Archives for 2012

2 February 2012 2006 Wild Oak by St Francis Merlot

2006 Wild Oak by St Francis Merlot

February 2, 2012 By

Dark ruby in the glass, this Merlot offers a ripe cherry nose with some earthy notes.  In the mouth, it’s a combination of dark berries with some chocolate undertones.  The finish is uber dry and lovely.

This wine could really use some breathing time and decanting for a good 30 minutes to help open it up.

Nice Merlot, especially at this price point.

Style: Red

Grape Type(s): Merlot

Region: Sonoma, California

Around $20

 

 

Filed Under: Red Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,

World’s Best BBQ Sauce, Ever

February 1, 2012 By

I take no credit for this BBQ beyond buying the cookbook and trying it.  It’s the legendary BBQ sauce by Joe Beef restaurant in Montreal, Canada.  Without exaggerating, I want to bathe in this stuff, it’s that good.  Sweet, spicy, full of depth and simple to make.  This BBQ sauce would be great over grilled chicken or ribs and combined with pulled pork for an amazing sandwich.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Coca Cola
  • 1 cup ketchup
  • ¼ cup cider vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp. molasses
  • 1 Tbsp. Sriracha
  • 1 tsp. ground coffee
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. In a medium saucepan over low heat, combine all the ingredients and cook for 30 minutes, stirring a few times.

Notes:  Sauce keeps for up to two weeks in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

Filed Under: American, Canadian, Sides Tagged With: , , , , ,

3SquareDeals – Fighting Hunger One Deal at a Time

January 30, 2012 By

I’m excited to be able to support this very worthy cause to fight hunger while getting some super deals in the process.

About 3SquareDeals:

3SquareDeals, Where Deals Make a Difference is brought to you by our friends at JerseyBites.com, a website dedicated to delivering the latest news on all the culinary experiences New Jersey is dishing out.

When you take advantage of the great offers on 3SquareDeals, you are helping raise funds that will go directly to fighting hunger in New Jersey. No other deals program can make that claim!  In addition to supporting the three major Food Banks, we will also be spotlighting smaller hunger relief organizations for special “Deal Weeks” throughout the year.

It’s obvious that everyone today is looking to save money. So, what better way to raise money than through offering consumers valuable deals redeemable at local restaurants and gourmet specialty stores?  Saving while you’re sharing – that’s what we call a perfect equation.

How Much Goes to the FoodBanks?

After we split the total revenue from the deal with the merchant, 3SquareDeals will donate 10% of its revenue to the FoodBanks. The potential to raise tens of thousands of dollars for hunger relief could become a reality once we are serving all of New Jersey.

How Can You Help?

Simple, keep an eye out for deals that make sense for you and buy one.  Share our website and each deal with your friends on Facebook, Twitter, through email, and so on.

Kudos to the Jersey Bites team for launching such a win-win program.  Sign up for the program at http://www.3squaredeals.com

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things Tagged With: ,
29 January 2012 Watching the Big Game While Feasting on 6 Courses

Watching the Big Game While Feasting on 6 Courses

January 29, 2012 By

This will be the second year that we catch the Big Game at NJ Bar & Grill in Mine Hill, NJ.  Not only is it a fun crowd, the staff of the popular Morris County bar feeds us a dish before the game, during halftime AND during each quarter!

$16.99/person – $8 pitchers of Bud or Bud Light

* Platter of chicken chips for the table at the start of the game
* 1st quarter: Choice of either homemade chili or soup of the day
* 2nd quarter: Choice of platter: spinach & artichoke dip, bacon-wrapped chicken with jalapeno and BBQ sauce, nachos (buffalo chicken or chili)
* 3rd quarter: Choice of one per person: penne a la vodka, fish n’ chips, blackened burger with blue cheese topping, pulled pork sliders
* 4th quarter: Assorted dessert platter (one per table)

PLUS – 6′ sub served at halftime

Reserve by February 1st at 973.989.1999 and join us for all the fun.

NJ Bar & Grill – Mine Hill, NJ (100 Randolph Ave., Mine Hill, NJ 07801)

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
25 January 2012 Restaurant Review – Nicole’s 10

Restaurant Review – Nicole’s 10

January 25, 2012 By

Nicole’s 10 is a restaurant in Randolph, NJ that offers casual dining in an upscale atmosphere.  Read my review as published by Jersey Bites.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

 

Filed Under: Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
22 January 2012 The Good and Bad of New Jersey’s Wine Reform Bill

The Good and Bad of New Jersey’s Wine Reform Bill

January 22, 2012 By

Yesterday, Jersey Bites published an article I wrote about the pros and cons of the new wine reform bill that passed this week in the Garden State.

Here is a link to the article.

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Veronique

 

 

Filed Under: Other Neat Things
18 January 2012 Out with the New, In with the Old

Out with the New, In with the Old

January 18, 2012 By

Me on my 3rd birthday

Today, I turn 40 years-old.  I come to this milestone with satisfaction, both personally and professionally.  To keep this post food and wine-focused, I’ll reminisce about some birthday traditions and memorable birthday meals I’ve cherished over the years.

When I was growing up in Quebec, my mom would often make my sister and me crepes for our birthday breakfasts.  The first crepe would have our first initial “stamped” into it with her spatula and we thought that was awesome.  When I got a little older, my special birthday dinner became a stuffed beef tenderloin with peppery sauce and mashed potatoes.  It’s still no doubt a favorite of mine, when fixed by mom.  Another birthday tradition when I was little, was to have my grandma make me a birthday chocolate cream pie.  Yea, no cake, always this mile-high pie that I often still crave.

Now that I live in the New York metro area with no family around to help celebrate, my guy always plans a special night out in Manhattan.  The restaurant is always kept a secret with me getting clues every few days as to the location or perhaps chef, as the big night gets closer.  What fun!!  Over the years, we’ve dined at Daniel, Bouley, Nobu and others that are foodie favorites.

This year, my girlfriends from Florida flew up to help celebrate the big 4-0 with me and some of my friends.  We I say that “we” celebrated, I mean that the two of them celebrated the fact that I’m no longer in my 30s and have FINALLY joined them in the 40s.  As we always do when they come visit, we had a foodie weekend with tons of diet-unfriendly grub.  I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.  Did you see the chocolate cream pie they made me that I posted a few days ago!??

I look forward to what’s to come in this new decade.  Onwards and upwards!

Veronique

 

 

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With:
17 January 2012 Hummingbird Cake

Hummingbird Cake

January 17, 2012 By

Photo by Chris Absheer

It is thought the name “Hummingbird Cake” was penned as a result of people ‘humming’ after tasting the scrumptious dessert.  This delicious recipe is provided by St Louis guest blogger, Chris Absheer, who is on a quest to provide decadent desserts that are simple enough for the home baker.

Cake Ingredients:

  • 3 cups self- rising flour
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 2 large bananas, mashed
  • 8-ounce can crushed pineapple
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 tsp. cinnamon
  • 4 large eggs, beaten

Frosting Directions:

  • 1 pound confectioner sugar
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 6 Tbs. butter, softened
  • 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp. milk, more if needed
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans and 9 pecan halves

Cake Directions:

  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
  2. Grease and flour three 8” round cake pans.
  3. In a large bowl combine all the cake ingredients.  Stir by hand until smooth.
  4. Divide batter in the three pans.  Bake 26 to 28 minutes, or until cake surface springs back when touched.
  5. Cool cake pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes, then remove cakes from pans and place on rack until cooled completely.

Frosting Directions:

  1. In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine confectioner sugar, cream cheese, butter, vanilla and 1 tablespoon of milk on medium speed until smooth.  If the frosting is too stiff, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.
  2. Frost the cake and decorate with pecans.  Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Makes 8 servings.

 

 

Filed Under: American, Desserts Tagged With: ,
16 January 2012 Mile High Chocolate Cream Pie

Mile High Chocolate Cream Pie

January 16, 2012 By

Among my circle of friends, I’m typically the one cooking and baking (and loving it).  This weekend, my two girlfriends from Florida, Eileen and Gloriann, came to visit me to help celebrate my 40th birthday.  To their surprise and my amusement, I put them to work to make me a birthday pie.  The recipe below is inspired by a chocolate cream pie by Hershey and it’s delicious.

Ingredients:

  • 2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
  • 1 ounce bittersweet chocolate, chopped
  • 3 cups milk, divided
  • 1 1/3 cups granulated sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • ½ tsp. salt
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
  • 9-inch pie crust, baked and cooled
  • 2 cups heavy cream, whipped

Directions:

  1. Combine chocolate and 2 cups milk in medium saucepan.  Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, just until mixture boils.  Remove from heat.
  2. Stir together sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt in medium bowl.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining cup of milk and the egg yolks.  Stir the egg mixture into the sugar mixture.   Gradually add the egg and sugar mixture to the saucepan with the warm chocolate.  Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, until mixture boils, about 2 minutes.  Boil and stir 1 minute.  Remove from heat and add the butter and vanilla extract.
  4. Pour the chocolate mixture into the pie crust.  Press a sheet of shrink wrap directly onto the surface of the chocolate mixture to prevent a skin from forming.  Cool for 20 minutes then refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours.
  5. Top the pie with whipped cream before serving.

8 to 10 servings.

 

 

Filed Under: American, Canadian, Chocolate, Desserts, French Tagged With: , ,
10 January 2012 Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

January 10, 2012 By

I came home from a business trip Saturday night to find my guy having planned meals for every night this week.  How great is that!!?

For dinner last night, he prepared salmon on the grill with this really great glaze on it that was inspired by a recipe by Bobby Flay.  He reserved some of the glaze and drizzled it over steamed green beans for a tasty and simple side dish.

Ingredients:

  • 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. maple syrup
  • 2 Tbsp. butter
  • 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped ginger
  • Vegetable oil
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 salmon fillets, 6 ounces each

Directions:

  1. In a small saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the brown sugar, maple syrup and butter. Remove from the heat and whisk in the mustard, soy sauce, olive oil and ginger.  Let cool.
  2. Preheat grill to medium heat.  Brush salmon skin with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Place the salmon skin side down on the grill. Brush some of the glaze over the salmon fillets.  Grill for 10 to 12 minutes to medium doneness, with the lid of the grill closed.

Serves 2.

Notes:  You’ll have some glaze leftover.  Brush additional glaze over the grilled salmon and drizzle over steamed vegetables or boiled potatoes.

 

 

Filed Under: American, Asian, Entrees, Fish, Maple Syrup Tagged With: , ,
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