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Brushes with Greatness: Underground Eats’ Connection to James Beard 2013 Finalists

By Mikaela Flynn on March 22, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Featured, Good Reads, James Beard Awards, Underground Eats

Since launching Underground Eats in February 2012, we have been honored to work with some truly outstanding culinary talent. From fairly unknown rising stars to world-renowned celebrity chefs, we have had the extreme pleasure of collaborating with incredible chefs who enjoy sharing their pure love of food as much as we love sharing the art of alternative dining with our members.

This week when the 2013 JBF Award finalists were announced, we were not shocked, but rather humbled, to discover how many chefs and friends we’ve worked with were nominated for a prestigious James Beard Award. While we are proud of and have tremendous respect for every chef featured on Underground Eats, we would like to take this opportunity to say a big CONGRATULATIONS to all those who were nominated this year! Below is our line-up of finalists who we have had the honor to collaborate with on past UGE events:

Chef: April Bloomfield

Nomination: Best Chef: NYC, The Spotted Pig

Events with UGE: Breslin Butchers Ball, Meatopia

Why we love her: The girl knows her pig and has a great sense of humor. What more could you ask for? Plus- the burger with roquefort cheese & rosemary shoestring fries at The Spotted Pig has got to be one of the best in the city.

Chef: Sean Brock

Nomination: Outstanding Chef, McCrady’s

Events with UGE: The Supper Bowl

Why we love him: Not only can this guy cook- but he’s an all-around easy going dude who will fly all the way up to NYC from South Carolina to do a crazy one-night-only event with UGE! Oh and his fried chicken skins at Husk are one of our favorite snacks of all time.

Chef: Mark Ladner

Nomination: Best Chef: NYC, Del Posto

Events with UGE: Taste of Tuscany

Why we love him: Chef Ladner has helped raise the bar for Italian cooking in NYC.

Name: Garrett Oliver

Nomination: Best Beer/Spirit Professional, Brooklyn Brewery

Events with UGE: The Godfather Part II at Nitehawk Cinema

Why we love him: Not only does he brew excellent beer but he’s also a great entertainer and lecturer. If you ever get the chance to hear him speak, we recommend you jump on the opportunity. (That is, if you love beer as much as we do.)

Chef: Jonathan Waxman

Nomination: Best Chef: NYC, Barbuto

Events with UGE: Charity Dinner at North End Grill

Why we love him: His legendary roasted JW chicken.

Chef: Brooks Headley

Nomination: Outstanding Pastry Chef, Del Posto

Events with UGE: Taste of Tuscany, The Philharmonic Taste with Lidia Bastianich

Why we love him: The Box.

Chef: Michael White

Nomination: Best Chef: NYC, Marea

Events with UGE: Meatopia, The Greatest Meal Ever Cooked, NY Loves Emilia Romagna

Why we love him: His bistecca at Marea- grilled creekstone 50-day dry aged sirloin, braised romaine, with bone marrow panzanella. Drooling yet?

Restaurant: Del Posto

Nomination: Outstanding Service

Events with UGE: The Philharmonic Taste with Lidia Bastianich, Taste of Tuscany, The Art of Pasta Cooking Class Series

Why we love them: When dining at Del Posto’s “10 Champagnes You Should Know” private dinner, we were absolutely blown away by the level of service we received from the restaurants’ warm and professional staff. This nomination is not at all surprising, and neither would be a James Beard Award win.

Christina Tosi, pastry chef at Momofuku Milk Bar, will be present at The Greatest Meal Ever Cooked. How could you go wrong?
Get advice from real restaurant chefs at the Culintro Panel on Wednesday night
Support one of our favorite chefs, David Santos, as he embarks on a new restaurant, Louro, and a new supper club, Nossa Mesa
The Nom Wah Tea Parlor, the oldest and most legenary dim sum restaurant in China Town, will be opening up a pop up at Openhouse at 168 Bowery
Landhaus' specialty sandwhiches will keep you warm this winter in their pop up location in Brooklyn

Quick Bites

By Charlotte Cerf on November 30, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Food Trends, Photos, Pop-Ups, Supper Clubs, Underground Eats, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

On Saturday the 1st, the NYC Craft Beer Festival will open its doors to all you beer lovers. A general admissions ticket will get you unlimited beer tastings, a souvenir tasting glass, access to beer seminars, and approximately 150 American harvest craft beer samplings.

Cure your Monday blues on the 3rd at our featured event, The Greatest Meal Ever Cooked. The all-star team of chefs includes Tom Colicchio, Michael Symon, Linton Hopkins, Jonathan Benno, Michael White, Christina Tosi, Rich Torrisi, and Mario Carbone. Culinary cooperation will reach a whole new level at an elegant six-course meal at the famed Bowery Hotel. Buy tickets here.

On Wednesday, December 5th, join Culintro and Nespresso as chefs tackle the hot topic of restaurant expansion. Hear stories and get advice from Chef Michael White of Altamarea Group, Chef Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food, and Andy Ricker of Pok Pok Restaurants. Following the panel event, there will be an after-party at Asellina from 8-10pm. Buy tickets here.

‘Tis official the season of holiday parties and plenty of cocktail consumption. On December 12th Dipsology invites Underground Eats members to attend their exclusive “Let’s Get Dipsy” holiday cocktail party. Dipsology is your ultimate online guide of New York’s best cocktail destinations. If anyone can throw a good cocktail party it’s these guys. Join them for an evening of specialty cocktails including an egg nog and sorrel punch with Brugal Anejo Rum. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Throughout the month of December, join Chef David Santos on Monday nights at Louro, his new restaurant. This Monday night supper series, inspired by his supper club, Um Segredo, will be called Nossa Mesa (“Our Table”). Learn more and R.S.V.P. to the first dinner here.

And now for some pop up news:

Nom Wah Tea Parlour, a 100-year old staple in Chinatown dim sum, announced yesterday that it will open pop up brunches and dinners starting next year, in collaboration with Openhouse at 168 Bowery. In the mean time, they are opening up a cafe before this Christmas that will sell goods made on the premises.

The Landhaus, a Brooklyn Flea regular, has temporarily opened shop in Park Slope’s People’s Pops. In the cold winter months when few are hankering for People’s Pops local fruit ice pops, The Landhaus will prepare farm-to-sandwhich goods that will keep you warm and satisfied.

Ozersky TV Rants About the Scourge of Community Boards (Produced by Underground Eats)

By Underground Eats on May 16, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Ozersky TV X Underground Eats

In his latest rant, our protagonist gives it to the high and mighty community boards who determine what food and drink we shall consume…but whose interests do they really have in their minds and hearts? Should this tyrannical system come tumbling down? Ozersky‘s answer is pretty clear, and we tend to agree (on this one at least).

Michael White and Valentino Marcattilii
Cesare Casella passing around fried tortellini
Michael White's divine Pesto di Lardo and Spuma di Mortadella
"The Mike and Valentino Show"
Valentino Marcattilii's squab and little gnocchi with Lambrusco Reggionao Scaglietti
Sucking pig terrine with Lambrusco Montericco "Amarcord"
Cesare Casella
Scott Carney, Giorgio Melandri, Valentino Marcattilii, Cesare Casella, Michael White and Alberto Medici of the Medici Ermete estate

Michael White Wants You To Drink Lambrusco Now

By Julia Blanter on May 11, 2012 / 1 Comment / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Photos, Unique Events

It’s best not to argue with a chef who’s shaving truffles (smuggled in from Italy) over your squab.

Michael White is drinking Lambrusco before midday while cooking with mentor Valentino Marcattilii. They’re calling it “the Mike and Valentino Show.” Between them, five Michelin stars, a barrage of Italianisms being tossed back and forth, together again at The International Culinary Center for the world premiere of Mondo Lambrusco, a celebration of a wine that’s suffered from a bad 1980′s reputation, kind of like Roxette.

Thomas Keller
Michael White, Josh Ozersky and John Besh
April Bloomfield and Josh Ozersky
Josh Ozersky and James Oseland
Cesare Casella and Josh Ozersky
Jonathan Waxman
José Andres
Josh Ozersky and Seamus Mullen
The Beasts: Naomi Pomeroy and Josh Ozersky
Garrett Oliver with Harris
Chris Cosentino and Ted Allen
Lee Anne Wong and Ming Tsai
Michael White and Josh Ozersky
Josh Ozersky and John Besh
Lee Anne Wong and Maxime Bilet at Sunday's Chef's Night Out
Joe Bastianich and Josh Ozersky
Harris with Top Chef Texas winner Paul Qui

Eating Caviar Off Duff’s Head and Dancing on Tables: James Beard Awards 2012 Wrap-Up

By Julia Blanter on May 8, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Photos

What will we remember more about last night’s James Beard Awards: dishing on the red carpet with Josh “Joan Rivers” Ozersky, or the four after parties at Gramercy Tavern, Eleven Madison (where dancing on tables is encouraged when your Head Chef wins a pretty spectacular award), Hearth and Tertulia.

And yes, we spotted guests eating caviar off Duff Goldman‘s head.

Congratulations to all the winners, including New York City Best Chef Michael Anthony, Outstanding Chef Daniel Humm and Rising Star Chef of the Year, Christina Tosi. The full list of winners here.

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