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| The Cuisine of Queens & Beyond Food & Wine Event
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SAVE the DATE......Tuesday, September 21, 2010
The Cuisine of Queens & Beyond Food & Wine Event**
presents...
Spice it up with "The Flavors of Fall"
** Dish du Jour will not be hosting their annual food and wine event in the spring this year. We have moved our date to Tuesday, September 21, 2010, to bring you an all new event with the wonderful foods of the fall season.
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It’s All (New) Greek to Me
By Erin Walsh
Each and every one of us is presumably blessed with different gifts passed down through the generations.
For some, it’s good looks or artistic talent. For others, it’s an affinity for math or a gift for languages. For the really lucky ones, it’s a combination of these traits and more.
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Event Rooms Direct
By Erin Walsh
It’s an all too familiar scenario. You’re a restaurateur whose establishment is booked solid every Saturday and Sunday evening for months in advance, but you just can’t seem to fill your party room on a Tuesday or Wednesday night.
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La Guli
By Erin Walsh
For connoisseurs of authentic Italian sweets and local history buffs alike, La Guli is a must-visit destination during your next trip to Astoria.
The full-service pastry shop, located at 29-15 Ditmars Blvd., is replete with a charm reminiscent of another era, with its old-fashioned glass display cases showcasing row after row of mouth-watering delights ranging from cannolis and éclairs to cheesecakes and Italian butter cookies.
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Dallis Coffee
By Erin Walsh
“We like to say we’re a 100-year-old company celebrating our second birthday,” said John Moore, vice president of coffee and sales for Dallis Coffee.
Indeed, the specialty coffee roaster and wholesaler to some of New York’s finest eateries is a 96-year-old veteran of the local coffee scene that recently received a new lease on life, thanks to its being purchased two years by Brazilian coffee company Octavio Inc. that was looking to expand its operations into the United States.
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Taste Matters. But Whose?
By Paige Donahoo
Okay, I'm a snoot -- especially when it comes to wine and food.
It irks me to have someone blather on about wine I know to be tasteless and, worse, have when it is brought to my house and I actually have to drink it. Even many of my friends (my apologies, you know who you are) don’t have a taste for wine: they are led mainly (apologies again) by marketing as I am in other things. The wines that they buy are usually mainstream and uninspiring, if not always cheap.
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Three Places to Find the Wine Deal
By Brad Haskel
When people ask me where I look to find the best values in wine, I hesitate. I hesitate because I don’t have a pat answer that I can send them on their way with, the security of a quick phrase or a snappy all encompassing line.
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From WNBC
Who Has the Best Balls in Town?
by Li Jing
Ten New York restaurants went head-to-head for the title of "Best Balls in the Boroughs." Read more...
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Photos.... Cuisine of Queens 2009 & The Best Meatball of the Boroughs Contest
Mr. Cutlets on the Meatball Melee Aftermath--The Wrong Ball Won
By Sarah DiGregorio - Village Voice - Fork in the Road....
Last night, Dish du Jour hosted the Meatball Melee of the Boroughs, and Bello Giardino's Nicky's Famous Meatballs were crowned best ball of all.
We brought you event emcee Josh Ozersky's handicapping in advance, in which The Feedbag writer bet on Carmine's to win it all. Now we bring you his debriefing on the proceedings--and why the Greek meatballs were doomed from the start.
Which meatball should have won?
I thought that Jim Botsacos' cumin-powered Greek number from Molyvos was best in class. the judges were all Italians though, so I knew it wasn't in the cards.
Read the full article from Fork in the Road
Citywide Meatball Contest Won By Obscure Upper West Side Upstart
The-Feedbag.com
Last night I emceed the meatball contest at the Cuisine of Queens tasting event, and was I ever shocked! Bello Giardino’s deep-fried meatball won, defeating some superb spherical competition. Sarah DiGregorio over at the Voice had some questions about the stunning upset, which I did my best to answer. Personally, I would have awarded the laurels to Molyvos, but that’s just me. I wasn't a judge.
Read the full article The-Feedbag.com...
Scenes from the Meatball Melee of the Boroughs
Posted by Joe DiStepfano - Seriouseats.com
"It's like meatball speed dating."
As an Italian-American, I'm no stranger to meatballs or garish wedding halls, but nothing could have prepared me for Dish Du Jour’s 8th Annual food and wine tasting and the accompanying Best Meatballs of the Boroughs contest. The event was held last night, with its crowd of ravenous Queens locals, at the glittering Astoria World Manor. Dozens of restaurants offered everything from sushi and steak to Cypriot Greek cuisine, and of course, meatballs.
Councilman Peter F. Vallone, Jr. kicked off the contest. “In Astoria you can get every kind of food in a one-block radius. Everybody mangia!” The judges included chef Michael Psilakis of Anthos and Frank Pellegrino, co-owner of Rao's.
Pellegrino made an excellent point: "The problem with meatballs is that everybody thinks their mother's are the best."
READ - Story and photos
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Meatball Melee of the Boroughs Recap
Last night I attended a fierce meatball competition at the Astoria World Manor called the Meatball Melee of the Boroughs organized by Dish du Jour magazine. In addition to the meatballs, the event was also part of the 8th annual Cuisine of Queens and Beyond showcase, where various neighborhood eateries
The following 10 finalists from four boroughs (the Bronx was missing) made it to the competition.
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Brooklyn:
Ignazio's Pizza - 4 Water Street
Manhattan:
Bar Stuzzichini - 928 Broadway
Bello Giardino - 71 West 71st Street
Campo - 2888 Broadway
Carmine's - 200 West 44th Street
Molyvos - 871 Seventh Avenue
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Staten Island:
Pastosa Ravioli - 764 Forest Avenue
Queens:
Agnanti Meze - 19-06 Ditmars Blvd, Astoria
Mundo - 31-18 Broadway, Astoria
Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar - 21-02 30th Avenue, Astoria
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The Judges
An impressive panel of acclaimed culinary geniuses judged the competition:
- Tony Tantillo, CBS2 HD food expert
- Frank Pellegrino, actor/co-owner of Rao's restaurant
- Chef Michael Psilakis, Executive Chef and co-owner of Kefi, Anthos and Mia Dona restaurants
- Michael Maroni, owner of Maroni cuisine and winner of the Food Network's Meatball Throwdown with Bobby Flay
- Joseph Risi, co-creator of the meatball contest
Chef Psilakis was my favorite and it was exciting to listen to his commentary about meatballs, the best way to cook them and even some fun history facts behind them. He revealed why meatballs are typically round in shape - to ensure even cooking, browning and flavor.
Frank Pellegrino was also vocal and offered his two cents about why Italian meatballs rule "they're not meatballs unless they have red sauce." Also celebrating his birthday, Dish du Jour stopped the meatball judging to bring out an impressive, personalized birthday cake for Frank. The entire room sang Happy Birthday and it appeared that Frank was very touched.
Read the full article: http://www.foodistanyc.com/
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| Meatball King of New York
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Nicky’s Famous Meatballs Named “Best Meatballs in the Borough” at Dish du Jour ‘s Meatball Melee of the Boroughs
Italian Meatballs Still King in New York’s Boroughs
Bello Giardino’s “Nicky’s Famous Meatballs” have reached a new level of fame. The succulent spheres were named “Best Meatballs in the Boroughs” by a panel of celebrity judges at yesterday’s Meatball Melee of the Borough’s competition, held at Dish du Jour magazine’s annual food and wine gala, The Cuisine of Queens and Beyond.
Chef Nick Mormando, better known as “Nicky Meatballs,” beat out a tough crowd of finalists including Manhattan restaurants Bar Stuzzichini, Campo, Carmine's and Molyvos; Queens restaurants, Mundo Café, Vesta Trattoria & Wine Bar and Agnanti Meze (which also has a Brooklyn location); Brooklyn restaurant Ignazio's Pizza; and Staten Island restaurant Pastosa Ravioli.
Celebrity judges Tony Tantillo, Frank Pellegrino, Michael Psilikas, Michael Maroni, and Joseph Risi, offered the audience food for thought while they sampled each entry. Frank Pellegrino, who celebrated his birthday with event attendees, pointed out that the problem with meatballs is that everyone thinks their grandmother’s are the best. “Even if you taste a better meatball, you’d never admit it,” Pellegrino joked. “At least not to your grandmother.” Michael Maroni, famous for beating Bobby Flay in a meatball throwdown, offered participants tips for creating the perfect meatball. “It is the bread, milk and eggs that make the difference,” Maroni said. He went on to describe his perfect meatball as moist on the inside and crispy on the outside. Nicky Meatballs agrees. The secret to his famous meatballs is that they are fried in a stainless steel pan, creating just enough crisp to compliment their moist, flavorful core.
“All ten restaurants that made it to the finals of our Meatball Melee competition were big contenders,” said Dish du Jour publisher, Frances Grace. “But in the end, only one could be called the best in the boroughs and Bello Giardino’s of Manhattan took the title of best ball.”
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From delicious appetizers, side dishes, entrees, and desserts to an entire dinner, this collection of recipes from local chefs and great cookbooks and will keep you cooking. |
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