Tag Archive for NYC

FFF | May 30, 2011
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Springing into summer

It feels like only yesterday that I was packing away my winter coat and gleefully welcoming the spring season and all the gorgeous produce and light sweater weather that it brings to New York. And now here I am, at the (unofficial) beginning of summer, sweating my butt off and looking back at the madness that was the season of renewal.

After the fanfare of graduation wore off and I took a much needed (albeit short) break, I had the pleasure of running all over New York City as a shopper for the Food Network throughout the month of April. This was exciting for a lot of reasons. First, this was my first gig as a “freelancer”, meaning I was no longer an intern and finally got paid like an adult again. But more importantly, exploring the city on foot as I shopped for ingredients to supply the Food Network Kitchens and their culinary productions proved to be a fun adventure, and a great workout!

Each day brought about its challenges—finding 10 picture perfect lemons at Manhattan Fruit Exchange, fighting afternoon traffic in a taxi to make it to Kalustyan’s spice shop for berberi spice, or visiting every bodega and drug store on the west side of Manhattan in search of green fruit roll-ups. Did you know that they don’t sell plain old Fruit Roll-Ups anymore? They all come in strange colors and shapes, sometimes you can find strawberry, but green, forget it! Some gross bodega fruit leather had to do, and as it turns out, the 20 I purchased were never needed after all (I’ll spare sharing the talent’s name on this one :) )

A lot of the things I bought ended up being giveaways at the end of shoots, but in the moment, you are on a mission and you must do whatever it takes to get that product back to the studios as fast as you can. By month’s end I was ready to move on to the next adventure, but I enjoyed every moment, and mostly working with the coolest sidekick ever, Ms. Vivian Chan. You rock girl!

I had a bittersweet farewell at the Food Network after a very fulfilling and educational four months, but as luck would have it, a new job was waiting for me round the bend. I happily accepted a full-time position at the French Culinary Institute (or as it’s now referred to, The International Culinary Center) working in the Culinary Programming department.

The past 30 days have been a complete whirlwind. Every day has been different than the one before, I have gotten some quality time in the kitchen prepping for events, have met and worked with some incredible chefs, and am working with students to increase their culinary knowledge and passion through demonstrations. My job is to recruit and work with chefs to welcome them into the ICC family, whether it is sitting on one of our culinary final jury’s, hosting a demonstration in our theater, teaching a recreational class, or any other creative way we can get them involved. Eating, networking, and constantly learning are how I spend my days, not too shabby!

I’m very excited about this new chapter in my life and I have strong faith that it will be a wonderful step in my culinary career. The downside to working full-time again is that I have less time to experiment and test in my kitchen to share recipes with you on Fun Fearless Foodie, but rest assured, I have been and will be chronicling my experiences at the ICC and will be sharing tips and tricks from culinary greats as much as I can.

As always, thank you for supporting and following me on this crazy journey. Stay hungry!

Category: Culinary School, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: , ,
FFF | March 31, 2011
6 comments

Decide what to be and go be it… on to the next chapter

Pictures are worth a thousand words, aren’t they? The two I’ve featured here represent the beginning and end of one of the most exciting and rewarding adventures of my life—studying Culinary Arts at the French Culinary Institute in New York City. If only I had a picture for all the emotions, experiences, burns, cuts, and lessons learned in between! (If you look real close at the picture on the right you can see a bandage covering up my best burn yet, appropriately earned during my final exam.)

The woman on the left was excited, nervous as all get out, and hopeful that the decision to quit her job in Florida, pack up her life and move to New York City to pursue her passion for food would be one she wouldn’t regret. The unknown is the scariest part about change; a million questions run through your mind about whether you will like the change, if you can handle the pressure, if you can survive in a huge city, if you have what it takes to be successful. I didn’t have any of those answers, but what I did have was conviction and determination and that would have to be enough.

Culinary school wasn’t easy. From day one you’re put in your place and learn that the foundation of culinary education starts with the basics, and from there you build. Three long nights a week I sweated over hot stoves, chopped vegetables until my knife skills were just right, butchered fish, carried heavy pots and pans, got splattered with chicken guts, and watched over sauces crossing my fingers that I did everything right. Each night was an adventure; some left you feeling triumphant, others defeated. Regardless of how the night ended, I always felt like I learned something, not only about cooking, but about myself, and at the end of the day, that’s what education is all about.

The woman on the right is smiling because she knows that she made the best decision of her life and has seen her hard work payoff. There is a strange, peaceful calm that comes over you when you know things are the way they are supposed to be, when all of that fear and doubt washes away and you are left with clarity. I have that now, and even though I can’t predict the future and have no idea where it’s going to take me, I know that it will be somewhere doing something that I love.

Now that the culinary school chapter has come to a close it’s time to put my degree to work and show the food world what I’m all about. I’m going to be doing some freelance work at the Food Network in April and have an exciting new opportunity on the horizon for May, which I will tell you all about as it gets closer. I’m going to work on growing and enhancing Fun Fearless Foodie, brining you a new look with more recipes, adventures, and mouth-watering photos that will hopefully broaden your knowledge of food and inspire you to get (or stay) in the kitchen.

Thank you to all of you who have been so encouraging and supportive of my journey, your notes, comments, and kind words really mean the world to me. I want to leave you with lyrics from one of my new favorite songs by The Avett Brothers. The song “Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise” is one of those songs that the minute I heard it I just felt like it was written for me, perhaps it will speak to you too.

“Decide what to be and go be it

There was a dream, and one day I could see it
Like a bird in a cage I broke in and demanded that somebody free it
And there was a kid, with a head full of doubt
So I’ll scream til I die and the last of those bad thoughts are finally out”

Category: Culinary School, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: ,
FFF | March 27, 2011
3 comments

“Martha Stewart’s Pies & Tarts”: book review and Pop-Up recap

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If there’s one thing Martha Stewart knows, it’s pie, and nowhere is that more apparent than in her latest book, Martha Stewart’s Pies & Tarts, a tribute to America’s classic dessert. The team at Martha Stewart Living has put together a compendium of pie and tart recipes, beautifully organized into the categories classic, free-form, sleek, dreamy, rustic, layered, dainty, artful, holiday, and savory.

Crispy, buttery, and sweet plum crostata

There is literally something for everyone in this book. From the fool-proof chocolate cream pie to the sophisticated and artful shingled-leaf brandy apple pie, novice and professional bakers alike will find inspiration and learn a thing or two. The book includes a section entitled “The Basics” that features an ingredient and equipment glossary, illustrated techniques for things like lattice tops and double crusts, and basic recipes for crusts, creams, and more. This book will become my go-to on the subject and I look forward to smudging it up with butter and chocolate stained fingertips for years to come.

Pies were going fast!

To promote the launch of the new book, Team Martha hosted a Pop-Up shop in New York City’s Greenwich Village this weekend where they sold autographed copies of the book (which I’m now the proud owner of) along with mini-versions of some of the pies featured within. I traveled downtown on Saturday afternoon to meet my wonderful friend Erin and partake in the pie madness.

The shop was packed and by the time I arrived they had already sold out of some of the more popular varieties. After picking up my copy I snagged a chewy chess pie while they lasted then headed to the back to watch Sarah Carey and Shira Bocar of Everyday Food and Whole Living (respectively) demo mini rhubarb and raspberry galettes and answer questions.

The two of us held court in front of the adorably dressed duo and got some really helpful tips on all things pie. Check out my next post to get some great tips and watch Shira assemble these adorable sweet treats (plus get the recipe!).

Gift with purchase: chewy chess pie-full of butter and caramel goodness!

Sarah Carey showing us how she makes pie dough

I’m thrilled that I was able to attend the event, and even more excited to get baking and try out some of the delicious recipes. Look out for a strawberry galette with basil whipped cream, chocolate mouse tart with hazelnuts, and cheddar crust apple pie on Fun Fearless Foodie soon.

How much is that pie in the window? Priceless apparently, these weren't for sale

Cookbooks for sale

Want to pick up your own copy of Martha Stewart Pies & Tarts? Spend a lot less than I did and order one from the Martha store, where it’s on sale for $13.29! http://shop.marthastewart.com/Martha-Stewarts-New-Pies-and-Tarts/A/0307405095.htm

You have to love that they were using beautiful multi-colored eggs from Martha Stewart's own chickens

Category: Foodie Events, NYC Foodie Adventure, Reviews | Tags: , , , ,
FFF | March 25, 2011
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Weekend Warrior: Red Rooster Harlem Corn Bread

Red Rooster, Marcus Samulesson’s new restaurant in the heart of a vibrant and redefined Harlem, is all the buzz in New York City these days. Not only for Samuelsson’s talents and inventive soul food with a Swedish and African flare, but for drawing attention to one of the City’s cultural and historical gems.

I was fortunate enough to snag a reservation back in February and dined on spiced duck liver pudding, warm and tender braised oxtails, and Helga’s meatballs, Samuelsson’s version of the Swedish classic. While all these dishes were delicious, what stood out to me the most was their simple and comforting corn bread.

My obsession over the Rooster’s corn bread and my persistence allowed me to obtain the recipe from executive chef Andrea Bergquist, and it turns out the secret ingredient which sets this apart from other corn bread is the use of aleppo pepper, which gives it a spicy kick. The recipe is simple and will take you less than 10 minutes to prepare, requires no kneading or special tools, and will be the perfect addition to your dinner table any night of the week.

The recipe for Red Rooster Harlem’s corn bread is featured in my Weekend Warrior column at MarcusSamuelsson.com. Click here to read more and get the recipe for yourself: http://marcussamuelsson.com/recipes/red-rooster-harlem-corn-bread-recipe

Category: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , ,
FFF | March 23, 2011
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Poppin’ Up Shop: Martha Stewart, James Beard, and more short-term treats coming to NYC

It appears the pop-up restaurant trend is showing no signs of stopping, especially here in New York City where chefs, food personalities, and even the James Beard Foundation are setting up shop for a limited-time only to sell treats and cater world-class dinners.

Pies and Tarts Pop-Up Shop

The domestic-diva herself, Martha Stewart, is hosting a Pies and Tarts Pop-Up Shop this weekend only to promote her new book, aptly titled Martha Stewart’s New Pies & Tarts. Dreamy cream pies, dainty lemon tartlets, classic fruit pies, savory galettes, and rustic hand pies will be on sale at the shop in Greenwich Village, along with a peak at the new book. I will be stopping by this weekend to indulge in some buttery treats and will be sure to share photos and recipe ideas from the event next week.  Stop by if you’re in the city!

When: Saturday & Sunday, March 26 & 27, 10am-6pm

Where: 93 Greenwich Avenue, Between Bank and West 12th Street

More info:http://http://www.marthastewart.com/article/pies-tarts-pop-up-shop

 JBF LTD

One could argue that the James Beard Foundation invented the idea of the pop-up restaurant-they bring in world-class chefs for one-night only events weekly after all-but now they are taking it one step further and staking a temporary home in Chelsea Market for a month long endeavor titled JBF LTD. 

According to their website, “over the course of five weeks, we’re bringing together incredible chefs, celebrated authors, television personalities, and many other people and partners to create the most exciting pop-up food pavilion and restaurant New York has seen.” 

Foodies and pop-culture enthusiasts can look forward to a café open for lunch, and ticketed evening events featuring tasting menus by some of the country’s best and brightest chefs. Here’s a highlight of upcoming events, but tickets will go fast, so make sure you get online April 1 and snag them before those hungry New Yorker’s beat you to it!

  • April 12–16: Michelin three-star chef Laurent Gras, formerly of L20, Chicago
  • April 26: JBF Award Winner Michelle Bernstein, Michy’s and Sra. Martinez, Miami, and Consulting Chef, Delta Air Lines
  • May 3–7: Iñaki Aizpitarte, Le Châteaubriand, Paris, with JBF Award Winner David Chang and Team Momofuku, NYC
  • May 11–14: JBF Award Winner David Kinch and John Paul Carmona, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA

When:  April 12-May 14. The space will be open daily (except Mondays) from 11 am to 4 pm, with regularly scheduled programs starting at 2:30 pm.

Where: JBF LTD, located inside Chelsea Market, 75 9th Avenue, between 14th and 15th Street

More info: http://popup.jamesbeard.org/

Additional food events worth checking out:

Chef Todd English at Macy’s Herald Square

Macy’s Culinary Council chef Todd English will be appearing at Macy’s Cellar, Herald Square this weekend for a free cooking demonstration. He is celebrating the new Showtime Original Series, The Borgias, and has created a special classic Italian dish for the occasion which he will be cooking and sharing with the crowd. This is a great opportunity to catch one of New York’s hottest chefs and restaurantuers in action, plus a great excuse to do some shopping!

When: Sunday March 27, 1:00 pm

Where: Macy’s at Herald Square, Macy’s Cellar, 151 West 34th Street

More info: http://www.macys.com/campaign/social?campaign_id=59&channel_id=1

Tasting Brooklyn

As far as most of New York (and The New York Times) is concerned, anything important in food is happening right now in Brooklyn. Get out there for yourself and see what all the fuss is about at Brooklyn Exposed’s Tasting Brooklyn event. Held at a swanky loft space in Dumbo, the event will feature “culinary treats from over twenty-five food and drink vendors under one roof” and live cooking demos from Fairway’s TV personalities Dan Glickberg and Mitchel London. Tickets are only $45 (which is a steal in this city) and are selling fast.

When: April 5, 6:30 to 9:30 pm

Where: Dumbo Loft, 155 Water Street

More info: http://www.brooklynexposed.com/index.php/tastingbrooklyn/

Category: Foodie Finds, NYC Foodie Adventure | Tags: , , , ,
FFF | December 15, 2010
2 comments

New York Food 2011 Calendar

If you’re anything like me, you realize you need a wall calendar sometime around, let’s say mid-June, after all the cool calendars from that year are sold and have been replaced by calendars for the next year.  It’s sort of like stores decorating for holidays months in advance of said-holiday, why are they rushing us with everything?  This year I’m going to try something new (in addition to becoming organized) and start 2011 with a calendar, for 2011.  But not just any calendar, the New York Food calendar.

To commemorate the French Culinary Institutes’s 25th anniversary, the team at FS Publishing, in partnership with the Friends of the FCI scholarship fund, have put together a delectable monthly calendar featuring contemporary cuisine from some of New York’s top restaurants and chefs, including Daniel, Le Bernardin, and Eleven Madison Park.  January through December you can enjoy a drool-inducing photograph by Aaron Graubart showcasing the plating and culinary styling of the most talked about dishes in the city. The calendar also features important dates in food culture, recognizing the birthdays of legends like Paul Bocuse and Julia Child, along with anniversaries for the featured restaurants. Don’t worry, all the standard holidays are listed too.

The best part about the calendar is that a portion of the proceeds benefits the Friends of the FCI scholarship fund at the French Culinary Institute in NYC, an organization responsible for helping aspiring chefs achieve their dream of attending one of the best culinary schools in the country.

So if you’re looking for a holiday gift for the foodie in your life, something to jazz up your cubicle, or better yet, something to help you get your life together in 2011, pick up a copy of this gorgeous calendar and make next year a delicious one.

Where to buy the New York Food 2011 calendar

Order your copy from the Fun Fearless Foodie store at Amazon and it ships in 24 hours!


If you live in New York City, you can pick up a copy at the following locations:

  • L’Ecole restaurant at The French Culinary Institute- 462 Broadway (near Grand st.)
  • Kitchen Arts & Letters-1435 Lexington Avenue (near 94th st.)
  • Broadway Panhandler- 65 8th st. (near University pl.)
Category: Foodie Finds, Reviews | Tags: , ,
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 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 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!

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