Honeymoons for the Wine and Food Obsessed

Remember that saying "if you like it so much, why don't you marry it?"

Turns out you can't marry a bottle of Bourbon. But whatever the object of your lust--be it wine or Wagyu--resorts around the world are designing honeymoons specifically for couples who hunger to eat and drink well.

In this story for Wine Enthusiast, we look at five honeymoon hot spots that cater to the culinary minded.

http://www.winemag.com/Wine-Enthusiast-Magazine/April-2013/Honeymoon-Hot-Spots/

Five Top Foodie Experiences: Amsterdam

What could be more glorious than cruising Amsterdam's storied canals with a Michelin-starred chef on board, cooking you a delicious dinner? Maybe you'd prefer dining submerged in the dark? (Watch those elbows, though!)

Whatever your preference, this story for Fodor's sums up Amsterdam's finest foodie experiences. Read it and eat.

http://www.fodors.com/news/5-awesome-foodie-experiences-in-amsterdam-6570.html

The French (Canadian) Connection: Montreal En Lumiere

Oh Canada...you are just filled with so much goodness! And that goodness is on gorgeous display during Montreal En Lumiere--North America's premier winter festival. With just four days to spend in Montreal, we worried about not being able to pack it all in,  but somehow, we prevailed, wrapping up a tasty weekend with a (somewhat random) Buenos Aires theme.

It's not all snow, electro and frozen slides: There's a ton of free art exhibits (video art projected onto a cathedral!), performances (we saw fire dancers in ice skating outfits!) and food (grill your own hot dogs over communal firepits!).

Read all about Montreal En Lumiere in this story for Fodor's:

http://www.fodors.com/news/just-back-from-montreal-en-lumiere-6555.html

Memphis Made Easy: Two Days in Blues City

It's possible that you have no clue how cool Memphis is. Seriously. And while we're not suggesting you attempt to discover its brassy clubs, historical monuments, fascinating art scene, musical heritage and satisfying soul food in a dizzying, 48-hour spin, Fodor's had us do exactly that.

You'd be shocked what you can do in two days' time. And if you don't come back from Memphis slightly more soulful, you need more help than this blog can provide.

http://www.fodors.com/news/48-hours-in-memphis-6380.html

Spotted: Top Chef Tiffani Faison, Home on the Range

Guys and dolls...it's been a while.  But things have been banging.

Want to know where we've been?

Montana, y'all. AKA Man-tana. That's right New York ladies, the ratio of men to women in Big Sky country is something like 4:1 and the drinking age is seemingly as soon as you can ride a horse. (Which is like, 5 or something.)

That means a lot of eating, drinking and...fire-making.

And while we were not there to let any cowboys take us away, we did have the pleasure of attending the Montana Master Grillers weekend at The Resort at Paws Up (a luxe resort known for glamping) over Memorial Day Weekend, where Top Chefs Tiffani Faison and Ed Lee competed in a Bad Ass Burger Dash, created wine, beer and cider-paired dinners and engaged in highly imaginative karaoke acts. We respectfully chose not to post a video.

We think all that protein inspires greater range. Yeehaw!

Huffington Post: Article Snatchers!

HuffPo is a great source for gossip, news and entertainment.

Apparently, it's a great resource for my articles too! Looks like my Midtown Restaurants round up for citysearch.com has made it to the Huffington Post. Thanks HuffPo!

Looking for great eats in midtown? Casa Lever (pictured), Le Bernadin, and The Modern all made the list.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/27/top-12-restaurants-in-mid_n_740281.html

Atlantic City: the Vegas of the East?

Ever wondered if heading to Atlantic City would be worth the 2+ hour trek from Manhattan? The answer is yes!

Of course, AC offers plenty of Boca-esque people watching (apparently the Bedazzler is still widely available) and a dose of Jerzey attitude, but also fabulous dining and chic hotels. Just make sure to use our AC vacation planner, courtesey of amNY!

amNY had me check out the hottest happenings in Atlantic City for summer 2010. Celebs like Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Brody Jenner have long haunted AC's pool parties...but who knew it was such an incredible event destination?

From Lady Gaga to Ice T, you'll find a concert there this summer.

insider tip: The Water Club at the Borgata hotel is the hot new hotel--their stunning spa takes up two floors!

Would You Eat This? Viktor & Rolf's Perfume Cake

Are perfume cakes the latest trend in the provocative world of pastry?

We have no idea, but Chefs Yannick Alleno and Camille Lesecq of the Hotel Meurice (Paris) created these adorable, apparently edible perfume cakes in celebration of the fifth anniversary of Flowerbomb's launch by Viktor & Rolf.

Flowerbomb is a distinctly floral fragrance, with notes of freesia, jasmin and patchouli.

Whether or not a Cool Water Cologne Cupcake is next remains to be seen.

Booze News: Drink More, Weigh Less. Sweet!

According to an awesome/slightly ludicrous new study, women who booze it up (see Lindsay Lohan, above) are less likely to gain weight in middle age.

Cheers to that!

The study was conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, who followed over 19,000 female imbibers over 13 years. These researchers discovered that those who threw back 1-2 drinks a day were 30% less likely to be overweight by the end of the study.

It has yet to be determined whether the rogues at Captain Morgan's funded the study.

Kraft Unveils Bagel-fuls: Seriously?

We heart baked goods.

But really, are we getting so lazy (or hungover) that we can't even slather cream cheese on a bagel in the morning?

While we may put Pop Tarts in the "kind of fun" category and Hot Pockets in the "funny enough for Jim Gaffigan" zone, we must file away Kraft's new Bagelfuls concept in the "What Were They Thinking" department.

Don't they look like boot-stomped Twinkies? Gross!

Thoughts?

San Diego Food & Wine Festival: This Could Be You

Image by Matthew Meier.

Sometimes, we must leave our beloved New York City to stick our noses into another city's food and wine fest. It's a hard life.

Why not join in the fun for the San Diego Food & Wine Festival? Starting November 18th and ending on the 22nd, this foodie fest is the perfect getaway weekend. C'mon, you know you want to swirl and sniff under the sun!

The 6th Annual Food & Wine Festival is actually quite affordable and hands-on. Most events, like a pasta making class taught by James Beard award-winning Chef Alex Stratta, cost just $75 a ticket.

Image by Al Bruton.

If classes aren't your thing and you just want to sample the goods, the Grand Event costs $125 per ticket and features 170 wineries, 70 of San Diego's best restos, and live entertainment.

We can't guarantee Shamu.

For more info or tickets, please visit www.worldofwineevents.com or call 619-342-7337.

Boozy updates to follow after the Festival.

Pregnant Kourtney Kardashian's Food Cravings

Since we previously reported on Nicole Richie's pregnancy cravings (juicy In n Out burgers), we thought it only fair to let you know what KK is longing for--and it's not an engagement ring!

It's not pickles and ice cream either. This mom-to-be and reality star craves fruit platters and virgin "Miami Vice" cocktails, according to the Las Vegas Sun. Are you yawning?

We were hoping for something more decadent, KK! At least she has been indulging in Twizzlers, Pinkberry, and Mexican food on occassion, according to the article. Thoughts?

Tomatoes and Vermentino Wine Sound Divine

It's hot, you're starving---and you have no time to thow together a meal. Sound familiar?

Luckily for you, tomato season is in full swing. Click here to find your local greenmarket for fresh- off-the-vine veggies, including succulent tomatoes.

Whether you slice them up and layer them with rows of mozarella and basil, or throw together something slightly more complex, like a Tuscan Bread Salad (go here for a great recipe), they pair well with a refreshing white wine, like Villa Antinori Bianco 2008 (pictured) from Tuscany.

While light, this wine is medium bodied and quite aromatic. Made in Tuscany from a blend of five grapes (Trebbiano, Malvasia, Chardonnay, Pinot Bianco and Pinot Grigio), the Vermentino is a great accompaniement to a tomato-based dish.

According to foodandwine.com, Vermentino wines are "assertive and savory, with a salty, lemony edge. Though the grape grows throughout Italy, the Vermentinos of Tuscany and Sardinia generally have the most character and the most complexity."

We love all things with an edge, especially if they are lemony.

Cin cin!

Nicole Richie Craves In-N-Out Burger

Guess whose pregnancy cravings include juicy cheeseburgers from In-N-Out at 2am? None other than the still skinny, but pregnant, Nicole Richie, according to gossip site I'm Not Obsessed.
On a recent trip to San Diego, we fell in love with California's best burger (again). We also adore the not so secret names (i.e. Animal Style) that insiders have given to various versions of the iconic burger.

We think it would be genius for someone to open an In-N-Out in NYC! What do you think?

Marshmallow Day is August 10

There seems to be an official day for almost every food item--including the oft-neglected but beloved marshmallow.

This August 10th, take a moment to think of the chewy childhood favorite, since it's National Marshmallow Day (or so we've heard!).

Hmm..let's ponder this occasion for a moment. Perhaps we love marshmallows enough to give them an official day because they connect us to our collective primordial past, in which we stood around a fire, attempting to burn our food on twigs.

There's no fire necessary to enjoy marshmallows, though. Personally, I think they taste best slightly stale.

And unsurprisingly, a brand of artisanal marshmallows has hit the market, Plush Puffs. These designer marshmallows come in a variety of flavors including vanilla bean, cinnamon, and simply s'mores--ensuring you'll never have to attempt to make the tasty snack over a campfire again (unless you really want to).

Visit http://www.plushpuffs.com/ for more information and ordering.

Cool Coffee Sleeves

You already own a hoodie for your i-phone and a mini-suit for your MP3. Why not play dress up with your favorite cup of Joe?

Besides, those little paper sleeves are wasteful!

You can protect your hands in style with these striking, reusable coffee sleeves handmade by Brooklyn resident, Kim Booth, like my Dia de Los Muertos-inspired sleeve (pictured).

Her coffee sleeves and other accoutrements are available at her website: http://www.doeandmouse.com/

If only she'd make a thong for my salad tongs...

The Pigeon Problem: A Tasty Vintage Solution

We love vintage recipes. And we seriously hate pigeons.

While reading http://www.vintagerecipes.net/, we discovered a delightful (if vaguely disturbing) solution to the pigeon problem from an unusual source, English Housewifry (1764), a cookbook by Elizabeth Moxon, who also crafted instructions that include "How to Dress Rabbets to look like Moor-Game".

Jugg'd Pigeons Recipe

Instructions
Take six or eight pigeons and truss them, season them with nutmeg, pepper and salt.

To make the Stuffing

Take the livers and shred them with beef-suet, bread-crumbs, parsley, sweet-marjoram, and two eggs, mix all together, then stuff your pigeons sowing them up at both ends, and put them into your jugg with the breast downwards, with half a pound of butter; stop up the jugg close with a cloth that no steam can get out, then set them in a pot of water to boil; they will take above two hours stewing; mind you keep your pot full of water, and boiling all the time; when they are enough clear from them the gravy, and take the fat clean off; put to your gravy a spoonful of cream, a little lemon-peel, an anchovy shred, a few mushrooms, and a little white wine, thicken it with a little flour and butter, then dish up your pigeons, and pour over them the sauce.

Garnish the dish with mushrooms and slices of lemon.
This is proper for a side dish.

Disclaimer: We at citycitybangbangny would never attempt to touch a pigeon, never mind "jugg" one. Nonetheless, it does pose an interesting solution to our city's plague of winged rats.

Hello Jello!

Image from Eat Me Daily

We love freaky food art, and Eat Me Daily reported earlier this week on the results of Brooklyn's bizarre and beautiful Jell-o mold competition.

Some of the best molds included realistic looking burgers, jewelry, and breasts (yes, you read that correctly).

Rachel Morrison's "Cheeseburger in Paradise" was unusually realistic, and dare we say, appealing? Read more about the competition at: http://www.eatmedaily.com/2009/06/photos-from-the-jell-o-mold-competition-events-food-art/

Meals on Wheels: La Cense Beef

It may still be awaiting the green-light from the Health Department, but soon enough, you'll be able to enjoy healthy street meat from NYC's latest food truck to make the rounds, La Cense Beef burger truck.

These burgers come from 100% natural, grass-fed Black Angus beef, free of hormones, pesticides, antibiotics, and all that other junk in our meat that we don't like to think about.

Keep your eyes peeled in next week's amNY for my roundup of new food trucks for an update on La Cense's progress and menu. We do know that their burgers will be a moderately-priced $7 and come topped with caramelized onions....yum!

Canadian Cuisine Reigns Supreme: Taste of Quebec Food Week

Never heard of Canadian cuisine, eh?

Well, Canadians do a lot more than promote peace, shiver in the cold, and play hockey, of course, Especially in the fertile province of Quebec.

Our neighbor to the North is being celebrated this week at Food Emporium's "Taste of Quebec Week". The upscale grocery chain will be offering a variety of Canadian products, including meats and poultry, artisanal cheeses, seafood and baked goods.

Starting May 28th, these gourmet Canadian food products can be found right here at home. We've got the skinny on what brands you can sample:

• Du Breton – Family owned and operated, this company offers a variety of pork products
• Montpak International – Well known for its humanely raised veal products, and one of the largest veal producers in North America
• Brome Lake – For over 100 years, the Brome Lake Duck Farm has been offering fresh, all natural ducks, and is well recognized for providing consumers with a flavorful, less fatty duck product
• Atkins & Frères – This family owned business is dedicated to creating high-quality smoked fish, and is known for their Atlantic salmon pavé
• Cheeses: Quebec boasts 300 varities of artisinal cheese, all produced with hormone-free milk. Producers featured at the event include the Damafro and Alexis de Portneuf brands
• Maple Syrup: We could hardly picture a Canadian food week without our fave maple syrup! “Taste of Québec” is offering two premium brands, including Möpure and La Ferme Martinette--made with 100% maple sap, of course.

Thanks, Canada! Happy eating!