Appetizing Events: Eatwith.com’s Private Chef Shuchi

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The expansive floor to ceiling windows of Shuchi Mittal’s apartment yields a swiping sunset over New York City. Cars in traffic look like toys from far above as their red lights signal a rush for uptown and the fading white lights signal a race for the Manhattan bridge. Closer to the apartment building, but still far below is a wintery landscape of barren trees and brownish-grey grass surrounding New York City’s judicial buildings. The almost completed World Trade Center’s windows reflect fading lights of pinks, purples and oranges of a setting sun. Across the river, a Brooklyn skyline emerges between Manhattan’s tall buildings. By the time the sun takes its final bow for the day, all of the guest have arrive at Mittal’s apartment for EatWith.com’s “Indian Tapas: Curry Bowls to Creative Bites.”  Read more

Appetizing Events: NYC’s Wine and Food Festival, On Top of a Dream, Part II

Champagne and Caviar over Fried Oyster on the Half Shell
By Janelle Carter of CorkChronicles.com and Sanura Weathers of MyLifeRunsOnFood.com

This is the second part of a series of three reviews of the 2011 Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival. Please visit part one and three for more.

Imagine stepping into a lobby elevator where you were simply looking to wind down the day with a few colleagues, and stepping out onto the penthouse floor with magnificent views of the Manhattan skyline, Godiva chocolate and Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne to greet you. Sound like a dream? Well, it kinda was… Cocktails & Caviar at Dream Downtown Hotel. This event was hosted by Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos of Extra Virgin, a couple who are as beautiful on the outside as they are inside. Read more

Appetizing Events: NYC’s Wine & Food Festival, Part I

Janelle's tickets and catalog to New York City's Wine and Food Festival

By Janelle Carter of CorkChronicles.com and Sanura Weathers of MyLifeRunsOnFood.com

This is the first part of a series of three reviews of the 2011 Food Network New York City Wine and Food Festival. Please visit part two and three for more.

The New City Wine and Food Festival (NYCWFF) held from September 29 to October 2, 2011 was a party weekend, and we–Sanura of MyLifeRunsOnFood.com and Janelle of CorkChronicles.com–covered it all from the Down Home with the Neely’s sex talk, er ummm… cooking demonstration to toasting champagne with Debi Mazar and Gabriele Corcos of Extra Virgin (Did you know they have a food blog, UndertheTuscanGun.com). In addition to laughing, drinking, and eating with a few of TV’s biggest food stars, we tasted some amazing dishes cooked up by New York City’s star chefs. Of course, it wouldn’t be a Wine & Food festival without the delicious wine and spirits to pair with the food and pastries. We broke our review into three parts because of various events. Part two and three are scheduled later this week. Read more

Appetizing Thoughts: Dance Africa 2011

The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) at sunset.
Dance Africa is the unofficial Memorial Day event commencing Brooklyn, New York’s summer festivities. For the last 34 years, The Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) has successfully organized this dynamic festival celebrating the African Diaspora. We had the pleasure of attending the dress rehearsal to this year’s dance performance, “Expressions and Encounters: African, Cuban and American Rhythms.” Lively dancers and musicians in colorful costumes danced, leaped, sang, and pounded drums in a fluid choreography of grace and strength. The other large attraction to Dance Africa are the various vendors selling furniture, vintage music, clothing, West African musical instruments, jewelry, and food. Read more