International Sous Vide Day
You might know that February 9th is National Pizza Day or that August 10th is National S'mores Day, but unless you’re a little more in-tune with the culinary world, you might not know that since 2018, January 26th has been known as International Sous Vide Day.
Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC
Created by Dr. Bruno Gossualt (who also celebrates his birthday on the 26th!), Sous Vide is a simple yet effective French culinary technique in which food is vacuum-sealed in a bag, then cooked to a very precise temperature in a water bath. The result? A juicy and tender bite that can’t be replicated any other way.
Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC
So how should you celebrate Sous Vide Day? This year, Cuisine Solutions will be hosting a virtual celebration on Sous Vide Day with renowned masters of the craft, including Chefs Daniel Boulud, Eric Barale, Marc Ehrler, and Scott Randolph. At a preview hosted at Chef’s Boulud’s Michelin Starred restaurant Daniel, guests were given a little taste of each of the Chef’s sous vide specialites, including seared octopus “à la plancha” with grilled sweet onions, grape must poached leeks, potato ‘’Boulangère’’ and ‘’Beurre Marchand de vin’’; pork belly with sous vide lentils; and khao curry John Dory casserole with Moose Lake wild rice and cauliflower. It was hard to pick a favorite, but, as each chef will be demonstrating how to cook these dishes during the live event, you’ll be able to follow along and choose for yourself! If you’re a budding chef or gourmet home cook, this chance to learn a few Michelin-star secrets is really an opportunity like no other.
Gerard Bertholon, Daniel Boulud- Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC
And no good dish is complete without a drink to pair it with. If you really want the full sous vide experience, we definitely recommend sipping on a few of these Specialty sous vide cocktails throughout your meal as well. All crafted by Grand Marnier Ambassador Xavier Herit, these specialty cocktails including the Grand 65, a play on the brand’s signature Grand 75, with Grand Marnier, Lallier® Champagne, and a pineapple cryoconcentration, as well as the Manhattan Park—a twist on the classic Manhattan which included Grand Marnier, Russel’s Reserve® Rye, and 1757 Vermouth di Torino Rosso.
Photo by Patrick McMullan/PMC
International Sous Vide day only comes once a year, and, in our opinion, it’s worth just as much hype as National Pizza or Smore’s Day. Sign up to be part of the virtual event at https://www.internationalsousvideday.com/ or follow @cuisinesolutions for more news and updates.
Arthur Avenue: The Italian-American Experience
A day in New York is, simply, what you make it. An artist at heart? Stop in at MOMA. Or the Met. Only here for the parties? You can dance your heart out way up at The Top of the Standard, or way down at The Village Underground. But if you’re a foodie looking for an authentic culinary experience, there’s only really only one place for you: Arthur Avenue.
Colloquially known as the “Little Italy of the Bronx,” Arthur Avenue has escaped, for the most part, the encroaching gentrification that has plagued much of New York. Here, you’ll find no shortage of businesses that can tout the claim of being “multi-generational,” which makes it unique not only by New York standards (considering the very few businesses that survive a year, let alone generations), but unique from a culinary standpoint. Shaped by both Italian immigrants and their American descendants, the food on Arthur Avenue is one of the few places in the world where you can find food that is authentically Italian American: a little Italian, a little American, and a whole lot of love.
The proof is in the pudding -- or in this case, the cheese; especially if you stop by Joe’s Italian Deli, a casual eatery serving up fresh, hand pulled mozzarella. Their bocconcini, along with a few slices of salty prosciutto, is all but the perfect start to the day -- but I wouldn’t say no to their antipasto, and frankly, their Hitman Hero is mouth-watering. For a tourist, however, the deli can offer something even more delicious -- between the rows of canned tomato sauce and the school kids stopping in for sandwiches, Joe’s happens to be, in my opinion, a rare glimpse into the more local side of Arthur Avenue.
But if you’re more interested in the iconic, there’s plenty of that on the avenue as well, starting with Mario’s Restaurant, one of those aforementioned multi-generational eateries. Known for their red sauce fare, which includes Neapolitan style pizza, house made manicotti, and all types of parmigiana, Mario’s Restaurant is a classic both inside and out, even boasting a cameo in The Sopranos and a name drop in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather.
But perhaps more impressive than the food is the space itself. What started off as a six person pizzeria is now twenty-nine person restaurant accentuated with velvet lined chairs, soft Italian Opera, and warm oil paintings. Mario’s is proof that a little hard work can go a long way, and Regina Migliucci-Delfino, the current, fifth generation owner, is a testament to that -- she is, without so much as a blink, capable of reciting from memory every dish on the menu, as well as its components. Still, the family continues to pay it forward: during Tuesday to Friday dinner hours from now through October, patrons who wish the family well for their 100th year anniversary will receive one free pizza appetizer for that table (with the purchase of an entrée).
If you’re looking for more traditional Italian fare, however (read: No white sauce! No chicken parmesan!), Arthur Ave has its fair share of that as well, most recently MangiPasta, a Naples transplant serving up fresh, ‘choose your own style’ pasta dishes that include Cacio e pepe, Pesto Rigatoni, and a personal favorite: homemade Ravioli with Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino. Under normal circumstances I don’t even like ravioli, but I was sorely tempted to purchase an entire bag of MangiPasta’s to bring home with me. Trust me on this one.
And then, of course, there’s dessert. There are plenty of great options on Arthur Ave, but you can’t go wrong with Egidio Pastry Shop, a landmark bakery vouched for by the The New York Times and enshrined on an October 2018 cover of The New Yorker. The shop offers up tray after tray of Italian cookies and endless variations of biscotti, but locals will point you to the cannolis, all hand rolled and filled to the brim with cream. You might think you won’t have room after a day full of pasta and pastrami -- but don’t worry, you can get some to go.
So if you’re looking to get away from the hub and bub of Manhattan, a day trip to Arthur Avenue might just be the thing for you. In between meals, feel free to stop by the Botanical Gardens, or even check out the Bronx Zoo. Like I said...it’s what you make it.
The Essence of Lightness
On October 24, 2018, Nello Petrucci, an Italian artist from Pompeii, presented another one of his mesmerizing artworks: The Essence of Lightness.
The piece, which was inspired by Petrucci’s life in Pompeii and background in the film industry, took up a full wall on the 45th floor of 3 World Trade Center. Surrounded by the panoramic views of New York City, Petrucci took over six months to complete the piece., even relocating here to dedicate all of his creative focus and direction into manifesting his work.
The artwork, which more closely resembles an installation due to its unusual size and location, remains true to Petrucci’s fashion of creating collages using movie posters, brush strokes and several layering techniques.
Just as with his previous work, The Pompeii Collection, Petrucci used film, concert and ad posters as a base for The Essence of Lightness. He walked around New York City and tore down old and new posters. After completing the collection process, he began the intricate layering process. Two or more additional images or posters were added, followed by strokes of paint. As with The Pompeii Collection, Petrucci included some parts of Pompeii within his work through photos of the Pompeii paintings on the surface, fusing them with the layers of posters.
Yet, what is unique about The Essence of Lightness is the continuous motif of butterflies. If looked at from a distance, an observer might not notice that there are butterflies spread out from the beginning to the end of the painting. However, once an observer gets closer, they will realize that the butterflies are flying through the painting, representing time.
According to Petrucci, the beginning of the artwork represents the past. It represents the history of Pompeii and various thoughts and experiences that we, as human beings, lost sight of. The middle of the painting represents the present. It is everything that we are experiencing at the moment, whether it is delight or worry, we are living in the moment. The butterflies get higher and spread wider as you approach the end of the painting. The end represents our hopes and dreams for the future. If the observer steps back and takes a look at the overall piece, it is reminiscent of the course of life and everything we have experienced, are going through and shall expect.
Overall, The Essence of Lightness was an innovative way to represent such an intense and magical piece. Surrounded by the night skyline of New York City, it becomes almost surreal and yet Petrucci managed to conquer it all and spill it on canvas.
The Essence of Lightness is not available to the public at the moment, but here is a short clip about the making of the fascinating installation.
Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 Presentation
On a chilly Tuesday evening, crowds gathered on the rooftop of The Dominick Hotel to celebrate to a fashion spectacle: Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 Collection presentation. The collection, which was appropriately titled, “Urban Resort,” merged the worlds of soft touches of resort collections with the dark color palette inspired by New York City.
From pastel colors such as shades of baby blue, to sheer fabrics, some of which included chiffon and silk, the collection certainly pleased the crowd with its summer feel. Yet, since the designer is based in New York, there wouldn’t be a collection without including dark-colored fabrics and more structured fits.
The Kevin Johnn Resort 2019 collection offered a few black gowns with intricate cut-outs, striped and solid black flared trousers, a mesh top with chains layered atop for an embellished look, and dark floral motifs that would pop-up within the collection.
The collection intrigued and inspired. The views of Manhattan from the roof of the hotel set an appealing backdrop for the show. The summer skies allowed the audience to imagine their ideal vacation and the wardrobe to match it. The presentation ended with cheers from the satisfied crowd, certainly setting the mood for the rest of the perfect summer evening.
Photography by Evan Angelastro.
The Official Arrival of Clinton Hall to Williamsburg
Clinton Hall, a place for burgers, games, and beer, has finally arrived in Williamsburg! The new location can be found at the POD BK Hotel, and it includes good music, fun games, delicious food, and a large selection of draft beers.
The unique bar and dining experience features 20 beer drafts on rotation, which range from keg-conditioned lagers from the US, Belgium, Germany, Scandinavia, and more. But, if you’re in the mood for something other than beer, Clinton Hall offers a few different wines and cocktails worth trying, including the Spicy Margarita (tanteo jalapeno tequila, agave nectar, and fresh lime juice) and the Frozé (Frozen Rosé).
To accompany the wide selection of drinks, Clinton Hall provides an array of “sliders,” “pass arounds,” and “on table.” The “sliders” are finger-licking good, varying from Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich (served with pickled red slaw on a crispy chicken breast, cayenne pepper and secret spice blend) to The Shipwreck (beer battered cornet fish, old bay fries, tomato, lettuce, and tartar sauce). As for the pass arounds, Clinton Hall does not disappoint. Surprising combinations such as Buffalo Cauliflower (crispy florets with Clinton Hall buffalo sauce and crumbled bleu cheese) and Kimchi Hot Dogs (all beef hot dog, kimchi, crispy onion and chili aioli) are mouthwatering.The “on table” selection includes Waffle Fries (with cheddar cheese, jalapeno, and scallions) and Vietnamese Style Crispy Brussels (with mint, crispy shallot, and chili lime vinaigrette).
Photo by The Skinny Pig
After the food and drinks, guests are invited to participate in games such as giant Jenga and connect 4. What better way to finish off the night than to play some fun games in great company? After all, Clinton Hall has it all. With craft beer, great food, and fun, Clinton Hall is the perfect place to go to for a memorable experience. Check out the new location for more: 247 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211.
Photos courtesy of Clinton Hall