FOOD
"Russian Dolls," Lifetime's newest foray into reality television, is the "Jersey Shore" of Brighton Beach. And unlike their MTV peers, these kids can speak other languages ("DTF" and "bros before hos" doesn't count, sorry.) But if you really want to appreciate a hard-partying Russian crowd, it might be time to head deep into Brooklyn, and spend a day in Little Odessa.
As the TV show continues (Thursdays at 10:30), you can find more hotspots for yourself. But if you can't wait, here is your guide to a memorable night out in Brighton Beach.
Grub Hub has found a way to wrangle all your local delivery options under one URL. Kind of like digital, culinary cowboys. Now you don’t have to search the wide open web when you want the food to come to you.
Grub Hub is basically a restaurant aggregator and database. The service started in Chicago a few years ago and has expanded to several other cities, with Miami being one of its latest endeavors. The service is 100% free to use and they even have a free iPhone app that you can download to order food any time, anywhere.
If you're looking for some good eats and eye candy all in one place, then don't miss Anthony Anderson as he returns to Organic Avenue to promote The Lifestyle for Beauty. Working as a model, Anthony has had to learn how to keep healthy and fit. This inspired him to create RawModel.com, his website that promotes healthy eating (bye-bye processed foods!) and a healthy lifestyle. At this event, Anthony will be whipping up two custom power smoothies for you to try, in addition to speaking about organic gardening, wild foods, sustainable living, and meditation. Tickets for this event are only $50 and you can register by phoning Organic Avenue at at 212-358-0500 or email love@organicavenue.com.
Although Monday might not be your favorite day of the week, you can still get something good out of it thanks to Meatless Monday, a non-profit initiative of The Monday Campaigns, in association with the Johns Hopkins’ Bloomberg School of Public Health. Their goal is to "reduce meat consumption by 15% to improve personal health and the health of the planet."
Afraid of not getting enough protein? According to Kerri-Ann Jennings, a registered dietician and associate editor for EatingWell magazine, “Most Americans get way more protein - our bodies' "building blocks"- than we need and that we can even use, so this actually is not a primary nutrition concern…There are plenty of plant-based sources of protein, including beans, lentils, peas, nuts and seeds, whole grains, tofu and tempeh [and] eggs and dairy products (cheese, milk, yogurt).”
When envisioning health fairs, it’s usually row after row of produce, some free snacks, and a few demonstrations from Martial Arts schools and gyms. While they’re often fun and relaxing, the more adventurous crowd is left wanting a little more. Well, Washington, D.C. is kicking things up a notch come July 30th.
Experience acrobatic acts, parkourists, gymnast performances, contortionist acts and cheerleading routines while learning about safe and easy health changes. If physical feats are not your cup of tea, hit up one of the many comedy acts, musicals, or cooking demonstration. There will even be story telling sessions for younger children and stage plays. If learning new recipes, crafting something new, or learning a new skill seems more enticing, there will also be a ton of workshops for people of all ages.
May 31st is National Macaron Day, and for those of you looking to get your French fix, Chicago French Market is the place to go. Celebrate the delicate pastry at Chicago French Market's many vendors including Vanille Patisserie and Delightful Pastries.
Personally, I'm partial to Vanille's pillowy sandwich cookies, made with the finest ground almonds and smooth ganache fillings. Flavors like rose, pistachio, coffee, and chocolate-covered orange peel are not only visually tantalizing, but live up to high expectations of taste as well. Yummiest of them all was the passion fruit-coconut macaron, which has convinced me that piña coladas are just a poor man's substitute for this tropical flavor combination. Each macaron is $1.50 individually, but the more you buy, the less expensive they are. So stock up!
The best part of springtime is the ability to dine al fresco. The most coveted outside table in the city is at Parc. Located smack-dab on Rittenhouse Square, this Stephen Starr brasserie boasts authentic French cuisine and incredible sidewalk entertainment. It’s a little slice of Paris in the heart of Philadelphia’s most chic neighborhood.
Once the warmer weather descends on the area, Parc regularly throws open their floor-to-ceiling windows. Plus, because Parc is located on the corner of 18th and Locust, it has two stretches of sidewalk to use for outside dining. This means patrons have ample opportunity to enjoy their meal al fresco.
When most people think of “foodie neighborhoods” in NYC, the Upper West Side may not be at the top of their list. However, this area has reinvented itself and is now home to more and more of the cities' best chefs and restaurants such as A Voce, Bar Boulud, Telepan, Kefi, Rosa Mexicano, and Jacques Torres.
In honor of this neighborhood's amazing talent, diverse food and restaurant culture, Whole Foods Market is hosting their Fourth Annual New Taste of the Upper West Side on Friday, May 20th, and Saturday, May 21st, 2011.
Chloe, a charming BYOB eatery in the heart of Old City, recently celebrated their tenth anniversary, quite a feat in the food and power-hungry restaurant industry. For Chloe's ravenous diners huddle outside waiting for a coveted table, this comes as no surprise. Eat here once and you’ll understand why this new American restaurant is a Philly staple.
Located on Arch Street between 2nd and 3rd Streets, Chloe is run by a husband and wife team: Mary Ann Ferrie and Dan Grimes. The twosome works as co-chefs and together they make magic in the kitchen. Chloe uses only the freshest ingredients and their farm-to-table approach to cooking becomes even more apparent in the summer months.
The basics of being environmentally-conscientious are easy: reduce, reuse, recycle. But if you're looking to do more than the basics, how about listening to chart-topping bands and enjoying delicious farm fresh food?
Head to the Sweetlife Festival in Columbia, Maryland on May 1st, 2011. Hosted by Sweetgreen, DC's go-to organic salad and frozen yogurt restaurant's and the Jamie Oliver Food Foundation, the festival will feature great musical acts, such as The Strokes, Girl Talk, Lupe Fiasco, Ra-Ra Riot, and Cold War Kids and will include delicious food from local organic farmers.The festival's aim is to celebrate music, healthy food, and thoughtful living.
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