2008 NYC Wine and Food Festival

During his Thanksgiving demonstration at the Food Network NYC Wine and Food Festival, Bobby Flay made a scrumptious-sounding stuffing. I've been looking for an exciting new recipe to include on my Thanksgiving day menu, so I decided to give his recipe for wild rice and goat cheese stuffing a try. The rich stuffing is packed with delicious flavors: fragrant chorizo, milky cheese, and fresh herbs that combine to create a dish full of contrasts. It's moist yet crunchy, spicy yet creamy, and incredibly addictive. I'm contemplating doing a Southwestern-themed dinner, so I can make this stuffing, it's that good. To look at Bobby's recipe, read more

At the Food Network NYC Wine and Food Festival last month, my favorite demonstration was Bobby Flay's. Although it was early October, Flay had Thanksgiving on the mind. He loves the food-centric holiday so much that every year, he wakes up at 5 a.m. and cooks a feast for 40 friends and family members. To find out how Flay makes his Thanksgiving a delicious success, read more

Walking around the tasting tent at the Food Network NYC Food and Wine Festival, I came across a fabulous decorating idea — it's perfect for Fall or the holidays — that I plan to re-create in a tablescape. You can to, here's how to:

• Start by covering the table with a simple cloth. Arrange a thin layer of gauzy fabric over the tablecloth.
• Sprinkle the table with rose petals in a color that matches the party's theme. Place the cinnamon sticks around the rose petals.

This is an inspiring idea that can translate into many different table decorations. You could wrap twine around cloth napkins and place a cinnamon stick inside each one. Or make placecard holders by cutting a slit into the side of the cinnamon and sliding a piece of labeled cardstock inside. What do you think? Have you ever used cinnamon sticks as party decor?

Yesterday I had the lovely opportunity of speaking with cookbook author and burger queen Katie Lee Joel over the phone. She was calling from New York City to set the record straight about her Burger Bash win. According to her critics, the Logan County Burger, which won fair and square, is not a burger at all, but rather a popular sandwich known as a patty melt. To find out what the soft-spoken, charming chef had to say, read more

Former Top Chef hostess and cookbook author Katie Lee Joel was crowned this year's queen of the Burger Bash. The event, which was hosted by Rachael Ray, was a part of the Food Network's NYC Wine and Food Festival. Joel was the only participating female among the 18 chefs who submitted burgers. Her burger was a cross between a hamburger and a grilled cheese.Dubbed the Logan County Hamburger, the burger is a creation of Joel's grandmother who made the burger with cheap ingredients during tough times. It's simple, yet delicious and intensely comforting. The combination of the beef, melted cheese, and crisp bread is perfectly satisfying. Look at Joel's recipe and read more

Last Sunday afternoon, I went to the Chelsea market, home of the Food Network Studios in New York City, to watch a live taping of a new Guy Fieri show. The one-hour long special, Guy's Family Feast, focuses on Guy's family and will air sometime in December or January. To find out what it was like to view the taping, read more

At Tyler Florence's demonstration at the NYC Wine and Food Festival, Florence taught the crowd how to make the ultimate birthday dinner. It was the exact dinner he made for his wife on her birthday! The boyishly handsome chef has had a busy year. Not only did his wife give birth to a baby girl, but he also released two new cookbooks, opened a kitchenware store in Northern California, and filmed an upcoming season of Tyler's Ultimate, all while making appearances and doing demonstrations.

His special dinner menu — which is ideal for the holiday season — consisted of beef tenderloin with Béarnaise sauce, Brussels sprout and fingerling potato hash, and carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. To see what Tyler had to say about this menu, read more