Friday, July 30, 2010

Big Love


Ok, so apparently I’ve been missing out. I knew nothing about the original Biggie’s Clam Bar in Hoboken.....and I am a clam lover. I could eat them all day long by the bucket load. They must be cooked though (I’m not a raw girl).

Biggie’s has two locations –one in Hoboken and another in Asbury Park and they just opened a third location in Carlstadt last month. We tried the Carlstadt location recently and I’ve been fighting the urge to go back to daily. Honestly.

It is a casual, roomy, wood and brick restaurant serving up clams on the half shell, roasted clams, steamed clams, whole-belly fried clams, clams oreganata, scallops and steamed mussels. Basically, Clam Heaven!!!!!!!!! If you are a raw bar person, have no fear there’s plenty of that freshly shucked stuff too like oysters on the half shell. You can check out the entire menu here.

The food on our table consisted of an appetizer of whole-belly fried clams (quite possibly one of the best versions ever. Tender and juicy, but crisp on the outside with a really tasty remoulade dipping sauce). Since one of Mike’s favorite things on the planet earth is soft shell crab, he ordered the evening special soft shell crab sandwich. I had steamers in beer for dinner with some corn on the cob on the side. There might have been some waffle fries on our table too....






I simply can’t wait to go back to this boardwalk-style seafood restaurant. In the winter when it is zero below and snowing, the thought of being able to go order tons of steamers is filling my soul with sheer delight!

Premiere Party (Jersey Shore)


Fists in the air everyone! Jersey Shore is starting its second season and you are invited to a guido fab event (yes, its imaginary). So get your GTL in order and get ready to beat down that beat! (GTL is the process of staying fresh and mint and stands for "gym, tan, laundry." It must be done everyday to achieve maximum potential.)

You're invited to a pool party, Jersey Shore style:





There will be plenty of basic food like burgers, dogs, and yes...pickles (for you Snooks)!





It wouldn't be a party without Ron Ron Juice, a fuchsia-colored concoction of watermelon, cherries, cranberry juice and copious amounts of vodka blended with ice. I will ask that guests refrain from fights in the pool area though.



Stop by the tattoo booth so you can sport some temporary ink for the evening.





How could we not “beat up the beat” with loud house music pumping all night long? According to Pauly D. you have to start off your dancing by banging the ground and bang it as the beat builds.



Ladies - to avoid an out of control dress code of midriff tops and very short shorts, just wear your bathing suit. Here is my choice:




Guys - please make sure the hair is spiked and gelled to perfection. If you take less than an hour on your hair, you're not trying hard enough (see Jersey Shore Hair 101 on You Tube)! Load on the cologne and make sure to show off your "guns".



Don't forget to grab a party favor T-shirt on your way out.


What a bash. Wow....or should I say, J-Woww!

Thursday, July 29, 2010

Not Complicated, Actually

I'm sort of obsessed with Meryl Streep's bakery in the movie It's Complicated. If I opened up my own French bakery, I would want it to look just like hers! I could hardly pay attention to the movie plot because I was so consumed with thoughts of shopping and eating in her store.




I'm not positive but I think I read somewhere that the set designers of It's Complicated modeled Meryl's bakery after Daylesford Organic...a chain of organic markets in England. Check out the store images:






If anyone has $5 million to give me to get my own shop open, let me know. I'm a hard worker!

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Pardon Me


We have out of town guests, so pardon my lack of posts for the next day or so!
Be back soon....

Monday, July 26, 2010

Portale Perfection

It’s that time of year again....NYC Restaurant Week, which means three course lunches for $24!!!

Course One: Fava Bean Risotto with red scallion, mascarpone and English peas.
Course Two: Roasted Scottish Salmon with shaved sugar snap peas and fregula sarda dressed with a fines herbes vinaigrette.
Course Three: Vanilla Sour Cream Mousse with seasonal berries




Where? The grand cafe in Greenwich Village with classic American fare - Gotham Bar and Grill. I adore the cocoon of informal but informed service and return each year to eat Mr. Portale’s relentlessly perfect entrees.


Saturday, July 24, 2010

Premiere Party (Mad Men)


Yes, yes, it’s finally here – the Season 4 Premiere of Mad Men. Oh how we missed you Don Draper! In honor of Don and Betty, I'm hosting a formal dinner party - Mad Men Style. You're all invited......



BOOZE
With the amount of boozing that occurs on Mad Men (it seems as if someone pours a cocktail in just about every scene), I figured a kick ass bar cart with a bevy of liquors would be a necessity. A Mad Men-themed dinner party would never be complete without a strong supplement of cocktails!




GRUB
Betty and Don enjoy plenty of formal dinners on the show. I'm planning on the all-American allure of red meat and a touch of class, so you'll be eating Beef Wellington, Creamed Spinach, and Potatoes Gratin. For dessert? Why, the retro favorite Baked Alaska of course! Most importantly, now is the time to pull out my good china, best serving platters, fancy tablecloths and fabric napkins. Betty wouldn’t have scrimped, so I'm not going to either.







SMOKES
Cigarettes, lots and lots of cigarettes. Lucky Strikes are preferred, as that is a Sterling Cooper advertising account!



DRESS
Make sure you dress to impress. Suits are preferable for men (but nice slacks and a dress shirt would be ok too) and party dresses for the ladies. Hats are strongly encouraged. Anyone in jeans will be sent home (my party, my rules).




I'll honor Betty with this ensemble:




Hope you all aren't sick from all that drinking, rich food and smoking. Thanks for coming!