Super Saturday Hamptons: Bringing Out The A-List Crowd To Shop For A Good Cause!

By: Anne M. Raso

Super Saturday is one of the most popular events every year in the Hamptons—not just because it brings out the Hamptons A-List crowd and provides plenty of designer bargains to attendees…but because it helps benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Kelly Ripa has been the host for several years now (helping the event get plenty of advanced coverage on daytime TV) and this year’s co-hosts were Covergirl spokeswoman Paula Patton, Donna Karan and InStyle Magazine’s Ariel Foxman. Ripa and the staff of QVC—who have been longtime sponsors of the event—broadcast live from the event as guests who paid $450 to $650 per head dined on exquisite Italian cuisine at Nova’s Ark Project provided by the legendary Sant Ambroeus and scoured for bargains. Along the way, they were handed samples from lots of fun vendors who had their own stands behind the white tent set up for the actual sale part of the festivities—there were plenty of cutting edge beverages from folks like Zico coconut water, Mamma Chia chia seed drinks, Titan Tea and Guarana Energy drinks.

From Crisp to Cool: Summertime Snack-a-Thon 2014

By: Finance Foodie

Summer is over half gone (although the humidity has just begun) - but don't be sad, the team here at Finance Foodie has been hard at work testing awesome summer snacks for your enjoyment! Whether it's a picnic party in Central Park, your desk at work as you countdown to Friday, or just beating the heat on your travels around town, here are some crisp and/or cool treats that will make your tastebuds shine all the time.

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Pepperidge Farm’s Holidays In July Dinner: Bringin’ On The Turkey And All The Fixins Just A Little Early!

By: Anne M. Raso

In case you don’t already know, the famous (and highly nostalgic) brands Pepperidge Farm, Swanson and Campbell’s Soup are all owned by the same corporation these days and the PR folks from there wanted to come out swinging’ with their best holiday recipes from their test kitchens—featuring their most popular products. They wowed New York’s fussy foodie press with both new-fangled and traditional recipes using their most famous products, many of which bring a warmth to baby boomers’ hearts just upon the mention of their names! (They even created a gingerbread house featuring a roof made out of Pepperidge Farm Chessmen cookies to give it a little texture—it was so cute that no one wanted to take it apart and eat it at the Holidays In July dinner!)

gLAMBping it Up with Asian Sensation BBQ Lamb Kabobs

By: Finance Foodie

When I eat meat, I usually put lamb at the top of my list. Tender, juicy and naturally full of flavor - all you need is a little olive oil and rosemary to bring out its succulence. Furthermore, lamb is nutrient rich, making it a natural fit for healthy diets. On average, it’s an excellent source of protein, vitamin B-12, niacin, zinc and selenium and a good source of iron and riboflavin. Plus, lamb has five times more healthy omega-3 fatty acids than beef!

Source: Mountain State Rosen

Organic Spa Magazine’s “Organic Beauty & Lifestyle” Media Event 2014: The Best Of Green Spa Products And Philanthropy!

By Anne M. Raso

Organic Spa Magazine is not just about spas and the “green” health & beauty products they use and sell—this socially conscious publications also donates some of the proceeds from their publishing revenues and events to leading water charities. It was like a spa lovers’ dream to be handed a flute of champagne and wander around one of the top floor of the Mandarin Oriental. I started out with a couple of hand massages (after wonderful sea salt scrub treatments), my favorite being courtesy of Shea Moisture, who was partially there to launch a wonderful line of skin products made with acai and pomegranate called Superfruit Complex, not to mention a brand new makeup line that will be going into both spas and mass market stores.

The Derby: Soulful Southern-Inspired Cuisine Takes Over The Lower East Side

By: Anne M. Raso

I had fallen in love with The Derby in its previous incarnation--the Tiny Fork--which was a seafood-driven establishment where customers feasted on large raw-bar trays. The ownership is the same, but there is an all-new staff. The Derby has only been open 2 1/2 months at the time of this writing, and friendly manager Gabe Voytas is as helpful as they come. He can answer your questions about every fussy detail of every dish. This is his first foray into the restaurant world; he previously managed several hot nightspots in the city.

Interior

Wedding Salon's New York Showcase Inspires Brides-to-Be for Wedding Planning Needs

Sponsored Post

The nation’s #1 premier luxury bridal show, Wedding Salon, is bringing together the top names in bridal to the JW Marriott Essex House. The bridal showcase is a one-day event, designed to look and feel like a luxurious wedding catering to engaged couples, celebrities and socialites.

WHAT (to expect) 
 Beauty Makeovers by Lancôme at Bergdorf Goodman
 Cake creations and tastings by TLC’s Cake Boss and Sprinkles Cupcakes
 Fantasy Reception Table designs by Double A Events
 Couture gown displays featuring Pronovias
 Cocktails and beverage choices from Keurig Coffee, 360 Vodka and Tequila Rose
 An ultimate goody bag featuring Frederic Fekkai, Le Mieux and Dove

WHERE:
JW Marriott Essex House 160 Central Park S | New York, NY | 10019

WHEN: 
MONDAY, July 21st, 2014 | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM

PRICE:
$75 for two guests. For more info, to purchase tickets or to find the next upcoming show, please visit www.weddingsalon.com

Jill Zarin's Second Annual Luxury Ladies Luncheon: Fabulous Fun In The Hamptons Sun!

By: Anne M. Raso

This past Sunday, reality star/entrepreneur Jill Zarin had a party as fabulous as you might think it would be at her gorgeous contemporary Southampton home. There were giant rubber ducks in the Jacuzzi, burgers on the grill, fantastic hors d'oeuvres being passed and about 35 fashion and tech-forward companies with their merchandise on display.

Scene at the House

Life. Love. Lobster on the North River Lobster Company Sailing Restaurant

By: Finance Foodie

Over the past few days, the Mister and I have been trying our best to take advantage of what’s left in the last half of summer in the City. The other night, we decided to check out the recently opened North River Lobster Company, New York’s first sailing lobster shack docked at Pier 81 by the Hudson River. While aboard, passengers can enjoy fresh Maine lobsters and an array of other staple seafood items in casual yet cool atmosphere.

Fancy Food Show 2014: Good Eats, Great Peeps!

By: Anne M. Raso and Finance Foodie

I've been attending the Fancy Food Show since the 90s and I have to say it is about the most fun you can have sampling food! You flit from booth to booth, meeting food vendors--some that have been established for 150 years and some that are new and looking for distributorship in this country! There were a few manufacturers I particularly liked, and as you can see from my choices, I love everything from spicy Sunday Sauce to Butternut Squash Lite Bites!

Going "Yonanas" At An Inaugural Tasting!

By: Anne M. Raso

I recent visited the offices of Trent And Company for their Inaugural Tasting--a press preview of new, health-oriented food products and equipment that are hand-selected by "trend spotter" Nancy Trent (you can actually tweet to her at @thetrendspotter and check out her tweets on the newest kitchen creations that not only taste good but are good for you)!

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SousVide Supreme