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Colcannon Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:50:46 -0700

Even if you don't have plans to throw a St. Patrick's Day bash, you can still celebrate in your own low-key way. As part of dinner, serve colcannon, an Irish peasant dish of potatoes mashed with leeks, cabbage, and kale. It's a basic, comforting, and traditional staple of Ireland that's easy to prepare with a festive, verdant hue. For a rustic variation, mash potatoes together with sautéed vegetables and aromatics. To step it up, run potatoes through a ricer for a weightless, soufflélike texture. Then, foil that with bits of bacon that have been cooked until crisp. Get your green spirit on with either recipe and read more.

Cocktail Time With Sandra Lee

partysugar — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:00:16 -0800

One the events I was most excited about attending last weekend at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival was a happy hour hosted by Sandra Lee. It wasn't the hostess that I was anticipating, however, but the location: late fashion designer Gianni Versace's villa, Casa Casuarina. The party went from 5 to 7 on Saturday, and upon arrival, I was grossly disappointed. Not by the location, but by the hostess. It was pouring rain and the entire cocktail time was held outside. The bars were drenched, the guests huddled together trying not to get wet, and the waiters looked positively miserable. How could Lee not have taken into consideration the rain?! Luckily, the party gods were with Auntie Sandy, and the rain let up quickly. Only then was I able to enjoy the event and watch Sandra and her sister, Kimmy, parade around. There was also a best-dressed contest, a synchronized swimming show, and signature appetizers (fried ravioli, cucumber with smoked salmon mousse, and stuffed mushrooms).

Images can better describe the happy hour, so check out my pictures after the break.

Chatting With Marcela Valladolid

partysugar — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 05:50:47 -0800

If you haven't watched the Food Network's newest show, Mexican Made Easy with hostess Marcela Valladolid, be sure to check it out this Saturday. I've enjoyed every episode since it debuted in January and can't wait to experiment with Marcela's recipes. Over the weekend, at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival, I had the chance to get to know the chef better. She was mixing tequila and rum cocktails at the Horintos booth and took some time to chat with me. To learn more about Marcela and find out what she had to say, read more.

The Mexican-born hostess, whose first language was Spanish, comes from a family of chefs - her aunt opened Baja California's first cooking school. She attended the culinary institute in LA before becoming an editor at Bon Appétit. Marcela not only has a cookbook, Fresh Mexico, but a Spanish language television show as well called Relatos con Sabor.

PartySugar: Both Ingrid Hoffman and Daisy Martinez have Latin American-themed shows on the Food Network. However, they haven't been too successful. Why do you think your show will be different?
Marcela Valladolid: I'm not exactly sure why these shows weren't successful. Both of the hosts were great and they make good food. The only thing I can say is that people want Mexican food. There's a real hunger for Mexican flavors. It's not a coincidence that salsa is the number one selling condiment in America, people love Mexican food and most people don't know how to make it at home. My show teaches them how to do that.

PS: How do you feel about people comparing you to Giada de Laurentiis?
MV: It's a huge compliment!

PS: What Mexican pantry ingredients do you recommend always having on hand?
MV: Chipotles in adobo. It has such a great flavor and works in both sweet and savory preparations. I use it in everything. I mix it into hummus, sour cream, apricot preserves. Tortillas, I always have corn tortillas. And while many people associate cumin with Mexican cuisine, I didn't grow up with it. I prefer to use fresh herbs rather than spices and dehydrated ingredients.

PS: What's your advice for the everyday home cook?
MV: To be adventurous! Don't be afraid to give your kids something different; their palates can handle it. I'm a single mother, but my 4-year-old son eats everything. Take into consideration what they like, then go for it.

PS: What's your guilty pleasure food?
MV: Burgers.

PS: If readers were to make one of your recipes, which one would you recommend?
MV: It would have to be my chilaquiles. They are a quintessential Mexican dish that's really easy. Be sure to shallow fry the chips, you can't bake them. The thing is, with my recipes and cooking Mexican cuisine, you have to work your way up. If you aren't used to some of the strong flavors yet, you won't like it. But if you start from the bottom and go from there, you'll learn how to love it.

Rachael Ray Slims Down

FitSugar — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 12:00:19 -0800

With all the burgers, beers, and EVOO Rachael Ray downs, I've always wondered how she stays so fit - I'm sure constantly being on the go helps. Just this week, Rachael was in Miami hosting her Burger Bash as part of the Food Network's annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival (SBWFF). And while I wasn't as lucky as Yum to sample the fare, I did get to read all about Rachael's exercise secrets in People. That's a worthy replacement, right?

While at the SBWFF, Rachael shared she went into serious exercise mode after having a cyst removed from her throat last year. Post surgery, she started running 3.5 miles every day: "The gym used to be my adversary. But that has all changed. Now, I look forward to it every morning." And when she talks morning, she's not kidding! To allow for gym time before heading to the TV studio to film her talk show, Rachael is usually up before 6 a.m. and raring to go. She runs for 30 minutes before heading to the gym for an hour-long workout on the elliptical. I'd say the gal loves her cardio!

How much weight has she dropped? Learn the details when you read more.

She can't tell you for sure how much weight she's lost - Rachael doesn't count calories or weigh herself - but there's definite progress. She says that her body has changed, her mind is clearer, and she's dropped several dress sizes. She doesn't slack off either. Even while letting the good times roll at the SBWFF, Rachael made a point to work out at a local Miami gym.

Hitting the local gym is a great tip to have when traveling yourself - I also pack workout DVDs and a resistance band before hopping on a plane.

What Do You Know About the Food Network Stars?

partysugar — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 07:50:06 -0800

This weekend I was lucky enough to join Anne Burrell, Bobby Flay, and Guy Fieri at the Food Network's South Beach Wine and Food Festival. While I learned some fun facts at Rachael Ray's Burger Bash on Thursday night, I also picked up more random tidbits while watching the celebrity chef demonstrations, so I've complied them in a quiz. To find out who drinks pink Champagne with ice, take it now!

Take the quiz

10 Things I Learned at Rachael Ray's Burger Bash

partysugar — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 04:00:41 -0800

Last night the festivities at the Food Network's annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival kicked off with the highly anticipated Burger Bash hosted by Rachael Ray. The line to get inside stretched from the beach to the street and the place was packed. There were celebrity chefs and well-known food personalities everywhere: serving burgers (Bobby Flay, Daniel Boulud, and Michael Symon), mingling with the crowds (Anne Burrell, Sam Talbot, Sandra Lee), and judging the competition (Art Smith and Carla Hall). I was in attendance and while I had my fair share of scrumptious burgers and amazing side dishes, I learned a thing or 10 at the party. To find out what they are, read more.

A TON of people attend the Burger Bash. Seriously, the place was very packed. There were lines everywhere and it was hard to walk around.
Morimoto sure can draw a crowd. His booth was the most popular; he had a never-ending line all night.
Spike Mendelsohn knows how to make a really good burger. His classic burger with bacon and American cheese on a soft bun was my favorite.
John Cusimano is incredibly short. I happened to be standing right next to him and thought, "Who is this super short guy? He looks so familiar." Then I realized it was Rachael Ray's husband!
Bobby Flay is as cute and charming in real life as he is on television.
Rocco Dispirito doesn't care if he serves burnt buns. My bun was black.
Stephanie Izard makes the most delicious ham French fires. Yes, you read that correctly, I said, ham French fries.
In real life Carla Hall is stunning. She's statuesque, beautiful, calm, and perfectly poised.
Govind Armstrong makes a mean croquette. I went back for his chorizo and potato croquettes three times!
Sadly, there still aren't a lot of female chefs out there. The majority of chefs that competed were male.

Michael Symon and his burger with Swiss, pastrami, and coleslaw was the winner. Unfortunately, it was not one of the burgers I tried!

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See You in South Beach!

partysugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:30:00 -0800

This weekend the who's who of the food industry are taking an early Spring break and heading to Florida for the Food Network's annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival. We're so excited, because for the first time ever, we are going! We'll be soaking up the sun, watching informative seminars, tasting amazing eats, and attending awesome parties. For up to the minute details, follow us on Twitter and be sure to check back here next week for all our exclusive coverage. And, if you'll be there too, come up and say hi!

Get Ready For the South Beach Wine & Food Festival!

partysugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:50:41 -0800

This year for the very first time ever, I will be attending the Food Network's annual festival in South Beach, Florida. I've been wanting to go to SOBE since YumSugar launched back in 2006, so I am totally excited! To prepare myself, I thought I would take a closer look at the event. Here you will find out more details, which seminars, tastings, and parties I will be at.

View Slideshow ›

Food Network's Cooking Channel Debuts May 31

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 10:30:17 -0800

These days, Food Network simply isn't enough to quell viewers' hunger for culinary programming. Last year, Scripps Networks Interactive announced its plans to replace lifestyle channel Fine Living with a new network, The Cooking Channel, debuting in the Fall of 2010. But today, the company revealed that The Cooking Channel will premiere earlier than expected, on Memorial Day, May 31. It has also altered its plans for programming. A release originally stated that the channel would hone in on instructional cooking shows, along with food information and history. But today, Scripps has adapted its programming to include more entertainment TV. Along with some overlap with the Food Network, it's also considering concepts such as a postgame show for The Next Food Network Star.

Programs for 2010 will include new titles such as Rachael Ray's Week in a Day, which focuses on cooking a week's meals all at once; Bobby Flay's Brunch; and Emeril's Fresh Food Fast. It's also bringing on lots of little-known talent from outside the US, like the UK's Ching-He Huang and Canada's Chuck Hughes.

Honestly, it sounds like more of the same - yet I love cooking shows so much that I'm sure I'll tune. What about you?

Dip Into This Pizza

partysugar — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:00:28 -0800

If you love pizza - and who doesn't love pizza? Everyone does! - you are going to go Lady Gaga for this dip. It's like pepperoni pizza, but in liquid form. It's incredibly easy to make and is just the thing to put on your Super Bowl menu.

I recently served it a party and marveled when every guest first tasted it. "What is this?" they asked, "It tastes just like pizza!" I replied back cleverly, "Well that's because it's pizza dip."

Seriously, I don't know why I waited a whole 28 years before trying this dip. It's beyond amazing. It's cheesy, spicy, and comforting. You simply must make it. Get the recipe now!