision I ever made.

School is going really well, I just wrapped an incredible internship at the Food Network, and I’m currently working on a column for a soon to be identified website, all amazing accomplishments in such a short time, but in the back of my mind I’m always asking myself how am I going to turn this into a career, you know one that pays enough for you to live?  I’ve been stretching every last penny I have since I moved and will continue to do so for sometime I’m sure, and I’m ok with that, it teaches you to appreciate the little things, but it’s stressfull none the less.  All these mixed up thoughts were circling my head as I packed my bag and headed home, so I thought taking a nice (long) stroll home would be the perfect thing to clear my head.

It’s not too often I get to walk up midtown at 11:00 p.m. on a weeknight so I took the opportunity to explore 6th avenue and stare up at all the huge buildings, playing guess that skyscraper and imagining what goes on inside each one.  Midtown also happens to be chock full of high end restaurants displaying names I’ve always heard of but have never seen before.  Whenever I come across these places, like Aureole, Aquavit, Daniel, etc. I stop to look at the menu and see what these top chef’s are cooking and peek into the dining rooms wondering what it must be like to be able to eat there.

On this particular evening I found myself passing the St. Regis hotel on the very quiet street of 55th and 5th and spotted a brightly lit awning boasting the name Adour Alain Ducasse.  Recognizing both the restaurant and the chef, I was anxious as I walked up to gaze upon the carefully typed list of courses.  I was immediately taken by the prices, with the top item being Caviar at a going rate of $800-$1000.  Wow, was this place something else. As I worked my way down to the main courses I noticed a man approach on my right hand side to peer at the menu as well.  I glanced at him, looked back at the menu, then glanced again when I saw a woman approach.  I must have been staring for what felt like minutes when I realized that the woman standing next to me was Chef Michelle Bernstein, owner of Michy’s in Miami and all around female culinary powerhouse. Often featured as a guest judge on Top Chef, Michelle Bernstein is one of the top female chef’s paving the way in American cuisine today and someone I really admire.

Recognizing that this one one of those once in a lifetime moments, I acted fast and uttered out the words “i’m a huge fan” to her and introduced myself.  She appeared stunned that I knew who she was and was such an admirer and graciously reached out to shake my hand in return.  She introduced the man to my right as her husband and we began to talk about the impressive menu staring back at us.  Digging for conversation I mentioned that I’m a culinary student at FCI and was thrilled when she replied back that FCI was her favorite school in the city.  She wished me the best of luck with my studies as I thanked her for the meet and greet and went about my way,  as she and her husband went inside the hotel that I assume they were staying at.

As I walked across lonely 55th street I flashed a smile so huge that I could have lit up the block.  I just met Michelle Bernstein, she was lovely, and she wished me luck on my journey.  It was as if someone from above sent me a sign to remind me that everything I’m doing is worth it and not to get discouraged.  Seeing her reminded me that all of the culinary greats I admire had to start somewhere, and at one point were likely taking long walks questioning the sacrifices they were making.  Doing what you love is a luxury in life many don’t have and the fact that I am working harder than I ever have in my whole life for something I love is something to be grateful for.  I know this journey isn’t going to be easy, but the satisfaction that comes from pursuing your passion in life is enough to make it all worth it.

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