Ming Tsai in 'Da House: Silk Road Gala 2010!

By: Finance Foodie

Last Saturday, I attended the Silk Road Gala 2010, or as I like to call it, The Gathering of Boston’s Culinary Greats. I kid you not readers, ALL the top chefs in the Boston area came out to the Intercontinental Boston for this party to support Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence (ATASK), a non-profit that provides services and resources for New England area Asian families and individuals who suffer from domestic violence.

Svelte Snacks Part 2: More Healthy Treats Under 250 calories!

By: Finance Foodie

Whoo hoo!! I made it another week! Another 5 work days without the help of Mr. Joe Starbucks getting me through the day!! And you know what? I actually feel much more energized and “clean” (after the initial caffeine withdraw symptoms, natch). I have to admit, I did feel the temptation to cheat some days (especially during meetings where everyone had a Starbucks mug…), but I STAYED STRONG. Ok, so I was totally helped out by my visit to the Natural Products Expo, where the healthy and organic snacks samples helped fill my drawers with fun (yet good-for-you) snacks during the week! My snacks last week as follows after the jump...

Charlotte Kandel: Warner Bros. PR Exec's New Book Based on George Clooney, Nicole Kidman and More!

By: Anne M. Raso

Charlotte Kandel, former head of worldwide publicity for Warner Bros. Films, has gone the Jackie Collins route and published a novel based on her experiences in the weird and wacky world of Hollywood called The Summer Girl, A Movie Star Love Story. The protagonist is a PR intern named Lucy who falls for a movie superstar/director she is working with--and can't tell when he is acting or when he is being "real." We spoke to Charlotte about her foray into the world of novels (her last writing effort was the kids' book The Enchanted Riddle, part of the Silk Stockings series), and how much of her tell-all is really a peek at her former world.

All Grown Up at Foundry on Elm's Opening Party in Somerville

By: Jessica Cickay

I often have a hard time convincing both myself and others that I’m 25 years old and a grown up. Grown ups don’t wear book bags filled just with gum and tootsie rolls to parties; grown ups don’t don running sneakers with skirts to bars and hope no one notices; and grown ups most certainly don’t refer to people their own age as grown ups. Woopsies. However, upon entering Foundry on Elm in Davis Square displaying all faux-pas mentioned above, I was overtaken by the adult atmosphere and almost instantly felt like I, too, was all grown up.

Bee's Knees

48 Hours in Freeport, Maine

By: Finance Foodie

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about Freeport, Maine? Well, before my past weekend trip to Freeport, I probably would have said lobsters. But after seeing the eons of outlet shops and the blueberry infused dishes that ran ramped at local restaurants – I’ve come to realize that there is much more to the city than my delicious crustacean friend.

Check out where I ate, played, and stayed during my fall foliage getaway after the jump…

Flour Bakery Book Release Party in Cambridge

By: Jessica Cickay

I admittedly went into Joanne Chang’s cookbook release party at Flour Bakery in Central Square with a plan— eat a meal beforehand so as not to embarrass myself by juggling a cupcake in my left hand, a cookie in my right and a sticky bun on my nose all while trying to devour a raspberry bar with a “Look Mom! No hands!” kind of maneuver. Given my notorious nature to overdose on sucrose on the regular, it was no surprise that the tempting treats this confectionary crowd celebrity served up more than fufilled my delicious-quota for the day. From the fill-your-own Oreo bar to the savory snacks that outdid my expectations, I’ve taken a cue from her infamous sticky sticky buns themselves and gotten myself stuck on Joanne Chang’s Flour Bakery.

POM Wonderful Dinner at Eleven Madison Park New York

By: Simone Press

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it."

Although Pom Wonderful is facing some recent scrutiny from the Federal Trade Commission because of the health claims the company makes in regard to their juice products – we all know that pomegranates are good for you and taste delicious! The antioxidant rich fruit, which is native to regions in the Middle East and India, and somewhat reminiscent of a cranberry’s flavor – tart with a slight bitterness – has an exotic and ancient history. Some scholars even believe that it was the very special fruit which tempted the biblical character Eve from picking from the Tree of Knowledge eventually causing her and Adam to be tossed from the Garden of Eden. (That’s the theme of the company’s new TV ad.)

2010 New York Wine and Food Festival: ShopRite Grand Tasting

By: Finance Foodie

The final day of my NYCWFF weekend took me to the Grand Tasting at Pier 54 in the Hudson River Park. This event is pretty much the stuff foodie dreams are made of, as guests get to sample food and drink offerings from over 100 of NYC’s best restaurants, libation vendors, and ShopRite brands.

A few of the highlights after the jump:

Sophisticated Fun: Cosmopolitan Las Vegas Late Night Party

By: Finance Foodie

The last time I was in Las Vegas (at the tender age of 10), $2.99 all-you-can-eat buffets, $50 / night rooms at the Circus Circus, and the gauche bright lights of gambling parlors defined the Strip. But fast forward to present time, and just like Old Times Square, the Strip has transformed itself from a destination of unapologetic seediness into a mecca of sophistication, dominated by mega resorts that cater to every lifestyle need. No longer is the Las Vegas Strip purely a gaming destination; it has also become a center for 5-star cuisine, world class shopping, and glamour-puss accommodations.

Source: blog.vegas.com

2010 New York Wine and Food Festival: Behind the Scenes at the Food Network

By: Finance Foodie

After the Rachael Ray demo, I headed back downtown to Chelsea Market for my next event -- a behind the scenes look at the Food Network. Now there are only two channels that are on constant replay in my apartment (CNBC and the Food Network), so I totally felt like a kid in the candy store about hanging out backstage at one of my favorite stations!

To be honest, work was quite frantic during the week before festival, so I didn’t read the details of this event too carefully. So imagine my surprise when I was taken to a TV set, complete with a chef’s kitchen, tables and chairs for the audience, and a full place setting at each seat! What I thought was a walking tour of the Food Network was actually a four-course cooking demonstration / tasting session (with wine pairings) lead by Food Network’s Executive Chef, Robert Bleifer.

2010 New York Wine and Food Festival: Rachael Ray Culinary Demo

By: Finance Foodie

Since I moved to the East Coast, I’ve looked forward to Columbus Day weekend every year -- not because of the long weekend (I’ve never had a Columbus Day off), but because I get to make my annual trek to NYC for the New York Wine and Food Festival. This three-day extravaganza brings out all the top chefs for a weekend of fantastic events and dinners around the city, with all proceeds benefiting the NYC Food Bank and Share Our Strength! Team Finance Foodie was lucky enough to be invited again this year to cover the festivities – hooray for great foods and great causes! (Our coverage last year can be seen here and here)

Love Rachael Ray!

Twilight's Nikki Reed, R&B star Chris Brown, and More Celebrate Swatch New Gent Collection Launch [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

Okay I admit it -- I really went to the recent launch of Swatch watches' New Gent Collection at the Gansevoort Park Avenue penthouse because I write for the tween entertainment mags and need all the four-one-one I can get about cast members from the Twilight flicks (our readers' favorites). Seeing that the New Gent event's host was Nikki Reed and her pal Chaske Spencer (whom is a doll to interview and will be filming Twilight: Breaking Dawn with Nikki starting next month in New Orleans) -- well, I just had to drop by and check out the scene!

Nikki with her Swatch(es)! 

Fashion for a Cause: Featuring The Real Housewives of New York!

by: Anne M. Raso

This past Wednesday night, I attended the Fashion for a Cause fashion show and the launch of The Dawson Scleroderma Foundation. Held at the Carlton Hotel, over 300 of New York's most charitable tastemakers, fashion lovers, and celebs joined founder Courtney Dawson (who herself is terminally ill with Scleroderma) to watch designer David Meister's fashion show, featuring The Real Housewives of New York’s Ramona Singer's jewelry collection.

The Real Housewives, David Meister, and Swizz Beatz

Blogger Dinner at Audubon Circle [Boston]

By: Finance Foodie

Eeks! So I’m totally tardy for the party on this review, but better late then never right?

One of my favorite things about running Financefoodie.com is the opportunities to meet and (eat with) other food lovers around town -- so naturally I was pumped for the Boston bloggers dinner at Audubon Circle last month. I had never been to Audubon before, but had heard through the grapevine (aka Twitter) that it’s a popular bar to watch Red Sox games. Good buzz and fun company -- sounded like a promising evening!

I didn’t even have to ask the hostess where to go when I walked in, for I could spot our table a mile away (it was the only table filled with cameras and business cards). Hosted by Jayne, a former blogger turned PR pro, the nine of us got to sample Audobon’s eclectic menu which having deep conversations. Ok just kidding on the latter part (we’re food bloggers not philosophers).

In the spirit of this being a Fenway bar, below are some of the dishes we had, ranked with baseball terms (much more fun than stars, don’t you think)?

Farm to Fork: Dinner at Gibbet Hill [Groton]

By: Finance Foodie

As someone who has become extremely conscientious of maintaining a natural and organic diet over the past year, I was stoaked when the invitation to attend Gibbet Hill Grill’s Farm to Fork dinner arrived in my inbox last month. I had heard of this lovely restaurant on a farm previously (all good things, obvi), so I was uber excited for my first real farm dinner experience – afterall, these opportunities don’t come by often for workaholic city-dwelling folks like myself!

Wall Street 2: Thoughts from an ex-Wall Streeter

By: Finance Foodie

The other night, I attended a private screening for new movie Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps. This was no ordinary premiere party though; this was a screening with 100 or so of the best and brightest finance/investments/banking types in Boston, complete with open bar and concession stand. That’s right – all the Sour Patch Kids and Pinot Grigio you can eat and drink. Welcome to the good life baby.