Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes at Lucia Boston

By: Jessica Cickay

The city of Boston has certainly experienced both a tasty and charitable past eight years, wholeheartedly— and full-stomachly —due to the herculean efforts of Carla Gomes, the founder and organizer of CityFeast: Dining Out to Conquer Diabetes, an event to support the Joslin Diabetes’ Center High Hopes Fund. Just like every CityFeast of the past, Mayor Menino attended the 2013 event, but this time marked his fist appearance since being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes himself, which really hit home the message of the evening and brought the importance of Carla’s crusade full circle. Per the past, diners enjoyed a delicious five-course meal with wine pairings from a variety of best-in-breed restaurants in Boston’s North End, but for the 2013 CityFeast, Ms. Gomes was able to flex her muscles and expand the evening beyond its roots to include restaurants in both the Seaport District and the South End.  Carla Gomes founded CityFeast eight years ago in an effort to help the Joslin Diabetes Center continue its mission of raising awareness about diabetes, a disease that her 22 year old son has battled since his first birthday. As owner of the North End’s super successful Antico Forno and Terramia restaurants, she combined her love of food, her love of family and her professional passion to organize an event where she could reach people’s hearts through their stomachs.

Garlic and Olive Oil Shrimp

Anne Around Town: Save Love Give, Breakfast at Tiffany and Toys Toys Toys

By: Anne M. Raso

The Seven Bar Foundation held a party to launch its VERA campaign--which channels dollars overspent on wireless bills into microfinance to help underprivileged women start small businesses--at the Riverview Terrace at the UN last week. The event was not only for a good cause was a beautiful space--picture a beautiful white tent perched on the East River directly across from that wonderful and legendary Pepsi factory sign! The view looking at Queens from Manhattan is indeed an underrated one. A lot of fashionistas and New York's "crème de la crème" society folks showed up for this event that included a fashion show, including stylist to the stars Phillip Bloch, former CFDA executive director Fern Mallis and Countess LuAnn De Lesseps. If you would like to learn more about the charity and possibly donate, go to www.savelovegive.com.

Fern Mallis and Phillip Bloch

Anne Around Town: The Loft and Artistry Beauty Spring Collection Preview

By: Anne M. Raso

There's always something fashion forward going on in the City that never sleeps -- now that the weather is getting warmer and Spring collection season is blooming, the parties are in full force! Here's a quick look at what's been happening around town.

The Loft Spring Preview 

Zengo: Latin-Asian Fusion That Fascinates

By: Anne M. Raso

Richard Sandoval, former winner of Bon Appetit Chef Of The Year, opened midtown eatery Zengo in the hopes of putting a whole new spin on Latin-Asian Fusion cuisine. His concept is unique: have a lot of “test kitchen” items on the menu, judge how well they are doing, make them permanent and then start a whole new round of dishes for customers to try. Also unique is the fact that Sandoval matches up two different Latin and Asian cuisines for each quarter of the year. So you might be there one time and Sandoval and staff will be mixing Cuban and Chinese, and the next season, Mexican and Japanese. On our visit, the combo was Filipino and Argentinian and wow, it was indeed a match made in foodie heaven—if you want to try it for yourself, it will be at Zengo through March 31st!

Interior

Classic Rock’s Favorite Jersey Boys Get Ready To Blow BB King’s To Smithereens…Again!

By: Anne M. Raso

The Smithereens annual BB King’s Times Square concert is coming up this Saturday, January 18th at 8PM and it’s always a bit of a homecoming concert for the Jersey born and bred band who are one of the few that are in their prime in every way after close to 33 years of pretty much the same lineup—Pat DiNizio on lead vocals/guitar, Jim Babjak on lead guitar, Severo “The Thrilla” Journacion on bass (who replaced original bassist Mike Mesaros when he retired to be a chef in 2006) and drummer Dennis Diken. You can go to www.bbkingblues.com for tickets and more details but one thing is certain—the famous club is lucky that it’s roof is still intact one the ‘Reens have blown the place to (you guessed it) Smithereens.

The Smithereens

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Top Chef Episode 9: The Elimination Challenge Recap

By: Finance Foodie 

In Episode 9's Elimination Challenge from my favorite reality show Top Chef Seattle, each chef was tasked with cooking a dish inspired by a memorable moment from a previous season of Top Chef, but in a healthier manner. The winning dish will inspire a new Healthy Choice Top Chef Cafe Steamer and the chef that makes the best dish wins $15,000 (man, I need to learn to cook better!). Furthermore, the chefs all get a Kindle Fire to find out what season and moment they have, but Padma keeps one Kindle Fire with the memorable moment for Top Chef Season 10, which the chefs will find out about later.

Episode 9 Preview: Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Bravo.

And what healthy dishes did the chefs make? Josie had Season 1 and made Herb-Roasted Chicken with Parsnip Puree and Steamed Root Vegetables. Stefan had Season 2 and made Roasted Red Pepper Soup with Bacon and Grilled Mimolette Cheese Sandwich. John had Season 3 and made Umami Risotto with Chicken, Salmon Roe, Burdock Root and Carrot Emulsion. Sheldon had Season 4 and made Beef Carpaccio with Poi Aioli, Mizuna and Mushroom Salad and Silken Tofu Foam. Lizzie had Season 5 and made Seared Scallops with Roasted Fennel, Garlic Puree, Orange and Olive Salad. Josh had Season 6 and made Soy-Glazed Pork Tenderloin with Smoked Cashew Puree and Heirloom Peaches. Brooke had Season 7 and made Smoked Salmon, Forbidden Black Rice with English Pea and Parsnip Puree. Kristen had Season 8 and made Poached Chicken Breast, Carrot Puree with Garlic and Tofu Emulsion (more on that further down this post). Micah had Season 9 and made Five-Spiced Duck Breast with Miso Polenta and Pickled Cherries.

And the winners and the losers? Josh, Brooke and Kristen served the best dishes, but in the end Kristen wins the challenge and the $15,000! As for the bottom two, John and Lizzie, they had to do a cook off inspired by Season 10's CJ’s burger he made with the Spicy Dill Pickle. In the end, the judges thought Lizzie made a better patty and she is staying, so John is going home.

Fans - please don't forget to vote in the Save a Chef competition! Vote via Twitter or Text for 1. #savechefmicah 2. #savechefkuniko

Full Disclosure: Content and/or other value provided by our partner, Bravo.

Fight the Fat: Low Calorie Foods for Getting Fit in 2013

By: Finance Foodie

It’s January – a new year, which means new resolutions! After two weeks of indulging in nothing but fried meat and potatoes in Columbia, my flabby body is ready to get lean and mean again. Feeling inspired by some of the healthy goodies I saw at Philly's Food and Nutrition Conference, here are some of the treats I will be eating get back into fighting shape again.