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Louro offers a Great Gatsby themed menu this evening

5 Food Events Happening This Week

By Mikaela Flynn on May 20, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Featured, Quick Bites, Round Up, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

After this past rainy weekend, many of you are probably aching to get out of the house or office and go out and do something. As a New Yorker, more often than not, “getting out of the house” involves going out to eat, and so in order to make your planning easier, we’ve curated a list of exciting food events this week that will brighten up your week (especially for those who missed out on yesterday’s Great GoogaMooga and whose food cravings were never properly satisfied!).

TONIGHT: GATSBY DINNER

Yesterday, with its gloom, wind, and rain, would have been the perfect day to go out and see the new film Gatsby. Whether or not you have been able to catch the movie, chances are you have been affected by the latest Gatsby fever that has taken over the nation. Nobody can seem to get enough of the 1920′s these days as Gatsby themed parties are popping up everywhere and nostalgia for the jazz age grows stronger. One chef that has jumped on the Gatsby bandwagon is Chef David Santos at Louro who will be offering a Gatsby/1920′s-themed tasting menu at his Nossa Mesa Supper Club tonight. The dishes are inspired by food that was typical of the era of Gatsby along with a welcome cocktail hour with drinks that were mentioned in the film. The dinner includes five courses and a cocktail and is $60. Find tickets here.

TUESDAY: LOBSTER & BEER LOVERS CRUISE

Mostly sunny, high of 79 degrees. The perfect forecast for tomorrow’s Lobster & Beer Lovers Cruise with Luke’s Lobster and Dogfish Head Craft Ale. The two-hour sunset cruise includes lobster rolls and unlimited craft beer by one of our favorite breweries. The ship sets sail at 7:00pm out of Pier 17 in the Seaport. Tickets can be found here.

TUESDAY: FILIPINO FIESTA

As part of this week’s booze fest a.k.a. The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, the Philippine Department of Tourism is throwing a dinner and tropical cocktail party featuring favorite restaurants like The Ugly Kitchen, Jeepney, Zengo, Kuma Inn /Umi Nom, and a drink menu by Maharlika‘s mixologist Enzo Lim. The dinner will take place at The Bowery Hotel Rooftop and will feature Asian dishes with colorful, exotic flair. The event begins at 6:30pm tomorrow and dinner (with cocktails) is $75. Grab tickets here.

FRIDAY: KATZ’S TURNS CELEBRATES 125 YEARS

This Friday NYC’s famed Katz’s Delicatessen is celebrating its 125th anniversary by inviting some of the biggest names in the culinary scene to come and prepare interpretations of the deli’s classic dishes for a special Shabbat dinner. Chefs will include recent James Beard Award-winner Danny Bowien (Mission Chinese), Bill Telepan (Telepan), Joey Campanaro (The Little Owl, Market Table, Quality Clam) and Pastry chef Sarabeth Levine (Sarabeth’s). The celebrations will continue through Saturday with various festivities and live music at the LES deli. Find tickets to Friday night’s event here.

SAT + SUN: CRAFT BEER TASTING SAIL

Enjoy the long weekend with an afternoon sail and craft beer tasting on either Saturday or Sunday with Manhattan by Sail and the beer experts from Urban Oyster. Aboard the largest sailboat in Manhattan for a cruise around the city harbor as your learn about various craft beers (and taste them all). The tasting includes charcuterie bites and cheeses. Tickets, originally $105, are now only $60 and can be found here.

The Great GoogaMooga weekend-long food festival is kicking off this Friday night

3 Pop-Up Restaurants to Look for at GoogaMooga This Weekend

By Mikaela Flynn on May 13, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Featured, Pop-Ups, Unique Events

Just in case you didn’t feel like there was quite enough going on during this weekend’s Great GoogaMooga in Prospect Park, the food-centric festival announced late last week that they will be hosting three exclusive pop-up restaurants on both Saturday and Sunday on top of the 85 food vendors that will be on-site. From what it sounds like, this year is bound to be even more overwhelming than last year but without the downfalls (many VIP ticket holders didn’t get a chance to have a single bite of food).

For those who get flustered whenever you have the opportunity to pick a restaurant to go to due to an overabundance of options, we suggest you plan ahead before walking into the fair grounds to prevent your foodie brain from totally exploding. While there will be plenty of restaurants and purveyors offering up food at various stations, we definitely recommend putting these three unique pop-ups on your radar:

ROBERTA’S URBAN REN FAIRE

Our favorite Bushwick pizzeria is coining their medieval-inspired pop-up concept as the “ultimate medieval meat-on-a-stick-eating dance party.” So basically they are taking the DJ and dance elements of their weekend Tiki Disco parties and mixing in some Elizabethan maidens, knights and royal banquets, with a little Game of Thrones on the side. Tickets are $20 and reservations times are 12:00pm, 2:00pm, 4:00pm, and 6:00pm. If the typical wait for a table at Roberta’s and the lines to get into their Tiki Disco party are of any indication- we suggest reserving your spot ahead of time.

LITTLE WISCO SEAFOOD BOIL & BBQ

For all the Gabe Stuleman-restaurant fans out there, this is your dream come true. A collaborative project by Fedora, Joseph Leonard, and Jeffrey’s Grocery, this pop-up concept includes a Down East seafood boil combined with classic summer activities like bocce and cornhole. Toss bocce balls with friends while downing cold brews and enjoying an old-school seafood boil and BBQ by three of your favorite restaurants. Tickets are $20 and reservations times are 12:30pm, 2:30pm, 4:30pm, and 6:30pm.

THE SPOTTED PIG HAUS

The Spotted Pig gastropub fare + a classic German biergarten = perfect summer afternoon. The Spotted Pig Haus with Chef April Bloomfield will pop up at GoogaMooga offering some of her favorite meaty dishes along with a wide selection of German beers and wine. Tickets are $15 and reservation times are 12:15pm, 2:15pm, 4:15pm, and 6:15pm.

Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich, the stars of the show, introduced each course and offered guest the opportunity to ask them questions throughout the evening.
The private dinner was held in Del Posto's beautiful downstairs Barbaresco Room.
Upon arrival guests were greeted with Champagne and passed hors d'œuvres.
Guests entered by descending down this elegant staircase to the private dining area on Monday night.
Lidia Bastianich greeted guests and helped serve hors d'œuvres during the beginning of the night.
Beautiful table setting in Del Posto's private downstairs Barbaresco Room.
Glasses ready to be filled with delicious Italian wine!
The Lobster Course: Left is Lidia's Astice Quasi Caprese and on the right is Mari's Lobster Crudo with Ramps and Meyer Lemon.
The Peas Course: On the left is Lidia's Risotto con Scaffata "Cacio e Pepe" and on the right is Mario's unique Mint and Pea Love Letters with Merguez sausage.
The Bolognese Course: Lidia's Fuzi Tradizionali al Ragu de Cortile (left) and Mario's "Classic Bolognese"
Underground Eats member Margaret Walker joined two of her friends at the Masters at the Table dinner.
The Beef Course: Lidia's Brasato all a Veneziana, Tagliata all a Griglia con Patate e Bietole (left) and Mario's Braised Beef Cheek with Morels and Stinging Nettle Polenta (right).
Dessert consisted of a Donut Course and included Mario's Bomboloni and Lidia's "Gnocchi di Susine" con Gelato di Bourbon e Prugne.
Del Posto's Wine Director Jeffrey Porter selected five exceptional wine pairings for Monday night's dinner.
Both star chefs seemed to be enjoying themselves Monday night as they chatted about everything from their favorite cooking ingredients to whether or not they ever order from Seamless.com.
Fans were able to introduce themselves and jump into photos with their favorite chefs.
Underground Eats' Harris Damashek with Lidia Bastianich (left) and a photo of the decadent 10-course menu served on Monday night.
At one point closer to the end of the evening the hosts introduced the talented kitchen staff at Del Posto and thanked them for doing such an amazing job.

Dining with the Masters: An Evening with Lidia and Mario

By Underground Eats on May 2, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Uncategorized, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

When you make a reservation at Del Posto you do so with an expectation of superb fine dining with outstanding service, amazing food, and delicious wine. On Monday night the Del Posto experience was elevated to new heights when approximately 200 diners enjoyed a multi-course dinner with wine pairings during a special evening hosted by none other than Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich, two of the restaurants’ owners. It’s not everyday you get to dine among two of the biggest names in the food world.

As giddy, star-struck guests entered the beautiful Barbaresco Room at Del Posto, Lidia herself was already passing out some of her delicious hors d’oeuvres for everyone to nibble on with a welcoming glass of Champagne. From start to finish the evening was nothing short of Del Posto excellence. There is no wondering why the restaurant is up for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Service as every server was attentive and professional without the stuffiness one would expect from a four-star NY Times restaurant.

Even though Mario Batali seemed to have forgotten to dress up for the occasion wearing his trademark fleece vest, shorts, and pink button-up shirt with rolled up sleeves (we still love him!), he was definitely ready to act as gracious host as he and Lidia took the stage to welcome everyone and begin their introductions to the first course. The “dueling menu” consisted of five courses with each chef preparing their own interpretation based on a classic dish or specific ingredient; Lidia’s was always served on the left and Mario’s on the right. Between each course the chefs explained why and how they prepared their dish and allowed for guests to ask a few questions.

Later in the evening there was a longer Q&A session during which guests asked questions from “What are the three most important ingredients?” (Lidia’s answer: garlic, olive oil, and either parsley or basil) to “Have you ever ordered in using Seamless.com?” Neither chef even knew what this was. At one point Lidia declared her love for Korean food and Mario admitted he doesn’t care much for trendy molecular gastronomy techniques (since “Everything is molecular! Everything is made up of molecules. Why mess around with the textures?”

For those who have watched both chefs rise to stardom and have enjoyed all their restaurants and watch them on TV, it was truly an amazing opportunity to meet and speak with both Mario and Lidia. It’s rare that anyone can gain this much access to two of the biggest names in food. Even if Mario didn’t stick around to take photos with fans, he was happy to answer any and all questions and offer detailed responses.

While both chefs created great dishes it wouldn’t be a “dueling menu” without some fun competition. Although I definitely do not speak for everyone, below is a personal score card of each course and how the chefs compared: (see above photo gallery for images of each dish)

Lobster Course:

Lidia: Astice Quasi Caprese - Lobster with Burrata, Fresh Passion Fruit, Olive Oil, Asparagus, Radish, Cucumber, Carrot, Watercress, Chocolate Brioche and Bitter Chocolate

Mario: Lobster Crudo with Ramps and Meyer Lemon

Verdict: Mario. Simple and delicious.

Peas Course:

Lidia: Risotto con Scaffata “Cacio e Pepe” – Risotto with Pea served with Cheese (Peccorino) and Pepper

Mario: Mint and Pea Love Letters with Merguez Sausage

Verdict: Lidia. While Mario’s was surprising and inventive, Lidia’s perfectly cooked risotto won over the taste buds.

Bolognese Course:

Lidia: Fuzi Tradizionali al Ragu de Cortile - Traditional Fuzi Pasta made with Porcini Powder and Ragu of Chicken, Duck, Rabbit, and Guinea Hen.

Mario: Classic Bolognese.

Verdict: Mario.

Beef Course:

Lidia: Brasato alla Veneziana, Tagliata alla Griglia con Patate e Bietole – Flat Iron Steak with Sautéed Swiss Chard and Potatoes Topped with Wagyu Beef and Crispy Swiss Chard Stems.

Mario: Braised Beef Cheek with Morels and Stinging Nettle Polenta

Verdict: Even Mario admitted that it felt like Lidia cheated by throwing a beautiful piece of wagyu beef on top of her plate which solidified her “win” this round.

Donuts Course:

Lidia: “Gnocchi de Susine” con Gelato di Bourbon e Prugne

Mario: Bomboloni

Verdict: Lidia. Bourbon ice cream gave her extra points.

Mario & Lidia Host Private Dinner Tonight; NYC Burger Week Events; Ethiopian Pop-up in Williamsburg; and More Edible Activities This Week

By Mikaela Flynn on April 29, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Good Reads, Pop-Up Dinners, Round Up, Underground Eats, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

Those who nabbed tickets to the sold out Masters at the Table event hosted by non other than Mario Batali and Lidia Bastianich at Del Posto, may need to pinch themselves because tonight is the night it’s all happening. This evening at Del Posto the two superstar chef personalities will go head-to-head as they prepare a dueling menu of their favorite Italian dishes. The 10-course dinner will most likely go down in history as one of the most epic meals of any of the 200+ guests’ lives.

Wednesday is May Day which means that spring finally feels like it’s really here. Ok, maybe it doesn’t actually feel like it’s here since the temperature still seems to disagree, but at least we know that it really can’t be far along now. With May comes its perfect weather for BBQ’ing burgers and dogs and so it only seems appropriate that Wednesday is also the first day of NYC Burger Week. Starting May 1st and continuing through May 7th there will be a slew of burger-centric events happening throughout the city. On Thursday Hardings NYC will host a Burger and Bourbon Dinner while Boozy Burbs hosts an Off-Menu Burger and Putts Beer Dinner the same night. On Friday Get Real Presents will host a Beer, Bowling and Burgers Festival at Bowlmor Lanes. If you really want to be in the know about all the best burgerlicious events happening be sure to follow our favorite burger blog, Burger Conquest.

If you are so over the American classic burger, than perhaps you’d be more interested in something a bit more international. This Saturday the traveling NYC Ethiopian pop-up restaurant Bunna Cafe is hosting their biggest event ever in a secret location in Williamsburg. The evening will celebrate Fasika, the Ethiopian Easter, when traditionally Ethiopians rejoice as they end a seven-week fasting period with a huge feast and party. After dinner guests will take part in a traditional coffee ceremony and have the opportunity to watch a live performance staring Tadele Daba, a world famous dancer and choreographer, as well as a former judge of Ethiopian Idol. VIP tickets can be found here.

The Food Book Fair kicks off this Thursday night and will continue through the weekend hosting a number of events that include cooking demonstrations, panel discussions, and tasting events. The fair will take place at three different locations: the Wythe Hotel, Brooklyn Winery, and The Brooklyn Kitchen. Participants include Bon Appetit’s Editor-in-Chief Adam Rapoport, The New York Times’ Oliver Strand, Smitten Kitchen’s Deb Perelman, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver, and Chef Elizabeth Falkner. Full schedule and ticketing information can be found here.

If you are missing tonight’s dinner at Del Posto and are kicking yourself since you would LOVE to have a unique experience at one of your favorite Italian restaurants, then be sure to grab a spot at this Saturday’s The Art of Sauce Making class with Del Posto’s Chef de Cuisine Matt Abdoo. The course will blow your mind as you learn all the ins and outs of making the most delicious Italian sauces from scratch by a highly esteemed Italian chef. After the course, everyone is invited for a sit-down family-style Italian lunch with Del Posto’s selected wine pairings. This will absolutely be unlike any other cooking class you’ve ever attended. Find tickets here.

And then it’s Sunday. But this week, Sunday should not be treated like a typical low-key, get-ready-for-the-week Sunday. Why? Because it’s Cinco de Mayo! And you need a margarita! If you are looking to celebrate the holiday in full festive form then we encourage you to do so at Fatta Cuckoo. The Lower East Side restaurant will continue its Sunday Supper: Friends of Fatta guest chef series by welcoming Chef William Huffman who is a master of cuisine hailing from the south of the boarder. Dinner includes margarita and mezcal pairings and will feature six courses of Mexican favorites. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

A crew of mischievous flappers stood by the main entrance enticing onlookers to join them in the secret speakeasy for "illegal" libations.
Meanwhile, Temperance supporters guarded the entrance and protested the consumption of alcohol.
Merrymakers included well-dressed flappers who helped set the scene for a prohibition era cocktail party.
Underground Eats members came out in full period attire for Saturday's event.
The 1920's style band, Dew Drop Society, came out in full swing and got people on their feet to jump and jive.
Chefs Rob McCue and Adam Banks set up a "Free Lunch" stand in the parlor area consisting of various cured meats, saltines, and pickles to mimic what was a traditional hook to get people to drink more since salty and fatty foods always seem to do the trick!
The scene on Saturday looked like it came right out of HBO's Boardwalk Empire.
Guests sipped cocktails like the Bee's Knees (G'Vine Nouaison Gin, honey, fresh lemon mist) out of tea cups in traditional speakeasy form.
VIP guests were escorted through a secret passageway hidden behind this bookshelf to another room where they were treated to Templeton Rye tastings and absinthe cocktails.
A traditional absinthe drip in the VIP room
Ladies were decked with diamond cigarette holders and furs while men dressed like bootlegging gangsters
Underground Eats member Angelina Lippert dancing the afternoon away with Underground Eats co-founder Harris Damashek
The decor and theatrics during the event included this "bathtub gin."
Once everyone sipped a few cocktails, they were ready to dance to tunes by the Dew Drop Society
Guests in period attire at Saturday's event
Underground Eats' Adam Sirois (left), Harris Damashek (top, middle) with Chefs Rob McCue (front, center) and Adam Banks (right)

An Afternoon of Merrymaking at Prohibition NYC

By Mikaela Flynn on April 22, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Featured, Photos, Underground Eats, Unique Events

On April 20th in-the-know New Yorkers gathered in a secret location on the Lower East Side and stepped back in time to an era of bootleggers, illegal speakeasies, flappers, and bathtub gin. Prohibition NYC, the brainchild of the creative duo Chefs Rob McCue and Adam Banks (the same guys who brought us Dine Titanic a little over a year ago), was an epic culinary adventure that included delicious craft cocktails like the “Blood & Sand” (Cheery Heering, Scotch, sweet vermouth, and fresh OJ) and modern takes on classic bar snacks weighing heavy in salt and fat to mimic the traditional menus of old speakeasies.

Upon arrival, guests were accosted by a crowd of actors portraying women of the Temperance movement, shaming revelers for giving in to the devilish temptations of alcohol consumption. At the same time, another group of actors dressed as party-ready flappers stood by the entrance and encouraged people to come join them in the “saloon” for libations, dancing and general debauchery.

Once everyone passed the hecklers outside and made their way through the alley to the parlor entrance, they were greeted by the sounds of festive merriment. The 1920′s-style band, the Dew Drop Society, set the mood as guests helped themselves to cocktails and small bites.

In the far corner of the room a man guarded an unassuming bookcase, checking for VIP hand stamps before gently pushing against the shelves revealing a hidden parlor area. Within the secret VIP room guests enjoyed special tastings of Templeton Rye and cocktails from a traditional absinthe drip.

The party finally came to a close around 5:00pm once the flappers stopped flapping and the absinthe stopped dripping. Reluctant revelers were forced to emerge from the hidden speakeasy of the 1920′s and face the light of the afternoon in 2013. It was at this point when all fellow time-travelers realized together, “Aha, I am drunk.”

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