FOOD FASHIONISTA

Buddakan NYC w/the Next Iron Chef & Chefs

 

Housed in a massive 16,000 square foot space in the ultra gentrified Meatpacking District, Buddakan is part of the Stephen Starr (i.e. Morimoto, Tangerine) Philly based restaurant group. Sharing walls with the Chelsea Market, Buddakan is an obvious choice for cocktails or dinner with friends who want a hip and happening New York experience. It has a bit of a Tao (Las Vegas) like feel with it's expansive club like space, high ceilings and dim lighting but the nouveau decor of Buddakan with it's copious chandeliers, colossal communal table and separated dining spaces- including a chic book filled library make it uniquely distinctive. 

As self described Modern Asian Cuisine, Buddakan is definitely more on the Chinese fusion side (Taro Puff Lollipops minced pork, sweet & sour sauce, Szechuan Crusted Ribeye turnip fries, hong kong steak sauce) than let's say Japanese, Korean, or Thai. With a list of menu items ranging from Dim Sum, to hot and cold appetizers, starches, seafoods, and proteins, Buddakan has it all covered for those looking for a vegetarian, carniverous, or carb loaded feast.

The simply categorized menu at Buddakan is best shared family style which allows sampling a number of various dishes. You can turn a meal at Buddakan into your own dining experience by choosing to share small plates and appetizers or opting for a more traditional meal with starters, starches and mains.

Since my frequent dining companions are restaurant professionals, chefs, and people who just plain love and live to eat, it isn't uncommon to find a table covered with plates of food. This occasion was no different. There were some hits and misses, but a few stand out dishes included the Steamed Sea Bass Roll with cabbage, ginger, and sizzling scallion oil and the Scallion Pancakes with braised beef short rib, and shaved green apple.

Being a fan of prosecco, I appreciated the specialty cocktail menu which included three prosecco specials including the refreshing Ginton (gin, elderflower, ginger, lemon, prosecco) the Charm (passion fruit liqueur, apple, fresh berries, prosecco) or Fate (elderflower, pineapple, prosecco). The eight dessert options include a Hong Kong Ice Cream Sandwich with an almond cookie, soy milk fan and strawberry sorbet and a Coconut Crème Brûlée with white chocolate genoise, and lemongrass ice cream.

New York is a city full of restaurants, lounges and bars. Buddakan is proof that you never know what is awaiting you behind those unassuming concrete walls.

Budakkan's Shaken Beef Tartare

Chefs Seamus Mullen & Jose Garces

Scallion Pancakes with braised beef short rib, and shaved green apple

Amanda Freitag, Mika Takeuchi, Dominique Crenn

Buddakan's Edamame Dumplings

 

Seamus Mullen, Jose Garces, Roberto Trevino

 

Chef Alex Guarnaschelli of Alex's Day Off

Malted chocolate ganache, milk caramel, coffee ice cream

Aida Mollenkamp, Seamus Mullen

 

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bombe honey caramel, peanut butter ice cream

 

Mika Takeuchi & Chef Jose Garces

 

Vanilla Tea Doughnuts w/ vanilla ice cream

Bruce Seidel, Amanda Freitag

Buddakan NYC

75 9th Avenue, New York NY 10011

Phone (212) 989-6699

Morimoto - New York

Here is a sneak preview of a few of the delectable dishes from our recent dinner at chic Japanese eatery, Morimoto in New York.

More Photos/Details to be added...

 

MORIMOTO

88 10th Avenue

New York, New York 10011

(212 989-8883

For Reservations, Visit Open Table

South Beach Wine & Food Festival 2009 Recap

Despite the slowdown in the economy, the turn out of food and wine lovers was in full effect at this year's Sobe Wine and Food Festival presented by the Food Network. Every event attended was packed with revelers enjoying a variety of beverage and cuisine from many of the top names in the industry. Big name chefs in attendance included Pedro Subijana, Daniel Boulud, Michelle Bernstein, Jose Andres, Norman Van Aken, Charlie Trotter, Eric Ripert, Gordon Maybury, Alfred Portale, Rick Moonen, Neal Fraser, Paul Bartolotta, Floyd Cardoz, David Walzog, Roy Yamaguchi and Francisco Torreblanca amongst many others. What makes the Sobe Wine and Food Festival so unique, is that it is a 4 day event spread throughout locations in the Miami area that offers a taste of something for everyone and anyone.

Mika w/ master mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim

For serious wine lovers and a $1,000 per head, there was the Screaming Eagle event held at the Miami Convention center. For those who follow this Oakville vintner, they will say the price was a mere bargain. For those who had mixology on the brain rather than vino, there was the Latin Libations seminar hosted by master mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim (above) and Roberto Santibanez.

chef Emeril Lagasse book signing

For foodies who preferred a more playful hands on approach, the days were filled with cooking demonstrations and luncheons including a Barilla pasta interactive lunch hosted by Food Network dude, Guy Fieri and former Top Chef winner's Ilan Hall and Hung Huynh. The Whole Foods Grand Tasting Village held over the weekend is always a festival favorite and this year was no exception with jam packed crowds enjoying unlimited food, wine samplings and demonstrations from Food Network's celeb chefs.

Stanton Social's offerings at Patron party

The evenings were filled with popular events including Rachael Ray's Burger Bash, Perrier-Jouet's BubbleQ hosted by Tom Colicchio, and Wine Spectator's Best of the Best event held at the gorgeous and newly renovated Fountainbleau hotel. If a sit down dinner and no sand in the shoes is more your kind of thing, the Tribute Dinner honoring Emeril Lagasse or the Viva Espana event featuring the wines and foods of Spain would have definitely called your name. The late night party crowd enjoyed shindigs such as  the Modern Luxury event hosted by Tyler Florence, Paula Deen's Harrah's Casino Night and the Patron South Beach Soiree.

 

Kimber and Mika w/ chef Todd English

In addition the the official festival events, there were the many industry fetes including the Mario Batali Ernst Benz watch soiree at the Tides Hotel, the Seven Daughter's Winemaker's Blend event
hosted by Rachael Ray with a performance by the Cringe, and the new Laurent Tourondel BLT Steak preview. For those lucky few in the know, there were also super private VIP after hour parties held for the who's who of the culinary world.

Here are some other highlights/details of this past week's events:

Cruzan Rum After-Party hosted by Tyler Florence and Modern Luxury

Day 1 of 2009's South Beach Wine and Food Festival ended with a Cruzan Rum after- party hosted by Food Network star Tyler Florence and presented by Modern Luxury Media. Food Fashionista was in the house enjoying delicacies including a refreshing Tuna, Salmon, Ponzu and Jalapeno "Crudo de Vito" prepared by Danny DeVito's, DeVito's South Beach and Oysters on the rocks by the Raleigh Hotel Restaurant and Bar on South Beach where the party was held. Uber chef Todd English and his new Ft. Laurderdale restaurant, da Campo Osteria at IL Lugano Hotel and were also on hand delighting guest's palates. We also loved the Truffle Orecchiette, Skake Salad, with Gorgonzola and Carmelized White Chocolate Marble from Chef Kurtiz Jantz of Trump International Resorts. 

Check out all the photos from Tyler Florence Modern Luxury event:

Whole Foods Market Grand Tasting Village

It's no wonder why this is a Sobe Wine and Food Festival crowd favorite. Held during both weekend days right on the beach off of Ocean drive, this event features food, wine and liquor from hundreds of wine and spirit purveyors, restaurants and caterers, and confectioners. The majority of the event is held under huge white tents while the rest has you strolling along the white sand beach in the South Beach sunshine. All throughout the day were demos hosted by Celebrity chefs and food personalities such as "Wagyu Truth" by Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, "Modern Africa" by Marcus Samuelsson, "Fun in the Sun" by Iron Chef Cat Cora, "Crab Love" by Bobby Flay, " Chicalicious" with Ingrid Hoffmann, "West Coast Seafood Feast" by Tyler Florence, and "Martha Stewart's Cooking School" by Martha herself. There was also a book signing tent which had crowds waiting for autographs and photo opps with their favorite Food Network stars such as Rocco DiSpirito and Emeril Lagasse. As for cuisine, the Barilla tent was continuously packed with hungry crowds lining up for executive chef Lorenzo Boni and team's Cellentani with artichokes and Parmigiano with peppers pasta. The Barilla booth served over 12,000 pasta samples during the Grand Tasting which included 720 lbs of pasta, 550 lbs of artichokes, 60 lbs of onions, 160 lbs of Pecorino cheese from Tuscany, 80 lbs of smoked pancetta, and 15 lbs of pinenuts. The Puerto Rico booth was also rockin' with the country's top chefs including Robert Trevino of Budatai, Augusto Schreiner, and Mario Pagan. Michelle Bernstein's sweet corn and cheese empanadas from the Sargento booth were also popular with the hungry festival attendees.

Check out all the fabulous photos from the Grand Tasting:

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Harrah's Casino Night hosted by Paula Deen

The queen of comfort food Paula Deen hosted a Vegas style late night party equipped with Sin City style gambling, Ketel One Vodka cocktails and all the Southern Cuisine your heart and stomach desired. This was definitely a party you wouldn't be leaving hungry. There were corn bread muffins, creamed spinach, po boy sandwiches, crab cake sliders, funnel cakes, mac and cheese, and deep fried chocolate dipped donuts with all the fixings. The crowd was devouring, dancing, and playing the night away. Paula looked stunning in a royal blue and white flowy blouse with chic white pants while she mingled with the crowd and danced with hubby Michael Groover on stage alongside Food Network star's Sunny Anderson, Pat and Gina Neely, and Guy Fieri. Katie Lee Joel was also spotted at this festive event.

Check out all the photos from Harrah's Casino Night by Paula Deen:

Patron South Beach Soiree

This spicy hot after-hours party featured passed hors d'hoeuvres by chef Chris Santos of NYC's Stanton Social including an Avocado and Shrimp Shooter, and a delicious Kobe Beef Tartare on Crispy Rice. Patron hosted the open bar which included creative cocktails such as the Patron Margarita Sno-Cone and a Ice-Cold Hot Chocolate with Patron Silver and Spicy Dulce de leche.

Check out all the photos from the Patron party:

Cocktail Time with Sandra Lee

A gorgeous sunset setting, with metallic human model sculptures was the backdrop for Sandra Lee's cocktail soiree at the Standard Hotel. Food Network star Sandra was looking svelte and stylish in her vintage 70's black strapless jumper while posing for pics and signing autographs with the Cuervo margarita drinking crowd. Along with the throng of Sandra Lee followers was James Beard award winning chef Art Smith of Table Fifty-Two and Art and Soul who was in attendance at this poolside affair.

Check out all the photos from Cocktail Time w/Sandra Lee:

Mario Batali Ernst Benz Event at Tides South Beach

Mario was sporting his signature orange Crocs while he mingled with friends and guests who were celebrating his collaboration with luxury watch maker Ernst Benz. There were passed hors d'oeuvres, cocktails by Hendricks, and a music set list hand selected by chef Batali himself. Spotted in the intimate, hand picked crowd were Guy Fieri, Tony Abou-Ganim, Jose Andres, and Emeril Lagasse. Also in the crowd were Jim and Pam Webster whoe had previously won a contest called "Marios Ultimate Grilling Challenge" in which Jim prepared the award winning dish Pig-wrapped, Pig-stuffed Pig - an orange-fennel sausage, stuffed in a butterflied pork tenderloin, wrapped in pancetta, then grilled with an orange marmalade glaze. Sounds Delicious! For winning the challenge, Jim and Pam went to a Nascar race in Texas where Mario Batali and Rachael Ray threw a tailgating party for them.

The Ernst Benz limited edition Mario Batali watches come in both black and you guessed it....Orange!  Although the night was chilly, the crowd stayed toasty with the heat lamps, vino, and special Hendrick's drinks including the Batali Rocks with Hendrick's Gin, muddled tangerine, pineapple, fresh lime and a splash of aperol.

Check out all the fab photos from Mario Batali Ernst Benz event:

Anthony Amoroso- Michelin Star Chef Interview

chef Anthony Amoroso and his Michelin Star

If you are not familiar with the name Anthony Amoroso, I guarantee it is definitely a name you will be hearing more of in the future. For the last several years, chef Anthony Amoroso has been delighting palates in Vegas as the Executive Chef of some of Sin City's most renowned dining rooms. Amoroso also recently received a repeat Michelin Star as the Executive Chef of Michael Mina at the Bellagio.

Haling from the East Coast, chef Anthony Amoroso is no stranger to the kitchen. His Italian American background had him whipping up culinary creations in the kitchen with his grandmother as a young child. Amoroso later attended Hudson County College's Culinary Art's Institute and soon after worked in the kitchen at the Hilton in Short Hills, New Jersey.

 

John Dory Three Ways

While still on the East Coast, chef Anthony Amoroso moved to New York City and catapulted on to the fine dining scene where he worked with chef Rick Moonen at the famed Oceana as a sous chef and later as chef de cuisine. Amoroso's culinary flair shined as he continued honing his skills in the kitchen with chef Moonen at Branzini and later at RM Seafood.

 

Chilean Sea Bass

In 2003, Amoroso was brought on by chef Michael White to be the opening Executive Chef behind the Italian kitchen at Fiamma Trattoria and Bar at the MGM Grand. A couple years later in 2005, chef Amoroso became the man behind the kitchen at restaurant Michael Mina in the Bellagio where he deservingly earned a MICHELIN star for the kitchen for the last two years. On any given evening, you can find chef Amoroso on the line personally making sure that every plate that goes out is consistent and perfect to the palate.

Here is Food Fashionista's Exclusive Interview with chef Anthony Amoroso:

Where were you born?

Jersey City, New Jersey

Where do you live or spend most of your time now?

Las Vegas

When you are not in the kitchen, where would one find Anthony Amoroso?

Swimming, Cycling, or Running. I am a triathlete, so I am always in training

What is your favorite vacation hot spot?

I don't think it would qualify as a hot spot but anywhere in Italy works for me.

What are your favorite restaurants?

In Vegas: STRIPSTEAK, Lotus of Siam, Fiamma, Joyful House and Sette Bello

What is your favorite dish to prepare?

At Home: a simple pasta with seasonal vegetables. At the restaurant: I have fun cooking everything.

What is your least favorite dish to prepare?

If I didn't like it I wouldn't make it.

What is your favorite drink/cocktail?

I am really into beer right now and my favorite at the moment is Reutberger Export Hell, Munich Helles Lager.

What are three things that everyone should have in their kitchen?

I believe everyone should have a high quality (sharp) chef's knife, cutting board and high quality stainless steel pots & pans. You can do almost everything with those three items.

Do you eat junk/fast food? If so, what is your favorite?

If so, what is number one on your list? I don't do fast food. I do indulge on frozen yogurt quite a bit though.

If you weren’t a chef, what would be your ultimate dream job?

Aspiring professional cyclist and gastro pub owner.

Do you follow fashion? If so, who is your favorite designer?

I really don't. However Ted Baker and Ernest Sewn fit me well so I tend to gravitate towards those two stores/designers.

What kind of music do you listen to and who is your favorite singer or musical group?

There are too many to choose from- I listen to so much and enjoy all types.

When you are not in your Chef’s clothing, what is the typical Anthony Amoroso outfit?

Good jeans, simple tee shirt, plaid chuck taylors

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

No place cold!

What are your words of advice for aspiring chefs?

Be humble, work hard, read everything you can get your hands on, and you can learn something from everyone around you.

Who are your heroes?

Dick and Rick Hoyt.

What is something that would surprise people to know about you?

I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night!!!

To make Reservations for Executive Chef Amoroso's cuisine, visit Michael Mina Bellagio

Pizzeria Mozza is Marvelous

If you are in the Los Angeles area, and are craving a pizza like the appetizing thin crust you would find in Italy, head over to Pizzeria Mozza, the creation of Joseph Bastianich, Nancy Silverton of La Brea Bakery who co-founded Campanile, and superstar New York chef Mario Batali.

Mozza is a fabulous spot to have a family style dinner with friends, or even drop in solo and dine at the wine bar. On a recent visit, we started off with a selection of mouth watering antipasti including the oven roasted olives,the crispy goat cheese & Umbrian lentils, and the addictive fried squash blossoms with ricotta. We followed with the Tricolore with Parmigiano Reggiano & anchovy dressing salad which was absolutely delicious. Still the best was yet to come with the savory pizzas we shared including the bianca with fontina, mozzarella, sottocenere & sage pizza, and the classic Margherita with mozzarella, tomato & basil pizza.

Pizzeria Mozza has been a definite gift to the Los Angeles dining scene since it's early 2007 debut. Nancy Silverton, along with Executive Chef Matt Molina have done wonders mastering the art of the wood burning oven in delivering their delectable pizzas. I am a huge Mozza fan, as are many of my friends including top chefs who don't admit their love for other's restaurants so easliy. Mozza's well edited Italian focused wine list includes a fantastic selection of wines from Sangiovese grapes. And they are all under $50! How fabulous is that. Pizzeria Mozza is not a well kept secret, so either arrive early, or make sure you have reservations before hand. Once you enter Mozza, you will feel the mouth watering energy surrounding you and will know why it was nominated for two James Beard Awards in 2008, including one for Best New Restaurant and the other for Rising Star Chef for Matt Molina.

Pizzeria Mozza
641 N. Highland Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90036
1-323-297-0101 Reservations: Noon - Midnight Daily

Japan is Food Obsessed

IRON CHEF JAPAN    

Ryori no tetsujin" was the original Iron Chef television show which first aired in Japan in 1993. I remember they would play episodes every Saturday night on the Japanese television station here in the U.S. and I was immediately addicted. I mainly watched because of the food, but do have to admit that I was a bit awestruck by the brightly colored satin outfits the Iron Chefs were clad in. It looked almost like the Power Ranger cooking show. Not to my surprise,  I found out that a lot of my friends in the U.S. were also tuning in to the Japanese network on Saturdays just to watch the show. Although there was the obvious language barrier, the excitement of the show, the colorful (literally see above) cast of characters, and the complexity of the ingredients spoke fluently to everyone who tuned in.  This was before reality television was so prevalent in this culture. No  surprise that there is now an American version of the Iron Chef which airs on the Food Network.

The Japanese people are a food obsessed culture and they definitely take great pride in their cuisine. I am not surprised that Japan currently has the more Michelin stars of any country, including France. Everywhere you go, from the basements of the department stores to the train stations, there is food, food, everywhere! From French pastry shops, noodle stations, yakitori, sushi bars, and even vending machines that offer a vast selection of hot or cold options, you will find it here in Japan. I will be sharing some of my culinary adventures with you this week while I eat my way through Japan.