Serving Up A Superbowl Feast

January 28, 2009

For many a sports fan, Superbowl has become holiday-esque. "Teams" of people gather to watch the game, see the newest commercials and eat and drink! We decided to have some friends over this year so we could try out some new recipes. This is what's on our menu...

What would a Superbowl party be without wings?
As I flipped through many a magazine over the last few weeks, they all had their Superbowl staples and menu suggestions. Everything looked so good that I couldn't choose just 1 wing recipe, so I am ambitiously buying the ingredients and making 3 different versions of wings that seem to have different degrees of difficulty. There will be a wing taste test at our house! The good news is that for the mostpart, all 3 recipes can be prepared the day before so we will just have to cook them up during pre-game.

The first is a "rubbed" version from Guy Fieri of Food Network fame. I came across it in the all new Food Network Magazine (Feb/March issue) which is worth a read whether you are a fan of the Food Network and its famous chefs, or not. Though this recipe may seem complicated because there are alot of ingredients, when I was taking inventory for my grocery list, I realized that I already had alot of the spices and other items required.

The second recipe is from the one and only, Martha Stewart, who can never be underestimated.
A couple of years ago Martha made nachos on one of the pre-game shows with ESPN personality, Kenny Mayne, that we tried at home and they were fab! Martha definitely has the Superbowl know-how.

Last, but definitely not least, are the Sticky PB&J Wings from Rachel Ray. These look delicious and are the easiest of the 3 recipes for those who aren't big-time cooks but want to give wings a homemade try. Rachel also had recipes for Italian Mozzarella Wings and Chocolate Wings (!) that look great but I had to draw the line somewhere.

CHICKEN WINGS WITH SALSA VERDE from Guy Fieri
Link directly for this recipe and others from the Food Network Magazine or see below:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/chicken-wings-with-salsa-verde-recipe/index.html

Ingredients:
For the Chicken and Brine:
3/4 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons black peppercorns
4 cloves garlic, smashed
5 pounds chicken wings, cut in half at the joint (or buy drumettes)

For the Rub:
2 teaspoons dried rosemary
2 teaspoons ground white pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons granulated garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons dried basil

For the Salsa:
1/2 cup fresh basil
1/2 cup fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon capers
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
2 tablespoons chopped roasted red pepper
1 tablespoon chopped onion
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
kosher salt
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

Prepare the brine: In a large soup pot, bring 8 cups water to a boil. Add the kosher salt, peppercorns and garlic; remove from heat. Let cool 30 minutes, then transfer to a large pot or ice chest lined with a large garbage bag. Add another 8 cups water, then add the wings and twist the bag closed. Refrigerate for 4 hours.

Mix all the rub ingredients in a large resealable plastic bag. Drain the wings. Rinse under cool water, pat very dry and put in the bag with the rub. Mix to coat evenly. Seal the bag and refrigerate until ready to cook. (You can do this a day ahead.)

Preheat the broiler. Remove the wings from the bag and place in a single layer on a lightly oiled foil-lined pan. Broil for 8 minutes, then turn and cook for an additional 5 to 8 minutes, or until crisp and golden.

Meanwhile, combine all the ingredients for the salsa, except the olive oil, in a food processor, using salt to taste. Slowly add the oil and puree until smooth. Serve the wings with the salsa.

SPICY-SWEET CHICKEN WINGS from Martha Stewart

Link directly for this recipe and others from Martha Stewart or see below: www.marthastewart.com/super-bowl

Ingredients:

For the Wings:
2/3 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest
1/4 to 1/2 cup Sriacha hot-chile sauce or other hot sauce
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
4 1/2 pounds, chicken wing drumettes, patted
dry with paper towels (35 to 45 wings)

For the Dipping Sauce:

2 teaspoons safflower oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
(from about 2 oranges)
2 tablespoons honey
2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
1/4 teaspoon salt
sliced scallions for garnish

1. Make the wings: Whisk hoisin, orange zest, hot sauce, honey, and sesame oil in a large bowl. Refrigerate 1/2 cup marinade. Add wings to remaining marinade and toss to coat. Cover, and refrigerate, tossing wings occasionally, for at least 2 hours (or overnight).

2. Preheat over to 375 degrees. Let wings stand at room temperature for 30 minutes. Arrange on a rimmed baking sheet, and bake for 20 minutes, rotating sheet and brushing with half of reserved marinade halfway through. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees. Bake wings, brushing with remaining marinade, until golden brown, about 20 minutes more.

3. Make the dipping sauce: Heat safflower oil and garlic in a small saucepan over medium heat for 30 seconds. Add orange juice, honey, hoisin, and salt, and cook for 2 minutes. Let cool.

4. Arrange wings on platter, sprinkle with scallions and serve with sauce.

STICKY PB&J WINGS from Rachel Ray
Link directly for this recipe and others from Rachel Ray Magazine or see below: http://www.rachaelraymag.com/recipes/chicken-turkey-recipes/sticky-pb-and-j-wings/article.html

Ingredients:
one 10-ounce jar grape jelly
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
salt
12 chicken wings, tips discarded and wings separated (or buy 24 drumettes)
Cilantro for garnish

1. In a bowl, whisk together the jelly, peanut butter, vinegar, hot sauce and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add the chicken wings and refrigerate for 1 hour or up to overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Arrange the wings on a greased rack set on a foil-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Turn, baste with the pan juices and bake until browned, about 20 minutes more. Serve with cilantro.


We are rounding out our menu with homemade guacamole that a friend is bringing, and we will chow down on Mini Slider Burgers (from Martha) and Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Chipotle Barbecue Sauce (from Guy Fieri). Check their websites for the full recipes (details below).




As you can tell, Superbowl is one of those days where we don't count calories, we just enjoy the game, good friends and yummy food and drinks!

Let us know by posting at http://www.foodiefavorites.blogspot.com what you have planned for Superbowl or if you try any of these recipes.

Go team!
Foodie

Food Network Magazine
http://foodnetwork.com/magazine

Martha Stewart Magazine
http://marthastewart.com

Rachel Ray Magazine
http://rachelraymag.com

"Light" Rigatoni Quatro Fromaggio

January 22, 2009

In celebration of the Oscar nominations today, this posting is Foodie Favorites' version of "Dinner and a Movie". It is a first time guest blogger who does half the cooking in our house (or maybe more than half some months!) and this has become one of his specialties. Guys out there, this is surely a meal to impress the lady in your life and it is NOT a black diamond in the difficulty category. So, with no further delay, it is my pleasure to introduce Senor Food.

Senor Food:

Greetings allow me to introduce myself; I am Senor Food, the non-union Mexican counterpart of the great and illustrious Foodie. My take on things is a little different as you will see by my first foray into the food blogging world. I have decided to look at the long standing relationship between food and the movies. How many of us have had dates that consisted of dinner and a movie? My guess would be all. How many of us snack while watching a movie, again my guess would be all. So what is the relationship? Is it a cause and effect type of thing? Nah, food just rocks and we all love to eat it.

"Food, Glorious food" is what those adorable orphans sang in Oliver and by god they were right. Good food IS GLORIOUS! One of my favorite movies coincidentally has a damn good meal in it. The film is Tequila Sunrise, the stars are Mel Gibson, Kurt Russell and Michelle Pfeiffer and luckily for us, the backdrop is the fictional restaurant, Vallenari’s. During a pivotal scene in the film, police officer Nick Frescia (Russell) confronts retired drug dealer Dale McKussic (Gibson) about his involvement in the drug trade over dinner at Vallenari's, but the real scene stealer is the plate of Rigatoni Quattro Fromaggio that McKussic is having- Pasta smothered with a creamy blend of four Italian Cheeses. Perhaps it was the way hottie restaurateur JoAnn Vallenari (Pfeiffer) described the meal or maybe it was just the setting itself but it sounded so good I hoped to try it one day.

Lucky for me I am married to Foodie who in her years of collecting stacks and stacks and stacks of recipes came across the recipe. One day she handed it to me and said, “Senor Food, get to it.” Being both a fearful and smart man who knows his way around a kitchen I said to myself, “Self, lets make this meal.”

Below is the recipe and amazingly, it is simple to prepare, awesome to eat and most shockingly only about 485 calories and 12 grams of fat per serving (makes 4 servings).

Ingredients:

1 Tablespoon stick margarine or butter

1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour

½ Teaspoon pepper

¼ Teaspoon salt

1 (12-ounce) can evaporated skim milk

¼ Cup (1 ounce) shredded fontina cheese

¼ Cup (1 ounce) crumbled Gorgonzola or other blue cheese

¼ Cup (1 ounce) diced Camembert cheese

6 Cups hot cooked rigatoni (about 9 ounces uncooked pasta)

2 Tablespoons chopped fresh basil

¼ Cup (1 ounce) finely grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Melt margarine in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour; cook 30 seconds, stirring constantly with a whisk. Add pepper, salt and milk, and bring to a simmer, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, and add Fontina, Gorgonzola and Camembert cheeses, stirring until cheeses melt. Stir in pasta and basil; spoon into each of 4 bowls. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Now for those of you who have seen the movie and enjoy it as much as I do…

You are now ready to deport Nino the chef and cater parties for one of the most dangerous and notorious men to ever deal drugs out of Mexico ; Comandante Xavier Escalante a.k.a Carlos.

"WE’RE NEVER GOING TO GET TO FINISH THE GAME!"

If you haven’t seen the film well this is the perfect opportunity to do dinner and a movie with a special someone.

Disclaimer: Cooking this meal will not make you as good looking or as cool as any of the characters that are portrayed...

Adios!

Senor Food

Note from Foodie: I think that I first came across this recipe in Cooking Light magazine possibly as far back as the late 90's but I couldn't find it on the site when looking today. They have lots of great "lightened up" recipes though so check it out. www.cookinglight.com

DIET GIRL I AM

January 21, 2009

I have been reading a certain Dr. Seuss book to my kids every night for about 3 weeks so I thought I would share my own life-version with you. Can you guess which book?



I am Sam
Sam I am.
I do not like that Sam I am.
Do you like salads every day?
I do not, no way.
Do you like them here or there?
I do not like them here or there.
I do not like them anywhere.
I would not could not, in the rain.
Not in the dark. Not on a train.
Not in a car. Not in a tree.
I do not like them, Sam you see.
Not in a house. Not in a box.
Not with a mouse. Not with a fox.
I do not like salads every day!
Try them, Try them and you may.
What's that you say?
The no-fat dressings make you sob?
Try balsamic from Olde Cape cod.
Chop the salad really small and
you will be walking tall.
Sam, if you will let me be,
I will try it you will see. (pause)
I DO LIKE SALADS EVERYDAY!
I will do what you say!
Chop, chop, chop and Olde Cape Cod
Give a girl a happy bod!

The truth of the matter is that I started my diet about 15 days ago (but who's counting?) and after 1 week and 7 or 8 salad dressings later, I could not imagine how people eat a salad (or 2) everyday and actually enjoy it. I literally came home every other day from the grocery store with 3 new no-fat or low-fat salad dressings and I thought they were all terrible. Everyone makes a balsamic dressing but they all tasted bitter.

I was sharing my dilemma over a non-diet dinner with one of my friends and she suggested OLDE CAPE COD'S BALSAMIC VINAIGRETTE (the bonus is that it is fat free). I must admit that I was skeptical considering I had already tried so many other brands but what did I have to lose so I picked up a bottle anyway. Much to my surprise she was right- it made the salad bearable, dare I say almost enjoyable? By the way, did I say that she is my skinniest, healthiest, salad-loving friend? I should have never doubted that she would be right about which dressing was the best so a shout out to her- you know who you are- keep those tips coming!

A couple of other salad tips that have been learned along the way:

Chop, chop, chop...I really do think it makes a difference if the lettuce, vegetables and everything else are chopped into very small pieces. I think the flavors mix together better and it is easier to toss with the dressing. My father-in-law makes a fabulous chopped salad which is what made me think to try it. It is also reminiscent of my favorite chopped salad of all time at ISABELLA'S on 77th street in NYC where I used to go for lunch any chance I would get. It takes me back...


Depending on your diet, if you can add fruit, an egg, some shrimp or chicken or chopped or shredded cheese, it definitely gives the salad a little extra UMMPH (albeit with a few more calories)! One add-on that I have found that really pushes the salad over the edge for me is croutons (or crunchy chinese noodles). I am willing to forgo the extra 1 or 2 pounds that I might lose over the course of a year in order to add them considering if you buy the right brand you can have 10-20 of them in your salad and it is only 1 to 1.5 grams of fat and 35 Calories. (I like CHATHAM VILLAGE GARDEN HERB)

I hope you have found some of these tips helpful (and healthy).

Note: My beloved salad is still on the menu at ISABELLA'S and it looks like they have added some additional chopped salads as well. As it turns out they are also starting a year-long celebration for their 20 year anniversary and are offering up recipes on-line from their original menus as well as some specials so check out their site if you are interested- details below.

Sadly, I have not lost any more weight since last week but I am staying the course for a little bit longer because I feel skinnier and healthier and it is mind above matter, right?

Gotta go eat lunch now.

Until next week...
Diet Girl

Restaurant: Isabella's
Location: 359 Columbus Avenue, NYC (corner of 77th street)
Phone: 212.724.2100
Website: www.brguestrestaurants.com

Chez Catherine

January 18, 2009

Last night we ate at Chez Catherine in Westfield, NJ which more than lived up to its reputation and is a definite recommend. As far as I am concerned any menu that has escargot on it is worth a visit and trust me they are few and far between.

The little French bistro had no more than 10 tables and was elegant yet somehow casual and unpretentious at the same time. There were 2 prix-fixe tasting menus available as well as a regular prix-fixe menu which everyone in our group of 4 decided to order from. (Note: if you choose the tasting menu, everyone in your party has to participate.) They offer 5-6 varieties of red and white wine by the glass and an extensive list by the bottle. We happily shared 2 bottles of a nice Cotes du Rhone which went perfectly with each and every course and dish.

After we ordered, courtesy of the chef we all had a little taste of beef tartare on a thin and crispy chip and it was a welcome beginning to our food journey. For starters, among us we had escargot (!), mussels, foie gras and lobster bisque which were all palate pleasers. In the entree category- 3 orders of the spicy Canadian lobster with saffron risotto and 1 monkfish prepped and served with bacon, mushrooms and pearl onions in a veal demi-glace. The lobster was delicately prepared and taken out of the shell with a perfect amount of juicy flavor. The monkfish was light, flakey and delicious. Throughout dinner, our bread basket was bottomless with warm fresh slices of crusty baguette. For dessert, we nibbled on the cheese plate (with toasty raisin bread), warm gooey chocolate Vahlrona cake and profiteroles- my top 3 desserts all in one place, all at one time! The service was super attentive but not at all intrusive.

Other menu choices included free-range chicken, rabbit, sea bass, sole, veal and NY strip steak. There were also 2-3 other appetizers that I could have easily chosen and been happy with.

It is a perfect night out for a special occasion or for no real reason at all.

Next time we are in Westfield, you'll know where to find us.

Bon Appetit!
Foodie

PS- A word of advice: Chez Catherine is VERY French in every way, including in price and serving size. If you are looking for big family style portions, or an inexpensive night, go to the Jolly Trolley down the road.

Restaurant: Chez Catherine
Location: 431 North Street W., Westfield, NJ
Phone: 908.654.4011
website: www.chezcatherine.com

Diet Girl Survived Week 1!

January 13, 2009

Realization of the week:
If the quantity of food that I am eating now is really what they refer to as "portion control" then I must have been eating enough for a 400 pound man and it is no wonder that I didn't weigh that much.

Week 1 Highlights:

• Afternoon of Day 4 we had plans with my cousin and her family and Diet Girl went on a WINE BENDER (considering no wine allowed on her diet)!! My cousin and her husband love wine and always share some good bottles.

As a group, this is what we sampled:

2005 George Duboeuf Macon Village (an inexpensive staple that we drink year round)

2007 Thumbprint Cellars Dry Creek Valley Rose (purchased by Foodie from Wines Til' Sold Out)

2005 Harrington Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast (a big, big Pinot)

2002 St. Clement Oroppas

• Morning of Day 7, Diet Girl was minus 4 pounds for the week!! I accept this, especially sans exercise but I was secretly hoping for more. I must start exercising this week!
  

Dieting Bummers:

As I walked the aisles of Whole Foods on Day 2 to stock up on my fruits and vegetables, I had to bypass my favorite sections: the wine and cheese departments. But wait, then I remembered that I could occasionally have non-fat cheese. Hmmm...does anyone actually eat non-fat cheese? Aren't there some things that are not meant to be fat free? There were very few to choose from and after I saw the "off" color of the cheddar, I bought a wedge of swiss (at least it was the right color). I have not been brave enough to try it yet, but will let you know how it goes. One other thought- portion-wise, is it possible to eat only 10 peanuts (without salt)?

In the afternoon of Day 3, I took one of my daughters to what I call a 3-alarm birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese. (3 alarm meaning 3 birthday parties all happening at the same time with about 100 kids combined). I missed my afternoon snack and the smell of pizza and chicken wings wafted through the air. It took all of the will power that I had not to have a little nibble (I didn't) and then even more restraint not to have a glass of wine when I returned home from the party- afterall, it was Happy Hour time and conveniently Friday.

Morning of Day 5: The headache I had after the wine bender was worse then any I can remember- at least in the short-term. It seems besides the calories, the main reason not to drink on a diet such as this one is because you don't have enough food in your stomach to handle the alcohol. Am I becoming a lightweight? Unlikely. The wine was still worth it despite the headache.

In summary, Days 2-7 were not nearly as bad as Day 1. The food, though not gourmet has been a little better than I originally anticipated. Yes, the breakfast foods are on the dry side, the pasta dishes (tortellini, fettucine, etc.) are a little overcooked and soggy for my liking, but the thin crust and flatbread pizzas for dinner make all in the world good again (no joke) and give me the strength to continue!

A little skinnier...Diet Girl signing off until next week...

Texas BBQ Style Salmon

January 12, 2009

In response to our "What's for Dinner?" posting on January 9 that included a few of Foodie Favorites' quick and easy dinner recipes and the products that make them happen, one of our readers shared this:

Jen from Freehold, NJ:

"I just read your latest blog on favorite cooking products so I have to tell you about one of mine. It's not available in stores so you have to order it at www.texasbbqrub.com . This is the best site for anything BBQ related. They have the best BBQ tips and recipes. I made a beer salmon with the Texas BBQ Rub and everyone loves it. Just take a filet of salmon and generously coat with rub, place in a baking dish, add a can of Budweiser so it reaches halfway up the salmon, top with tabs of butter, lemon slices and a few red onion slices, cover....bake up to 40 minutes (depending on how cold the beer was) at 350. Serve with asparagus and rice.

I've made the best brisket and chili with this rub too. I'm pretty sure I can discern the ingredients but with the price of spices it is definitely cost effective to order this product."

A 2-pound bag of the Texas BBQ Rub is $13.27. The website is packed with information and definitely worth a visit and it sounds like so is the salmon!!

Enjoy!
Foodie

What's For Dinner?

January 9, 2009

Let's face it that in today's day and age, most of us don't have time to cook a gourmet meal every night. Unfortunately, due to busy work and school schedules, a full meal at home has become more of a luxury than a regular occurrence. Today we want to share some products that we love that can help make your dinner tastier and easier.

1- My real first turn-on to Omaha Steaks was about 3 years ago. We had just moved and we were having dinner with "new" friends at a classmate of my daughter's house. After asking if we had any food allergies, our host told me that we would be having Crusted Tilapia and Rice Pilaf for dinner- I remember thinking "Wow, impressive" and it was... The dinner was already underway in the oven when we arrived so we had a few cocktails and some appetizers and finally dinner was served. I was gushing so much about how delicious the dinner was (don't forget, I did have a few glasses of wine under my belt!) and how impressed I was that my host ultimately decided to share her secret. What we had just eaten was TORTILLA CRUSTED TILAPIA from Omaha Steaks!! It was frozen, did not need to be defrosted, only took 25 minutes to cook and was really no-muss, no-fuss! It is sold 6 to 8 pieces per bag, and I have never paid more than $24.99, meaning that with all the specials Omaha runs, you may be able to get it as low as $14.99 or $19.99 for the same portions. (see Omaha details below) You might find us at home having the Tortilla Crusted Tilapia on a random Tuesday or serving it to guests with various side dishes as we have done many times and it is always a big hit. It is particularly great if you don't have alot of lead time.

2- The next item is a marinade. My husband was shopping with me at a furniture store (of all places) called Platypus. It is a bit of an odd combination but they also sell coffee beans, chocolates and specialty items there. We love food with flavor and have tried more products than I can count over the years, so while I looked for the next "had-to-have" piece of furniture, my hubbie perused the marinades. The Stonewall Kitchen SESAME GINGER TERIYAKI SAUCE is truly a miracle. It is good on everything- steak, pork, chicken, shrimp- we have had them all. Marinate whatever you choose and cook as usual (grill, bake, saute, etc.). The problem for us was that we couldn't get enough of it. As we were gearing up for a big Labor Day BBQ, I went to Platypus only to find that our beloved miracle sauce was almost out of stock. I bought the 1 bottle they had left and took matters in to my own hands by ordering a case directly from Stonewall Kitchen (details below). It is $6.95 per bottle with a small discount if you buy more than 3. We have seen this brand in certain supermarkets and upscale grocery stores but not the Sesame Ginger Teriyaki so keep your eyes open and you might get lucky or you can always order it.

3- Fajitas anyone? Throw some sliced peppers, onions, tomatoes and the beef, chicken or fish (we love shrimp) of your choice into a pan with World Harbors FAJITA SAUCE & MARINADE and you've got yourself a meal. Serve on soft tortillas with shredded cheese and salsa on the side. We first bought this sauce in a NYC grocery and we have been pretty lucky finding it in most local supermarkets ever since. It is not always in the condiments section so if you don't see it there, check by the butcher where all of the meats are sold. The price will vary slightly but you should be able to pick up a bottle for less than $5.

The websites for all 3 of these products also include other recipes and ideas for use. Check them out.

Foodie Favorites would love to know if there are any products that you swear by. Post directly on www.FoodieFavorites.blogspot.com or e-mail us at foodiefavorites@yahoo.com.

Enjoy!
Foodie

Omaha Steaks
Website: www.omahasteaks.com
Phone: 1.800.960.8400

Stonewall Kitchen
Website: www.stonewallkitchen.com
Phone: 1.800.207.JAMS

World Harbors
Website: www.worldharbors.com
Phone: 1.800.355.6221

Introducing Diet Girl

January 7, 2009

Everyone who loves food and wine and indulging must have that little voice in their head telling them they could stand to lose a few pounds or that they should be watching what they eat or exercising more as those pounds start to pile up.

The alter ego to Foodie...introducing Diet Girl.

Diet Girl:

Bare with me on the length of this posting so I can lay the groundwork.

I decided this year that along with the masses I would diet in the first month or so of the New Year to shed those extra pounds that never quite disappeared after baby number 1 (almost 6 years ago) and baby number 2 (3 1/2 years ago). Admittedly, my wine and food consumption had not helped in tackling this task previously and let's face it, I am not getting any younger.

How to decide on which diet? I am not a big snacker, but clearly I was not eating the right combination of foods. If anyone knows of a diet where you can still have a few glasses of wine every night, please let me know. My husband had a lot of success last year with one of the pre-packaged food scenarios (not mentioning any names) so I decided that was the way to go and placed my order for a month's worth of food. It arrived yesterday and I have to admit, I was a little bit excited at the prospect of dropping a few UNTIL...

I opened my cereal packet bright and early this morning only to learn that I would be having just a bite as opposed to a bowl of cereal. No wonder it is possible to have only 4 ounces of milk with it! Breakfast was rounded out by 1/2 a banana and a glass of skim milk. I am a big breakfast eater and I LOVE starches so to stay that I was starving after my first meal of the day really wasn't an exaggeration.

I think it is safe to say that dieters think about food more than anyone because from the second I finished my glass of milk I was thinking about when I would eat next and what was for lunch.

Lunch by the way was an uneventful tiny portion of fettucine alfredo (fettucine?? think ramen noodles with a little flavoring) and a salad made by yours truly. My afternoon snack was a scrambled egg with only pepper for flavor but it could have been the heartiest thing I ate all day- protein, baby, protein. I have to admit the thin crust pizza for dinner which I added mushrooms to was very tasty but since it was the size of a quarter, I took it down in one bite (OK, it wasn't that small but close) and I had another salad. Part of me is wondering if the pizza was that good or if I am light-headed and/or brainwashed from today's menu. The Chocolate Caramel Bar for dessert was not all it was cut out to be- I'll leave it at that.

A couple of final thoughts on Day 1:

1- Anyone who basically completely stops eating can lose weight.
2- Would it have been easier to have my lips sewn shut for a couple of weeks?
3- I would love a glass of wine right now.

Stay tuned for updates on my success.

Hungrily yours,
Diet Girl

Don't Miss Restaurant Week!!

January 5, 2009

Back to the daily grind today for everyone... no more vacation in sight...

Here is something to look forward to:

RESTAURANT WEEK (s) IN NYC!!!

• January 18th through January 23 AND January 25 through January 30
• 250 of NYC's best restaurants are participating
• Lunch for $24.07 and Dinner for $35.00
• Don't Miss Out- Reservations are being taken as of today (1/5)

VISIT http://nycgo.com/restaurantweek for a complete listing of participating restaurants, their locations and links to their menus.

Not in NY or the tri-state area??? No worries. It seems that restaurant week is being launched at various times all over the U.S. with similar prix-fixe offerings. See below for related links and don't forget to let your friends know! (If a city you are looking for is not here, do a city search locally to see what they are offering.)

COUNTRYWIDE RESTAURANT WEEK:

Los Angeles Restaurant week- January 25-30

http://www.dinela.com/restaurantweek

San Diego Restaurant week- January 11-16

http://www.sandiegorestaurantweek.com

Chicago Restaurant week- February 20-27

http://chicagoweekendfun.com/2008/12/05/chicago-restaurant-week-2009-february-20-27-prix-fixe-dinner-menus/

Charlotte Restaurant week- January 24-30

http://www.charlotterestaurantweek.com

Baltimore Restaurant week- January 23- February 1

http://baltimore.org/media/press-kit/press-releases/12-19-08/

Madison Restaurant week- January 25-30

http://madisondining.com/madison-restaurant-week-winter-2009/

Happy Eating!!

Foodie

Wines Til Sold Out

January 3, 2009

Being a new blogger, and a self-proclaimed foodie and wine lover, I spend as much of my free time as possible reading websites, blogs, magazines and books on these subjects in hope of finding notable recipes, wines and restaurants that I can share with all of you.

As I was web-surfing, I came across something that I couldn’t wait to share: www.WinesTilSoldOut.com It is an on-line DISCOUNT wine store that announces 1 wine per day (all variations and prices) that will be on sale until 11:59 pm the same day. The available quantity of each wine varies and if a wine runs out they post a new one with a maximum of three within one day. The best part is that they are at a 30-70% discount and sometimes have free shipping. You can either check the site from time to time or you can sign up to automatically receive an e-mail alert each day telling you what the wine for that day is. See their site for all the additional details.

I don't know about you, but I am excited!!! Personally, I am afraid that I will become a "Wines Til Sold Out" addict, though I have been able to show a little restraint so far.

Hope your glass is always half full!
Foodie

(I do want to give credit where credit is due… Wines Til Sold Out was featured on the website www.winedanddined.com According to their site, they originally came across it as an advertisement in NY Magazine.)

New Years Restaurant Bargains

January 1, 2009

Happy New Year! It is hard to believe that another year has passed. Maybe this year I will exercise more, eat less, drink less and lose the 20 pounds that I have been talking about for the last 5 years…maybe… what fun would that be!? After all, we at Foodie Favorites are all about eating and drinking!

There seems to be little doubt that the upcoming months will bring one of the toughest economic times in memory. As we continue to look for places to cut back and try to tighten our belts, the good news is that it seems that many restaurants are making preparations to weather the storm with us. Foodie Favorites had previously reported about the famed chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, offering price fixe deals at all of his NY restaurants ("Affordable Pre-Theater Restaurants", December 17, 2008) which according to his blog and website he will continue into 2009. He is not the only one. This past week alone, we came across 2 restaurants with deals not to be missed, Teak (Red Bank, NJ) and David Burke’s Fromagerie (Rumson, NJ).

Every Monday night, Teak offers 50% off –everything- yep, you read that right. The discount includes all food- appetizers, entrees and dessert, as well as cocktails and wine by the glass (the only exclusion is wine by the bottle). Note however that the bottles of wine and half bottles are really reasonably priced if you do want to indulge.

For $65 plus tip, 2 of us dined on Asian fare including 1 split of champagne, 1 Hot Saki, 1 glass of Santa Ema Chardonnay, 1 Miso Soup, 1 order of Crispy Rock Shrimp, 1 Tuna Tartare, 1 order of Thai Dim Sum, 1 Stir Fry Filet Mignon, 1 Old Fashioned Chicken Pad Thai and of course a piece of Warm Chocolate Cake for dessert. Wow, right!? Everything was good but we particularly enjoyed the Thai Dim Sum, the Pad Thai, and the Filet Mignon Stir Fry. It is definitely worth a visit.

A friend recently told me that David Burke Fromagerie, a very upscale and “hoi polloi” restaurant was offering “Burger Night” in the bar area of their acclaimed establishment on Tuesday nights. We decided to check it out. For $20.08 you get a mixed green salad to start, the burger of the night which was a scrumptious mushroom and cheddar burger served up on an oversized English Muffin with crispy French fries and giant homemade pickle AND your choice of a glass of wine or beer. The other bonus is that everyone at the table received a delicious individual cheese popover. I normally wouldn’t even think about bringing my kids to Fromagerie but since they were offering $5 sliders for kids as well as chicken and french fries and mac and cheese, we gave it a shot. Much to my surprise there were other families enjoying burger night with their kids- we made a reservation, went early and the bar area was definitely a little more casual which all lent a hand in making it a family night out. (fyi- full menu is also available on burger night)

Please keep in mind that if you are trying a restaurant specifically for a special or a discounted night, it is always best to phone ahead to confirm that they are still offering it.

We will keep you posted on any additional deals or bargains we come across. Please tell us about any “foodie finds” that you may know of by posting it on http://www.foodiefavorites.blogspot.com/ OR e-mail us at foodiefavorites@yahoo.com and we will post it for you.

Enjoy!
Foodie

Restaurant: Teak
Location: 64 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ
Phone: 732.747.5775
Website: http://www.teakrestaurant.com/

Restaurant: David Burke Fromagerie
Location: 26 Ridge Road, Rumson, NJ
Phone: 732.842.8088
Website: http://www.fromagerierestaurant.com/