If you don’t have plans already, mark your calendar for this Saturday, November 22nd from 5-7 pm for the grand opening of Epicurean in Manalapan. Along with a Champagne Toast to ring in some cheer, guests will be treated to a selection of wine and other gourmet treats. So gather up some friends and swing by this spectacular new gourmet market located across the street from the Ritz Carlton at 220 S Ocean Blvd in Manalapan.
Cheers!
In late June, I posted some questions from Gourmet Smarts and I just wanted to follow up with the answers. Here goes:
- In the 1900’s, which of the following laced with mercury, was thought to cure syphilis?
- Chocolate
- Salmon
- Bread
- Oysters
- Answer: Oysters
- You’re at the local sushi bar, and the chef recommends hamachi. He’s suggesting you eat:
- Sea urchin
- Mackerel
- Yellowtail
- Crab
- Answer: Yellowtail
- Italian prosciutto di parma is so good in part because the pigs are fed:
- Corn
- Brandy
- Chestnuts
- Whey
- Answer: Whey
- Tempura is originally
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- Italian
- Answer: Portuguese
- In which country would you most likely enjoy street “hawker” foods such as curry puffs, sambal stingray, fish head curry, and chili crab?
- Singapore
- Burma
- Sri Lanka
- Indonesia
- Answer: Singapore
Congratulations to all those who participated.
I know when the Sysco and Cheney Brothers shows come to the area, people are thrilled to check them out. Can you think of a better way to spend the afternoon than by sampling new food products on the market? The Fancy Food Show at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York, that took place last weekend, takes this sampling experience to another level.
This annual fancy food show attracts anywhere from 19,000 – 32,000 attendees from the hospitality industry. They are able to sample over 180,000 food products from more than 2,300 exhibitors. In addition to the exhibitors, the show also has international pavilions, a What’s New! Showcase targeting certain segments of the trade and seminars, workshops, tours and tastings.
At the end of the show, the 2008 sofi awards were presented to some of the top products at the convention. Here is a sampling of the awards:
- Outstanding New Product: Transatlantic Food, Aux Delices des Bois Black Truffle Butter
- Oustanding Appetizer, Antipasto, Salsa or Dip: Robert Lambert, Dark Cherries Preserved in Merlot Syrup
- Outstanding Chocolate: Brandini Toffee, Brandini Toffee
- Outstanding Jam, Preserve, Honey or Nut Butter: Barefoot Contessa, Lemon Curd
- Outstanding Oil: Stella Cadente Olive Oil Company, Basil Oil
- Outstanding Pasta Sauce: Nuovo Pasta Productions: Roasted Portabella and Truffle Gourmet Sauce
- Outstanding Product Line: Vermont Butter & Cheese Company: Vermont Butter & Cheese Company
- Outstanding Salad Dressing: Stonewall Kitchen, Balsamic Fig Dressing
- Outstanding Snack Food: Route 11 Potato Chips, Sweet Potato Chips
Whether you want to be the first one to try something new or have to buy a gift for that impossible someone, here’s a good place to start.
You’ve dined at the best restaurants in the area, you’ve sat for hours in Barnes and Noble paging through the latest cookbooks, you’ve attempted to become a “master” chef in your own kitchen, but really how much do you know about gourmet foods? Here’s some questions to test your knowledge or spark the conversation and break up that lull in conversation:
- In the 1900’s, which of the following laced with mercury, was thought to cure syphilis?
- Chocolate
- Salmon
- Bread
- Oysters
- You’re at the local sushi bar, and the chef recommends hamachi. He’s suggesting you eat:
- Sea urchin
- Mackerel
- Yellowtail
- Crab
- Italian prosciutto di parma is so good in part because the pigs are fed:
- Corn
- Brandy
- Chestnuts
- Whey
- Tempura is originally
- Japanese
- Chinese
- Portuguese
- Italian
- In which country would you most likely enjoy street “hawker” foods such as curry puffs, sambal stingray, fish head curry, and chili crab?
- Singapore
- Burma
- Sri Lanka
- Indonesia
Comment below for a chance to win a complimentary subscription to Dine Magazine (make sure your email address is correct!).
Questions courtesy of Smarts Co.
Photos [Courtesy of SonicWalker flickr]