Thin Is In at Rizzo's Fine Pizza Co. LES

By: Finance Foodie

Living in the City, it's hard not to get the craving for authentic New York style pizza.  Forget the Papa John's or Domino's - the proximity to the old school stuff is just too close to pass up. Therefore, when I discovered that long time NY favorite Rizzo's Fine Pizza Co. recently opened up a new location on the LES - I just had to shimmy on over for a bite.

Outside

Do It Yourself Food at Cook & Go Culinary Studios

By: Finance Foodie

Since I've  improved my cooking skills dramatically over the last year, I thought it would be good idea if the Mister started learning the difference between "diced" and "slivered". Therefore, we found ourselves at the Cook & Go Culinary Studios last Friday night. Cook & Go is a cooking studio in West Chelsea that offers various cooking classes, which rotate monthly, designed to prepare a single serving of a multi-course meal. Participants choose which meal they want to learn/cook (theme menus range from "TV Dinner" to "Healthy Holiday"), cook these original recipes with the instructors, and then take the finished dishes home to eat.

Participants in the Island Menu Class

Psudo-Homemade Gourmet: Lamb Shank Pasta Zero Dinner

By: Finance Foodie

Since the Mister works rather long hours, I know he likes to come home to an already prepared homemade meal to end the day (as they say, the way to a man's heart is through his stomach). But living in NYC and also having a full time job doesn't leave me much time to slave away over a hot stove. So what's my solution to this dilemma? A delicious "psuedo" homemade dinner that tastes like it took 20 hours to prepare, but really took about 20 minutes. So ladies, put those pots and pans and measuring spoons away, the Lamb Shank Pasta Zero Dinner is here to save the day.

Taste Testing McDonald's White Chocolate Mocha

By: Finance Foodie

McDonald's McCafé recently rolled out a new seasonal beverage – the new McCafé White Chocolate Mocha. McCafé White Chocolate Mocha is a blend of 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified espresso with white chocolate flavor, combined with steamed milk and topped with whipped cream. This made to order beverage joins the existing line of McCafé premium Mochas, including Regular and Caramel, and the returning Peppermint Mocha. McCafé White Chocolate Mocha will be available for a limited time only beginning mid-November 2013 through January 2014. While prices and participation may vary, customers can choose from: · Small (12 oz.): $2.39 · Medium (16 oz.): $2.89 · Large (20 oz.): $3.39.

An Inside Look at Betony New York via FiLMUiN

By Finance Foodie, in collaboration with FiLMUiN

Just last night, the Mister and I attend a holiday dinner at Betony, the new Modern American restaurant overseen by Executive Chef Bryce Shuman (the former Executive Sous Chef of Eleven Madison Park). This was a pretty sweet party, as the whole restaurant was shut down just for us. Since I am working with the cool new video review website FiLMUiN, I just had to document at least a tiny portion of my experience. Below, I take you inside Betony where you can see what I had for my first course (a citrus salad) and also see what the ambiance is really like (classy and elegant). And be sure to check out FiLMUiN's library of videos featuring restaurants, hotels and nightlife around NYC to see what venues are really like (oh, did I mention signing up is free?).

Link to video on FilmUin: https://filmuin.com/venue/10619/comments/Betony-West-57th-Street-New-York-NY-United-States

Betony
41 W 57th Street
New York, NY 10019
(212) 465-2400
betony-nyc.com
Cuisine: Modern American

Finance Foodie’s Holiday Gift Guide: Food, Fashion and Fun Holiday Picks!

By: Anne M. Raso and Finance Foodie

The team at Finance Foodie Media has found many a wonderful things in our recent travels through various holiday press days —they are all holiday gift worthy and at all different price points. We have a tendency to like quirky items, but we feel that these are crowd pleasers too. There is truly something for everyone here!

Fashion
I recently viewed Amy Conway's Henri Bendel's Jewelry Collection at Bendel’s and met with lovely Amy herself—now she’s got a pop up store at 87 Mercer Street through the end of the month for last minute holiday shopping or for just whenever you want to stop in and buy a bauble for yourself! She is most famous for the sterling silver “Love Conquers All” Hinged Cuff ($1.650)—which has a wonderful black and silver carved checkerboard pattern—but you need to go to feel and touch all of Amy’s wonderful semi-precious pieces before purchasing one. The incredible hand workmanship cannot really be experienced through a photo. For more info on Amy’s pieces, check out amyconway.com. Pieces are between $125 and $2,000 but as we go to press, there is 20 per cent off and free shipping on her site.

Lunch on the Run: Chicken Marsala Chopped Salad

By: Finance Foodie

Now that the weather outside is frightful and the fire inside is so delightful, I've been spending more time in the kitchen experimenting with new recipes ideas. My goal: to create easy to make, tasty but still healthy meals that you can prepare the night before and take to work the next day. This weeks "Lunch on the Run" idea is the Chicken Marsala Chopped Salad. Five minutes and you got yourself a high protein and low carb meal that will keep you satisfied until dinner.

Teqa Revisited: New Chef, New Cuisine!

By: Anne M. Raso

I was lucky enough to attend a dinner to meet Teqa’s new 28-year-old chef Steven Cruz (who was hired a few months ago after doing a long stint at the now defunct Orchard House on the Lower East Side and in private catering). Cruz started our dinner by announcing that the midtown eatery was changing over from traditional to modern Mexican. I was able to sample several dishes that were delightful, washed down with a Jalapeno Gratinee between the appetizers and entrees (talk about a thorough palate cleansing—what a “bang” it gave off)!

Avocado Ensalada

Bloody Happening at the Spotted Pig New York

By: Finance Foodie

Last Wednesday, the Mister and I decided it time for a Date Night (with his business traveling and my hectic work schedule, having a real meal together was long overdue). Given the Mister's upcoming trip to London, we felt it was only fitting that we dine at The Spotted Pig, the West Village staple that serves up some of the best British and Italian fusion gastro-pub fare. Aware that this little joint gets packed to the gills every night and fearing a two hour wait for food, we decided to go around 6pm for dinner (ungodly early by New York City standards). Surprisingly, the place was still busy even at that hour, but we were luckily able to snag a prime seat in the corner booth. As expected, everything was well done, but the standout dishes of the night were the tender and flavorful Smoked Mackerel with Sweet Potato Mash and House Pancetta ($16) and the decadent but not cloyingly sweet banana toffee and chocolate Banofee Pie ($8). Armed again with my new Weryoo photo sharing community app, here is a photo journey of our night (Click on the captions to download my photos!)

Pig on the Ceiling - Festive!

Out of this World O(a)wesome at Otto's Tacos

By: Finance Foodie

While exploring the East Village with my family during the Thanksgiving holiday, we stumbled upon the newly opened Otto's Tacos on 2nd Avenue. Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the Asian food we consumed during the week, we decided to go off the usual routine and add a bit of L.A.-styled Mexican to our repertoire. With a simple menu of 5 tacos (Carne Asada, Carnitas, Chicken, Mushroom and Shrimp) along with some original sides like Masa Fries and Chips and Guac, this was exactly what our tired and not wanting to think minds needed after a long day of shopping.

Exterior

Can Your Diet Affect Your Life Insurance Premium?

Brought to You by AAMI

If you’re asking this question, you may want to think about why you are asking it. Do you worry that you are at risk for higher life insurance premiums due to what you eat? If you think your diet might affect the rates you get when you apply for life insurance, you might be happy to find out that diet doesn’t affect your life insurance premium per se.

However, your diet can affect your body in a number of ways, causing health issues that can affect your life insurance premium. Here are a few of the health issues that can be caused in part or in whole by diet that may affect the life insurance premiums you are eligible for:

Obesity

The impacts on a person’s health and life span for carrying excess weight can greatly affect the premium rate life insurance companies offered to applicants who fall into the category of obesity. The health issues associated with being obese are a huge risk to life insurance companies, so they charge much higher premiums for obese applicants. Luckily, though, many people are only a little overweight and not quite obese. Find out more at www.aami.com.au about your life insurance options today.

For applicants who are just a bit overweight, they can likely lock in lower premium rates, but they will have to make some minor adjustments to their lifestyle and show their life insurance company that they are making a noticeable effort to lose their excess weight. Eating a poor diet and overeating is one of the greatest causes of obesity and carrying excess weight. So, it is important to evaluate if you can change your diet to lose any extra weight your carrying to better your health and get a lower premium rate to obtain life insurance.

Get Sweet with this Caramel Banana Ravioli Bites Recipe

By: Finance Foodie

During the holiday season, I usually get inundated with invites to celebrations and parties - mostly centered around eating. Tired of showing up with yet another bottle of wine (because us New Yorkers have trouble locating our stoves, if we are lucky enough to even have one in our tiny apartments), I made a resolution to bring only handmade goods to all gatherings. However, given my busy work schedule - the day job and running this site - I needed something that was quick to make yet looked like I spent hours in the kitchen.

Caramel Banana Ravioli Bites

Feeling Fresh Off the Boat at Baohaus New York

By: Finance Foodie

Since my sister was in town for the Thanksgiving holiday last week, I was under a lot of pressure to play good host for all her eating needs. Easier said than done, as Finance Foodie Jr. happens to be even more picky than myself it comes to food. One request that had to be fulfilled was delicious Asian cuisine in a happening atmosphere. Enter Baohaus. After I heard about owner Eddie Huang's place from his Fresh Off the Boat show on Vice, I knew I found the spot to fill the bill. One part authentic Taiwanese street food, one part hipster East Village cool kids hangout spot - this was the perfect place for a quick lunch. Armed with Weryoo, a new photo sharing app in beta that connects people with locations by geolocating your photo to an exact spot on a map, we were ready to eat! Below is a photo journey of our dining adventure (PS you can click on photo captions to see my original photo on Weryoo!).

The entrance / ordering station / kitchen 

Enjoy a Catered Delicious Holiday Meal!

Brought to you by Bertrand Munier

Are you looking to have an office Christmas party or meal? There are many dinner party catering services available that can arrange it all for you.

If you are planning on celebrating at your work or home during the coming festive period you may have considered employing a catering service to ease the burden of responsibility. Whether it is in the intimacy and tranquillity of your own home or office, you can enjoy a delicious meal cooked for you by a professional chef.