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Come Party With Me: Gossip Girl Premiere - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 12:50:55 -0700

No season premiere party is complete without a special drink, especially if the show in question is Gossip Girl, where the characters seem to be constantly guzzling cocktails. All the recipes I'm making next Monday night were created by acclaimed New York City chefs: Daniel Boulud, Mario Batali, Eric Ripert - Blair and Serena have surely dined at their respective restaurants.

Not to be forgotten is Jean-Georges Vongerichten. The Frenchman came up with this Champagne-based concoction, an elegant take on the classic bellini. Instead of peach nectar, Jean-Georges uses a combination of cherry puree and yuzu juice.

Don't worry if you can't get your hands on fresh yuzu; Vongerichten recommends a mixture of tangerine and lime juice instead. To look at the recipe, keep reading.

Jean-Georges Creating "the Applebee's of Haute Cuisine"

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 11:30:03 -0700

Famed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten is up for one of this year's most prestigious James Beard Awards, but that's hardly the biggest thing on his mind. Fortune profiles the New York chef and his aggressive plans to open 50 new restaurants in the next five years.

Vongerichten, who already has 24 restaurants under his belt, has created a joint venture, Culinary Concepts by Jean-Georges, with Starwood Hotels and Catterton Partners, a private equity firm credited with turning P.F. Chang's into a national chain. The company's goal? To bring high-end cuisine to the masses in the same way Starbucks brought designer coffee to every corner of the world.

The venture will expand Vongerichten's name with three prototype restaurants: J&G Steakhouse, a steakhouse inspired by the success of Prime in Las Vegas; Spice Market, an homage to Asian street food based on the chef's wildly successful flagship in New York; and Market, a showcase for Vongerichten's signature dishes, such as tuna-wasabi pizza.

This year, Mexico City, Barcelona, Washington, Boston, and Milan are scheduled to open - although Austin, Aspen, and Dubai have already been put on hold given the uncertain economic times. Vongerichten is confident he's got the tools he needs to succeed - and if he doesn't, he can sell the restaurants and remove his name from all of them.

While the heavy expansion may sound overly ambitious given the economic recession, it's not all that different from what others - like Wolfgang Puck - have done. I question whether the Jean-Georges brand can succeed without becoming diluted. What do you think? Do you see this expansion plan being a success?

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Biggest Headline of 2008: The Bocuse d'Or Gains Momentum

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:00:41 -0800

This year has been a momentous one for the Olympics - not just in sports, but in the culinary arena as well. The Bocuse d'Or - considered the Olympics of food and the world's most prestigious award for French cuisine - is scheduled for Jan. 28 and 29, 2009 in Lyon, France. The rigorous selection process, however, gained plenty of attention in 2008.

It all began this Summer, when we caught up with Hung Huynh at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic, and the Top Chef Season 3 winner revealed his wish to be a semifinalist - which he was. In July, the American Bocuse d'Or advisory board, which includes Daniel Boulud, Thomas Keller, and Tom Colicchio, selected eight semifinalists to compete for the coveted chance to represent the US. The judges appointed were even more prestigious, with highly respected chefs such as Jean-Georges Vongerichten involved in choosing a winner. On September 26 and 27, the semifinalists faced off in a culinary challenge hosted by Al Roker, Food and Wine editor Dana Cowin, and John Besh at the Epcot Center.

After two full days of competition, Timothy Hollingsworth, a sous chef at The French Laundry, was selected as the US representative. Currently, Hollingsworth is training directly under Keller as he prepares to represent America in next month's championships, where Paul Bocuse, the French founder of the competition, will be on hand to observe and officiate. No American chef has ever won the final competition and the closest one has come to seeing gold was sixth place in 2003. Could Hollingsworth be the first?

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Top Chef 5.1 - Melting Pot Recap

partysugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 01:00:48 -0800

The fifth season of the hit show Top Chef got off to an exciting start. One of the cheftestants was eliminated before the competition officially started and another cut his finger while peeling apples. Jean-Georges guest judged the New York City neighborhood-centric challenge. To discuss the show in more detail - warning there are spoilers - read more.

Didn't it look really hot in the park?
Don't you love the addition of Europeans?
Can you peel an apple with a knife?
What did you think of the neighborhood challenge?
Who do you think will be this season's hottie? Fabio? Jeff? Stefan?
Do the locals have an advantage?
Dear Patrick: why did you choose an ingredient you've never cooked with before?
Did the editing seem a little leading? I knew the second they introduced Lauren that she was getting booted . . .
During the judge's table Tom said, "We don't learn to cook from a book?" But didn't Tom learn how to cook from a book?
Will more quickfires be eliminations?
Finally, what did you think of the episode? Who is your favorite? Do you think Stefan will end up winning?

Wondering what Padma was wearing? Find out on CelebStyle!

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Food Porn for Sale

YumSugar — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 11:58:31 -0800

If the thought of Tom Colicchio's "Braised Monkfish with Pork Belly, Leeks and Cabbage" gets you all hot and steamy - and no "braised monkfish" is not a euphemism for anything - then you may be interested in this online auction. The show is called "Photography for Philanthropy" and it features photographs of food from star chefs such as Tom Colicchio, Eric Ripert, Daniel Boulud, Jean Georges Vongerichten, and Lidia Bastianich. They've all worked with famed photographer Diana DeLucia, who has captured their masterpieces with her lens.

If you'd like to have one these bow-chicka-bow-wow food photos on your wall, all you have to do is bid. The minimum bid is $250, or you could it buy it immediately for $950. Oh and the best part is that the proceeds are going to City Harvest.

Guess Who?

YumSugar — Fri, 25 May 2007 12:05:19 -0700

Guess who was sharing a bottle with internationally acclaimed chef and restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten? To find out, read more

Why it's none other than Martha Stewart! She sat down to interview him for the debut of her new Sirius radio show, At Martha's Table. I love that the interview literally took place at a table, and say what you will, but I think Martha looks so cute there!

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Play Our Chef Faceoff and Win!

partysugar — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:10 -0800

Have you ever wondered who is the better chef? Would you rather eat a meal cooked by Rachael Ray or Giada de Laurentiis? Jean-Georges Vongerichten or Eric Ripert? Well, thanks to our new faceoff game, you can stop wondering! As with all the PopSugar Network faceoffs, when you play Who's the Better Chef you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize! So what are you waiting for? Click away!

Play Our Chef Faceoff and Win!

partysugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:00:12 -0800

Have you ever wondered who is the better chef? Would you rather eat a meal cooked by Rachael Ray or Giada de Laurentiis? Jean-Georges Vongerichten or Eric Ripert? Well, thanks to our new faceoff game, you can stop wondering! As with all the faceoffs, when you play Who's the Better Chef you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize! For more details on the prize, check out the official rules. Or just start clicking!

Play Our Chef Faceoff and Win!

partysugar — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 08:30:57 -0800

Have you ever wondered who is the better chef? Would you rather eat a meal cooked by Rachael Ray or Giada de Laurentiis? Jean-Georges Vongerichten or Eric Ripert? Well, thanks to our new faceoff game, you can stop wondering! As with all the Sugar Network faceoffs, when you play Who's the Better Chef you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize! So what are you waiting for? Click away!

Play Our Chef Faceoff and Win!

partysugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:50:39 -0800

Have you ever wondered who is the better chef? Would you rather eat a meal cooked by Rachael Ray or Giada de Laurentiis? Jean-Georges Vongerichten or Eric Ripert? Well, thanks to our new faceoff game, you can stop wondering! As with all the Sugar Network faceoffs, when you play Who's the Better Chef you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win a $1,000 grand prize! So what are you waiting for? Start clicking!