Similar to my review of the cast iron skillet, I really wanted to give readers some ideas about other useful kitchen gadgets that could really cut down on storage space and time. As I scoured the list of kitchen tools, the Hamilton Beach Turbo Twister 2 Speed Hand Blender almost popped off the screen. It is perfect for mixing cake batter, making pancake mix, creating homemade sauces and soups, or anything else that needs a good whip. Unlike bulky mixers that take up a ton of overhead storage space or can barely fit on your counter top when you need to use it, this hand blender is a slim item with multiple uses–and can actually fit in a drawer.

As fun as baking can be, the thought of manually stirring batter is almost as tiring as the physical feat. In addition to mixers being bulky, they also tend to cost a pretty penny too. Why cough-up your Con Edison money when you can buy a cheaper tool that achieves the same result? That’s why the Hamilton Beach Turbo Twister 2 Speed Hand Blender makes sense from a space and cost perspective, without losing the efficiency of bigger, badder mixers.

The Hamilton Beach Turbo Twister 2 Speed Hand Blender comes with two attachments–a blending wand and a stainless steel power whisk. I’ve already been using both attachments in a variety of ways. When I come home from work, I’m often too tired to make anything but a simple pasta dish. However, as simple as pasta can be, I refuse to just boil pasta and mix with a canned sauce. After I roast a bunch of plump tomatoes, I put on the blending wand attachment, and crush the roasted tomatoes in a pot over the stove. Gone are the days of mashing tomatoes with a potato masher–the blending wand perfectly preserves the correct texture for a sauce.

Similar to my post-work level of energy, the last thing I feel like doing on a Saturday or Sunday morning is turning my pancake making into a full-body work-out. Whipping by hand is so last century. Now I can add my milk, eggs, and pancake batter, and perfectly whip it together by just clicking the “on” switch. I say the less jerky movement the better while I’m nursing my inevitable weekend morning hangover.

I am extremely excited to have added the Hamilton Hand Blender to my kitchen gadgets. With a minimal $19.97 price tag, it should be welcome addition to your kitchen too.

Popaccino (n., pop-ah-chi-no): A premium blended iced coffee topped with double chocolate brownie crumbles.

One can now alleviate their sudden craving for coffee plus their chocolate fix with the unique infusion of brownie pieces inside the drink.

From the outside looking in, you can never fully understand Popaccino.  So come in and have a taste because no one can withstand it.”

I plan to try it out this weekend. It looks awesome.

The event was a lot of fun, and if I find myself in the Lower East Side, needing a little Middle-Eastern flare, I’ll definitely keep La Vie Lounge in mind.

A MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION INSPIRED BY…MOM.

Chef John Marsh and his partners at Greensquare Tavern, the new farm-to-table restaurant at 5 West 21st Street, are offering Mother’s Day specials inspired by their own moms.

“My mother was an amazing gardener and a terrific home cook,” Chef John Marsh recalls.  “Local ingredients meant our back yard.”

Partners Larry McIntyre and Leon Bell also credit their mothers with inspiring a life-long love of food. For Leon’s mother, a Holocaust survivor, “food is life. Food is love.”

Along with its regular menu, Greensquare Tavern will feature a $45 Prix fixe menu with a choice of appetizer, salad, entrée and dessert including the Mother’s Day specials below:

* Jane Marsh’s delicious Pan-roasted Striped Bass with citrus herb sauce, caramelized onion mashed Yukon potato & sauteed swiss chard.

* Rita McIntyre’s famous Lasagna Bolognese with handmade pasta sheets, ground beef, veal & pork; three secret cheeses & homemade marinara served with sautéed broccoli rabe.

* Celia Bell’s Veal Scallopini with roasted shallot demi-glaze, risotto Milanese & sautéed spinach.

For reservations call 212-929-2468, or visit greensquaretavern.com.
Of course,  all moms will leave with a beautiful rose to cap their meal.
Small plates: $9 – $10
Medium plates: $13 – $19
Entrees: $23 – $26

The Spotted Pig is a staple on most people’s “must try” list–including the plethora of European tourists that have increasingly crowded the already jam-packed name-list. Popular entrees like the Pan Seared Scallops with Ramps & Chili Pan and the Roasted Veal Chop with Baby Artichokes & Dandelion will run you $32 and $35, respectively, so the eatery is hardly as pedestrian as its interior suggests it should be. Instead, most people opt for their Chargrilled Burger with Roquefort Cheese & Shoestrings, which is “modestly” priced at $17. 

The burger meat itself was obviously top-notch. Any order other than “rare” or “medium-rare” would be a shame. The Roquefort cheese added a tangy flare to the juicy meat, easily sovereign to a slice of cheddar. The forgotten hero in the marriage goes to the bun, which thankfully contained the thick burger with all its juices, as well as the quickly melting French-born cheese. In addition, the shoestring french fries provided a salty excursion from the main event. While the fries are shoveled from a heaping metallic vat of a bowl in the kitchen, it is pretty apparent they were (at some point) made with care. I also noticed that the fries are cooked with eloquently sliced garlic cloves, which are then deep fried with its potato counterpart. I was split on if I’d rather get a side order of the shoestrings or just the garlic slices. I eventually concluded that both together were fine.

As good and fulfilling as Spotted Pig’s burger was, I found myself wondering, “Why the price tag?” Without proper knowledge of where the beef was from–probably the reason for the eye-popping $17 price-tag–it left me with a sour taste in my mouth (which is impressive considering the amount of salt in the meal). Unfortunately, my true belief is that much of the cost goes to the fact you’re actually eating in The Spotted Pig. As sheik and trendy as I felt sitting on a mangled stool, crunched into a corner of the busy restaurant, I almost wished I had just walked to Madison Square Park to indulge in yet another one of Danny Meyer’s finest.

CONTACT:
314 W. 11th Street
(212) 620-0393
info@thespottedpig.com
http://thespottedpig.com

– 

NEW YORK WOMEN’S CULINARY ALLIANCE LAUNCHES FIRST-EVER    

ONLINE AUCTION TO PROMOTE A BID FOR HEALTHY EATING

 Proceeds Raised Will Be Directed to Charities Including Spoons Across America and Nourishing NYC

NEW YORK, NY (April 12, 2011) – Join New York Women’s Culinary Alliance (NYWCA) members in support of healthy eating and nutrition for New Yorkers.  As chefs, cookbook authors, and culinary professionals, Alliance members understand that nothing is more vital to health than good food and nutrition.  In an effort to help New Yorkers achieve this, the NYWCA has launched its first-ever Bid for Healthy Eating Online Auction.  Live now through May 4^th, 2011 at www.charitybuzz.com/auctions/NYWCA, the public has the rare opportunity to bid on a range of one-of-a-kind epicurean experiences.  Auction highlights include:

·      Dine with Celebrity Chef, Sara Moulton, with a Custom Wine-Paired Dinner for 4 at New York City’s Famed ilili Restaurant

·      Attend the “Oscars of the Food World” – James Beard Foundation Awards with Dinner and a Private Tour of the Media Room Beforehand

·      A Rare Test Kitchens Visit and Behind-the-Scenes Tour at Food Network with the Network’s Executive Chef, Robert Bleifer, Including a Show Taping

·      Lunch with Erica Duecy, Fodor’s Travel Restaurants & Hotels Editor

·      A Private Tour of the James Beard House (JBF) with JBF’s President, Susan Ungaro, Followed by an Incredible Chef’s-Themed Dinner for 2 at the House

“Raising funds for nonprofit organizations whose missions align with ours has long been a part of our charitable giving efforts,” said NYWCA President Liz Young. “And this year, we are excited to utilize our members’ skills and deep-rooted relationships in the food community to help two very worthwhile organizations.” One hundred percent of auction proceeds that the NYWCA receives will benefit the alliance’s charitable giving efforts, including donations to Spoons Across America – a not-for-profit organization dedicated to educating children, teachers, and families about the benefits of healthy eating and Nourishing NYC – a not-for-profit organization with a mission to alleviate the strong correlation between low-income status and poor dietary health by providing nutritious meals and nutritional education without question and without criticism.

The NYWCA is a not-for-profit organization whose mission fosters networking, education and cooperation for women in the culinary and beverage fields in the New York City area.  The Alliance goals include assuming a dynamic role in community affairs, particularly through outreach programs and fundraising for women’s health and nutrition issues, as well as working with adults and children in need, to teach them the basics of nutrition, food buying and healthful meal preparation.

For additional information about the New York Women’s Culinary Alliance, visit www.NYWCA.com.

###

About Spoons Across America

Spoons Across America is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded on the premise that it is essential to the health of children and society to bring the joys of the table to the children of America.  The organization works to influence the eating habits of children through hands-on education that celebrates the connection to local farmers and the important tradition of sharing meals around the family table.

About Nourishing NYC

Nourishing NYC was opened in 2008 to address poor nutrition and health while addressing the issue of food scarcity and hunger—large issues facing the poverty-stricken East Harlem community in New York City.  The organization strives to achieve the mission of “Nutrition for All” through a three-pronged approach of feed, educate and advocate.

Thanks, Bro is a no-frills gifting company based in Manhattan that focuses on pleasing a population of backwards-hat and baggy-sweatpants wearing peoples. The service provides prospective gifters with a selection of six-packs (from Natural Light to Sam Adams), beef jerky (from Slim Jims to SlantShack), and if the bro is truly special, a choice of either a Mets or Yankees hat or a copy of Top Gun on DVD. Also, nothing says “Thanks for being my wingman” more than scrawling your sentiments onto the flap of a pizza box–an option Thanks, Bro happily offers.

Upon receipt of payment (credit card and Paypal accepted), Thanks, Bro hand-delivers the goods to the broseph of choice, making you the most thoughtful bro or bro-ette (if you will) on this side of Sigma Alpha Mu. If you’re the type who must gift “you will always remember me with this present,” then Thanks, Bro isn’t for you–but if you’re a “here are last minute trinkets from Duane Reade” gifter like myself, then Thanks, Bro will become your savior.

Contact:
http://thanks-bro.com
jf@thanks-bro.com
@Thanks_Bro

Also note: Thanks, Bro operates Monday through Friday, from 9 AM to 5 PM and most orders are currently able to be processed and delivered within one business day.

I was fortunate enough to receive a sample package from the kind folks at Stonewall Kitchen, which is wonderful considering I’m a huge fan and avid consumer of their goods. They provided me with Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Sauce, Caramelized Onion Mustard, Roasted Garlic Onion Jam, Peach Chutney, Roasted Peach Whiskey Sauce, Bourbon Molasses Sauce, Wild Maine Blueberry Champagne Jam, and Double Chocolate Pancake & Waffle Mix. Like all of their products I’ve tried, these were no different–that is, they were all incredible delicious and unique.

Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Sauce: For chocolate sauce aficionados out there, Stonewall Kitchen’s “Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramel Sauce” doesn’t get much better. The boldness of dark chocolate, sweetness of caramel, and saltiness of sea salt is a killer dessert topping combination and one that’s tough to beat. Suggested Usages: sundaes, yogurt, straight-up with a spoon.

Caramelized Onion Mustard: It’s hard to convince me to use any other kind of mustard besides good ole deli or Dijon, but the addition of sweet, caramelized onions seals the deal. Even after using this mustard just once, slapping this in a sandwich or on a hotdog is not only a no-brainer, but a necessity. Suggested Usages: turkey sandwich, hotdog.

Roasted Garlic Onion Jam: For those accustom to jams being fruity, leave your pallets at the pantry door. The Roasted Garlic Onion Jam’s texture might seem a little adventurous at first glance, but you’ll be using it with cheese plates and even on burgers in no-time. Suggested Usages: cheese and crackers, hamburgers.

Peach Chutney: Chutney is a very common pasty sauce in Indian cuisine, but it’s also easily adaptable into American foods as well. Stonewall Kitchen’s Peach Chutney blends together sweet mango and heat-filled spices to create an ideal spread, dip, and even topping. Suggested Usages: spread for sandwiches, dip for tortilla chips or pita bread, topping for yogurt.

Roasted Peach Whiskey Sauce/Bourbon Molasses Sauce: Both the Roasted Peach Whiskey Sauce and the Bourbon Molasses Sauce aren’t exactly A1–but then again, why would you want them to be? The sauces draw sweetness from the peaches and molasses, as well as the boldness from the whiskey and bourbon. Essentially, they’re the bomb. Suggested Usages: ribs, chicken, salmon.

Wild Maine Blueberry Champagne Jam: At first glance, there are so many blueberries in the Wild Maine Blueberry Champagne Jam, that it almost just seems like a jar filled with fruit. But upon further review, the reason there is so much fruit in the jam is because that’s what high quality jam should look like. Suggested Usages: toast, topping for yogurt, topping for pancakes.

Double Chocolate Pancake & Waffle Mix: Stonewall Kitchen’s Double Chocolate Pancake & Waffle Mix takes the approach I wish more folks would–”Why don’t we just add chocolate?” We’re not just talking about dull chocolate powder, but explosive, fine chocolate, evenly layered into a fantastic pancake/waffle mix.

Contact: David Kirschenbaum (212) 757-3130 ext. 112

David.kirschenbaum@ilovepeanutbutter.com

VALENTINE’S DAY AT PEANUT BUTTER & CO. IS FOR SWEETHEARTS

Greenwich Village sandwich shop once again offers their Sweetheart’s Snack this Valentine’s Day
(New York, NY) – The world-famous Peanut Butter & Co. Sandwich Shop is pleased to announce that its Valentine’s Day Sweetheart’s Snack is once again being offered this year.  Those looking for an inexpensive, fun, and tasty way to celebrate Valentine’s Day will be happy to hear that the Sweetheart’s Snack special will be available for the first time for TWO DAYS on Sunday, February 13 & Monday, February 14, 2011 from 11am until 9pm.

Back by popular demand, the $35 per couple (plus tax and gratuity) prix fixe menu consists of four heart-shaped sandwiches served with Peanut Butter & Co.’s trademark potato chips and carrot sticks.  Big glasses of fresh milk (plain or strawberry-flavored pink) with a heart-shaped straw for two accompany the meal.  The PB & J Pretzel Sundae (vanilla ice cream, peanut butter pretzels, and raspberry sauce) and candy Conversation Hearts mark the sweet end to your date.  The romantic mood will be set by music from Sirius XM Radio’s Love Channel 3. The low price includes a jar of Peanut Butter & Co.’s all-natural, gourmet peanut butter to take home as a delicious souvenir.

Peanut Butter & Co. will be open from 11:00am until 9:00pm.  Couples can guarantee seating by booking 45-minute time slots with a credit card.  Reservations are suggested.  Peanut Butter & Co. is located at 240 Sullivan Street in NYC.

WHAT: Peanut Butter & Co.’s Sweetheart’s Snack Special

WHERE: 240 Sullivan Street, Between Bleecker And West 3^rd Streets, New York City

WHEN: Sunday, February 13 & Monday, February 14, 2011 from 11:00am – 9:00pm

COST: Just $35 per couple, plus tax and gratuity. Includes a free jar of all-natural, gourmet Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter

FOR RESERVATIONS, CALL: (212) 677-3995

Peanut Butter & Co.’s ten varieties of all-natural peanut butter – Smooth Operator, Crunch Time, Cinnamon Raisin Swirl, White Chocolate Wonderful, Dark Chocolate Dreams, The Heat Is On, Mighty Maple, The Bee’s Knees, Old Fashioned Smooth and Old Fashioned Crunchy – are made fresh from a special blend of U.S.-grown peanuts chosen for their taste, texture and natural sweetness.  Certified Kosher by Orthodox Union and Vegan by Vegan Action (The Bee’s Knees is Vegetarian), Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter contains no cholesterol, no trans-fats, no hydrogenated oils, no dairy products, and no refined sugars.  Additionally, Peanut Butter & Co. peanut butter is made with non-GMO peanuts, and is packaged in recyclable plastic jars or portable Easy Squeezy™ squeeze packs. (Available in 3 flavors.)

Peanut Butter & Co.’s line of all-natural, gourmet peanut butter is now available in over 10,000 supermarkets and specialty retailers including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods and Kroger.  The Company’s products are also available in Canada, the United Kingdom, and Asia.  Peanut Butter & Co. began in 1998 as a cozy little Sandwich Shop in Greenwich Village which enjoys a loyal following of locals and tourists alike. The Shop serves gourmet peanut butter sandwiches, desserts, milkshakes, and smoothies and was the inspiration for The Peanut Butter & Co. Cookbook (Quirk Books), now in its third printing.

So when I received “samples” of their peanut butter in the mail, I couldn’t be more delighted. The opportunity to try ten–yes ten–of Peanut Butter & Co.’s special flavors has not only been a unique experience, but also a difficult one–ten jars of peanut butter is a lot (even for an addict like myself). Regardless, I pushed through, and gave each jar of peanut butter the attention it deserved.

Cinnamon Raisin Swirl: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl is a great option since it already encompasses the necessary ingredients for making a top-notch sweet sandwich. Even for people who cringe at the site of raisins, there are honestly few spreads that taste better on a piece of toast than the Cinnamon Raisin Swirl.

The Heat Is On: The Heat Is On is arguably Peanut Butter & Co.’s most interesting flavor since eater’s pallets might not be used to a spicy peanut butter sandwich. However, unlike the other options on this list, The Heat Is On serves as easily the best cooking option. Since peanut butter is a main ingredient in a lot of Asian-inspired dishes, the combination of peanut butter and heat go hand-in-hand–so make sure to keep a jar of The Heat Is On in your pantry.

White Chocolate Wonderful: In a world dominated by milk and dark chocolate, white chocolate doesn’t get as much love. But anyone who knows chocolate knows that white chocolate is the sweetest of them all. The combination of peanut butter and white chocolate creates one of the smoothest and sweetest combos–so stop hating, and start consuming.

Dark Chocolate Dreams: Dark Chocolate Dreams is my favorite flavor to eat straight-up in the bunch. The combination of chocolate and peanut butter is a winning mix, and each bite is reminiscent of a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup–or for Nutella fans out there, think of it as that spread you love with a peanut butter kick. Toast has finally met its match with Dark Chocolate Dreams.

The Bee’s Knees: With sugar, brown sugar, and all the artificials, it’s easy to forget about the best kind of sweetener–honey. Honey, in my opinion, is the most universal sweetener, so it’s no wonder it mixes with peanut butter beautifully. If not just eating this peanut butter flavor with a spoon, it is also a must for throwing into yogurt (especially Greek yogurt).

Mighty Maple: Not only is maple syrup an underrated sweetener, but it also unfortunately gets pigeonholed as a “pancakes/waffles-only” topping. Luckily for you, Peanut Butter & Co. has recognized this injustice, and created Mighty Maple, which marries smooth peanut butter and silky maple syrup. If you’re still locked-in on pancakes/waffles, at least substitute Might Maple for the regular syrup next time around.

Old Fashioned Smooth & Smooth Operator: Old Fashioned Smooth and Smooth Operator (as well as the Old Fashioned Crunchy and Crunch Time) are the only traditionally-flavored peanut butters that Peanut Butter & Co. offers–but “traditional” hardly means “boring.” The key difference between the Old Fashioned Smooth and Smooth Operator is that the latter has more ingredients than just “peanuts” and “salt.” That’s right, the Old Fashioned Smooth is about as bare bones as it gets, but there’s something in its simplicity that just makes it delicious.

Old Fashioned Crunchy & Crunch Time: Similar to above, Old Fashioned Crunchy and Crunch Time are separated by the fact that the Old Fashioned Crunchy only contains “peanuts” and “salt.” However, I also noticed that the Old Fashioned Crunchy was a heck of a lot more crunchy than Crunch Time. So if you really need that extra crunch, then opt for Old Fashioned Crunchy. In addition, if you ever make peanut butter cookies, Old Fashioned Crunchy, again, is the quintessential peanut butter to do so with (because of the ratio of crunchy to smooth).