Cruising down Collins Boulevard near the shores of South Beach, in surely the most stylish of city cabs, I arrived early to the W South Beach for Saturday’s afternoon seminars. Heading inside the hotel, my first stop featured television drinky-drink man, Zane Lamprey, host of on-air barhop, Three Sheets. Focusing on the use of fresh fruits and vegetables in your cocktail, Lamprey’s From Garden to the Glass cocktail clinic included five great, garden-inspired drinks – including an avocado daquiri from Portland’s Lucy Brennan – along with laughter and witty banter. …

Oh, New York. Always with the outstanding events…and this weekend is no different.
Starting on Saturday, in support of upcoming chefs at the French Culinary Institute, the New York Culinary Experience will launch its third annual, weekend-long culinary camp. This two-day cooking extravaganza, touted as an incomparable fantasy food camp, will offer interactive cooking classes with some of the best chefs in the city (and beyond!) including Daniel Boulud, Jacques Torres, Gina DePalma, and Alex Guarnaschelli.
The event, developed to support the Future Chefs Scholarship Fund at the Institute, also features Saturday …

An amazing evening was had this past Monday night in New York City as the 2010 James Beard Foundation Awards were announced in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. Amid beautiful early summer weather, big industry names from Jacques Pépin to Grant Achatz and everyone in between came together to celebrate culinary greats from around the country. Chefs, mixologists, and food personalities made it down the red carpet early in the evening, stopping for laughs and poses as photographers, journalists, and food fans snapped photos of their favorites. Hosts Lidia …

Seattle chef Jason Franey of Canlis was in New York this weekend to bring a piece of the Pacific Northwest to the James Beard House. A former executive sous chef of the highly-rated Eleven Madison Park, Franey was surrounded by family and friends for the event, from Mark and Chris Canlis to food writer Francis Lam and EMP’s chef Daniel Humm. Also on hand, Bill Whitbeck of Taylor Shellfish Farms, Tracey Baker of Gleason Ranch, and Tracy Smaciarz of Heritage Meats – all purveyors of delicious foodstuffs for Canlis as …

Seems we’re full-swing into “awards season” (I didn’t even realize there was a food awards season), with everyone and their mother naming their favorites across the culinary board. While in Portland for their annual conference, the International Association of Culinary Professionals handed out their awards for best cookbooks, food journalism, food styling, food photography, and awards of excellence.
Some of the winners include:

Cookbook – American: My New Orleans, John Besh
Cookbook – Chefs & Restaurants: Ad Hoc at Home, Thomas Keller and Dave Cruz
Cookbook – Compilations: Gourmet Today, Ruth Reichl
Culinary Writing …

Unsurprisingly, Vancouver area restaurants saw a significant increase in business during the recent Olympics events. According to Ian Tostenson of the British Columbia Restaurant & Foodservices Association, local eateries, particularly those in the Olympic Zone, saw an increase of 100-300% in overall sales.
“The restaurants in the outer edges, I would say sales there were flat, which in the recession that we all have experience, is pretty good,” Tostenson said. “Sales had been trending negative.
Restaurants in the Yaletown area, located near multiple event venues, saw the largest increase in sales.  Beer …

Now in its ninth year, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival is prepped and ready to rock-n-roll this weekend along the sunny beaches of Miami, Florida. Presented by Food & Wine Magazine, Southern Wine & Spirits, and the Food Network, fans can expect to see all of their television food favorites, from Rachael Ray to Paula Deen to Emeril Lagasse, with a few culinary masters thrown in for good measure. With Chef Mario Batali making waves during last year’s dinner with the King and Queen of Spain, …

‘Tis the time of the year when folks across the food and beverage industry release their thoughts on next year’s culinary trends.  Last year’s predictions included higher-end kids menus, ‘functional’ cocktails, breakfast anytime, and the rise of offal. My forecast for 2009 menus included familiar foods, increased use of local/sustainable items, and flower liqueurs. (St. Germain, anyone?)
So, what can we look for in 2010?
Technomic’s top five trends for 2010 include high-quality spins on comfort food (I’m already seeing fried chicken on everyone’s menu) and more use of heirloom food stuffs.
International …

Fine, fine, I admit it. I don’t cook. The cookbooks on my shelves are either signed by people I admire or misdirected Christmas gifts from well-meaning folks who didn’t know my true side. I can do the basics – grilled cheese, meatloaf, maybe a pie. I just tend to leave the big stuff to the pros. Does that make me any less of a foodie? I think not.
Tired of giving (or getting) cookbooks? Here are five foodie-flavored gifts on the top of my Christmas list this year.
1) A little bit …

Popular fast food chain Fatburger is continuing to struggle in keeping the company afloat amid the difficult economical times. According to a recent article in the Portland Business Journal, CEO Andrew Wiederhorn is hoping that a few strategic expansion options will help steer the company back in the right direction after its California and Nevada subsidiaries filed for bankruptcy earlier this year. By focusing on franchise openings worldwide, with one opening nearly every month, Wiederhorn is banking on investments with little upfront capital.
It looks to be an uphill battle, however.
Fog …

According to a recent Zagat survey, more restaurants opened in New York this year than the number of restaurants who shuttered their doors. Despite closings from big names like Payard and Tavern on the Green, survey results show that 157 ‘notable’ restaurants opened this year compared with 102 that closed. The survey also notes that overall pricing of a meal in New York actually rose 2.5% even with so many hot spots cutting back on expensive food items and offering lower-priced prix fixe meals. However, while restaurants continue to open, …

Starting on Monday, world-class dining at cash-saving prices comes to Las Vegas! Running August 31 through September 6, Restaurant Week provides diners with discounted menus, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Three Square Food Bank. Participating Vegas restaurants will offer prix fixe menus from three tiered price points: $20.09, $30.09 and $50.09.
Many hotels are getting into the Restaurant Week mix as well, offering accommodation and dining packages for Vegas visitors. The fabulous MGM Grand is offering deluxe accommodations and a tasting menu for two for just $159 at …

Today, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite top ten food lists recently published around the web. From French eating to great bars where you can sit back with a stiff drink, enjoy!
1) Ten Great Places to Master The Art of French Eating. The USAToday list includes some of the best French restaurants in the country, from greats like Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud.
2) Top Ten Eco-friendly Wineries. The Huffington Post list is missing a few of our favorite green wineries, namely Parducci and HALL, but if you’re an eco-wine …

Posted by Jennifer Heigl
Oy! The food writing world is all a-twitter with the upcoming opening of super chef Daniel Boulud’s DBGB Kitchen & Bar in NYC!
Grub Street gave us a full look at the menu after a recent foodie preview. Dubbed as a ‘Pan-European brasserie’, the menu includes a great selection of seafood bites, burgers, and sausages, with the occasional veal tongue (take it from me – don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it!). A full ice-cream cart rounds out the dessert options.
Despite early rumors about the menu, Boulud recently …

What a weekend indeed! So many wonderful people, so much wonderful food, so many wonderful cocktails! It’ll be hard to top in 2010, but I’m willing to check it out.
My last few pictures and notes from the 2009 Vegas Uncork’d event:
1) I had a great time at Friday’s Culinary Workshop: A Passion for Pasta with Executive Chef Carlos Buscaglia of FiAMMA in the MGM Grand. Chef Buscaglia demonstrated a whole host of fabulous pastas, including gnocchi with a black truffle crema, short rib raviolini, and a yummy panna cotta.  The …