Second Annual Japan Week at Grand Central

Grand Central Terminal welcomes all that is Japanese at this festive event. From March 19 –21 experience culinary delicacies and traditions like: the Pop-Up Bar, featuring JIZAKE, a special sake produced by small brewers, plus 89 other sakes and SHOCHU shots (buy tickets at this link); taste the many regions of Japan in the EKIBEN bento boxes; view a geisha make-up demonstration by a master; and much much more. Photos below, from Japan Week’s website show just a sampling of the delights on hand, check the schedule here.

The signature bento box from Kyotofu: 2 mini tofu burgers, matcha chasoba, house-made pickled daikon, house-made taro chips, matcha financiers, and Sakura brownie (not shown) Photo by Shiho Fukuda.

 TAKOYAKI has been famous in Osaka since the early 1930’s. Invented by a street vendor who was inspired by a dumpling made of an egg batter and octopus. Osaka has a takoyaki shop at nearly every corner and the competition between them is very strong.

ZUNDA MOCHI From the Tohoku region, young edamame beans are blanched, shelled and then ground into a chunky paste, sweetened with sugar and a little salt and used as a topping on the rice cakes.

Bottles to Bring: Il Poggiolino Chianti

Introducing Il Poggiolino, a collection of traditional Chiantis debuting in the US. First an amusing little “history” lesson. In the Middle Ages, Florence and Siena both wanted to rule the beautiful Chianti region. To bring an end to their conflict, it was decreed that a knight from each city would leave at dawn (when the rooster crows), and the border would be established where they met. The Sienese chose a white rooster. The Florentines chose a black one, which they did not feed for days—causing the rooster to crow way before dawn on the day of the contest. The Florentine knight ended up only a short distance from Siena, thus bringing the Chianti region under Florentine rule. Today the symbol of a Black Rooster appears on the neck of bottles of wine from the Chianti Classico zone. If the seal has a red border, it’s considered “Standard” which means the wine is young and meant to be enjoyed shortly after purchase. A gold border represents a “Riserva” that can age for many years. I got to sample both varieties and thought they were all fantastic. There were also a sweet after-dinner wine, Il Vin Santo, that would make a great accompaniment to desserts or cheeses. The farm at Il Poggiolino also houses 5 acres of olive trees, and the olive oil produced is a pretty bright yellow, mellow, and amazingly fresh. (lately been coming across amazing olive oils, lucky me!) Bites were provided by The Leopard at Des Artistes restaurant, including the crostini with chicken liver, also with sauteed eggplant and red peppers. (correction: as of this writing, wines are not yet available in the US, stay tuned for their official launch coming soon)

Importer Dina Gianella at the helm.

Poggio alle Balze: a blend of 70% Sangiovese, 15% Canaiolo, 15% Colorino grapes. A casual, young wine.

Il Classico: Loved this one, very soft, round, velvety and feminine. Nice to drink on its own. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino

La Riserva: Getting more complex, earthier, spicy, berries, dark nose, even overall. 95% Sangiovese, 5% Colorino.

Le Balze: Uses only the best vintages of Sangiovese grapes. Full-flavored, intense nose, ripe tannins.

Vin Santo: From the best vintages of Malvasia, Trebbiano, San Colombano, and Canaiolo grapes, picked in October and dried before pressing. Aged 12 years. Only the best is taken from the barrels. A lovely, sweet wine, but not overly so.

Delicious olive oil, packaged with the perfect pouring top, come from the same land.

Italian bites provided by The Leopard, eggplant caponata, and chicken liver on toasts

Portuguese Wine Tasting: 5 men from Douro

Douro, an area known for port, has five families that are intent on making a splash with their wines. The Douro Boys came to Manhattan armed with their selections, spawned in the scenic terraced vineyards that tower over the Douro river. Old fashioned foot maceration is still in use for creating some of the wines, the preferred method for releasing the juices without smashing the pits. The tasting was quite educational, see the details below.

QUINTA DO CRASTO

I liked nearly all of the wines from this winemaker. Winemaker Miguel Roquette is holding my top taste of the event, Vinha Maria Teresa Quinta do Crasto 2009, one of only 90 bottles produced. It’s available in select restaurants around the city. If you see it on a menu, get it! Also worth mentioning, Quinto do Crasto Touriga Nacional (very soft, complex, deep) and Quinto do Crasto Reserva Old Vines 2009 (elegant).  There was also a very nice white on the scene, very sparkly, with a lot of bounce, Crasto 2010.

QUINTA DO VALE DONA MARIA

Winemaker Cristiano Van Zeller seen behind one of my faves: the Casa de Casal de Loivos 2009, which I described as, “super sweet nose, smooth, even, light, elegant, soft,” and similarly, the Quinta Vale D. Maria Douro 2008, from the same vineyard.

NIEPOORT VINHOS

My favorite port of the tasting also had a super cool package. Porto Niepoort Vintage 2009. Very complex, very syrup-y. Charme 09 was one of the wines created by stomping. Complex, nice to drink, soft and round.

QUINTA DO VALLADO

Another fantastic port: More caramel than berry, clean, high-level, sophisicated. Vallado Adelaide Vintage Port 2009.

QUINTA DO VALE MEÃO

Super sweet, with a strong alcoholic feeling, my second favorite of the ports. Quinta do Vale Meão Vintage Porto 2008.

5th Annual New York Wine Expo: GO!

Here’s your chance to speak directly with your favorite wine makers and discover this year’s trends. The 5th Annual New York Wine Expo presents 170 wineries from around the globe, so you can sample offerings from local wineries and offbeat varietals that you’ll be adding to your regular repertoire.

I talked to Mark Oldham, author of Brave New World of Wine, and judge on The Winemakers, a PBS reality show featuring a competition between winemakers. You can meet him at the expo where he will be doing a seminar on the wines of the Rhône Valley. He gave me some advice on  tackling the show.

HHNYC: There’s a lot of wine being poured at this event. What’s the best way to do the show?
MO: This show provides you with a risk-free environment to experiment, so, as in my book, I encourage people to try some wines they are unfamiliar with. Or, pick 2 or 3 regions you love from the grand list. It might sound corny, but I usually carry some crackers in my pocket to reset my palate, in case I am not near any food.  

HHNYC: Which wine areas should we watch now?
MO: Greece, despite their economic troubles, will be well represented at the show. Their small producers continue to make wonderful wines and offer better values. Instead of your usual white, get a taste of Moschofilero or Assyrtiko. Showing up with a bottle of this at your next gathering will definitely impress your friends. (hhnyc: Check this website to learn more about Greek varietals.)
—Over the past 10 years the Finger Lakes have been steadily improving the quality of their wines. If you like Riesling, Gewürztraminer, or Pinot Grigio, you should try the wines from there. Red wine lovers should get a taste of the Cabernet Franc or Cabernet Sauvignon. (hhnyc: Check this article from the NY Times at this link to learn more.)
—Brazil will also be bringing some wines to the show. Like Argentina, they have a long wine making traditions. Go for the sparkling wines, or the Malbec.  (hhnyc: for more info click here)
—For another great value, and to taste wines with lots of flavor, sign up for my seminar covering the Rhone Valley. Since the area is warmer than Burgundy or Bordeaux, the wines have spicy, rich, “roasted fruit” flavors.

The show is held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center from March 2nd to the 4th (trade only on Sunday, March 4). For tickets, visit NewYorkWineExpo.com or call 800-544-1660.

Puro Chile: Divine Wine Store

I was invited to an organic wine tasting at Puro Chile, and was delighted to discover New York’s first exclusively Chilean wine store on the corner of Grand and Centre Streets. The space was exquisitely designed, beautifully showcasing Chile’s eco-friendly wines on stainless steel shelves (photo left) and a sexy entry area/lounge (photo right). It was quite an elegant event, with exceptional food and wines. Chef Liz Caskey of Liz Caskey Culinary and Wine Experiences hosted the tasting, and demo’d a recipe for Tuna Ceviche. Her company specializes in tours to Latin America. I loved how it was served in little bowls, which tipped into your mouth allowing the bites of fish to slide in. Summer and ceviche go hand in hand, I highly recommend put this on the menu at your next get together. But, of course, first run down to the store and get some wines to accompany! See this link for more details and photos from the tasting.

TUNA CEVICHE WITH COCONUT MILK AND “CARICAS” (Chilean Papayas)
1 1/2 pounds sashimi-grade fresh tuna
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 can (14 oz) unsweetened coconut milk
1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
1/2 minced red onion (or shallot)
sea salt and black pepper
1-2 Chilean papayas (carica), finely chopped
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro
Red chili or sweet red pepper, slivered for garnish (optional)

Cut the tuna into 1/4-inch cubes.

In a bowl, whisk together the brown sugar and lime juice, until sugar is disolved. Add the coconut milk, ginger, and red onion. Toss in the tuna to coat, season with salt and pepper. Let stand for 30 minutes for flavors to meld. Fold in Chilean papaya. For cocktail parties, serve in Chinese porcelain spoons. Garnish with cilantro, and chili, if using.

Serves 4 as an appetizer, 16-20 as spoon “bites”. Serve with either a Pinot Noir or Chardonnay.

Head to the Downtown Oyster Fest

New Amsterdam Market will be officially opening on Sunday, May 1st, but you can get a jump on the festivities—and give the market your support by attending the SouthStreet Oyster Saloon, a fundraiser and revival of Oyster Saloons once found in all of New York’s public markets. Enjoy fresh-shucked regional oysters from special guest vendors like: April Bloomfield of The John Dory Oyster Bar, Alejandro Alcocer of green brown orange, Patrick Connolly of Bobo Restaurant, King Phojanakong of Kuma Inn, and the creative teams from Great Performances, Luke’s Lobster, and Neuman’s Caterers. Other goodies will also be on hand, including cask beers sourced by Beer Table. Saturday, April 9 on South Street (betw Fulton St & Beekman St) from 5:00 to10:00 pm. Tickets to the Oyster Saloon are on sale now at an early bird price of $50 for General Admission. If shucking is on your list of skills, the market is looking for volunteers, email: volunteer@newamsterdammarket.org

LUCKYRICE Year of the Rabbit Festival

A week-long fest beginning May 2 through May 8, 2011will feature the talents of top chefs preparing Asian feasts all over New York City. For example, Chef Masaharu Morimoto will be creating an 8-course Omakase Dinner (meaning chef’s choice) at his restaurant, featuring a cocktail hour plus paired wines from Germany. The event’s culinary council has Tadashi Ono, Pichet Ong, David Chang, Susur Lee, and many more of the top talents in the world coming together. Last year’s event completely sold out, as did Anita Lo’s kick-off dinner for 2011, so it is advisable to get tickets soon. See the website for full schedule of events and to purchase tickets. I got a taste of what’s in store recently at Baotique with a 12-course preview dinner prepared by Chef Michael Bao Huynh. Photo above are the super tasty Nem Nuong Rolls: grilled pork meatball and vermicelli, wrapped in lettuce and topped with Peanut Sauce. See more photos at this link.

A Taste of Asia NYC Style: Ember, Mono + Mono, Double Crown, Danji

As fate would have it, I recently have had the continuing pleasure of experiencing high-end Asian cuisine all over town. I had a fabulous time attending the opening of Ember, Todd English and Ian Chalermkittichai’s new BBQ venture in Hell’s Kitchen (photo bottom right). Chicken Lollipops, Whole Roasted Suckling Pig with Hoisin and Ginger Glaze, and Prawns on Fried Rice were just some of the offerings. I am so looking forward to returning for dinner (after my cleanse is over, that is!). See pictures of the space, cocktails, and food here.•• At a tasting for Terra Andina Chilean wines, I learned that perfect pairings can work even with inexpensive wines. Treating yourself to a bottle with your take-out will totally elevate the experience. At Mono + Mono, we tried the extra spicy chicken wings (photo, bottom left), which were extra fabulous with the 2009 Terra Andina Carmenere Reserva ($12.99). See more of the pairings and bites we tasted at this link. •• Double Crown proved to be doubly-delicious, with Chef Brad Farmerie’s specialties, including the Roast Pork Belly accompanied by crispy daikon cake and chili sambal-clementine dressing, seen in the photo top right. It’s no wonder he won the honor of producing the“top pig” at Cochon 555 in the Chelsea Piers. Cocktails were quite inventive—see more photos of the night here. •• Just when I thought I had enough, I came across the newly expanded menu at Danji, also in Hell’s Kitchen. Chef Hooni Kim’s new spot specializes in small plates with his take on traditional and modern Korean cusine. Photo top left show the Bulgogi Filet Mignon Sliders with Spicy Pickled Cucumber and Scallion Salsa. Stay tuned for my upcoming visit.

Latest Releases from Bordeaux

The Soirée des Grands Crus triumphed despite having to compete with the aftermath of the snow storm. It was definitely 4 hours of pure decadence, with 29 wines to taste, chocolates from Francois Payard, and lovely little bites of food. The blind tasting competition had 9 winners taking home double magnums of the really good stuff. See photos of the event and my wine picks here.

Soirée des Grands Crus: New Tastes from Bordeaux

Do you think you have a sophisticated palate? Put your taste buds to the test and chat up 17 chateaux owners this January 27th at the Soirée des Grands Crus. Guests will sample 29 of the latest releases at 82 Mercer Street in Soho. All ticket holders are eligible to participate in the blind tasting, which will have 9 winners taking home roughly $20,000 worth of wine, like the double magnum of Chateau Dassault 2008 (St Emilion Grand Cru Classe), and prizes, like the Chronomat B01 watch from Breitling, valued at $7690 . The Grand Cru Challenge begins with a brief written quiz to assess knowledge of Bordeaux wines. Then top scorers will participate in the blind tasting of six wines. Also on hand: fashion from Hugo Boss, and Chef Francois Payard with six chocolate pairings—one for each of the six Bordeaux appellations. A limited number of early entry tickets ($250) will get you into the event at 6:00. General admission ($185) ticket holders enter at 7:30.  Check the website to see who’s coming, what they’re giving away, and to purchase tickets.

September 24 & 25 in the Hamptons: Harvest East End

In two weeks, a celebration of the fall season is taking place on the East End of Long Island. The best wineries, farms, chefs and restaurants combine to showcase the best of the harvest with wine tastings, classes in wine appreciation, plus private chef dinners hosted in exclusive Hampton homes. Harvest East End's Gala Dinner has sold out, but you can still place a bid online for half barrels and special lots of wine. Go to the website to buy tickets and see the schedule of events. Best of all, proceeds benefit East End Hospice and the Peconic Land Trust, which preserves Long Island’s working farms. PS: Logo and all festival graphics, by yours truly.

Whisky Explorers Club: Scotch Lovers Unite

Douglas Stone has a passion for whisky, and knew he was not alone. He has created an online community where you can mingle with other afficianados and link to a myriad of blogs on the topic. If you are looking to experience limited editions and unusual tastes from around the globe, you must join the Whisky Explorers Club. The whiskies arrive in unmarked bottles wrapped in black sacks, so tasters must rely on only their senses for categorizing. Club members receive instructions on how to decipher each whisky's identity and can log-in to a special section on the site to contribute their tasting notes and reviews. Douglas is offering a discount to Hip Hostess NYC’s readers, just use the code “HpHsts-0310” when joining. And speaking of delicious Scotch whiskies, I just had the most incredible tastes from the Lowlands, which feature the less smokey of the scotches because they leave out the peat. Auchentoshan had five triple-distilled bottles on the tasting table that night, all distinctly delicious. See photos from the tasting here.

Gourmet LATINO this weekend!

It was a difficult decision, choosing between all of the incredible offerings of the The Gourmet Latino Festival, but if you haven’t made plans for the weekend yet, there are still some tickets left to attend. Visit the website to see the full schedule of events, which pair top chefs, mixologists and tastemasters in a fantastic array of events. I can’t wait to see what Chef Natalia Machado (Industria Argentina and Azul Bistro) and Sommelier Ivan Ruiz, will pair up in regional flavors of empanadas. The photo shows her Mollejas al Verdeo: crispy veal sweetbreads, potato confit, spring onion and torrontes sauce attached to a chunk of pineapple. Plus on Sunday, “Iron Chef” Jose Garces, will be preparing dishes from Ecuador, paired with cocktails by Andy Seymour, Julie Reiner, Jim Meehan and Joaquin Simo. Hope to see you there! 

Michael Collins Irish Whisky: an IRISH toast

I celebrated St Patrick’s Day a little early with a tasting of Michael Collins Irish Whisky this past Monday at LEI in the South Street Seaport. What I learned was that out of 2000 original distilleries, Michael Collins is only one of 3 left producing whisky in Ireland. Thankfully, the rule of survival of the fittest applies here! Run and get yourself a bottle and make a toast with one of the creative cocktails from the website. Also, see my post labeled “Whiskey Persuasion” for another sensational cocktail. See more photos of the tasting here.

honoring WOMEN: LUPEC: Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails

I just became aware of the fact that March 8 is International Women's Day. In honor of that I will be attending the Winter Warmer Cocktail Tweetup at Astor Center, which will be featuring cocktails created by the team of LUPEC: Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails. Meet the ladies who shake and pour from Rye House, Pegu, Momofuku, Raines Law Room, Hearth, Bar Celona, Freeman's, and Hush Cocktails. Men and women are welcome. Robin Robinson of Compass Box Whiskies will be pouring samples of Asyla, Hedonism, Oak Cross, Peat Monster, Spice Tree and their infused whisky, Orangerie. $5 of the $30 price tag will go to the charity, Dress for Success. Stay tuned for cocktail details and photos from the event. I also thought I would mention that Hip Hostess NYC has been featured in Femme on Feast. Check out Natalie Shirinian's blog celebrating women in the fashion, art, culture, and culinary fields.

Benedictine: I’m not religious, but it makes me want to pray

Did you know that Bénédictine is celebrating its 500th birthday? This liqueur created by the Bénédictine monks in 1510 is the oldest still in production today. Now, instead of an abby, there is the fairytale-like Bénédictine Palais, in Fécamp, France, where you can see how the spirit is crafted, peruse the museum’s artifacts, AND take in a current art exhibit. When I was a teenager, my mother favored this as a remedy for (ahem) menstrual cramps, so we always had a bottle around. I never thought to make a cocktail with it, that is, until attending the 500th Anniversary Celebration of Bénédictine. Five mixologists competed, adding some amazing ingredients like sweet potato au jus and house-made rose vermouth. Jackson Cannon, seen doing a double shake, above, created the Vincelli Fizz, which got topped with champagne. This got my vote as favorite cocktail. (See all the recipes, winners, and more photos from the event here.) Another cocktail whose season is right now is called Milk and Honey. This would make a great body-warming drink to sip as you come off the ski slopes.
Milk & Honey
1.75 ozs Bénédictine
Hot milk to top off
In a mug or toddy glass, pour in Bénédictine, add warm milk to taste. You can garnish with a slice of orange or cinnamon.

BEAM me up! creative cocktails in the penthouse

Beam Global Spirits & Wine pulled out all the stops at their recent tasting held in the penthouse in The Hotel On Rivington. Five themed bars were cranking out creative libations from Contemporary Cocktails, including the punch—served by a mystical, golden lady. I could go on and on, it was a fantastic night. See more pics, cocktail recipes and creative decorations by artist Christopher Young here.

three dog night

Bruce Kreig, author of Hot Dog, enthusiastically tells the history of this American icon—from its humble German-immigrant origins to the development of signature toppings. Hosted at the Roger Smith Hotel, Chef Daniel Mowles put his gourmet touch onto the regional specialties we tried. Pictured left is the Coney Island hot dog, which had onions, yellow mustard, and chili on top. The secret ingredient in the chili was beef hearts, which, everyone agreed, made it indescribably delicious (see more pics from this event here). Tasting these hot dogs brought me back to the Fancy Food show in July, where I had some amazing samples from D’artagnan. All four of their varieties are excellent—duck, beef, pork and buffalo (photo, right). I highly recommend them for your next barbecue, as they are skinless, fully cooked, raised on an all-vegetable feed, without growth hormones, antibiotics or nitrates in the mix. Excellent with or without toppings.

AAAHHH, AH-FRICA / new tastes from South Africa

During Fancy Food show in June, I was invited to the South African Embassy for a cocktail party and got to check out some of the new products being offered. The party food was quite delicious and leaned toward an Indian-flavor profile. (though I am not sure if that was because the caterer was part Indian) Two of my favorites were a blood sausage and indiginous type of polenta, seen top left. The center photo shows a serving spoon from Poivre d’Or. They had the most beautiful assortment of tabletop items I have seen in a while, woven placemats in hot pink and a searing orange, gorgeous matte-black dishes, polka-dotted spoons, plus an assorment of marmalades whose intense flavor combinations were like spooning out tiny little taste blasts. Everyone went crazy for the Amarula, on right. See more photos here.

Attention Foodies and Film Lovers: Third Annual Food Film Festival

The James Beard House hosted the Third Annual Food Film Festival PREVIEW on May 29th. Three filmmakers, Chef Harry Hawk, and mixologist Marshall Altier got us in the mood to experience the festival which is a week-long series showing films and then getting to eat what you see in them. See my photos of the event and be sure to attend the festival June 13th to 19th.