So, these booze-focused TweetUps that I've been organizing are hitting the big time. What first started as six people for brown liquor at Char No. 4, then maybe 15 for clear liquor at Double Crown, followed by about 20 for rum at Elettaria and then about 25 for tequila at Cabrito is now giving it a whirl at the new bar space at Astor Center. Mark your calendars for 11/2. We're still working out the details, like ticket cost, but it's sponsored by Chartreuse and the lovely ladies of LUPEC NYC will be developing cocktails and working the bar. Jean Marc Roger, the president of Chartreuse Diffusion, will be in town and will lead us through a tasting, and there will be several Chartreuse cocktails available. I'm incredibly excited, and I hope you all can make it! Please RSVP here (although you'll need tickets in advance – details to follow) and spread the word!
Author: Laren
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I Am a Delicate Flower
and did I mention classy? I had to share this picture with you as it made me crack up beyond belief and I enjoy embarrassing myself on the internet. The story behind it is that Leo (who was behind the camera) was saying that I always make the same face whenever he points a camera at me. So I decided to make this one instead. Photo by Leo Borovskiy of Lush Life Productions (whose more serious photos are fantastic).
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Color Burst
Color Burst!
Just a little color to brighten up your day. And mine. Not that there’s anything wrong with today, I’m just a little tired. Plus it’s my Monday. Anyhoo, enjoy!
xoxo
–L -
Atonement
Over the course of this weekend, I have committed the following sins and/or engaged in the following sinful behaviors:
– I have openly mocked the gaudy McMansions we passed on our 50-mile bike ride.
– I ate all kinds of pork and shellfish, including oysters at the Stone Street Oyster Fest, Momofuku pork buns, and Flying Pigs Farm bacon (not in one sitting, however).
– Gluttony: late night snacks at Blue Ribbon, several cocktails at the LUPEC NYC Avon breast cancer walk fundraiser at Death & Co.
– Sloth: an entire portion of a day watching a Mad Men marathon.
– Denial: ate a Choinkwich from the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck on Yom Kippur.
And finally, atonement — bought a new scale today. Happy New Year, all!
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Time for a Drink
First, learn to stock your home bar with the essential equipment as described in my latest Mix it Up post on Serious Eats NY, then mix yourself a Laren's Marmalade Surprise, courtesy of A Muddled Thought. Cheers!
“Laren’s Marmalade Surprise”
1 1//2 oz Cazadores Anejo
Bar Spoon of Orange Marmalade
¼ oz Lime Juice
½ oz Vanilla syrup
Muddled Jalepeno
2 Dashes Mole Bitters(photo by Hal Wolin)
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Birth of a Cookbook
Last night, not only was I lucky enough to eat at the chef's counter at Hearth for their end-of-summer lobster dinner, but I had the good fortune to be sitting there when Chef Marco Canora saw a finished copy of his soon-to-be-released cookbook, Salt to Taste
, for the very first time. The pure joy and excitement of seeing his first cookbook in completed form was wonderful to watch, and from what I could see, it looks gorgeous.
Earlier that night I had spoken to him (luckily it was during the first course, before I had lobster all over me), and told him how it was appropriate that I was there on that particular night. Last night was the night of the StarChefs Rising Star Gala, which I had attended many years ago for Gothamist. Chef Canora was one of the winners that year, and I adored his fava and pecorino salad with smoked lamb tenderloin that he served that night. When I got fava beans from my CSA, I did my best to recreate it, but alas, it wasn't as good, but once I get a copy of the book, I'll give it another try.
The book will be released on October 13th. Congratulations!
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Fall is in the Air
I know this because I wore boots for the first time last night Time to bust out the sweaters, I suppose. I'm looking forward to it, actually — dreaming of soups, stews, short ribs, brisk bike rides, and hikes. And of course, the slow cooker.
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L’Shana Tova
What better way to ring in the Jewish New Year than with The Heebster from Russ & Daughters – Whitefish & Baked Salmon Salad and Horseradish Cream Cheese on a Bagel (an onion bagel, in the case of this gorgeous specimen)? It was absolutely delicious. Of course the first day of Rosh Hashanah I had the fried chicken lunch at Momofuku Noodle Bar — which also made for a damn good celebratory meal.
More pictures from the tasty and fun New Year's weekend with friends and family can be found here.
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Preserving the Summer
I have had a crazy overload of peaches and plums over the past two weeks, and although I adore them, there's only so many of them I can eat before they go bad. I've also been away on the weekend and super-busy during the week and haven't had time to bake or cook them up into something magnificent. The solution? The freezer. I sliced them up and placed them on a sheet tray to freeze overnight, then sealed them in a plastic back, removing as much air as possible. We'll see how they are in a few weeks or even a few months, when I need a taste of summer.
