MAST BROTHERS CHOCOLATE
Brooklyn’s Mast Brothers Chocolate is a great example of how stunning branding and an intelligent marketing strategy can allow one small company to sprint past a very crowded field in a short time. After only six years in the business, Michael and Rick Nast’s ‘crafted’ chocolate is one of the hippest brands in Brooklyn. And if you can emerge a winner in New York’s most jaded borough, rapid expansion is assured – if you want it (it’s cooler not to). You can find their eye-catching bars of uniquely blended chocolate in (more…)
GRADY’S COLD BREW COFFEE
Keeping your refrigerator well stocked with Grady’s Cold Brew during the upcoming summer months is not a bad idea. It just feels a bit off holding a cup of piping hot coffee while en route to the beach in flip flops. Here’s what makes it refreshingly different and is a good thing to know: cold brewing is a process in which coffee is brewed by soaking grounds in cold water overnight. After steeping, the coffee is then filtered to separate the grounds and silt (more…)
THE GENTLEMANS BAR
If you find cocktail shakers a bit excessive, there is a smoother way to prepare first-rate drinks. While out in New York recently at Locanda Verde, Robert De Niro’s popular Tribeca restaurant, the talented bartenders could be seen using a stunning crystal glass jar, with little of the fanfare that is now de rigueur amongst the mixology set. The jar is known as a “Seamless Yarai Mixing Glass” and can be bought for $52 at Cocktail Kingdom, a terrific bar supply website. Here are a few other essentials to round out your bar: (more…)
FRANKIES SPUNTINO COOKBOOK
Frankie’s is one of the top restaurants not just in Brooklyn, but across the country. Since 2004, Frank Falcinelli & Frank Castronovo have been serving rustic Italian home cooking to a very discerning and loyal following. Their cookbook is absolutely terrific and loaded with family-friendly recipes – ideal for the holidays when there are lots of hungry mouths to feed. From the book’s description: “The entire Frankies menu is adapted here for the home cook—from small bites including Cremini Mushroom and Truffle Oil Crostini, to (more…)
SHARP KITCHEN STYLE: QUISTGAARD
Sometimes the best finds in life are classic pieces from another era and there is no better example than the Kobenstyle collection of cookware from Dansk. Bright bold colors, graceful lines and natural wood accents make them stand out, even from today’s trendier and hugely over-priced Le Creuset line. Back in 1956, Danish designer Jens Quistgaard debuted the collection of enameled cookware, which were functional and visually attractive and able to be brought directly from the kitchen to the table, with the lid serving as its own trivet – a nifty innovation at the time. Today you can find individual items (more…)
iGRILL
Most guys just kind of wing it when it comes to cooking meat and fish to the proper temperature. This handy little device from iGrill takes the mystery out of the equation. Just insert the metal gauge into your pork roast, place the reader on top of the oven and keep an eye on everything via a free app on your iPhone. The app comes loaded with cooking tables, tips and advice. $100, available at iGrill.
TRENDING IN FOOD
Chef Chef Marcus Samuelsson hosted a panel discussion last night on behalf of his new website foodrepublic, with the topic being “How far off is the $50 pizza?” The panelists included Marcus himself, Eddy Chai, co-owner of retail sensation Odin, visual artist Sanford Biggers and Brooklyn (more…)
THE SAVOY COCKTAIL BOOK
In 1925, a young American named Harry Craddock moved to London and began working at The American Bar in the elegant Savoy Hotel. Americans started arriving in droves around that time, eager to escape the cultural restraints of the 1920′s and 30′s back home. Craddock soon became head bartender and (more…)
THE BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD: NOMA COPENHAGEN
The San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants were announced this week and Danish restaurant Noma, came in number one for the second year in a row. If their food is anywhere near as good as their impeccable style, then we offer them heartfelt congratulations. The top rated U.S. restaurant, Alinea out of Chicago, came in at number 6. The awards, now in their 10th year, are a less formal alternative to the haughty Michelin franchise.
ELEKTRA CLASSIC ESPRESSO MACHINE
ELEKTRA CLASSIC “BARLUME” ESPRESSO MACHINE. Old school Italian company Elektra has been producing beautiful espresso machines since 1947. This particular model, part of the ‘classics’ collection, sits serenely behind the bar at restaurant 24/7 in the Standard Hotel, Downtown LA. Although pricey at $7,650, it’s one of the best design elements in the hotel.
PRADA MADE-TO-MEASURE
Prada is the ultimate shop for finding a dapper, perfectly tailored suit. I will be stopping by their Madison Avenue store from 5-6pm or so tonight to check out their Made-to-Measure program. Please come by if you are free to see the collection and have a taste of Glenmorangie scotch.
BOURBON: THE GENTLEMAN’S SPIRIT
If you’re into the southern dandy look – bow ties, plaid & tweed, then a good bourbon is the natural next step. This distilled whiskey is named after Bourbon County, Kentucky. Sweet and rich, with notes of brown sugar and toasted nuts, Knob Creek is a good place to start. A solid heavy rocks glass is essential.
MARCUS SAMUELSSON’S NEW BOOK
A great book packed with culturally diverse recipes from “one of the finest chefs in the country” as noted by Michelle Obama. Chef Samuelsson was honored as guest chef of the White House for the state dinner welcoming the Prime Minister of India.
THE BALTHAZAR COOKBOOK
The cookbook not only features recipes, but also conveys the look and experience of Balthazar for those who treasure the restaurant’s atmosphere.
