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Mario Batali Heads Back Into Kitchen With Eataly

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 10:30:34 -0800

With 15 restaurants, eight cookbooks, a travel food show, and a silver screen debut under his belt, world-renowned Italian chef Mario Batali is making a return to the kitchen. This Summer, Batali will open the first US location of Eataly, a colossal food emporium based in Turin, Italy. The 60,000 square foot greenmarket and food center, which will be near Manhattan's Madison Square Park, will have a meat restaurant, a fish restaurant, a pasta and pizza eatery, a vegetable-driven restaurant, a panino bar, and a brewpub on the roofdeck. The most significant point to note, aside from the project's sheer scope, is the fact that, for the first time since he opened Otto, Batali will design the menus for all six restaurants.

Much like Tom Colicchio, who has spent more time cooking in the last year with Tom Tuesday Dinner and Colicchio & Sons Tap Room, Molto Mario admitted he's missing the time spent in the kitchen. I love the idea of a celebrated chef coming full circle and embracing the sheer joy of cooking. Do you think Batali and other celebrity chefs can still cut it in the kitchen?

Yummy Links: From Jalapeño Poppers to Cocoa Powder

partysugar — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 06:50:41 -0800

Here's 11 amazing ways to make jalapeño poppers. - Chow
Would you eat this pizza cone? - Slice
Marco Pierre White is the latest chef to get his own live cooking television show. - Eater
How to host a jungle-themed baby shower. - Hostess Blog
Mario Batali reveals his plans to open a NYC brewpub. - Grub Street NY
Calling all aspiring food photographers: enter the Saveur cover contest. - Saveur
Rocco Dispirito still knows how to make good pizza. - Feast
Everything you need to know about cocoa powder. - David Lebovitz

Come Party With Me: Romantic Dinner - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:50:01 -0800

This Valentine's Day, don't bother with restaurant reservations and overpriced three-course menus. Instead, cook up a deliciously decadent dinner for two in the comfort of your own kitchen. Light candles, turn on mood music, and pour glasses of wine.

As for the menu, start with classic crab cakes - this variation highlights the meaty, pure flavor of crab. For the main course serve a luxuriously rich fettuccine Alfredo. Yes, it's fattening, but it's a special occasion! On the side, offer a mixed green salad with heart shaped beets. For these simple yet stunning recipes, read more.

Crab Cakes
From Gourmet

Ingredients

2 slices firm white sandwich bread
1/2 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, picked over
2 tablespoon mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg, beaten
2 tablespoon unsalted butter
lemon wedges, for serving

Directions

Tear bread into small pieces into a bowl with crab. Add mayonnaise, Worcestershire sauce, 2 Tbsp egg (discard remainder), and a pinch of salt. Mix together gently but thoroughly, then form into 4 patties (about 3 inches in diameter).
Heat butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium heat until foam subsides, then cook crab cakes, turning once, until golden brown, about 6 minutes total.

Serves 2.

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Fettuccine Alfredo
From Mario Batali

Ingredients

3/4 pound egg fettuccine
1/2 cup butter, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
Salt and pepper

Directions

Bring 6 quarts of water to a boil and add 2 tablespoons salt. Cook the fettuccine in the boiling water according to the package directions, until tender yet al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving the pasta water, and place in a large, heated bowl.
Add the diced butter and grated cheese and toss with tongs or other utensil until the butter and cheese have melted, adding a splash or two of the pasta cooking water to keep the mixture from getting too "tight." Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and serve immediately.

Serves 4.

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Sweetheart Salad
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

your favorite green salad
1 beet

Directions

Prepare the beets by roasting or steaming them: To roast, heat oven to 400 degrees, wrap beets tightly in foil, and cook until a fork slides in easily, about 1 hour; to steam, place whole beets in a steamer basket in a medium saucepan, and cook until fork tender, 25 to 60 minutes, depending on their size.
Peel the beets once they're cooled; for easy peeling, use paper towels to rub skins off.
Slice peeled beets thinly with a mandoline, and make heart shapes with a cookie cutter. Serve arranged around the edge of favorite green salad.

Serves 2.

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Yummy Links: From Food-Related Movies to Meat-Free Meals

partysugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 05:50:28 -0800

Julie & Julia isn't the only food-related movie to win a Golden Globe; here's a complete list of foodie winners. - Eater
Tom Colicchio and Mario Batali are producing a movie that looks at hunger in America - Daily Dish
Why it's always a good idea to have chickpeas on hand. - The Epi-Log
The founder of Taco Bell, Glen Bell, has died. - Serious Eats
Not surprising news of the week: doctors recommend Alicia Silverstone's cookbook over Paula Deen's. - Grub Street NY
Learn how to make your favorite meat dishes, meat free. - Chow

Yummy Links: From Heroic Jamie Oliver to Buttermilk Biscuits

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 10:30:06 -0800

Why Jamie Oliver is even more influential than you thought. - Eater National
Should restaurants stop serving entrées? - Bon Appetit
Mario Batali talks to Henry Louis Gates Jr. about his heritage. - Serious Eats
Breakthrough kitchen toys from this year's Consumer Electronics Show. - Endless Simmer
Make radicchio less bitter. - Chow
A look at the effect of posting calories in fast food and casual restaurants. - Grub Street NY
Five cocktail trend predictions for the next 10 years. - The Atlantic
Must make: fluffy, flaky buttermilk biscuits. - Food Wishes

What Do You Know About Iron Chef America?

partysugar — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 10:15:00 -0800

Last Sunday night's Super Chef Battle: An Iron Chef America event starring Michelle Obama and White House chef Cris Comerford turned out to be the Food Network's highest-rated, most-watched show ever - attracting 7.6 million viewers. Since so many people tuned in, I put together a quiz that tests your knowledge of the culinary competition. Find out how well you know your Iron Chef fun facts now!

Source

Take the quiz

What Did You Think of the Food Network's Big Night?

partysugar — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 10:15:47 -0800

Last night was a big one for Food Network. The most anticipated episode of Iron Chef America, with a secret ingredient of "national importance" and Michelle Obama, aired at 8, and the premiere of its much hyped Worst Cooks in America - featuring Anne Burrell - debuted at 10.

Did you catch either of the shows? I did! I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Chef America. After reading so much about Chef Comerford, it was nice to see her personality come to life on camera. And who couldn't love the combination of Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse?

Worst Cooks in America, on the other hand, is kind of like the Jersey Shore of reality cooking competitions. While it may be entertaining, it's neither educational nor exciting, and on a Sunday night at 10, I'd rather catch up on my beauty sleep than watch this excruciating series. Still, it's so bad, it just might be a hit. What did you think?

Source

Yummy Links: From Guy's Shades to NYC's Hottest Chef

partysugar — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 08:00:40 -0800

Get your Guy Fieri signature framed sunglasses while they're hot! - Eat Me Daily
Fifteen classic holiday drinks to enjoy. - Saveur
What's your rolling pin substitute? - The Epi-Log
Jen Carroll chats about her time on Top Chef. - Endless Simmer
Chefs remake and share their recipes for Starbuck's seasonal drinks. - Chow
Details from a discussion with Rachael Ray, Mario Batali, and David Chang. - Grub Street NY
Cherry coconut bars are perfect for holiday baking. - Serious Eats
Who do you think is the hottest chef in New York City? - Eater NY

Iron Chef America Goes to the White House

partysugar — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:15:28 -0800

Last month Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, and Mario Batali headed to the White House. The chefs filmed a two-hour special of Iron Chef America that will open the upcoming season of Iron Chef on Jan. 3.

First Lady Michelle Obama got in on the fun, challenging the chefs to create a meal for America using only ingredients grown in the White House garden.

According to his Twitter, Flay joins forces with the White House chef Cristeta Comerford to battle Lagasse and Batali. The judges are a trio of females, chef Nigella Lawson, actress Jane Seymour, and swimmer Natalie Coughlin. Longtime host Alton Brown provides his usual enthusiastic commentary.

Over the past year the White House garden has spent plenty of time in the spotlight and I'm excited to get a better look at it on Iron Chef. How about you? Will you tune in?

Yummy Links: From Steering Wheel Tables to Preggatinis

partysugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:50:34 -0700

Just what the world needs! A steering wheel dining table. - Eat Me Daily
Michael Symon has plans to open a burger joint. - Eater
Did the Internet kill Gourmet magazine?- Serious Eats
Ashley talks about her experience on Top Chef. - The Feedbag
Do you have a food blog? Here's how you can celebrate Gourmet. - A Mingling of Tastes
Michael Ruhlman is now excepting your comments and questions. - Chow
Mario Batali describes his ideal last meal. - The Epi-Log
Ben Ali, the founder of Ben's Chili Bowl has passed away. - Grub Street NY
Moms-to-be: check out these non-alcoholic mocktails. - Simply Stated