The Black Dress Traveler

Dine Out For Haiti

I just learned from one of my favorite chefs, Alain Allegretti, that he and over 40 restaurants in New York City and beyond have joined together to create Dine Out For Haiti. Each restaurant will donate up to 10% of their sales to support the earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. Dine Out For Haiti will take place on Sunday, January 24th. Those restaurants that are closed on Sunday will participate on Monday, January 25th. Also, the W Hotels of New York will be referring all of their guests to the participating restaurants.

The restaurants can choose to make their donations to Action Against Hunger, Doctors Without Borders, and Partners in Health. Restaurant staff are also being encouraged to make a donation. 

In New York City, in addition to Allegretti, Gramercy Tavern, Tabla, Casa Mono, Otto, Tribeca Grill, and many other top restaurants are participating. Out west, your options include Pizzeria Mozza in Los Angeles and Carnevino in Las Vegas.

For more information and a complete list of participating restaurants, visit www.dineout4haiti.org.

Morocco in El Barrio: The Kiosk Restaurant in Spanish Harlem

The magic of Marrakech and the charm of Casablanca is just a subway ride away in East Harlem. One of my favorite places in the growing El Barrio culinary scene is The Kiosk, a charming eatery that serves Moroccan and Mediterranean cuisine.
The colorful decor and sweeping wall murals are the perfect backdrop for Chef/Owner Mounir Najd's flavorful and fresh cuisine. Drop in for breakfast, weekend brunch, happy hour drinks, lunch, or late night hookah service. The Kiosk also has live jazz on Thursday nights.

I'm still having a great time working my way through the menu at The Kiosk but I am crazy about the perfectly seasoned Moroccan eggs (baked eggs with merguez sausage, onions, tomatoes, herbs & spices served in a clay tagine). And, the sweet little shots of Moroccan tea are absolutely addictive!

The Kiosk is located at 80 East 116th Street. www.mnkiosk.com

Table Talk: The Inside Dish from 5th Generation Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard

5th generation French Chef Jean-Stephane Poinard has taken America's oldest city by storm. St. Augustine locals and visitors have all been been swept away by the authentic French cuisine that Chef Poinard lovingly and expertly prepares at his Bistro de Leon.

Watch the video to learn how Chef Poinard was literally baptized in the kitchen and how a nice French boy landed in Florida!

Go RED for the Best Crab Cake in New Jersey

Perfectly prepared crab cakes are most often associated with the state of Maryland but the Garden State proved they can also work culinary magic with these tasty crustaceans. The Black Dress Traveler was honored to receive an invitation to help choose the best crab cake in New Jersey as a judge at the 3rd Annual Crab Cake Festival and Shore Chef Cook Off.

Twelve restaurants competed at Monmouth Park for this coveted title but there was only one winner: Red restaurant located in Red Bank. Their baked beauty boasted perfectly seasoned and juicy lumps of crab meat topped with micro greens. Congratulations to Chefs Dominic Giuliano and Darryl Feeney!

Join the Black Dress Traveler at the New Jersey Crab Cake & Shore Chef Cook Off

The Black Dress Traveler is thrilled to be the hostess for the New Jersey Crab Cake & Shore Chef Cook Off.  This is a perfect summertime event: great food and plenty of fun at the legendary Monmouth Park Racetrack on the Jersey Shore. The event will take place on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23 from 11:30 am - 5:00 pm and admission is only $3 and free for ages 12 and under. (I will be there on Sunday only for the judging of the crab cakes.)

Taste crab cakes and seafood delicacies cooked up by some of New Jersey’s top restaurants as they compete for top honors from judges and you, the public.

This family-friendly event includes live music, lots of fun for the kids and of course thoroughbred racing. Saturday will feature performances by the Rock N’ Roll Chorus. Sunday is the Jersey Thoroughbred Festival. Enjoy The Star-Ledger Family Fun Day, with clowns, face painters, live music, pony rides, bounce houses, and more. 

Watch the commercial! Hope to see you there!

An Argentine Affair in NYC: Wine, Food & Music at Water Taxi Beach

No, this affair has absolutely nothing to do with a certain frisky South Carolina governor! On Wednesday, August 19, from 6pm to 9pm, “An Argentine Affair,” presented by Trapiche and Michel Torino Wines, will take place outdoors at Water Taxi Beach Long Island City. Argentine chefs and restaurateurs from the New York metro area will unite for this first-of-its-kind event to showcase their versions of traditional foods, as well as their meat-grilling skills.

 

Tickets will be available for purchase at http://anargentineaffair.com/ for $35* ($60 for two) and will allow participants a chance to explore the tastes of Argentina, without ever leaving the city. The event’s dishes will be paired with Trapiche wines from Mendoza and Michel Torino of Cafayate, imported by Frederick Wildman & Sons. A portion of ticket proceeds will go to Action Against Hunger, a global humanitarian organization committed to eliminating world hunger, and the Wine Course at the Department of Hospitality Management at New York City College of Technology. Event is open to the first 600 ticket holders.

So Chic and Fun: Riviera Rendezvous at Allegretti

Thank you to all of the gorgeous bon vivants who attended my Riviera Rendezvous at Allegretti restaurant in New York City. Not even a pesky rainstorm could dampen our spirits!  For 2 hours the hustle and bustle of the Big Apple disappeared as we enjoyed Chef Alain Allegretti's delicious hors d'oeuvres, sipped Riviera Rum Splash cocktails & Rose wine, and were pampered with mini facial and hand treatments courtesy of Lierac Paris skincare. Merci to Allegretti for hosting this very special evening.

  

 

 

 

  

 

Talking & Tasting with Top Chef Stephanie Izard

The 55th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City featured more than 250,000 products and I feel like I tasted every single one. In the space of 3 hours I sampled pickled cactus from Mexico, coffee from Cameroon, European rose nectar, and even bacon lip balm that the exhibitor told me was an aphrodisiac. Hmm, maybe that explains why that Emeril Lagasse impersonator was getting all flirty with me.

Just when I thought my taste buds had gone to sleep, they perked up at the sight of season 4 Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard - the first, and so far the only, female chef to win Bravo's popular culinary showdown.  Today Chef Izard was working her magic at the Lucini Italia Olive Oil booth and her Chilled Walla Walla Onion Soup with Green Garlic Vinaigrette & Olive Oil Poached Shrimp was DELICIOUS, refreshing and superbly seasoned - the perfect palate pick-me-up.  

Gracious and down-to-earth, Chef Izard even laughed when I dorkily asked her if making the soup was as stressful as Top Chef's Quick Fire Challenges. Chef Izard told me that her new restaurant, The Drunken Goat, will be opening in Chicago in January 2010. If the soup is any indicator, her restaurant is going to rock!

Masala Moment: A Chat with Chef Suvir Saran

Suvir Saran is the charismatic and witty culinary guru behind the popular Devi Restaurant in New York City and American Masala in Jersey City. Formidable food critic Frank Bruni said that Devi is "perhaps the city's best Indian restaurant" and it has been awarded a 2-star rating by The New York Times and 1-star by the Michelin Guide. Saran has also written two widely acclaimed cookbooks - Indian Home Cooking and American Masala: 125 New Classics From My Home Kitchen.

I recently had the chance to chat with Chef Saran at the Authors & Inns Tour in Spring Lake, New Jersey. Watch the video to hear our spicy conversation about veggies, Indian spices and why you shouldn't feel guilty about cheating on your favorite foods with new flavors.

Sweet Talk with the Creators of Oprah's Favorite Brownies

As Mistress of Ceremonies for the Authors & Inns Tour in Spring Lake (New Jersey), I had a great time chatting with celebrity chefs and cookbook authors.

This video clip shows me sharing a bit of sweet talk with the owners of the wildly popular BAKED- Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito. You'll see why Oprah and Martha Stewart are crazy about treats from BAKED. If you live in NYC or Charleston, you can drop by BAKED or you can use their cookbook to create some sweet goodness at home.

Tastebud Travels: My Perfect Provencal Lunch at Allegretti

I've never been to Provence but my taste buds are convinced that we traveled to the South of France after my perfect lunch at Allegretti. Located at 46 West 22nd Street in NYC's Chelsea neighborhood, Chef Alain Allegretti's namesake restaurant showcases the vibrant and fresh flavors of his native Provence. The flavors are big but not convoluted and I am not embarrassed to say that I cleaned my plate on every course. Perfectly seasoned and elegantly presented, each dish was richly flavored without being too heavy and overwhelming my palate. Drop by for a drink and an upscale nibble at the inviting bar or allow Chef Allegretti to whisk you away on a complete culinary journey to Provence in the main dining room.  In addition to the a la carte menu, Allegretti is currently offering prix fixe menus at lunch ($28. Monday-Friday) and dinner ($42. Monday - Saturday.) Here are a few photos from my lunch. Alas, I did not save room for dessert but I plan on remedying that situation in the near future. Bon appetit!

Sardines 'In Saor'

tian of roasted tomato, avocado, fingerling potato, hearts of palm, tomato coulis

Provencale Fish Soup

garlic crouton, gruyere cheese, classic rouille

 

 

This is how the soup looks after you spread the rouille and gruyere on the croutons and let them abosrb all of the spicy goodness of the broth.

 

Nicoise Ravioli

stuffed with braised oxtail and swiss chard, parmesan, orange beef jus