Foodie News: Going to Japan? Consider a Ramen-Themed Outing for the Whole Family

Love Ramen? Probably not as much as these people. 

It’s no surprise ramen has grown into something of a craze (because it's unspeakably delicious), but the people of Hakone, Japan have taken their love of country’s most popular dish to a new level: bathing in it.

Yunessan Spa House offers noodle baths—tubs of pork broth that clients soak in to reap the benefits of the soup—a fun (and delicious!) treatment option.

Along the same lines as those who sip broth, people that plunge into noodle baths say it boosts collagen and increases metabolism (though we’re not sure the noodles are completely necessary).

Source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/ramen-bath-japan?xid=soc_socialflow_facebook_tl&adbid=10153495249249073&adbpl=fb&adbpr=25440929072 

Foodie Event: Cacao Ceremony, Sound Journey & Live Music (January 2nd)

 
Join us for a sweet evening combining the heart-opening medicine of ceremonial grade cacao with an interactive musical experience & sound journey. Heartblood Cacao will share the wisdom of this sacred plant, serve cacao (similar to hot cocoa), share its uses, and lead a meditation to tune into the plant and its energy.

Explore the realms of sound and silence with the light-hearted practice of kirtan featuring Andrew Biagiarelli. Andrew will offer sacred songs to trance to, dance to and sing along with. Kelli Joy, Vibrational Visionary will take us deep into our heartspace with a sacred sound journey with Singing Bowls and Gongs.

Before the invention of chocolate as we know it, cacao had been used for centuries by Mayan, Aztec and other indigenous people as traditional plant medicine. It is served in community for the purpose of healing and connecting with each other and higher consciousness.
Eat lightly prior to attending to allow for fuller absorption of the cacao. Bring blankets, cushions, or pillows to make yourself comfortable. 


More info on Cacao @ HeartbloodCacao.com
Pre-registration requested
Cost: $30 pre-registered $35 day of (If there is space, this event tends to sell out) 
Pre-register at VibrationalVisionary.com
Time: 6-8:45pm
Location: Toivo, 399 Franklin Ave, Hartford, CT  

Foodie Movie Alert: Deliman

In 2015, foodies should keep an eye out for the documentary called Deliman.  As the movie’s description summarizes, “Jewish culture reflects the heart of a vital ethnic history. As that culture continues to shift and adapt alongside mainstream America, delicatessen food- as its name suggests- remains a beloved communal delicacy. In Houston, Texas, third-generation deli man Ziggy Gruber has built arguably the finest delicatessen restaurant in the U.S. His story- augmented by the stories of iconic delis such as Katz’s 2nd Avenue Deli, Nate n’ Al, Carnegie, and The Stage- embodies a tradition indelibly linked to its savory, nostalgic foods.”

Event: Food Truck Festival!!

If you saw Chef in the theaters recently, then you have an inkling of knowledge about the hugely popular and rapidly growing food truck phenomenon spreading across the country. As luck would have it, the first Connecticut Food Truck Festival is going to be happening next week! There will be over 50 food and specialty drink vendors, live music all weekend, activities for children, vendors, raffles and more! Get in the know and go check it out. 

Happening on both Sat and Sun (July 19-20th) from 11am to 7pm
Location: North Haven Fair Grounds

Event: CitySeed Community Conversation

Foodie Movies!

Two new movies are set to come out soon in theaters about my favorite subject, food. First, there is Chef. In the movie, Carl Casper suddenly quits his job at a prominent Los Angeles restaurant after refusing to compromise his creative integrity for its controlling owner, he is left to figure out what's next. Finding himself in Miami, he teams up with his ex-wife, his friend and his son to launch a food truck. Taking to the road, Chef Carl goes back to his roots to reignite his passion for the kitchen -- and zest for life and love.

Next, is The Hundred-Foot Journey, based on the bestselling novel by Richard C. Morais. The summary of the film is that Hassan Kadam and his family are displaced from their native India and resettle in a small French town where they open a restaurant. They face obstacles dealing with the proprietress of the French restaurant across the street, Madame Mallory until they eventually end up one big, happy, Franco-Indian family.

Events: Red Obsession and the Italian Film Weekend at the Wadsworth – Mangiare!

Film: Red Obsession: Wine lovers should not miss this compelling documentary about the struggle of the great chateaux vineyards of Bordeaux to accommodate the voracious appetite for their rare, expensive wines, which have become a status symbol in China. 2013. Australia/China. 75 min. Not Rated. Directed by David Roach and Warwick Ross. A Hartford Premiere!
March 13th 7pm, and 15th at 2pm and 7pm.

Italian Film Weekend – Mangiare! Food is an important element of Italian culture, which is reflected in Italian cinema and films with Italian themes. Join us for a weekend of food, wine and cinema to celebrate Italian art and culture!


FRIDAY, MARCH 21 | 6 PM
Italian Reception & Film
I Am Love: This deep, rich film tells of a wealthy family living at the turn of the millennium in Milan. 2009. Italy. 120 min. Rated R. Subtitles. Directed by Luca Guadagnino. Starring Tilda Swinton.

SATURDAY, MARCH 22 | 5 PM
Film & Dinner
Big Night: One of the great food films of all time! A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business. 1996. USA. 107 min. Rated R. Starring Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini.Following the screening enjoy a five course Italian feast centered around the film’s over-the-top Timpano. From Componata and freshly baked Italian breads, to chicken Topolini, this meal will be the perfect ending to your “Big Night” at the museum. Courses include appetizer, salad, pasta, entree and dessert. Also includes one complimentary glass of wine. Cash bar available.


SUNDAY, MARCH 23 | 12:30 PM
Tour & Film
Explore “Views of Italy” in a docent-guided tour of our collection followed by a screening of Mid-August Lunch. In this comedic drama we meet the charming Gianni, a middle-aged man who lives with his mother and finds a clever way to erase his debts. 2008. Italy. 80 min. Not Rated. Subtitles. Directed by Gianni Di Gregorio.

Location:  Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St, Hartford, CT, 06103  (860) 278-2670
Parking: Free on-street parking after 6 pm and all day on weekends. $5 parking after 5 pm seven-days a week at the Front Street South Garage.

Event: "A Taste of African-American Culture through Food"

 Each year during Black History Month, the New Britain Museum of American Art presents varied programs that reflect on how the past has shaped today’s society and continues to shape the future. The discussion this year will focus on cuisine—a ubiquitous and accessible component of all cultures—and its importance within the African-American culture. Changes in techniques, dishes, and ingredients will all be explored in order to illuminate the evolution of African-American cuisine. Our four panelists will shed light on their personal experiences, the role that cuisine plays in their lives, explore the use of food as a means to bring family and friends together and the dishes still served which can likely be traced back multiple generations. A food tasting will follow the panel discussion. A Taste of African-American Culture through Food receives support from Connecticut Humanities.Free with Museum Admission


Feb. 23, 2014, 2-4 p.m.
New Britain Museum of Art:
56 Lexington Street, New Britain, CT 06052
p: 860.229.0257

Moderated by Paulette Fox, a former NBMAA board member
Panelists Gerri Brown-Springer, Charlene Tate Nichols, Morita Riley, and Pansy Kennedy

Foodie Event: Screening of "A Place At The Table"

A good friend of mine is involved in the free screening of a film that I thought would be of interest to Hartford Foodie fans.... so here's the info!

Where: United Churches of Durham, 228 Main St, Durham, CT 06422
When: Sunday, April 6th
Time: 4:30-7:30 pm

"This event aims to bring awareness to the link between hunger and obesity, both nationally and in our local community. Join us for a special screening of the documentary film A Place At The Table, which shows us how hunger and obesity pose serious economic, social and cultural implications for our nation and the issues around food access. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. for a pre-screening reception and informal discussion. Screening at 5 p.m. (90 minutes) followed by a panel discussion with representatives from community organizations. Panel participants will be announced soon. Free admission, though we ask you bring a non perishable item for donation to a local food pantry." 

The Hodge Podge returns for a second time!

Event: Fungus & Forage Festival- A Walk on the Wild Side

It’s a day to take a walk on the wild side!

The Coventry Regional Farmers’ Market Fungus & Forage Festival   This Sunday, we honor those gifts generously offered by Mother Nature; specifically mushrooms, and the herbs growing wild beneath our feet generally referred to as weeds. Both enjoy a timeless history which goes far beyond mere culinary delight. In the barn, the Connecticut Mycological Society returns to provide a stunning display of our state’s wide variety of mushrooms. Their members will be available for discussion and the 3 Foragers will lead free identification walks at 12:00 and 1:00, focusing on edible wild foods. While at the barn, stop to chat with the folks at Connecticut Herb Association and learn about their mission to share herbal information. Their members will lead weed walks at 11:30, 12:00 and 1:00 to discover and identify local herbs that traditionally have been used as medicine and food. Maggie's Farm will be talking about and demonstrating mushroom growing at their tent from 12:30 to 2:00. They’ll bring shiitake and oyster mushrooms for sale. In the market field, you’ll find CT NOFA (Connecticut’s branch of Northeast Organic Farming Association) whose members are supportive of practices that encourage a healthy relationship with the natural world and ecologically sound farming. They can also show you how mushrooms can be grown in compost material! At Joan Blade Johnson and Melanie Johnston’s booth, you can see how natural dyes from foraged local flora can be used to make art. Our own yards are a great source of plant materials that can be easily gathered and used for fabric dyeing.  Roots, nuts, flowers, bark, and lichens are just a few of the natural materials that can be used for dyeing. Creating rusted artwork from foraged (recycled) materials is satisfying and organic… stop by to learn more! Note: Image borrowed from: https://sites.google.com/site/smutheoryoft/

Taste of Hartford is back again for 2012

And so it returns in full force, the Taste of Hartford 2012! This much anticipated event begins on Monday, January 23rd and ends Sunday, Feb 5th. It is suggested that interested diners make their reservations early as these places tend to fill up quickly, especially for the weekend. All of the menus for the participating restaurants can be seen on the website listed below. Some of the participating restaurants this year are; Barca, Bin 228, the newly opened Burger Baby (which I just visited and have to say it's certainly worthy of stopping in for a bite); the re-opened Casona; Firebox, La Kerencya, Salute and Vivo.



Website: http://www.tastehartford.com/

Thai Pongal feast at Naatiya Restaurant

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated which is celebrated by Tamils. Unlike other South Indian Hindu festivals, this event is marked by the winter solstice and is traditionally dedicated to the Sun God Surya, which marks the beginning of the northward journey of the Sun from its southernmost-limit, a movement traditionally referred to as uttarayana. Pongal Tamils celebrate by thanking the Sun god for the good harvest and consecrate the first grain to him.They adorn their homes with banana and mango leaves and decorate the floor with colorful patterns drawn using rice flour. The dish that is identified with the event, named Pongal is prepared at outdoors at sunrise. It is a mixture of milk, rice and jaggery (whole cane sugar) that is set to a boil in clay pots. It is later topped with brown sugar, ghee, cashew nuts and raisins. At the moment when the milk boils over and bubbles out of the pot, revelers shout "Pongalo Pongal!", introduce some of the freshly harvested rice and blow a conchshell. Waiting for the milk to spillover represents good luck and prosperity.

Naatiya Restaurant in Bloomfield is offering a special dinner buffet in honor of this festival on January 14th. I have had the pleasure of being introduced to Naatiya by my friend Marc, who is not one to be scared away by spicy foods. The menu is South Indian cuisine and appeals to a large audience including vegetarians, vegans, muslims and jain. The meat and poultry that is served are all halal, which means that they adhere to the strict Muslim restrictions. We ordered a sampling of dishes and enjoyed the flavorfulness of the dishes. One item in particular that won me over was the coconut stuffed paratha. What a wonderful creation! The only slightly odd thing about my dining experience there was the complimentary puffy "chips" that are brought out before the meal. They don't fill you up, nor taste like anything, so it just seems like a waste of time and effort to consume them, other than the reason that they are free!

Bottom line: if you haven't been to Naatiya yet, then a festival sounds like a good reason to explore.

Address: 8 Mountain Road, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Ph. 860-726-0126      Website: http://www.naatiyarestaurant.com/

TONIGHT = Grand Opening of Burger Baby!

If you are not tired yet of the "burger phenomenon" that has taken dominated over the last few years, then why not try out the latest addition to the cast of characters? Actually, all sarcasm put aside, I am actually excited about Burger Baby's emergence onto the Hartford restaurant scene. Though I haven't gotten around to checking it out for you yet, I have heard from a reliable source that the burgers will not fail to impress. Most notably, my source has reported that the vegetarian burgers are the most inspiring and that he as a devout carnivour says his favorite might just be the veggie, as it deviates from the usually drab mixed bean concoctions that are huge, messy, and encased in grease. Yeah, no thanks to those.

According to the Hartford Courant, the meat burgers (five- or seven-ounce patties) are ground from a blend of Porterhouse, Angus and chuck, served on grilled brioche buns with organic Boston bibb lettuce and marinated tomatoes.

So, do yourself a favor and stop downtown today at 6pm and support their grand opening and the arrival of a better burger! There are cocktails, hor d' oeuvres and complimentary food samples.

Address: Burger Baby, 283 Asylum Street, Hartford, CT 06103
Open Monday to Thursday 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. (It's only open Sundays for special events.) The bar is open untl 1 a.m. weeknights and 2 a.m. weekends.
Phone: 860-728-7437 / Website: burgerbabyct.com.

Check out the full menu on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/burgerbaby?sk=info

No shortage of New Years Eve dining options this year!

Hopefully your luck is better than mine this year, and you are not working for New Years Eve. Should you have it off, there is a plethora of dining specials happening around the state. Luckily for us, the Hartford Courant was nice enough to compile a list which you can view here: http://www.courant.com/entertainment/restaurants/a-la-carte/ctn-new-years-eve-dining-20111220,0,5658729.column

Some highlights for Hartford are:
At Black-Eyed Sally’s, 350 Asylum St., Hartford, it's $50 plus tax and tip per person for a three-course dinner and entertainment and dancing by Paul Gabriel Blues Band. Menu choices include Maryland crab cake, Sally’s Jambalaya Royale, Sally’s Famous Ribs and pecan pie.

Dish Bar & Grill, 900 Main Street, Hartford, serves a $39 three-course prix-fixe in addition to its regular menu. Options include market salad, butternut squash bisque and jumbo lump-crab pasta for starters; and entrees like red-wine braised short rib, Fisherman's Wharf stew with shellfish, octopus pasta, heirloom tomato pie and grilled veal rib chop (a $6 upcharge.) For dessert, there's slow-cooked chocolate fondant and citrus panna cotta with winter berries and champagne sabayon.

Firebox, 539 Broad Street, Hartford, remains true to its locally-focused cuisine while serving up decadent New Year's a la carte options like oysters, foie gras and prime rib. Dinner seatings start at 5:30 p.m., and grower-champagne specials will be offered throughout the night. Firebox also begins its new Tavern Brunch on New Year's Day, served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The a la carte menu focuses on farm-fresh eggs, meats and available produce

At J Restaurant/Bar, 297 Washington St., Hartford, enjoy First Night fireworks from the patio where there will be a bonfire, as well as a dropping ball at midnight. The regular menu will be served, and diners can take advantage of the seasonal trolley that makes stops at the restaurant and downtown Hartford.

Zula, 901 Main Street, Hartford, celebrates New Year's Eve and its first anniversary with a four-course prix-fixe menu and a complimentary midnight champagne toast. The dinner, priced at $95 per couple, comes with a bottle of house red or white wine. Seatings are available every half hour from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Reservations are required.

Cooking It Up: Hartford, Health and History

Head to the Hartford Public Library in downtown Hartford on Saturdays from 10:00 am. – 11:30 a.m.

December 17 – City Steam Brewery will demonstrate how to make healthy finger foods for your holiday parties and fun non-alcoholic beverages (registration now open)

January 21 – Feng Asian Bistro (registration opens in December)

February 18 – Black-Eyed Sally’s (registration opens in January)

March 31- Vaughan’s Public House (registration opens in February))

Hartford Public Library and its Hartford History Center present Saturday morning cooking demonstration programs combining good food, good health and fond memories. Each program features a chef from a Hartford restaurant known for its ethnic cuisine. The chef prepares well-loved, heart-healthy recipes from the restaurant kitchen, while nutritionist Sharon Mierza helps audience members to make their own favorite recipes heart-friendly. Former CPTV producer/host, Nancy R. Savin, hosts this appetizing program and leads the discussion on the Hartford food and dining landscape, in the past and now. The programs are filmed and will be broadcasted on Hartford Public Access TV and available online at www.hcc.hplct.org starting mid-December 2011. Free and open to the public, registration required – you can register by calling (860) 695-6295, or visiting online at www.hplct.org and going to the library’s Events Calendar.

4th Annual New Haven Green Drinks Event with guest speaker Colin Caplan

COME CELEBRATE OUR 49th EVENT AND FOUR YEARS OF GREEN DRINKS EVENTS IN NEW HAVEN!

Wednesday November 16, 2011- 6 to 8pm
Zafra Cuban Restaurant and Rum Bar, 259 Orange St. (just North of Elm St)
Zafra Cuban Restaurant & Rum Bar: Cuban food with a flair. The only rum bar in Connecticut and the most rum types in New England. Amazing food presentation and a creative cocktail menu that will keep you coming back for more. Daily drink specials and weekly live entertainment in a cool Caribbean vibe. Thank you to Zafra’s Manager, Kam Tom, for having NHGD.
T: (203) 859-5342. See http://www.zafrarumbar.com/Page_5.html for directions

Our lively speaker will be Colin Caplan at 7pm.
Colin M. Caplan is a New Haven native who cultivated his love and passion for the Elm City through his work in history, architecture, community engagement and writing. Colin authored four books on local history and architecture. Recently, after a brief stint in Los Angeles, Colin launched Taste of New Haven Food & Drink Tours to help the City’s image and economy while making a new cultural destination for tourists - www.tasteofnewhaven.com.

Don’t miss our one and only 4th Annual New Haven Green Drinks’ Event. Bring your friends. It’s FREE.
See you there and Cheers!

Website: http://www.greendrinks.org/CT/New_Haven
New Haven Green Drinks is an award-winning monthly environmental social event to get to know what and who is going "Green" in New Haven County; Meeting every 3rd Wednesday of the Month from 6 to 8pm somewhere fun in the New Haven area. Suggestions for free and "green" event locations are welcome.

Free Thanksgiving Preparation Technique classes at William Sonoma

Hurry up and call your local William and Sonoma store to sign up for technique classes on all things Thanksgiving! 

Sunday & Monday, Nov. 6th, 7th

The Perfect Turkey

Let us be your guide to preparing the perfect turkey—a moist, flavorful showstopper! Learn how to select a turkey, what brining is and does, the secrets to roasting and tips for carving like a pro.

Sunday & Monday, Nov 13th, 14th

Thanksgiving Sides & Stuffings

While the turkey may take center stage, it’s the side dishes that often steal the show. Learn the basics of preparing delicious potatoes, savory stuffings and other impressive sides.

Sunday & Monday, Nov. 20th, 21st 

Williams-Sonoma All-Star Thanksgiving

It’s not too late to add an amazing side dish to your menu. This final Thanksgiving technique class features our favorite recipes plus last-minute tips to make your holiday truly special and stress-free.

Cooking It Up! at The Hartford Public Library's studio kitchen

October 10th-October 16th means that CT Restaurant week is back!

What better incentive is there is dine out of your comfort zone and try a new restaurant than a promise of a 3 course meal for $20.11? None that I can think of. The website that keeps track of all the varying RW (Restaurant Week) Menus, and dates of events got my attention this time around by listing that there are 90, yes, you read that right...90 restaurants participating in the state. Phew, that's alot of places to chose from. Personally, the Vegetarian Paella offered at O'Porto has my name written all over it. Mmmmmm.

Check out the participating restaurants and their menus here: http://www.connecticutrestaurantweek.com/connecticut-restaurant-week/

And for the heck of it, check out the info on these other upcoming events while you are there:

•Eating Greenwich & Portchester 10/16 – 10/21/2011

•Mystic Restaurant Week 10/28 – 11/5

•West Haven Restaurant Week 10/17 – 10/23/2011

Don't forget either that New Haven Restaurant week is right around the corner, Nov 6th-Nov 11th. Check out the info and menus here: http://www.infonewhaven.com/restaurantweek