What better way to bring you and your loved ones together for the holidays then with some good old fashioned alcohol? Take a swing at crafting some of these creative holiday cocktails. Some are green like the Grinch, some are as red as Rudolph's nose, and some even taste like gingerbread cookies! Happy Holidays and enjoy!
1. Santaquila Sunrise
Get on Santa's naughty list this year with this sinful cocktail.
Ingredients: 3 oz. Orange Juice
3 oz. Pineapple Juice
1 oz. Jose Cuervo® Cinge™ - Cinnamon Infused Tequila
Everyone loves a kick of flavor in their food, and the chili salts from The Chili Lab are the talk of the town! Established in Brooklyn, The Chili Lab was founded by entrepreneur Thomas Kelly who created the nine types of salts that make up the local brand. From citrus to smokey, to fruity and earthy, the nine diverse salts are Chipotle, Piri Piri, Pequin, Cascabel, Aji Amarillo, Habanero, Dandicut, Pasilla, and Guajillo. The Chili Lab salts can be used on pretty much everything; from grilled fish to fried poultry, to salads and roasted almonds, you'll be adding it to every dish!
This Tuesday, December 10th is National Lager Day, so we decided to get deep with all things lager in honor of the hallowed occasion.
First up: what is lager? For all you beer neophytes, there are traditionally two major categories of beer: Ales and Lagers. The difference between the two is basically a matter of yeast chemistry. The yeast used in ales (as well as bread and wine) is called Saccharomyces cerevisiae, while the yeast used in lagers is called Saccharomyces uvarum. There are two major differences between the yeasts which affect the flavor profiles of the beers they create. Put simply:
If you've been familiar with the Midtown dining scene at any point in the last 20 years, you probably already know about China Grill, restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow's crown jewel establishment. Situated right near the MoMa, China Grill is classy but unpretentious, and their high-quality yet approachable Asian-inspired fare has been delighting diners for twenty-six years. The fact that it's been around for so long, however, doesn't mean they've gone stale. This past Saturday, we stopped by for the first service of their newly introduced Dragon Brunch, and we were pleased to see that China Grill is continuing to innovate and mix it up while staying true to the heart of their culinary style.
Jersey inspired and based restaurant Little Town will be having their Food & Beer Pairing Dinner on Wednesday, December 11th at 7pm. The handsome Manzo brothers, Albie and Chris, have selected Executive Chef and Food Network's Chopped alum Jordan Andino as the creator of the Hoboken restaurant's menu. The Food & Beer Pairing Dinner will feature beers from the Bolero Snort Brewery and meatballs by momma Caroline Manzo. Beer and a hearty prix-fixe dinner, how could you say no? Tickets for the event are $45 and can be purchased here.
Little Town 310 Sinatra Drive Hoboken, New Jersey 07030
Co-owners Jon Agnello and Vincent Dardanello have been pals for years, and back in 2009 decided to give New York something it never had before: an unforgettable burger experience. Instead of the powers from on high making a burger in the back and allowing the customer to passively choose it from the menu, Jon and Vincent decided to let the patron take the wheel and design their own burger from start to finish. Forget the standard pickles, mayo, and cheddar cheese--you can get ten types of cheeses, including fried mozzarella, and ten toppings including pickles jalapenos or frizzled onions. With the choice of your own meat (lamb, shrimp, veggie, beef, turkey or chicken) bun (ranging from brioce to lettuce wrap), cheese and topping, there are literally two million varieties you can try, making the possibilities as endless as they are delicious. No wonder Burger Bistro was rated #2 burger in the city by Zagat.
The last season of HBO’s “Treme” has come to an end, but the celebration is just beginning. The show’s creator and executive producer David Simon, executive producer Nina Noble, and story editor/ cookbook author Lolis Eric Elie presents: Talking “Treme”, a celebratory event held at 92Y. Matt Zoller Seitz of New York magazine is set to moderate the talk which aims to take a closer look at the role of New Orleans cuisine in the popular show. 92Y will stay true to the festive vibes of the Mardi Gras capital by setting up the room cabaret style, inviting a jazz pianist to play before the talk begins, and serving free food and cocktails from the cookbook, Treme: Stories and Recipes from the Heart of New Orleans (written by Elie).
The phrase “authentic Italian” gets thrown around the NYC restaurant scene much more often than it should. However, at Hell’s Kitchen gem Tavola, located at 488 9th Avenue, authentic Italian only begins to scratch the surface of the gustatory delights to be found there. Restaurateur, owner, and Italian mastermind Nick Accardi opened Tavola about a year and a half ago in what was once a New York City landmark, Italian grocer, Manganaro’s. Originally opened in 1893, the grocery was family owned and operated until Accardi created the cozy yet innovative eatery that shares the same passion for Italian flavors. Accardi did a beautiful job of paying tribute to the building’s roots, maintaining many of Manganaro’s original features; the shelves and tile work were all original to the store.
On November 18th, 2013, guests were invited to meet Andaz 5th Avenue's new executive chef, the charming and tattooed Chad Minton. The mellow and intimate event was held at Apartment 2E of the swanky midtown Manhattan Hotel where guests sipped on drinks at the open bar while tasting Minton's new Fall/Winter menu.
If holiday shopping has you going crazy this year then we have a simple solution for you... chocolate! It makes the perfect holiday gift, especially for those on your list with a sweet tooth. So to make your holiday shopping a bit easier, we've picked out a few of our favorite chocolate treats this year to stuff in stockings and put under trees (and stuff in your mouth as well).
Listed as one of "Oprah's Favorite Things 2013", Sprinkles Cookie Dough has been making a splash in the world of sweets. Take a pointer from the big O and pick up some of these delicious cookie doughs for your favorite chocoholic. Choose between the classic chocolate chip, double chocolate, or peanut butter pretzel chip.
Getting a kid to eat his vegetables has been parents' battle cry for generations. It's a war where one would think the parents have the tactical advantage (like size, the ability to manipulate sliverware, bribing, punishing), but infants and toddlers have proven valiant in resisting their opponents' efforts. There may be a new development that could bring both sides together on this issue: Patatina and her citrus friends. The brainchild of Sabine Cassel, the mother of French actor Vincent Cassel and the former food editor of Elle, Cassel has written an e-book for children about called "Patatina and the Citrus". Patatina, a potato, learns more about a family of citrus neighbors. The e-book includes healthy recipes that are easy to understand and follow, and document the many fine qualities of Patatina's citrus gang which correlate with the benefits of healthy foods. With interactive features, bright colors, and a pleasing storyline, kids will learn about fruits and veggies in a way that doesn't force them to bend to anyone's will.
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Naakai Addy,
Zoraida Cordova,
Carissa Gan,
Carolyn Jummati,
Melissa Kravitz,
Steven Luw &
Alexa Mellardo
