New Year's Eve in Boston: The What-to-Do Guide

By: Finance Foodie

Oy! Christmas is over, but don't fret yet -- the party continues to rock on as New Year's Eve approaches! NYE has always been one of those holidays I never intend to celebrate, but always get dragged into due to peer pressure (and my friends can be sooo persuasive!). This year I'll be in Texas with my family, so the celebration will most likely be a low key (but delicious, natch) dinner. Although it would be super cool to be in Boston celebrating at what look like a slew of awesome events, family comes first (plus who who wants to leave the 70 degree weather in Texas prematurely during wintertime? ;).

The Last Supper: Season to Taste Catering’s Private Dinner Party [Cambridge]

By: Finance Foodie

For my last supper (of 2010) in Boston, I knew I had to make it count. Takeout from Bostone Pizza? – no dude(tte), that’s totally not a proper way to end the year for foodie. That’s why when I was invited to attend the media preview for Season to Taste Catering’s new private dinner Table series last Tuesday night, well tickle me jolly, I thought, “what a perfect way to end the year on a yum-tastic note”!

Bravo's Top Chef Returns with a Chance to Win a Trip for Two to Tuscany, Italy!

By: Finance Foodie

Where will you always find me on Wednesday nights now? Probably like the rest of the foodie enthusiast community: in front of the TV watching Top Chef All Stars.  Bravo TV's Top Chef series returned to New York a few weeks ago for its 8th season, featuring an all-star cast of former contestants who nearly took home the top prize in past seasons. With culinary stardom on the line, these "cheftestants" return to the high-pressure world of competitive cooking for a chance at redemption.

Finance Foodie + Friends w/ Chef Hung (Top Chef Season 3 Champ) at Solo NYC

Elvis Presley For The Holidays: From Monopoly To A Mug Shot "T"!

By: Anne M. Raso

We have to hand it to the folks at Graceland and Elvis Presley Enterprises for being the architects behind a whole slew of clever Elvis gifts for the holidays--and all are available on shopelvis.com and elvis.com. The official Elvis merch team wanted to make sure all the gift items were super-special this year since it's the 75th anniversary of Graceland. I'm happy to say that this writer was the second person in NewYork City to be gifted with the new runaway hit, the Elvis Presley Mr. Potatohead, and we couldn't be prouder of that fact. It was NBC's Al Roker who got the very first Elvis Mr. Potatohead back in October--simply because so many people who saw pics of it on the web thought it looked as much like the famed weatherman/anchor as The King himself! We here at financefoodie.com have this as our very top pick as a kitschy but collectible Elvis holiday gifts in the 20 buck range (it retails for exactly $20.00, as a matter of fact).

It's All About the Bling!: Lia Sophia Holiday Preview [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

I was fortunate enough to become acquainted with the shop-at-home (or on the net) line of fine costume jewelry called Lia Sophia during the last new York Fashion Week and then also attended a holiday preview party they gave at a New York Hotel. I have to say that there's something for every taste, and thus, I am giving them kudos for being the best place to pick up last minute gifts for ladies in your life who like gliz-and-glam, for the fussy palate of a Justin Bieber loving 13-year-old, or for the great grandmothers will more traditional tastes.

Lunch for the Brrrrr Winter Days! Bread and Soup Pairings from Panera Bread

By: Finance Foodie

Brrrrrrrr! The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful. And since we've no place to go, we might as well get some bread and soup delivered so we don't have to go out in what feels like snow!

Haha. So my lyricsit skills are probably questionable, but one thing is for sure: nothing beats a steaming bowl of soup with fresh baked bread on a cold winters day. Luckily, Panera Bread has a whole host of options for warming your head, shoulders, knees, and toes (and they deliver for those days where stepping outside even for lunch is painful!).

After listening to my plight, the Panera Team sent me some fun and creative options to try for my next lunch week!

Boston Brunchers at KO Catering and Pies in South Boston

By: Finance Foodie

When I was growing up in the pseudo-Pleasantville suburbs, the extent of my exposure to Australian cuisine was the local Outback Steakhouse. Looking back now, after my years of culinary adventure, I realize oh how naive I was, as Outback's nosh was far from authentic "down under". Luckily, I had a chance to remedy this vast 18 year oversight with breakfast (or as they say, "brekky") with the Boston Brunchers at KO Catering and Pies.

Dinner with a Chef - Armand Toutaint, Turner Fisheries

"One fish, two fish, three fish, blue fish..."

Chef Armand Toutaint is prime example of where hard work and tenacity can lead to great success. This New Hampshire born and raised chef started his career as mere dishwasher, but fought to rise through the restaurant ranks to eventually land at Boston's Turner Fisheries, where he has served as the chef de cuisine for the past two years. As I chatted with Toutaint over dinner the other night, I noticed that Armand is a man of few words; clearly what he lacks in sentences is made up for in his dishes.

Q: Hello Chef, why don't you start by telling me a bit about yourself and how you end up in the restaurant industry? Did you perhaps grow up cooking with a food loving family?

Playing Chef for a Day at the McGladrey Culinary Challenge Boston

By: Finance Foodie

Since I started this blog, a question that I often get is: “If you love food so much, why not cook more?” My answer has always been that a) I work about 70 hours a week in my day job – so last thing I want to do is come home and make a mess/clean up a mess in my kitchen b) Why cook something mediocre, when I can enjoy a meal done well by a professional? This is not to say I hate cooking, in fact it’s quite the opposite – I totally love firing up the oven and sautéing the greens…I only wish I didn’t have to clean up afterwards! 

Luckily a few nights ago, my wish came true when I was asked to be the “sous chef” for Chef Dante de Magistris at the McGladrey Culinary Challenge in Charlestown. This evening of delicious dishes paired seven local renowned chefs with seven charitable organizations to raise funds in support of community-based projects in the Boston area.

"Media Celebrity" at work

Holiday Foodie-izing at Murray's Cheese and the Broadway Panhandler [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

For those of you New Yorkers wondering where one of the best places in town to create holiday "gift boxes" is, we here at FinanceFoodie.com recommend Murray's Cheese. A few nights ago, we got the chance to go make up our own holiday boxes (really, cute wooden crates with foodie expressions in red lettering!) and found that this Village legend is about much more than just cheeses (even though you get they have the good old-time custom of letting you try anything you'd like behind the counters).

Cheese Please: An Interview with Cabot Creamery's Favorite Foodie

"Big Cheese..."

Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Finance Foodie and I am a turophile. Yes you heard right - a turophile. Let me explain (before anyone with their mind in the gutter forms an opinion) -- a turophile is another term for a cheese lover. And nothing makes me happier than coming home after a long day of number crunching to chilax on the couch with a ooey-gooey piping hot grilled cheddar and gruyere cheese sandwich. That's why when I had the opportunity to have a quick chat with Candace Karu, the lifestyle commentator & "favorite foodie" (yes, that is her title) for Cabot Creamery -- well that just put a big "cheesy" smile on my face. Ms. Karu, will be in Boston on Dec 9th for the Massachusetts Conference for Women, a day long conference that provides connection, motivation, networking, inspiration and skill building for thousands of women each year. Candace will be representing Cabot at their booth as well as speaking on a panel about work / life balance (something I will definitely be checking out -- finance by day, foodie by night gets to be a struggle at times!).

Finance Foodie’s Favorite (Foodie) Things: Holiday 2010

By: Finance Foodie

….Well, not really, as the unseasonably warm weather this year has left the grounds devoid of fluffy white power (thanks global warming :p). Regardless of the awkward weather situation, the holiday season has indeed snuck upon us. So trim that tree, light the menorah (or kinara), and get ready for some holiday gift exchanges!

A Suite Life! Boston Celtics vs. Portland Trailblazers

By: Finance Foodie

The Boston Celtics 99-95 win against the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday night marks the team's fifth straight victory -- let's go Celtics! It was a seat gripping game -- Portland was in the lead for the first half before the Green brought out the big guns for the win (to the home court crowd's delight!).

Good from A to Z: Q Restaurant Preview Party in Boston

By: Finance Foodie

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending Q Restaurant's preview party in downtown Chinatown Boston. Formerly the "Little Q Hot Pot", this popular sushi and hot pot spot dropped the "little" and upgraded relocated from its old digs in Qunicy to the 1st floor of the swanky Archstone apartment complex (you're in the big leagues now baby). I've been walking past this mysterious new resto everyday for the past month on my way work, so I was super excited to finally check this place out.

Boston Brunchers at East Coast Grill [Cambridge]

By: Finance Foodie

One of things I have come to appreciate the most in my move to Boston (besides my spacious apartment with real closet) is the close knit food blogger community. Although I have come to know many through twitter, it's  even more lovely when we can all get together in person and share a meal (plus it's great to eat with folks that love food as much as myself)!

When the Boston Brunchers (club? twitterfeed?) organized a brunch at East Coast Grill this past Sunday, I was naturally all hands on deck. Everyone else must have had the same thought as there were 24 of us in total - and we literally took up half of the restaurant! As I said hello to many old faces (Fun and Fearless in Boston, The Small Boston Kitchen, Justin Can Cook, A Thought For Food, Indulge Inspire Imbibe, Doves and Figs. Christine Liu, Beantown Baker, FreeFoodBoston), I also was excited to meet many a new ones (A Nesting Experience, A Cambridge Story, EatLiveBlog, Food in my Beard, Good Cook Doris, and more).

But now onto the food! Here was what we had to eat, after the jump:

Uma Thurman Gives Babies a Chance at the Room to Grow Gala [Boston]

By: Katherine Brooks

Celebrities, foodies, and beautiful Bostonites took over the Castle at the Park Plaza on Saturday evening for the Room to Grow Fall Gala, a benefit celebrating five years of Room to Grow’s continued success in “enriching the lives of babies born into poverty.” Co-chairs Mary Richardson formerly of WCVB-TV’s Chronicle and Patrick Canning of KPMG led the event that honored five outstanding Room to Grow supporters and featured the radiant Room to Grow board member Uma Thurman who spoke about her involvement with the organization.

The Lovely Uma Thurman (center) with Saskia Epstein and Mary Richardson

Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo: Healthy Takeaways!

By: Finance Foodie

This past Sunday, thousands of registered dietitians, nutrition science researchers, policy makers, health-care providers and industry leaders took Boston by storm for the American Dietetic Association's Annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo (FNCE). Since I’m still on my “No Joe Starbucks Program” (going on three weeks strong readers – thanks for your support!), I decided to check this expo out too – in search of more healthy and delicious snack options for the upcoming week. Because for me, variety is the spice of life (and the key to keeping me away from the caffeine drip)! After carefully examining and sampling the products on each aisle, I came up with this plan, after the jump…

Joe Bastianich Hosts Pre-NYC Marathon Tasting at “La Scuola” in Eataly [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

We recently caught up with Eataly co-owner/vineyard owner/food superstar/restauranteur Joe Bastianich at his mom Lidia's La Scuola in Eataly. As you might know, Joe recently shed 60 pounds despite his mom's world-class cooking and personally being the owner of various legendary eateries around the world. He is running the ING NYC Marathon on Sunday so he had some of the La Scuola staff cook dishes for the press last week -- dish that he thought were ideal for pre-Marathon carbo-loading (actually his personal favorites, including Pasta Pomodoro/Arrabbiata and Pasta Primavera With Grana Padano).

Carbo-Fest!

48 Hours in Portland, Maine

By: Finance Foodie

While most of the US dressed up as pirates, Snooki, or monsters while bobbling around for candy and/or liquor (age depending) this past weekend, I spent my Halloween holiday dressed as Finance Foodie (aka myself) on a visit to Portland, Maine. After I finished my judging duties for Hood’s New England Dairy Cook-Off, I had a chance to explore Maine’s largest city.

Check out where I stayed, played, and ate after the jump…

Make Your Own Pie: Rustic Crust Pizza Party in Boston

By: Finance Foodie

A few weeks ago, I attended my first mommy bloggers party. Although everyone was super nice, I have to confess that I did have a bit of trouble relating to (or caring about) all the kid talk that flitted about the room. I like children, but I have no earthly idea how to potty train a toddler, nor do I want to know for at least a few years...

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.

48 Hours: Baltimore Edition

By: Finance Foodie

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of spending my 48 hour weekend in Baltimore, Maryland, home of the Terps, Ravens, and Orioles. Along with visiting the usual tourist packed spots (e.g. The Inner Harbor, M&T Bank Stadium), I also got to see a side of the Charm City that was more artistic in nature – the hidden gems, if I may say. Check out where I played, ate, and stayed during my short getaway!

Do Good and Do Well: Greyston Bakery Tour New York

By: Finance Foodie

During the past two years writing Forays of a Finance Foodie, I’ve had the opportunity to attend many fantabulous events – from restaurant openings to fashion shows to grand tastings. Although all were fun-filled and electrifyingly awesome, none of these experiences touched my heart as much as my recent visit to Greyston Bakery, a company that epitomizes the crux of social entrepreneurialism at its best.

Double Whammy! Smorgie Party and Bliss Spa Grand Opening at the W Hotel [Boston]

"Double your pleasure, double your fun..."

Tonight I attended two parties, which coincidentally both took place at the W Hotel (one downstairs and one upstairs). Hooray – no having to choose between a rock and a hard place – if only life were this easy all the time!

My first party was a get-together downstairs at the W Lounge celebrating the public unveiling of a new foodie site called Smorgie. This Yelp-esq site allows users to make custom lists of restaurants they’ve visited and ones they would like to go to, and also lets users “friend” their favorite users to see their recommendations. Honestly, I didn’t really see a huge difference between Smorgie and Yelp, but the site is still in its beta phase, so I’m sure there will be more cool features added later!

New York Fashion Week: Bright Young Things, Bebe, and the VIP Suites

By: Anne M. Raso

I am a very select New York Fashion Week attendee...for us not-Anna Wintour’s, it gets exhausting waiting for shows that always start 45 minutes late or are so crowded that eight hundred people are fighting their way in and out the doors.

As a result, I only saw two shows this season: Bright Young Things and Bebe [Ed Note: Don’t worry Anne, I fought the crowds for the both of us when I was in town]. At Bright Young Things, which was part of the Green Shows at the Metropolitan Pavilion, each separate was used two or three ways (such as a blouse that also doubles as a scarf or even a skirt)! This show also used some "real people" models of different shapes and ages (which was really refreshing)!

New England Dessert Showcase 2010 [Boston]

By: Finance Foodie

Last Saturday, I died and went to heaven – dessert heaven that is! The New England Dessert Showcase, held at the Westin Copley Place Hotel, was a sugar lover’s paradise that was brimming with sweet treats -- including the World's Largest Creme Pie! This event, which drew everyone and their mothers (literally -- the line to get in was almost a mile deep at one point), featured dessert samples from all of Boston’s top bakeries and had a wide variety of offerings to please even the pickiest palate. I arrived near the close of the event, so I missed out on a lot of the samples (including the cool sounding beer-flavored ice cream that my friend Megan sampled. Boo)!  Not to fear though, because there were still other options still available to taste.

Among them were:

New York Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011: Weekend Part 3

By: Finance Foodie 

(continued from part 2)

The last and final day of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (for me at least)! Without further ado, let’s jump on in.

New York Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011: Weekend Part 2

By: Finance Foodie

(continued from part 1)

After staying out into the wee-hours of the night on Saturday (ok it was actually only till 3am, which is early for NYC, but late for granny-pants me these days), I woke up at 11am and realized that there was no way I was going to make it from the UES to the West Side for the Simon Spurr show (which started at umm…11am). So I went back to sleep, disappointed knowing that I was missing some quality eye candy. Argh.

New York Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2011: Weekend Part 1

By: Finance Foodie

Ahhhh and I’m back – to Boston that is! After a tiring but exciting weekend spent in New York covering Mercedes Benz Fashion Week (MBFW), I’m happy to be back to slower paced Beantown. New York – especially during Fashion Week – can be like a non-stop amusement park ride. After three days, I was ready to get off.

Not wanting to fatigue myself to the point of illness (which happened last season), I made the decision to cover fewer shows this time around and use the freetime to catch up with old friends and well….eat proper meals (last season I survived on nothing but protein bars and Diet Coke). So with my Nikon, Blackberry, and badge in hand, I was ready to see what would be in stores for Spring / Summer 2011.

Ravel Hotel's Penthouse 808 - Revisited [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

I had to check back into the Penthouse 808 as their expanded dessert menu (mentioned in our previous visit) never left my mind. So last Sunday, back out to Long Island City I went - sweet tooth shivering in anticipation!

Shiseido's Beauty Blogger Event at Home Studios [New York]

by: Anne M. Raso

Since we are totally suckers for good skincare and cosmetic products, we could not resist checking out Shiseido's recent event held at Home Studios in the Union Square area of Manhattan. We admit that we love the makeover and services at these events as much as seeing the new products!

Sipping & Savoring Harpoon Brewery Beer at Morton’s Steakhouse [Boston]

“One hundred bottles of beer on the wall…”

Truth be told, I was never a beer kind of girl - if any of you readers have had the (blessed!) chance of seeing me at a party, I’m always the one with the outfit-coordinated fruity cocktail in hand. Therefore, when the invitation to attend a Harpoon Brewery beer tasting at Morton’s Steakhouse arrived in my inbox last week, I was slightly hesitant to accept. However, after speaking with some of my beer “enthusiast” friends about Harpoon, they convinced me that I should go – as Harpoon is one of the leading craft beer brewers in the New England area. Plus, as a good foodie (or in this case drink-ie?), it’s my job to be adventurous and expand my palate :)

Tiger at the 16: Deutsche Bank Golf Championship

By: Finance Foodie

Last Friday, I had the chance to watch PGA pros play live when the Bermuda Tourism Board invited me to attend the 1st round of the Deutsche Bank Golf Championship. Now to be honest, when it comes to golf (and thankfully, my personal life), I am no Tiger Woods. In fact, I still cringe remembering the time I dinged my golf instructor’s shiny new BMW when my flyaway shot zinged sideways off the driving range and into the parking lot. So even though I don’t play or follow golf religiously, I’ve watched enough games to know the major players. Therefore, I was uber excited to see Woods, as well as some of my other favorites (Mickelson, Furyk) live in action!

So Legit

Trapiche Argentina Wines: Pairing BBQ With Bubbly (And Beyond)!

by: Anne M. Raso

Trapiche Wines--one of the biggest wine producers in Argentina with a 6,200 acre vineyard and top seller of Argentinean wines in the US--recently invited a few food and wine press to come to their office in NYC to taste some of their wine and chat with Carla Castorina, Trapiche’s Assistant Chief Winemaker. Wine was paired with both classic and edgier BBQ, courtesy of Hill Country.

Taste Testing the New McDonald’s Angus Beef Wraps

“Coming back for more…”

A few weeks ago, McDonald’s sent me a few coupons to try their Angus beef wraps, the newest item on their menu. NY editor Anne gave financefoodie.com readers the first peak at these babies a few months ago, and I was salivating after reading her review (As many of you know, I try to eat organically and support local restaurants most of the time – BUT McDonald's is totally my kryptonite – I swear the sweet aroma of their fries hypnotize my brain cells!)

The Ravel's Penthouse 808: Queens' First BoutiCHIC Hotel! [New York]

by: Anne M. Raso

I recently got a coveted deck side table at the new Penthouse 808 eatery at The Ravel Hotel in Long Island City -- and Hello Dolly, the penthouse view of the Queensboro Bridge at night (and almost feeling as if you could reach out and touch it) is enough to make me want to go back! And I can do so year-round, because  this outdoor penthouse has a retractable, climate-controlled roof that comes out once Fall/Winter hits.

The UM-Amazing View! 

Bloodypalooza @ Turner Fisheries [Boston]

“Blood on the dance floor…”

This past Saturday for lunch, I headed over to Turner Fisheries for their Bloodypalooza festival, a weekly event where patrons can make their own customized bloody mary drinks. I was pretty excited about this event, even though I’m not much of bloody mary fan, because I’ve been wanting to check Turner Fisheries out for a while now (I always passed by the place on my walk home from work). Plus, the event was hosted by CitySearch Boston, so I knew I’d be in the company of food enthusiasts/CitySearch contributors whose recommendations I read on a daily basis when I plot my next meal.

When I arrived, I was greeted by a fully loaded bar – with 5 different vodkas, 4 different bloody mary mixes, and A MOTHERLOAD of FRESH SEAFOOD for garnishing. Jackpot baby!

You had me had hello...

Boston Summer Restaurant Week: 29 Newbury

By: Finance Foodie

Restaurant Week in Boston is baaaccck! For the next week (from August 22-27th), participating restaurants are offering 2-course lunches for $15.10, 3-course lunches for $20.10 and 3-course dinners for $33.10. Truth be told, I’ve always had mixed feeling about Restaurant Week. Yes, it’s a great way for consumers to try a new place for a fraction of the cost, and the resulting surge in traffic is a much welcome respite to the recession stricken restaurant industry. But are these deals possible because the quality in the food and innovation of menu items are sacrificed?

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week: The Pre Event Diet

By: Finance Foodie

Mercedes Benz Fashion Week is less than a month away! And for loyal followers of this blog, you know what that means – it’s diet-so-I-can-fit-into-cute-dress time. This year, since I started early, I am DETERMINED to lose the pounds the healthy way. After doing some research, if I follow a 1,400 a day calorie diet (along with exercise), I can lose about 1 pound a week – which is exactly want I need to fit into my “goal” dress.

Macy's Kicks Off Back-to-School with Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush and Victoria Justice! [New York]

By: Anne M. Raso

We can never resist a chance to hang out with the boys in the hit Nickelodeon show Big Time Rush, even if it is just for five or six minutes before a performance. These guys are funny, silly, cute, smart and musical--and we were probably the oldest fans at the event. BTR is really getting noticed by pop fans old and young. Group member James Maslow (aka "The Abs") told me that he was recently very flattered when "Becks" came up to him at an LA event and asked if it was okay that the kids got a quick snap with the BTR boys! (Naturally, they said yes!) Carlos Pena told us he recently was next to Megan Fox on a red carpet in LA for a whole hour and was too shy to say hi!

Hanging out with the boys from Big Time Rush! 

Betsey Johnson's Birthday Party [New York]

by: Erin Douglas 

Wednesday, August 17th 2010 was a big day for fashion designer Betsey Johnson. It was her 68th birthday and she wanted everyone to celebrate at her SoHo NYC store! Yes, the over-the-top edgy fashion designer is still going strong with her funky bold colors, big puffy girly dresses, and her cartwheels down the runway. Betsey has found a way to fuse the girly-girl in pink with the edgy girl in black and maybe a tattoo into all her designs. Her love of a little bit of everything shows in the clothes she makes and the girls who wear them.

Free Ben & Jerry's - July 28 to August 25! [Boston]

Bostonians can beat the heat and avoid Cape traffic by staying in Beantown this summer. Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Truck will be keeping things cool by giving out thousands of FREE SCOOPS of ice cream from July 28 through August 25, 2010. The highly-coveted Scoop Truck will be making stops at community events, parks, offices and beaches in the greater Boston area.

Making the summer even sweeter, Ben & Jerry’s is leaving the almighty scoop in Bostonian’s hands and asking them to direct the Scoop Truck to its next destination through Twitter @BenJerrysTruck and Facebook.

A Vivabox Tapas Experience: Boqueria [New York]

By: Finance Foodie

This past weekend, I was in an empire state of mind. Yup that’s right – another visit to NYC! It was a fantabulous two days – not only did I get to catch up with two of my best friends, I also got to test out my new NYC Tapas Experience Vivabox – a win/win situation!

BlogHer 2010: Bumble Bee Foods VIP Party, featuring Hell's Kitchen Chef Scott Leibfried [New York]

by: Nancy Gong

The most amazing thing about Bumble Bee Foods is the wide variety of healthy and simple meals, snacks, and fun treats you can make with their products. Last Thursday, the company's VIP tasting party for all the BlogHer conference attendees was the perfect blend of educational – from the nutritional perspective - as well as a tasty!

Christmas in August: Lord & Taylor Holiday Preview [New York]

by Anne M. Raso

I  recently attended Lord & Taylor's holiday press preview and I must say - they not only have a ton of alluring merchandise for the holiday season, but they also have one heck of a set decorator.  Some of the highlights on set I saw were the uniquely positioned old chandeliers on the floor between mannequins and the old dress form covered front and back with over 100 brooches (all priced at $42 and less!).

Bring Romano’s Macaroni Grill to Your Kitchen: A FF Cooks at Home Series!

“Figaro, Figaro, Figaro…”

I’m sure if you’re a loyal reader of this site, you’ve figured out by now that I’m never going to start cooking (afterall, I’ve been attempting to cook since my New Year’s resolution in January)

Well reader, you are wrong! (partially) :))

For this first ever (and hopefully not last) installment of Finance Foodie Cooks At Home, I’m going to be making Basil Parmesan Chicken with grilled white meat chicken, broccoli florets and tomatoes with cavatappi pasta tossed in a flavorful creamy basil parmesan sauce. MMMMMM!! Doesn’t that sound good? And what if I told you it takes less than 20 minutes to whip this up?

You’d say "Finance Foodie, tell me more – I’ve got hungry mouths to feed!" :D

Alyson Stoner: Camp Rock Star to "Step Up" in 3D - An EXCLUSIVE Q&A!

by: Anne M. Raso

Alyson Stoner, just 16, has already wowed teen viewers with Phineas & Ferb and Camp Rock 1 & 2 on the Disney Channel. Now she has her first feature with Disney Films proper - Step Up 3D coming out on Friday, August 6th. I got to go on the set 10 or 11 months ago in the Financial District - where some of the more ambitious dance scenes were shot in a now empty high-ceilinged building once used for admission of cruise passengers. We talked to Alyson about future projects, her friendship with Twilight star Taylor Lautner, her conservative viewpoints about dating and her strange quirks -including hating candy and stickers and not caring too much about getting her drivers license! Forthcoming projects including voicing the Little Engine in The Little Engine That Could and voicing Lorelei Tan Gu in Kung Foo Magoo. Of course, Phineas & Ferb is doing great so more episodes are in the works. Alyson might just be the ultimate teen voiceover queen and not even know it!

Free Yoplait Delights: Aug 2-6! [Boston]

“Free to be me..”

Want to delight your sweet tooth without regret? From August 2-August 6, 2010, be on the lookout for free samples of the tasty Yoplait Delights Parfait! A team will be sampling in various high traffic locations in Boston (for example “T” stations, shopping areas and parks). So be on the lookout – cause they might just pop up in the most random places!

(FYI, I’ll be posting sightings of the Yoplait team throughout the week on twitter…another reason to follow me on twitter if you aren’t already :) 

Weight Watchers New Cheese Products: A “Cheesy” Love Story

“The rat takes the cheese…”

In celebration of Weight Watchers new cheese product line, I was asked to share my “cheesiest” love story with all you guys. Ummm, seeing how I am not really a romatical type (and tend to frown upon such “willy-nilly” gestures from boyfriends), I had to rack my brain to think of a time where I actually enjoyed such behavior. Now just to clarify, I’m definitely not any sort of curmudgeon, I’m just really practical when it comes this sort of stuff (afterall, I do work in finance).

Twilight Eclipse's Michael Welch Spills Secrets And More - An Exclusive Q&A!

by: Anne M. Raso

Michael Welch plays the endearing annoying high school kid Mike Newton in the Twilight movie series, and while he has given up on finding love with Bella (since she has two more endearing suitors, namely Edward and Jacob), he also has other movies in line for release, including Unrequited which hits theaters on July 27th. In Unrequited, he plays the rather disturbed Ben Jacobs, an 18-year-old just released from a home for troubled teens and upset that his former gal-pal has moved on to a college guy.

Affable Mike will also be on the Twilight Fan Cruise to Alaska leaving from Seattle coming up August 8th to 15th. We got the 23-year-old "thesp" to spill secrets on the making of Eclipse and what the shoot in Vancouver was really like. He's got a good head on his shoulders when it comes to success. He is one of the supporting players who helps make this the most profitable movie series in the history of film! (And no matter what you think, it's not just teens who love it)!