28 August 2012 Grammy Award Winners Train Gets in the Wine Business

Grammy Award Winners Train Gets in the Wine Business

August 28, 2012 By

Train in Central Park 8/27/12

Last night, I had the chance to attend the Central Park concert of Train. The evening was gorgeous and Train’s charismatic lead man Pat Monahan’s voice was as powerful, captivating and full or emotions as ever. The intimate group of loyal fans were treated to nearly 15 songs and the band sounded incredible. I would recommend attending this tour to anyone.

A perk of attending the event was an exclusive private wine tasting hosted backstage by the band members of their Save Me, San Francisco Wines.

A collaboration between Underdog Wine & Spirits and the Grammy Award-winning band, Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company was birthed because of Train’s love for wines.

Veronique Deblois, Pat Monahan and Guest

The band currently offers three aptly-named wines: Drops of Jupiter, Calling All Angels and California-37 (the name of Train’s new album).

Here are tasting notes according to Underdog Wine & Spirits:

  • Drops of Jupiter Petite Sirah ($9.99): Fruit-forward, insanely loveable Petite Sirah-based Red Wine. The minute you uncork the bottle, the boysenberry fruit leaps from your glass. With soft, supple tannins, this wine is great with food or without. Serve it at cellar temperature to allow the flavors to evolve in the glass.
  • Calling All Angels Chardonnay ($9.99): Fruit-forward, medium-bodied Chardonnay. This wine has a fantastic citrus scent and a hint of pineapple that works great with the slight vanilla bean notes. The soft tannins and long finish make this great with both a dinner or a drink with friends. Serve straight from the cellar so flavors come alive in your glass.
  • California-37 Cabernet Sauvignon ($9.99): Big, bold and enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is driven by rich, ripe cherry flavors with a cedar and tobacco nose. Packed with soft, round tannins and a nice long finish that lingers with spicy, vanilla notes. Serve it at cellar temperature to allow the flavors to evolve in the glass.

The band kindly donates a portion of all Save Me, San Francisco wine sales to San Francisco’s Family House. The organization helps provide a safe, secure temporary home to families of seriously ill children who are undergoing treatment far from their own homes (for more information on Family House, visit http://www.familyhouseinc.org).

The wines are affordable and readily available nationwide.

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , , ,
21 August 2012 Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwich

Dad’s Quebec Smoked Meat Sandwich

August 21, 2012 By

A special Quebec treat I enjoy is a perfectly steamed smoked meat sandwich.  Dad has had a restaurant-grade food steamer since I was a little girl that his brother from Montreal found for him. Fabulous hot dogs and smoked meats have come out of that steamer over the years, and this past weekend, while I was in Quebec, dad treated the family to the tasty sandwiches.

A 10-pound piece of corned beef was steamed for a couple hours until perfectly moist and fork tender.  Rye bread was also steamed for a minute to create the perfect sandwich.

The steamed meat was sliced thin on an electric meat slicer and piled high on the rye bread. A little mustard and some crisp pickles were the only complements the sandwich needed.

If you make your way to Quebec City or Montreal, be sure to sample a real Quebec smoked meat sandwich, it ranks up there with the very best New York corned beef on rye.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Canadian, Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , ,
10 July 2012 Cheese Making Fun with Caputo Brothers Creamery and A Toute Heure

Cheese Making Fun with Caputo Brothers Creamery and A Toute Heure

July 10, 2012 By

On Saturday, I attended a fresh Mozzarella-making class hosted by Rynn Caputo, President of Caputo Brothers Creamery. The class lasted two hours and was held at lovely A Toute Heure, a farm-to-table restaurant in Cranford, New Jersey.

The class was attended by 25 cheese fanatics and everyone had a chance to make cheese under the tutelage of patient-beyond-words Rynn.

Working from frozen then thawed curd base, hot water and salt were added and gooey cheese began forming.  It is an art to know when to stop stirring the hot water and curd mixture and when to begin stretching the cheese to make it silky, smooth.  “Doing this process at home is a great way to teach kids about cheese making with a cheese that most of them are already familiar with from eating pizza.  It gets them excited about food and encourages them to participate in the cooking process”, says Caputo.

Rynn molded the fresh cheese into balls, tore it into long strings for Burrata, creamy-cheese filled cheese (brilliant) and flattened it, pizza dough-style, for pesto-stuffed pinwheels.  I have not had a better fresh Mozzarella cheese, even in Italy.  The cheese is perfectly salted, soft, milky and overall, heavenly.

A Toute Heure features Caputo Brothers Creamery cheeses at to the delight of its loyal clientele.  Executive Chef Kara Decker is thrilled to offer Burrata and Burino, butter-stuffed fresh cheese, to her clients, and I cannot wait for my next visit to sample her summer menu.

For details on future events hosted by A Toute Heure, access its Events Page.

To learn about Caputo Brothers Creamery, where to buy its products and to find information about its future classes, access its website.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Cheese, Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , ,
29 May 2012 Galvaude – Poutine’s Fancy Cousin

Galvaude – Poutine’s Fancy Cousin

May 29, 2012 By

When I visit my hometown in Quebec, I try to make it a point to visit my local casse-croûte – a cross between a diner and a fast food restaurant.  In our town, that place is call Buffet St-Martin.

During my stay home a couple weeks ago, I opted to forego my usual standard, poutine, for its fancy cousin, the galvaude.  For those unfamiliar with poutine, it’s a dish of French fries, topped with squeaky cheddar cheese curds then smothered in brown gravy.  Is there a more perfect food?  Perhaps only if this dish was enhanced with white meat chicken and small peas!  That’s a galvaude.

I urge you to try one if you visit Quebec – it’s comfort food at its best.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Canadian, Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , , ,
28 May 2012 Smorgasburg – Brooklyn Foodie Paradise

Smorgasburg – Brooklyn Foodie Paradise

May 28, 2012 By

When my friends from Florida come to visit me in New Jersey, I always try to arrange a foodie girls’ day in Manhattan.  The idea is to cocktail at one place, appetizer at another, eat an entrée elsewhere and finish with dessert someplace new.  All done, if possible, in different neighborhoods.

Saturday, I instead opted to venture to Brooklyn to the place ‘everyone’ is talking about, at least in my foodie circle: Smorgasburg – a weekly market featuring hand-crafted foods on the Williamsburg waterfront.  Every Saturday between North 6th and North 7th St., the East River transforms into a festive gathering of food entrepreneurs and successful purveyors offering packaged and prepared foods, fresh produce and other food-related goods.  Smorgasburg typically features over 100 vendors and is open rain or shine during the non-Winter months.

As I entered the 44,000 square feet space, the aromas of the various food stands greeted me and prompted me to start sampling.  Since this was my first visit, I decided to walk around the food labyrinth to get a feel for what was being offered.  The tantalizing options are overwhelming.  Fried whole anchovies from Bon Chovie?  The Montreal-style smoked meat sandwich of famed Mile End?  A three-cheese grilled cheese from Milk Truck?  A perfect porkie sandwich from Porchetta?  I finally selected the sesame noodles with hot brown meat sauce (pork braised for four hours in hoisin) from Shorty Tang & Sons, the crispy pork belly on steam buns from Bite Size Kitchen, a miniature Canadian maple butter tart from Cutie Pies and a tiny maple and bacon cupcake from Kumquat Cupcakery.  I washed everything down with a fantastic slushy concoction from Kelvin Natural Slush Co.  I just couldn’t fit in the lobster roll from Red Hook Lobster Pound that I’d been eyeing since arriving – next time!

People appear to make a day out of going to Smorgasburg.  There were families picnicking in the grassy area near to river and folks enjoying a walk around the space with their dogs.  Veterans of the event are helpful to newbies and food vendors are clearly proud of showing off their craft.

The place has an energizing buzz about it that is contagious to both vendors and consumers and I urge you to get out there during the season to experience a super smorgasbord in Williamsburg.

Smorgasburg
27 N. 6th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11211

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
10 May 2012 May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes

May is Riesling Month in the Finger Lakes

May 10, 2012 By

Photo Courtesy of Finger Lakes Wine Country

Being a fan of Riesling, I’m excited about May being Riesling Month.  Being a huge fan of Finger Lakes Rieslings…read article.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Other Neat Things, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
9 March 2012 Fun in the Sun in Mexico

Fun in the Sun in Mexico

March 9, 2012 By

This past week, I was fortunate enough to vacation at Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita in Riviera Maya, Mexico.  The resort provided exactly what I was looking for: a serene environment, upscale spa and healthy, delicious food.

The resort only features 90 luxury suites, ensuring every guest is offered an unbelievable amount of attention.  The staff is what really demonstrates why this 5-star resort is the only one in Riviera Maya to garner the prestigious AAA 5-diamond designation.  Guests are addressed by name through the property and the staff genuinely appears to care about the complete satisfaction of the folks they look after.

Shrimp & Scallops in Curry Sauce

Now on to the food and drinks.  No cruise ship-style buffets with ravenous overeaters here.  The food is carefully prepared with fresh, high-quality ingredients that although healthy, feel indulgent.  From fresh fruits in-suite to ripe berries for breakfast to refreshing sorbets for desserts, fruit and produce are carefully selected for the guests’ enjoyment.  The fish is pristine and the meats are top notch.  The cocktails are strong yet delicious and prepared using freshly-squeezed or muddled fruit and premium brand liquor.

Considering Cancun airport is easily accessible from most cities in the USA, a long weekend at Zoetry Paraiso de la Bonita is feasible, even for the busiest of people.

View my photo album on my Facebook page.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales Tagged With: , , , , ,

The Finger Lakes for Wine Lovers

March 1, 2012 By

Photo Credit: Heron Hill Winery

I’m a huge fan of the Finger Lakes and its outstanding wines.  Here is an article of mine on traveling to the Finger Lakes and which wineries to visit along the way published by Jersey Bites.

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Dessert Wine, Red Wine, Sparkling Wine, White Wine, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , , ,
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:
12 December 2011 Locanda Verde – Bene for Brunch

Locanda Verde – Bene for Brunch

December 12, 2011 By

Shaved Porchetta Sandwich

I am an avid fan of Locanda Verde and its sublime food attentively prepared by Food and Wine Best New Chef award winner, Andrew Carmellini.  I have written about Locanda Verde in the past, but on a recent visit, I brunched and it is worth noting what a super job the staff does with this meal.

For me, a key component of brunch is a good cocktail.  I typically go for a spicy Bloody Mary and Locanda Verde does not disappoint with its fiery Bloody Mary Della Casa ($13) served with Italian hot peppers and Mortadella.

Our party began its meal with the Pastry Misty Del Giorno ($14), a basket of delectable pastries: cranberry muffins, olive oil coffee cake and apple breakfast pie.  I would not skip this starter expertly prepared by pastry chef Karen DeMasco; it is delicious with the dark roasted coffee served at this establishment.

Scampi and Grits

Some can’t miss brunch entrées are the soft scrambled farm egg crostino with leek, mushrooms and speck ($17) – the bread used to make the crostino might be the best I have had in New York City and the contrast of soft-cooked eggs over the crunchy bread is amazing.  The “Scampi and Grits” ($20) with organic polenta, tomato, sausage and coddled eggs is a winner – the polenta is creamy, the shrimp is cooked with the flavorful sausage and the soft-cooked eggs  create a yolky ‘sauce’ that helps marry all the flavors together.  Another stellar option, and perhaps one of the best sandwiches in town, is the shaved Porcetta sandwich ($16) with grilled onions and Provolone – the meat is juicy and cooked perfectly and the Provolone is especially sharp and a tremendous asset to this succulent sandwich.

Brunch is served Saturday and Sunday from 10AM until 3PM.  Making the trek down to Tribeca is a small price to pay to be rewarded by fabulous food, a trendy, sexy space and a helpful staff.

377 Greenwich Street

New York, NY 10013

212-925-3797

Cheers,

Veronique

 

Filed Under: Culinary Travel Tales, Restaurant Reviews Tagged With: , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »