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Happy Hour: Brownie Cognac

partysugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:18:31 -0800

Valentine's Day is an excellent excuse to experiment with chocolate cocktails. I'm especially interested in this recipe because it creates a cocktail that tastes like a brownie!

This drink has a rich, glossy color and a decadent, smooth taste. It's a great dessert cocktail, perfect for when you feel like a sweet treat, but don't want something too heavy. To take a look at the recipe, read more.

Brownie Cognac
From Fine Living

1 1/2 oz. Courvoisier or other type of cognac
1 oz. amaretto
Dash of chocolate syrup

Fill pint glass with ice.
Add the cognac, the amaretto, and a dash of chocolate syrup.
Shake and pour into a chilled martini glass.

Serves 1.

Print recipe with images | without images

Top 10 All-American Cocktails

partysugar — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 06:18:38 -0700

With the biggest holiday of the summer just two short days away, you might be scrambling for a fun cocktail recipe. Well lucky for you - and me! - reader hvnly34 bookmarked a couple of festive drinks. It looks like the fabulous folks over at Fine Living have put together a patriotic list of the top ten All-American cocktails. With names like American Punch and Summer Beer Cocktail, you are sure to find something tasty to serve your guests. I totally want to shake myself a Boston Pops Martini - it's garnished with cherry pop rocks and will be a sure fire conversation starter. To take a look at the top five drinks - have you heard of any of them? - just read more

The top five All-American Cocktails:

Boston Pops Martini
4th of July Shooter
Artillery Punch
Tropical Sky
All-American Whiskey Stone Sour

If the top five have peaked your interest, be sure to check out the rest of the list.

Fine Living Network Will Soon Be the Cooking Channel

YumSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:44:05 -0700

The Food Network will soon be getting a little sister. Yesterday, Scripps Networks Interactive announced it plans to launch another culinary channel next year to replace lifestyle channel Fine Living, or FLN. The new network, to be called the Cooking Channel, will debut in the Fall of 2010.

A third of FLN's programming is already food-related, but according to a release, the new channel will become a 24-hour network focusing on "food information and instructional cooking programming," as well as "food origins, culture, and history."

Scripps, which owns Food Network, Fine Living, HGTV, and DIY networks, certainly seems to be focusing more on food. At the beginning of this week, it publicized plans to expand Food Network to Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. What do you think of the corporation's newest venture? Does it sound redundant - or do you think it will be successful?

Food Section Sampler - Oct. 21, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:30:06 -0700

Matchboxes, a cost-effective way to advertise, are making a gradual comeback in restaurants. - New York Times
Even Bon Appétit hasn't been spared from layoffs at Condé Nast. - New York Post
Former Top Cheffer Stefan Richter's new restaurant, Stefan's at LA Farm, is off to a good start. - Los Angeles Times
Why do so many California farm-to-table restaurants neglect to feature local wines? - San Francisco Chronicle
Fast, easy, and healthy recipe: Chinese broccoli in oyster sauce.- Boston Globe
Fine Living's Bartender Wars reveals a not-so-great glimpse of tending bar. - Washington Post
A guide to star chef David Chang's Momofuku restaurants, as well as his new cookbook. - Wall Street Journal

Emeril to Open Las Vegas Sports Restaurant

YumSugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 03:30:27 -0700

File this under random news of the day: in addition to his stints with Martha Stewart, Discovery, and the Fine Living Network, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is getting ready to open his own sports-themed restaurant.

Nation's Restaurant News reports that the sports restaurant, aptly named Lagasse's Stadium, will take over a space in Las Vegas resort The Palazzo. In addition to a lounge, the 24,000-square-foot spot will have stadium-style seating, luxury boxes for private events, and custom viewing walls with 100 HDTV screens. “I’m happy to team up again with our friends at The Palazzo to create the ultimate sports establishment," Emeril said in a statement. "At Stadium, we’ll be serving serious food for serious fans.”

As for the menu, the chef plans to feature game-day favorites, several New Orleans-style dishes, and updated takes on American classics. Does this sound like a restaurant that would interest you?

Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:30 -0800

With Mardi Gras parades and festivals going on today across the country and a handful of restaurant weeks still going strong, this week's a great time to pay a visit to your favorite food events: If you live anywhere nearby, celebrate dungeness crab season in Northern California, as well as the beginning of Florida's strawberry season. And if you're attending the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, perhaps I'll see you there!

Got any fine food events that you see left off this list? If so, chime in below. Will you be going to any of this week's events?

New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Chicago, IL: Chicago Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Orange County, CA: Orange County Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-28
San Francisco, CA: Dungeness Crab Week - Feb. 24-Mar. 1
Houston, TX: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Championship Bar-B-Que Contest - Feb. 26-28
Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience - Feb. 26-Mar. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Plant City, FL: Florida Strawberry Festival - Feb. 26-Mar. 8
Albuquerque, NM: Fiery Foods & BBQ Show - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
New York, NY: New York Wine Expo - Feb. 27-28
Boca Raton, FL: Boca Bacchanal - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Feb. 28
San Francisco, CA: 7th Annual Celebrity Crab Fest - Feb. 28
Comstock Park, MI: Winter Beer Festival - Feb. 28
Grant, FL: Grant Seafood Festival - Feb. 28-Mar. 1
New Orleans, LA: Culinary Inspired Seasonal Mixology - Mar. 2

Built-In Tips: Fair or Not?

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:37:33 -0800

Of all cities in America, New York is certainly one that's suffered severe economic blows - yet it has the highest cost of living in the country. To protect its diners from sky-high gratuities, the city's Department of Consumer Affairs has instituted a policy preventing parties under eight from being charged automatically for tip.

Big Apple blog Newyorkology set the record straight: New York restaurants may impose gratuities only for parties of eight or more. Even in those cases, the fee must be 15 percent or less, and diners must be forewarned with a listing on the establishment's menu in font that is 10 point or larger. Despite these strict guidelines, the New York Post uncovered a dozen restaurants that were breaking the local law; those violators are hit with fines ranging from $50 to $500.

In a city where a good percentage of the denizens make a living waiting tables, I can understand the pressure for higher gratuity. But I also feel that diners need to be protected against rising costs - if not, there won't be anyone dining out at all. What do you think about the predicament? When dining out with friends, do you mind getting a built-in service charge?

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Kid Food Critic Might Become a Movie Star, Too

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:00:38 -0800

Last month, when the New York Times wrote an article about David Fishman, a 12-year-old aspiring food critic, readers everywhere were thoroughly amused.

Turns out readers weren't the only ones to find the article entertaining. Variety reports that Paramount Pictures has acquired the rights to the story, which focuses on Fishman's journal of his fine dining experiences, as well as his friendship with a prominent restaurateur.

Saturday Night Live's Lorne Michaels will produce the adaptation, along with John Goldwyn, who felt the article "offered a recipe for a youth-themed empowerment film."

The producers are considering securing life rights of Fishman. I wonder if he would play himself in a movie about his life. Do you think the story would translate into a compelling story on film?

Source

Yummy Links: From Better Tasting Coffee to Emeril Live

partysugar — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 06:45:47 -0700

Sick of the horrible tasting office coffee? Here are ten ways to make office coffee taste better. -The Epi-Log
Find the farmers market closest to you and discover recipes that feature the farm fresh products. -Culinate
M&M's premiums look so pretty I can't wait to get my hands on a bag.- Candy Blog
Learn all about Spain's most underrated wine: Sherry. - The Kitchn
Before you make homemade ice cream, read these tips for sweet creamy success. - Serious Eats
Help bring bitters back by making them at home. - Chow
What to eat before and after you work out. - FitSugar
Miss Emeril Live? Five never before seen episodes will be airing soon on his new network: Fine Living. - Fine Living

Source

Find the Best Food on Your Honeymoon

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 11:15:06 -0700

If you're a foodie who's headed out on a honeymoon, you're probably more worried about booking restaurant reservations than you are about booking a massage. After all, we wouldn't want to travel to exotic locales and miss out on the culinary highlights, would we? Thankfully, finding and securing the right restaurant reservations on your honeymoon just takes some planning. Here are some tips to help you along, whether you're going on a postwedding vacation or just traveling any old time.

If fine dining is important to you, choose a destination known for its foodie appeal, such as New York, London, or Spain.
If a "must-eat" is on your list, book it as soon as you book your trip. Particularly if it's a destination restaurant, think about getting reservations months and months in advance. Remember to confirm your reservations before you leave.
If you don't have a place in mind, start researching the best restaurants after you've decided on your honeymoon destination. Special magazine issues, such as Food and Wine's The Go List, are great for finding ideas, as is the New York Times travel dining guide. The forums on Chowhound are also a helpful resource.

To get more wedding planning ideas, head over to IDoSugar. Four more great tips, so read more.

Don't limit yourself to restaurants described as "romantic." Especially in touristy areas, you might be better off selecting a restaurant that's highly regarded for its food. A very fine-dining experience can be incredibly romantic without the cheesy trappings that can come with "romantic" dining.
Make sure the restaurant you've chosen will be open during your stay. Renovations, management changes, and holidays are some reasons why they might be closed.
Secure a few important reservations in advance, but leave a few nights open for restaurants you discover after arriving. Ask the concierge at your hotel for good local spots or, better yet, ask the employees who live nearby. Walk around the area where you are staying and see if anything catches your eye.
Also, don't be shy about telling the restaurant that you're on your honeymoon. They might be willing to pull out some special stops to help celebrate your special occasion.

Have your own tips for finding great food while traveling? Share them in the comments below.

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