23Mar

Stone Crabs

by ccwynne812 AT 4:02 pm

One of the most indulgent treats from the sea is a fresh stone crab claw. The succulent juicy meat hidden inside that rock hard shell is so flavorful and tastes even better when dipped i a spicy or mustardy mayo. The other night I was visiting my friend Kylie in her new apartment and she surprised me with a few of these beauties (also thank you to Wayne who picked them up from The Lobster Place at Chelsea Market!!)

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04Jan

Making your own infused vodka is surprisingly simple. Literally all you have to do is select a flavor (pear, olive, jalapeño, vanilla etc.) and then prepare your selected ingredient so that has enough surface area to delivery as much flavor as possible, put it in a sealed container with a nice vodka and let it rest for a few days. Citruses typically deliver the most flavor and the fastest. One of my favorite winter flavors for cocktails is kumquat. I went to Eataly the other day and picked up a fresh batch of kumquats and some beautiful Meyer lemons ready for infusing. Now all I have to do is invite some friends over to enjoy! (any volunteers?)

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01Dec

As Thanksgiving winds down and we officially enter the holiday season I want to wish everyone Happy Holidays with their families. I know that I for, one, am especially thankful for family, friends and all the delicious food I have the luxury of eating. There is nothing, however, like the taste of a home cooked meal. Thank you to my mother for being the most amazing gourmet chef of all!

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19Feb

If you are stranded near Grand Central awaiting your train there is a better option than the downstairs food court. Pershing Square, which is located just under the bridge on the South side of GC, is a nice spot to stop and have a coffee and get away from the crowds. If you are in the mood for something sweet, this mille crepe is a nice light cake made of layers of crepes and whipped cream – perfect for sharing.

18Feb

At Mario Batali’s New York specialty Italian food store, Eataly, the selection is really incredible. Each section of the market not only has a market but also a restaurant- 11 altogether including the beer garden. There is a salumi counter with a charcuterie and wine bar for an anytime happy hour, a pasta and bread section with a pasta restaurant, a vegetable market with a vegetarian restaurant and a gelateria. One of my favorite sections is the fish market because of the interesting selection and freshness of the fish. Every once in a while I like to pick up a tray of uni for a little appetizer or late snack.

15Oct

One of the most fun things to do in the souks of Marrakech is to explore the food vendors. Among the hundreds of varieties there is one for oranges, one for dried fruits and my favorite, the vendor of olives. The olives are beautifully arranged in large bowls and neatly arranged in pyramids of brilliant colors.

14Oct

Pomegranate

by ccwynne812 AT 11:21 am

Maybe one of the best things about warm climates is the ability to grow fresh produce year-round. This was a beautiful pomegranate tree I saw in a Berber village in Marrakech.

Urbanspace is a developer of pop-up spaces for retailers and food vendors / restaurants to set up shop and  sell specialty retail goods and food in the UK and the US. Recently Urbanspace opened a spot in the Meatpacking district with outposts of restaurants like Red Hook Lobster Pound, Momofuku Milk Bar and Roberta’s. I haven’t had a chance to get over to Brooklyn and try Roberta’s hyped pizza yet so I was lucky that it came to me! Mini personal pies are popped in a portable brick oven for just 3 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Their 4 simple varieties are some of the best pizza I’ve had in a while.

14Sep

Bubbly

by ccwynne812 AT 12:07 am

Champagne is a special enough treat by itself but when it is served in a perfectly shaped champagne glass and with a beautiful bucket, it is all the more enjoyable. I thought this bucket was particularly pretty with the flowers as handles. (Thank you AVH!)

31Jul

Located in an unusual spot in the middle of Port Chester, NY is Tarry Market which is one of Mario Batali’s incredible markets. On a weekend home visiting my parents we decided to make a trip to the market and pick up some of the freshest Italian goods this side of the Mediterranean. This beautiful focaccia bread I found was freshly baked and warm when I picked it up and shaped like a big palm leaf.

It tasted particularly delicious when topped with these incredible marinated artichokes or white anchovies.