This morning Bravo announced its plans for Top Chef Junior. Similar to Top Chef, the eight-episode series will feature teens battling it out in the kitchen and competing in culinary challenges. Frances Berwick, the general manager of Bravo Media, explains the network's decision to expand the Top Chef brand:

With Top Chef as the No. 1 food show on cable comes the natural expansion in our food domain. With Top Chef Junior we're reaching a growing market and are developing a series that will teach and test the skills of younger aspiring chefs and appeal to the whole family.

Bravo is also planning another untitled, food-related reality series highlighting the life of "the world's sexiest chef," Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Knowing Bravo's track record, these shows have the potential to be smashing hits. Will you watch?

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To me, Summer months are meant for bubbly. After a warm day, it's relaxing to have a glass of something cool, chilled, and sparkling. Usually I reach for an inexpensive Prosecco or sparkling rosé, but recently I tried something a little more unusual.

At a little sushi restaurant in Japantown, I saw a sign advertising "Sparkling Flower." The sparkling flower was actually called Hana Awaka, and it was a delicious sparkling sake. The flyer declared that it would "bring your taste buds alive with bursting bubbles," and it actually did. The flavor was light and sweeter than most sakes. The bubbles lent a refreshing bite. The best part was that it was only $8 a bottle, and that meant more for everyone!

Have you ever had sparkling sake? Do you think it would be something you'd try?

Although most of a bachelorette party in Vegas will be spent living it up in the casinos, bars, restaurants, and nightclubs, I'm hosting a small lingerie shower for Elena in my hotel room. Along with some simple snacks, I'll serve sugar cookies.

However, these cookies won't be round like in the picture: I'm making them festive by using pecker cookie cutters!

To take a look at the cookie recipe, read more

Though I love making sandwiches from scratch, some of the best sammies are the ones thrown together using the previous night's leftovers, don't you agree? In fact, when I sat down to eat this delicious stuffed pork the other night, I was already thinking about the sandwich I'd make with the leftovers.

So, if you decide to whip up Tuesday's Fast & Easy Dinner, I highly recommend saving at least one pork chop for the next day. That's all you need to make two of these yummy sandwiches; the filling is so decadent and creamy, I didn't even use condiments. To see how I made them, read more

• Padma Lakshmi is the anti-Martha Stewart. Here's what she has cooking. — Los Angeles Times
• "Wine cooler" isn't a bad word. Reinvent the wine cocktail this Summer with these light recipes. — Washington Post
• Or, mix up a pitcher of sangria to cool off on hot days. — Sacramento Bee
• Meet Lee Brian Schrager, the celebrity chef wrangler of the food-festival world. — New York Times
• Caffeine fiends spill the beans about their favorite small-batch roasters. — San Francisco Chronicle
• Meanwhile, coffee lovers get into the home-roasting trend. — Boston Globe
• Get to know vanilla by going straight to the source. —Chicago Tribune
• The humble hot dog gets its due. — Atlanta Journal-Constitution
• Make the season's best produce last with these tips for freezing fruits and veggies. — Dallas Morning News

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Yesterday model and actress Molly Sims announced the interesting results of the 2008 National Survey of American Cocktail Culture, Attitudes, and Trends. The survey — conducted by drinkwell.com — asked consumers about their drinking perspectives. Steve Wallet, VP of Diageo, which sponsored the survey, summarizes the results:

Our focus on cocktail culture continues to expand, prompted by pop culture influences like "Sex and the City," an increased awareness of quality brands, and bartenders with skills rivaling chefs — all making our choices of where to go and what to drink even more integral to Americans' lifestyles.

The study revealed that 58 percent of Americans are willing to pay more for top shelf brands. Birthdays are the number one reason to toast, followed closely by vacations and job promotions.

Guess what the most popular drink of the Summer is? The margarita! Do you agree with the findings? Do you order top shelf liquors at bars? Is the margarita your preferred Summer cocktail?

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The battle to be Ramsay's executive chef is on! Last night's episode of Hell's Kitchen was an odd mix of bimbos, bloopers, and bad tempers. It was the first time in HK history that contestants taught non-chefs how to cook. It was also the first time the losers had to witness the challenge winner enjoy the prize.

I'll admit I was a little surprised by the outcome of the elimination; were you? To discuss this and more, read more