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13 Under $20 Wines Perfect For Hostess Gifts

partysugar — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:15:34 -0800

Do you have an iPhone? Then stop what you're doing right now and download the Nirvino (my preferred online drinking community) wine ratings guide. With over one million wines listed by name, price, grape varietal, flavor profile, region, and producer, the wine application is an amazing resource to always have at your fingertips.

Not only does it provide food pairing suggestions, but there's also lots of fun lists to browse. Food Network's Aida Mollenkamp shares her favorite wines to drink while cooking, Sommelier Mark Bright rounded up his top bottles from Whole Foods, and yours truly has even created a list!

I headed to Safeway to pick out the best wines - all of which are under $20 - for hostess gifts. I've tasted and enjoyed these wines and would bring them to a party. Be it a birthday bash at Hog Island oyster farm, an intimate Thanksgiving dinner, or an upcoming holiday soirée, there's a bottle for every occasion. To check out my list, keep reading.

10 Ways to Make It Rain Meatballs

YumSugar — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 05:50:19 -0700

The trailer for the new animated comedy Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs makes me hungry for a plate of spaghetti with meatballs. The giant pancake laden with butter and maple syrup looks pretty good, and the gelatin, well . . . interesting, but the marinara spheres falling from the sky look too juicy and savory to resist. Whether or not you plan to catch the movie, here are a handful of different ways you can satisfy your inevitable craving for meatballs.

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10 Killer Vegetarian Appetizers

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 05:50:31 -0700

With the last few days of Summer upon us, and the start of football season, there are a multitude of reasons why I've been pulling all the best killer apps out of my hat. But in an attempt to lighten my carbon footprint, eat healthier, and gear up for National Vegetarian Month in October, I've also tried to steer clear of eating too much meat. Thankfully, my vegetarian options are so superb that I'm not missing out on the meat at all! For a sampling of stellar veggie-friendly starter ideas, keep reading.

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Top 10 Wackiest-Named Rachael Ray Recipes

YumSugar — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 03:30:32 -0700

41 years ago today, Rachael Ray was born in Glen Falls, NY. While she's probably not ringing in the year with another skydiving trip, the 30 Minute Meals and talk show star is doubtless just as campy as ever. The words she's introduced to the English language, like "yum-o" and "EVOO," may have you rolling your eyes, but American families' kitchens (and vocabularies) certainly wouldn't be the same without her. Happy 41st, Rachael - here's a salute to your corniest recipe titles.

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10 Tasty Panini Recipes

partysugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:50:07 -0700

In Italy, a panino (or panini, in the plural) can refer to a type of roll or a griddled sandwich, but here in America, a panini is always a pressed sandwich that is served warm. Why do I have panini on the brain? Because August is National Panini Month! Since I'm a huge fan of the combination of toasty bread and melted cheese, I've rounded up my favorite panini recipes. You don't necessarily need a special kitchen gadget to make them; you can simply cook a panini on a skillet or, if it's hot in your neck of the woods, outdoors on the grill.

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Yummy Links: From Grant Achatz to Top 10 Lists

partysugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 06:50:28 -0700

An inside look at Grant Achatz's yet-to-be-released memoir. - Eater
Be inspired by a gorgeous Pucci-esque dessert bar- Hostess With the Mostess
Did you know mint is a widely used ingredient in Italian cooking? - Serious Eats
Before the season ends, you must make this strawberry dumpling. - Gourmet
Love it or hate it: Sir Francis Bacon Peanut Brittle? - Eat Me Daily
Serve a grilled vegetable sandwich with egg salad and bacon at your next brunch. - Chow
Has Twitter killed the fast food restaurant industry? - The Feedbag
Be sure to check out this hilarious list of the Top 10 Top 10 Food Lists. - Endless Simmer

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Let's Dish: What's the Best Pizza You've Ever Had?

partysugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 11:30:38 -0700

Thanks to an article that names the top 25 pizzerias in the United States, the food world has been obsessed with pizza this week. Alan Richman of GQ even believes that pizza is more American than it is Italian. He says,"pizza isn’t as fundamental to Italy as it is to America. Over there, it plays a secondary role to pasta, risotto, and polenta. To be candid, I think they could do without it. Not us. Over here, it’s one of the few foreign foods we’ve embraced wholeheartedly, made entirely our own." I have to agree with him - I think there's some amazing pizza in the US. My favorite kind is the creative, thin-crusted variation they serve at a pizzeria in my hometown. Combine that with a welcoming, European atmosphere and the fact that I normally share the pizza with my closest loved ones, and you've got the best pizza I've ever had.

How about you? What was the best pizza you've ever had and why is it so memorably delicious?

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Ramsay Missing From the World's Best Restaurants List

partysugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:15:44 -0700

Yesterday Restaurant magazine and S. Pellegrino announced its famed list of the world's 50 best restaurants. The list is developed by a large panel of well-regarded international judges consisting of 806 chefs, restaurateurs, food critics, and journalists.

For the fourth year in a row, Ferran Adriá's experimental Spanish restaurant, El Bulli, has been named the best eatery in the world. Coming in at sixth, Thomas Keller's Per Se is the highest-ranking US restaurant.

The most shocking news, however, is that Gordon Ramsay's flagship London establishment, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which was number 13 on last year's list, is totally absent from this year's. To check out the complete list, read more.

El Bulli, Spain
The Fat Duck, UK
Noma, Denmark
Mugaritz, Spain
El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
Per Se, US
Bras, France
Arzak, Spain
Pierre Gagnaire, France
Alinea, US
L’Astrance, France
The French Laundry US
Osteria Francescana, Italy
St. John, UK
Le Bernardin, US
Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville, Switzerland
Tetsuya’s, Australia
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, France
Jean Georges, US
Les Creations de Narisawa, Japan
Chez Dominique, Finland
Ristorante Cracco, Italy
Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany
D.O.M., Brazil
Vendome, Germany
Hof van Cleve, Belgium
Masa, US
Gambero Rosso, Italy
Oud Sluis, Netherlands
Steirereck, Austria
Momofuku Ssam Bar, US
Oaxen Skaergaardskrog, Sweden
Martin Berasategui, Spain
Nobu UK
Mirazur, France
Hakkasan, UK
Le Quartier Francais, South Africa
La Colombe, South Africa
Asador Etxebarri, Spain
Le Chateaubriand, France
Daniel, US
Combal Zero, Italy
Le Louis XV, France
Tantris, Germany
Iggy’s, Singapore
Quay, Australia
Les Ambassadeurs, France
Dal Pescatore, Italy
Le Calandre, Italy
Mathias Dahlgren, Sweden

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Tampa Named the Most Caffeinated City in the US

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:00:53 -0800

A recent poll shows Tampa is the most caffeinated city in the United States. In the study, the Florida city is closely followed by Seattle, birthplace of the coffeehouse culture and coffee titan Starbucks, with Chicago placing third. Rounding out the top five are the top two most populated US cities, New York and Los Angeles. The poll looked at all caffeine consumption, including coffee, tea, energy drinks, chocolate, soda, pain relievers, and caffeine pills. The firm that conducted the study, Prince Market Research, also generated a list of the least caffeinated cities in America. The sleepiest city turned out to be the California twin cities area of Riverside/San Bernardino, followed by Atlanta, San Diego, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Dallas. Overall, 49 percent of all people surveyed said they drink caffeinated coffee on a daily basis. A surprising 20 percent admitted to drinking cola every day, tied with tea.

I'm taken aback to hear this, since everybody - from friends to people I pass on the street - seems to be more tired and less wired these days. What do you think of these numbers?

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Top 5 Flavor Pairing Predictions for 2009

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 11:16:02 -0800

At the onset of each year, American spice company McCormick offers its prediction for the top spice combinations. When we shared the company's top picks with you last year, your vote went to the vanilla and cardamom combo. Incidentally, throughout 2008, I encountered that flavor pairing in recipes and menu items from flan to peach pie. McCormick recently released its forecast for 2009. To see five of the new flavor combinations predicted to explode onto the food scene (and your tongue) this year, read more.

Toasted sesame and root beer
Chinese five spice and artisan-cured pork
Dill and avocado oil
Mint and quinoa
Smoked paprika and agave nectar

The Peruvian grain quinoa has been gaining popularity, and I've already seen recipes for it tossed with mint and other herbs. With the shift away from high-fructose corn syrup and toward natural sweeteners, I could see agave nectar and smoked paprika being a big hit. Toasted sesame and root beer? That's an interesting idea, but I'd have to try it in order to believe it will take off.

What are your thoughts on the flavor forecast?

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