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This past Sunday, Restaurant Daniel celebrated its 20th anniversary as part of the annual Citymeals-On-Wheels benefit dinner (Photo Credit: Amy Y Lee)
Al Roker and Gail Simmons hosted the dinner along with Chef Daniel Boulud
Mikaela Flynn of Underground Eats with Gail Simmons
Al Roker taking a look at the silent auction options
The delicious "The Reunion" cocktail inspired by the reunion of alumni chefs working together in Daniel's kitchen
Daniel alum and current Executive Chef at Gramercy Tavern, Michael Anthony (left)

20 Years, Over 20 Alumni, 1 Dinner of a Lifetime

By Mikaela Flynn on April 9, 2013 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Fundraisers, Photos

Michael Anthony, Alex Guarnaschelli, Jonathan Benno, Johnny Iuzzini, Francois Payard… You probably know all these names because they are some of the most celebrated chefs in New York City. But what you may not know is that they share one other thing besides success and talent, they have all worked in the Holy Kitchen at Chef Daniel Boulud’s Restaurant Daniel.

This past Sunday evening brought together an impressive line-up of Daniel alumni for a special reunion like no other. In honer of Restaurant Daniel’s 20th anniversary, the annual Sunday dinner to benefit Citymeals-On-Wheels featured courses by Chef Daniel Boulud (who sits as Vice President on the charity’s Board of Directors) and 17 star chefs who have all at one point worked under him at his landmark restaurant. They gathered to prepare a decadent feast for nearly 180 guests to help raise money for the charity organization which helps feed NYC’s homebound elderly. The epic meal of a lifetime was hosted by Food & Wine‘s Gail Simmons and Today Show‘s Al Roker who were both thrilled to be there and celebrate such a momentous occasion in the world of New York dining. And not only was it an memorable evening for the guests, but the dinner and charity auction held back in March together raised $676,287 for Citymeals-On-Wheels, exceeding last year’s numbers.

The star-studded evening was a powerful reminder of Restaurant Daniel’s influence in the New York culinary scene over the last couple decades. It will be exciting to watch throughout the next 20 years as new rising stars emerge from Chef Boulud’s famed kitchen and go on to become the city’s future restaurant leaders. Twenty years and counting… Congratulations, Chef!

Chef Mendelsohn travels out to Florida to meet up with You Tube celebrity, Joe Hanson. After a long night of drinking, the former Top Chef competitor cooks up a gourmet spicy chicken pizza at the local pizza joint.

Former Top Chef Competitor Brings New Eating Show to Youtube

By Matt Steinberg on December 17, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Good Reads

While Aziz Ansari may say it best, we all can appreciate the fact that food consumed after a few drinks tastes significantly better. On his new YouTube show called We’re Drunk, Let’s Eat, chef at NYC’s Good Stuff Eatery and former Top Chef competitor, Spike Mendelsohn proves that he lives by this idea.

The concept behind this appropriately titled show is simple– Chef Mendelsohn takes a few friends to find a culinary rich area, they get drunk at local bars, and then they whip up a late night meal. Let’s remember, these aren’t the late night sloppy nachos that most people put together after a long night. Mendelsohn is preparing some gourmet dishes such as fried quail with an arugula and bacon salad, spicy chicken pizza, and what else but a pumpkin pie milkshake…all while heavily under the influence.

With the amount of food talent on this You Tube show, it is definitely something for foodies to look out for.

Dipsology, NYC's online curated cocktail guide, knows how to throw a good party
It's latke time!
Join Chef David Santos Monday nights at Louro for his weekly supper club series

Quick Bites

By Matt Steinberg on December 5, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Good Reads, Supper Clubs, Underground Eats, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

Tonight marks the New York Distilling Company’s one year anniversary as well as the 79th anniversary of Repeal Day, marking the end of the Prohibition Era. To commemorate this glorious day, the New York Distilling Company is holding a fundraiser party to benefit the Brooklyn Recovery Fund. A ticket to this event gives you the awesome oppertunity to take part in a distilling session, which is being opened to the public for the very first time. You’ll get the chance finish a run of rye and take home one bottle fresh out of the still, and then receive another bottle from the run once it’s aged. Doors open at 7 p.m. Find additional tickets and information here (code New York Distilling Company – Sandy Relief Benefit).

Caskers is your guide to discovering the best craft distilleries in the nation and tomorrow, Dec. 6th, is their grand tasting event of the year. Experts from some of the top distilleries in the nation will be on-site to present their unique craft spirits that you may not find elsewhere. As a guest, you will get to break off into small groups and enjoy a mixology class with Steve Shneider, the principal bartender of cocktail hotspot Employees Only. Not only will special drinks from various distilleries be offered for you to try, but 15% of proceeds will be benefiting Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Tickets and additional information can be found here.

Hanukkah is fast approaching, which means it’s time to get ready for latkes. Latkes will be served at The Brooklyn Academy of Music when 16 chefs and restaurants compete at this one-of-a-kind latke festival. A portion of the proceeds will help benefit the Sylvia Center, a food education organization that works with children. The latkefest will be taking place Dec 10 at 6:30 p.m. To find tickets, $55, click here.

If you are looking for a good time on the 4th night of Hanukkah, then check out 92Y‘s Latke Sizzle! Celebrate with “Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons, as she gives a cooking demonstrate of our favorite crispy holiday treat. She will also be discussing with cookbook author/food journalist Mitchell Davis their connection to their Jewish heritage. Of course all attendees will be enjoying international samplings of latkes paired with tasty vodkas. The night will be held at 92Y – Buttenwieser Hall, starting at 8:15 p.m. Tickets, $29, can be purchased here.

You know how much we love Chef David Santos, and on Mondays, his critically-acclaimed supper club will continue as “Nosa Messa” through his new West Village restaurant, Louro. Next Monday night’s dinner will showcase Santos’s culinary creativity as he prepares a set menu for a limited number of dinner guests. We encourage you to come enjoy Ocean’s Bounty, his five course seafood meal, on Dec. 10th where foodies can get a taste of the supper club we all know and love. For tickets and additional information click here.

Dipsology, the curated online cocktail guide to New York’s best cocktail destinations, will be providing you with an exceptional line-up of bartenders and drinks, as they collaborate with hot newcomer, Pouring Ribbons, Evelyn, and the folks from New York Distillery to celebrate this holiday season. On Dec 12 at 7:00 p.m., come join the festivities, which will include an open bar, featuring specialty cocktails, tasty snacks, raffle, and music by DJ Tamer. There will also be a toy drive on-site so feel free to bring items to donate. Each donated item will get you one raffle ticket. Proceeds will go towards Hurricane Sandy Relief efforts. It’s going to be a great night. For tickets and additional information click here.

Many restaurants are still closed due to flood damage and loss of power while others are struggling after losing a week of business. Photo courtesy of Eater.com
All proceeds from Um Segredo Supper Club's two-night dinner series this week will benefit the Red Cross and their Sandy relief efforts

Dine Out NYC: Where to Chow Down for a Good Cause

By Mikaela Flynn on November 5, 2012 / 1 Comment / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Good Reads, Supper Clubs, Unique Dinners, Unique Events

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, many are still left stranded without power, heat, gas, or a home. As some New Yorkers ease their way back into their daily routine, others have a long way to go. During times like these it is important to help each other by doing what we can, whether it be donating, volunteering, or going out and supporting local businesses. Many restaurants are now struggling as they lost a week’s worth of customers, experienced flood damage, or remain without power. New York City is famous for its vibrant restaurant scene and we must do what we can to keep all of our favorite local food haunts alive and prosperous.

Here is a list of special dining events and dinners that will fill your bellies and offer support to those who need it most. So get out and EAT!

TONIGHT, Monday November 5th:

Top Chef stars including, Jennifer Carroll, Dale Talde, Kevin Sbraga, and Angelo Sosa will prepare a four-course tasting menu at Sosa’s Añejo Tequileria with all proceeds being donated to Hurricane Sandy victims. Each chef will prepare a unique dish and specialty cocktails will be available for purchase. Learn more and reserve your table here.

Facebook group, Wangin’ Wednesday, a collective started by the guys from Studiofeast that goes out every week to try out New York’s best Szechuan, has decided to head out to Chinatown tonight to support local mom/pop restaurants. The crew will meet at Great New York Noodle Town at 7pm tonight for the first round of delicious Asian grub. Then we will continue on and head to Hop Kee at 8:30pm and end the night at Winnie’s around 10pm for some drinks and karaoke. The goal is to get as many people to come and fill up these restaurants and give them some business. In addition, Studiofeast’s Mike Lee has promised to donate the amount of each check to Sandy relief organizations. For those interested in joining, feel free to stop by at any one of these locations for however long you wish (as long as its enough time to have a decent meal!) We hope we will see you there.

Seersucker in Brooklyn will be offering roast pork sandwiches with green tomato barbecue sauce tonight at four for $10 with all proceeds benefiting the Red Hook Initiative. Anyone interested in donating more than $10 is encouraged to do so as all the money will go towards helping those in need in Red Hook neighborhoods.

If you are hungry for more than sandwiches, head uptown to Telepan where the restaurant will offer a four-course dinner with wine pairings for $200. All proceeds from tonight’s dinner will be donated to the Mayor’s Fund for Hurricane Sandy relief. For reservations call, 212-580-4300.

Wednesday November 7th:

Chef George Mendez will team up with chefs Andrew Carmellini, Marco Canora, and Seamus Mullen to host a five-course dinner with wine pairings at his Aldea restaurant. The dinner is $300/head and will benefit the NYC Food Flood which brings food trucks to neighborhoods still left in the dark with no power. For reservations call, 212-675-7223.

Thursday November 8th:

This Thursday and Friday Um Segredo Supper Club will host a two-night dinner series benefiting the Red Cross. Chef David Santos will prepare a four-course pork-centric menu based on traditional Portuguese cuisine. The dinner was suppose to be held last week but was cancelled due to the storm. After hearing horror stories from friends who experienced flood damage from Sandy, Santos decided to reschedule and turn it into a benefit. This is the perfect opportunity to experience his critically-acclaimed supper club before the opening of Santos’s highly-anticipated restaurant, Louro. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

A number of Williamsburg restaurants are joining forces for a special “Dine Out Williamsburg” evening by donating 10 to 20% of their gross sales on Thursday to the Red Cross. Find more information and a list of participating bars and restaurants here.

Help raise money for Rockaway residents who have lost everything at Hudson Terrace for the Modern Beefsteak & Spirits Celebration. This walk-around tasting will feature food by five chefs including Mary Cleaver and Ian Kapitan with speciality cocktails by Gregg Glaser (Modern Distillery Age) and craft beer from Empire Brewing Company. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

Sunday November 11th:

Park Avenue Autumn will offer a four-course menu with wine pairings for $150 to help raise money for Executive Chef Kevin Lasko’s home town of Point Pleasant, NJ where Sandy left considerable damage and many people stranded. Dinner takes place Sunday evening at 6:30pm. To make a reservation call, 212-644-1900.

Thursday November 15th:

Mark your calendars for next week’s Friends with Benefits Cocktail Club. The third installment of the cocktail club series will feature mixologists from The Bowery Hotel and 1534, Walt Easterbrook and Justin Noel, create exclusive cocktails and punches. A portion of ticket sales for this event will be donated to Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Learn more and purchase tickets here.

On-going events:

Course Hourse, an online hub for various classes in NYC, has launched a “Food for Thought” campaign starting Nov. 12th through the 18th. During this time Course Horse will offer special classes in cooking, wine, life skills, etc. with all proceeds going towards Food Bank for NYC. Learn how to make pumpkin-flavored gelato or seasonal vegetarian recipes while helping feed those in need.

From now until Nov. 11th Shake Shack is proudly donating $2 for every “Rally Shake” sold to the Red Cross. The “Rally Shake” is inspired by NYC’s iconic black and white cookie and will be available for a limited time.

While this list should keep you busy, there are sure to be many more delicious ways to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. Follow hashtag #DineOutNYC to learn more about where to eat and help out.

Starting October 16h, the Top Chef Kitchen pop-up restaurant will host weekly tasting menus prepared by previous Top Chef contestants
Tiffany Derry of Top Chef Season 7 and Top Chef All-Stars
Tiffani Faison is on the list of those cooking at Top Chef Kitchen
Richard Blais of Top Chef Season 4 and Top Chef All-Stars
Paul Qui from Top Chef Season 9
Fabio Viviani from Top Chef Season 5 and Top Chef All-Stars

Top Chef Kitchen Pops Up In TriBeCa

By Mikaela Flynn on September 27, 2012 / No Comments / Categorized Celebrity Chefs, Featured, Pop-Up Dinners, Pop-Ups, Unique Dinners

On some nights when you’re home watching Top Chef, do you ever find yourself staring wide-eyed at the TV screen, drooling over the incredible-looking dishes the chef-testants prepare the judges? Whether or not you admit to actually drooling, chances are high that you have experienced a feeling of jealousy as each judge tastes and critiques a chef’s dish. Well, get ready it could be your turn: starting October 16th some of the stars of Top Chef will be preparing drool-worthy tasting menus for the general public (or at least, the lucky portion of the general public that can actually nab tickets).

Between October 16h and November 18th, a select group of Top Chef alumni will be hosting special dinners at the new Top Chef Kitchen pop-up restaurant in TriBeCa. Each week, two chefs will offer their own four-course menu while guests can decide which of the two they would like to have. In addition, for those who rather take their hand at being a judge and wish to try both menus, a special eight-course tasting menu featuring dishes by both chefs will also be available.

Although anything can change between now and October 16th, as of today the line-up of chefs is as follows:

October 16th – 21st: Edward Lee (Season 9) and Mike Isabella (Season 6 and Top Chef All-Stars)

October 23rd – 28th: Tiffany Derry (Season 7 and Top Chef All-Stars) and Paul Qui (Season 9)

October 30th – November 4th: Tiffani Faison (Season 1 and Top Chef All-Stars) and Jennifer Carroll (Season 6 and Top Chef All-Stars)

November 6th – 11th: Richard Blais (Season 4 and Top Chef All-Stars) and Grayson Schmitz (Season 9)

November 13th – 18th: Antonia Lofaso (Season 4 and Top Chef All-Stars) and Fabio Viviani (Season 5 and Top Chef All-Stars)

Such star-studded feasts don’t come cheaply. Tickets for a four-course menu reservation cost $95 (without tax and gratuity) and $125 for four-courses with wine pairings. A reservation for an eight-course tasting menu with wine pairings will go for $250. The trickiest part will be trying to get in. According to OpenTable, the dinner series is entirely booked, leaving most of us to continue drooling and fantasizing from the couch.

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