BLOGGER MEET-UP AT MA PECHE

It's been a little over a month since I last visited Ma Peche with a group of food bloggers. I thought the next time I'd be here again would be when the restaurant officially opened next door to the Chambers Hotel on 56th. But when Hagan from Wandering Foodie asked if I would like to come along for a blogger meet-up, I was happy to revisit the temporary set-up in the hotel's mezzanine. Following a morning session of ice skating at Bryant Park, I met up with Karen (Hagan's friend) and Zachery Cohen of Farm to Table.

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PACE PICANTE SAUCE CARNITAS

As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received two complimentary jars of Pace Picante Sauce for me to experiment in the kitchen.  And as soon as they arrived, I knew exactly which recipe I wanted to try: carnitas. Carnitas mean "little meats" in Spanish and is traditionally made with beautifully marbled and muscled cuts of pork, which are tenderized over hours of low heat into sublime perfection. This is slow-food at its best. 

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HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 

I hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday this season! Happy holidays from my family to yours!

xoxo,

Christine

SAN FRANCISCO FERRY BUILDING SWEETS

Whenever I walk through the San Francisco Ferry Building, I can always gauge the types of food people have affinity towards. Typically the sweet tooth variety will immediately will be attracted to Miette, a patisserie shop which always has three or four large jars stacked high with macarons to entice innocent passerbyers.

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SAN FRANCISCO FERRY BUILDING, Pt. 1

I
magine a location that unites America's gourmet creme de la creme. The finest cheeses, wines, chocolates, coffee, pastries, breads, olive oil, cured meats and fresh produce and meats. I know it's a bold assertion to name any one place, so I'll make the leap to at least proclaim one place that comes pretty darn close: the San Francisco Ferry Building. If I had to choose one place to grocery shop and eat from for the rest of my life, I would choose the San Francisco Ferry Building. It  contains one of the strongest collections of suppliers of artisan/organic products I've encountered yet.

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12 DAYS & SOFT AND CHEWY CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Have you ever felt hunger? I mean true hunger, the desperate type where it was the result of not having enough around? I'll share with you some personal insight, not mine but a close friend's. On very rare occasions he will open up and recount his painful memories of going to bed hungry. He would tell me, "It was only a matter of $3, if someone could have spared $3, I would have been able to get something to eat."

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FUNGI FAR WEST

Fungi Far West has to be one of the more unique and exotic vendors that I have encountered in America. I'll admit I haven't tried all of the mushroom varieties showcased, mostly because I haven't been able to keep up with Fungi's frequent rotations of the new and usual. So if you have experience with any of these mushrooms, especially the uber-expensive truffles, please do share with me your tasting notes.

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MISSED CONNECTIONS IN SAN FRANCISCO

If you've met me in person, you'd know that I'm a very sociable person, sometimes to my own detriment.  My husband worries that one day I'll befriend the wrong person and I'll get into a whole heap of trouble for talking with strangers. But I shrug it off, I've met so many kind-hearted people along the way, many who have enriched my life experiences, and some who have become as important as close family members.

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FRESH LOCAL & BEST in SAN FRANCISCO Day 1

I landed on the other side of the coast very late Friday night and it feels like I've been running nonstop to meet up with friends and family before their busy work week. The last time I visited was in late August, so not long ago. Can you tell I'm a bit homesick? This is a picture of the Alcatraz from my friend Gloria's house Saturday morning, December 5th. Notice how crisp and clear it is on the bay.

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BLOGGER MEET-UP AT GYU-KAKU

To celebrate her birthday, the very sweet natured Rebecca of Chow and Chatter came up to New York City with family and friends for a fun filled weekend of sightseeing. Of course, since she was coming to town she called the very sociable Cindy of Chubby Chinese Girl, who called me to meet up for lunch. See how blogging has turned me into a lady who lunches?

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FRESH FROM NEW YORK DECEMBER

I can't believe that it is December already! Where did November go? As some of you may know at the beginning each month Fresh Local and Best features a review of the seasonal offerings at the Union Square Farmers' Market. This month Heather from Girlichef has graciously let me to guest post this column on her blog. Heather Dar Girlchef, writes a very fun and exciting blog that details her cooking adventures from Indiana. So when you have a chance please visit her blog to see this month's Fresh From New York.

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