Archive for Wine & Dine

Five Fabulous Food Tours

March 29, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Within walking distance of Seattle’s Pike Place Market—and its dizzying array of fresh produce, sensational seafood and unique eateries—the Hyatt at Olive 8 inspired us to find the best ways to get a taste of a city. And food tours became our answer.

Photos courtesy of Chicago Food Planet Tours, Savor Seattle, Michelle Topor’s Boston Food Tours and Foods of New York Tours

Here are a few of our favorite guided gourmet walking tours:

Savor Seattle Pike Place Market Food and Cultural Tour: Sample more than 16 bites and sips—including crab cakes, chowder and cheese—during a 2-hour tour of this 105-year-old landmark.

Chinatown San Francisco Tours: Try Dim Sum, fortune cookies, teas and more on a 3-hour tour of this popular neighborhood.

Chicago Food Planet Bucktown/Wicker Park Food Tasting and Cultural Walking Tour: Visit 6 authentic mom-and-pop establishments and ethnic eateries in this local artists’ community.

Michele Topor’s Boston North End Market Tour: Experience life in “Little Italy” as a local, with stops at a green grocer, salumeria, pasticcerias and an enoteca.

Foods of New York Tours Chelsea Market/Meatpacking District: Explore this 112-year-old-landmark building (the birthplace of the Oreo!) and became an insider on gourmet foods and flavors.

 

Category: Around Town, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Spring for a Classic New England Clambake!

March 27, 2013 / / Comments Off

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As New Englanders, we’re big on clambakes. Steamed clams and mussels with hot drawn butter. Fresh lobsters. Sweet corn on the cob. We could go on. If you’re looking to experience a traditional clambake (consisting of seafood cooked on a beach using seaweed and hot stones), hotels like the Chatham Bars Inn in Cape Cod offer events throughout the summer.

And if you can’t make it to an on-beach bake, many seafood restaurants make entertaining easy by bringing the bounty of the ocean to you! (Of course, you’ll have to sacrifice the seaweed and stones.) Below are a few supplies that will class up any at-home clambake.

Photos courtesy of Zappos, Orange and Pear, Magnificent Milestones, Williams-Sonoma, Etsy and West Elm

{Clockwise from top left}

Whale Flip Flops (Vineyard Vines, $39.50)

Sea Life Dinner Plates (Thomas Paul, $44)

Sofia Mini Champagne Cans (Francis Ford Coppola Winery, $5/can)

Enamel Crab Cracker (Williams-Sonoma, $17.90)

100-Piece Crab Confetti Package (Etsy, $2.25)

Tassled Picnic Blanket (West Elm, $49)

Category: Great Outdoors, Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Learn to Cook on Your Next Getaway

March 7, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Some people vacation to escape the kitchen, while others travel to learn everything they can about what they eat. If you are the latter—and pick places to stay based on breakfast, lunch and dinner—a hotel with cooking classes might just be the winning recipe for your next trip. Here are some of our favorite places to learn how to cook while away.

Photos courtesy of Ramekins Culinary School and Inn; The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa; Blackberry Farm; and The Biltmore Hotel

Ramekins Culinary School and Inn: Located in Sonoma, California—not far from the highly acclaimed French Laundry restaurant—this school/inn brings in notable chefs to teach everything from cheese making to French cuisine.

The Essex, Vermont’s Culinary Resort & Spa: Alongside a picturesque setting in northwestern Vermont, the resort offers hands-on classes that teach technique, regional cuisine and traditional recipes at its Cook Academy.

Blackberry Farm: Nestled in the Great Smoky Mountains, the farm provides culinary events and cooking demonstrations taught by the top people in the food world today. Check the calendar to see what’s cooking.

The Biltmore Hotel: For those looking for a little heat outside of the kitchen, a stay in Miami is just the ticket. As the only hotel with a recreational cooking school operating in North America, the Biltmore Hotel is a fabulous place to learn how to cook up a storm.

Category: Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Cocktails that Sparkle

February 25, 2013 / / Comments Off

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On the heels of last night’s toast-worthy event—and since Le Sun Chine in Shanghai has its very own Champagne Bar—we’re craving something bubbly. With that in mind, we gathered a few of our favorite ways to make Champagne truly sparkle.

Photos courtesy of MarthaStewart.com, Esquire.com and Epicurious.com

Photos courtesy of MarthaStewart.com, Esquire.com and Epicurious.com

{Clockwise from top left}

Lavender Champagne: The name says it all. And, really, what more could you ask for?

Champagne Cocktail: This classic drink is made with just a sugar cube, bitters, Champagne and a lemon twist. To mix it up just a little, try it with a brown sugar cube.

Platinum Sparkle: Vodka, Lillet blanc, maraschino liquer, lemon and sparkling wine come together to create a cocktail that shines.

Category: Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , , ,

Mac & Cheese, if You Please

February 21, 2013 / / Comments Off

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Call it the winter doldrums. Blame it on the chilly weather. Or maybe it’s just Thursday. The truth is, we’ll take any excuse to eat cheese—or, in this case, mac and cheese.

While writing about The Bernards Inn and its award-winning restaurant, we stumbled upon their recipe for Macaroni and Vermont Cheddar Cheese. It sounded like the perfect cure for a cold evening, so we just had to share. Go ahead and cook up a little comfort tonight. No excuse needed.

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Macaroni and Vermont Cheddar Cheese

Recipe from Corey Heyer

6 TBSP Butter, Cubed
¼ Cup Flour
3 Cups Whole Milk
1/8 Tsp. Cayenne Pepper
Salt
¾ Cup Sharp Vermont Cheddar Cheese, Grated
½ Cup Macaroni, Cooked and Drained
¾ Cup Panko Breadcrumbs, Pulverized in Food Processor
1 Tbsp. Fresh Thyme, Chopped

Melt 4 Tbsp. butter in heavy saucepot. Add Flour and mix well. Slowly add milk, whisking continuously to incorporate well and make a smooth sauce, simmer for 30 minutes. Stir in cayenne pepper, cheese, and salt to taste. Add cooked pasta to sauce and coat well. Put macaroni and cheese into a large casserole dish or 4 small dishes. Combine breadcrumbs, thyme, and 2 Tbsp. melted butter, mix well. Cover macaroni with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes or until breadcrumbs are golden brown.

Category: Wine & Dine / Tags: , , , ,
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