Food Coma 101

I give thanks for all the amazing food I just consumed...

Wild Rice W/ Cranberries & Onions

Whipped Sweet Potato W/ Brown Sugar Pecans

Spinach & Artichoke Dip W/ Jalapenos

String Beans W/ Crunchy Onions

Cornbread Muffins

Appetizers

Brussel Sprouts

TURKEY!

Apple Galette

Pumpkin Bars

UNREAL!

Octavia's Porch

I really didn't think there would ever be a day where I would be posting about Nikki Cascone [Top Chef alum]. One of the most annoying contestants in the history of Top Chef, Nikki is now going to be the executive chef of Octavia's Porch. The point of this post is not to broadcast her re-appearance into the restaurant world, but rather to broadcast the fact that the menu of Octavia's Porch is going to be dedicated to the Jews. It's going to be "the city's first culturally Jewish restaurant." They will be serving everything from gefilte fish to matzoh ball soup to potato latkes. Who ever knew Nikki was a member of the Jew Crew???

Lulu Cake Boutique

poor & naive me... I thought boutiques where just for shoppping

Blueberry Scone

Homemade Yodels

Pain Au Chocolat

heaven

DC Brunch

My time in Washington DC was been spent eating my entire life away. Late night sessions at Johnny Rockets and now dessert for brunch. So much for my pre-Florence diet... It just so happens the weekend I was visiting my friend Katie at GWU, my high school friend Lauren was having her birthday brunch. Katie and I both attended and both devoured this entire chocolate tart. Well, they called it a chocolate tart but It was most definitely a warm chocolate lava cake [just saying]. The best part of this was the baby chocolate pearl crunchies. They are the same ones found on my favorite dessert at ChikaLicious' dessert club:  Espresso Ice Shot [seen below].

Best Christmas Windows: BARNEYS!!!!

Barneys has really outdone themselves this year. Last night, their food-themed window display was revealed to the public. It was also the official launch of Food Network's recipe book. I really don't have anything bad to say about this beautiful display except....Sandra Lee, really though??? For more pictures check out racked ny.

"Have a Foodie Holiday"

Ran Does Sloppy Joes

I'll leave this one up to your imagination ;)

Girl Fieri vs. Guy Fieri

I'm not sure if this is like a known thing throughout the nation, but I've spotted twins on the Food Network. If i passed Girl Fieri (Anne Burrell) on the street I would most definitely think it was Guy Fieri. This is a HUGE issue. I don't want to sound sexist Anne, but you cannot pull off this bleach blonde spiky dude cut  you're sporting. Stop trying to rock Guy's look! I'm tired of flipping through the channels, passing the Food Network and thinking Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives is on, but in actuality its your show.
PS: i SO wish i had a picture to show for proof, but Guy Fieri was my limo driver on Saturday... no big deal

The Derby

So while I was eating at Norma's at the Le Parker Meridien this summer the one and only Alex Guarnaschelli came in with an entire camera crew. At first I thought they were there for me, I usually have an issue with paparazzi, but it turns out Alex was there to film The Best Thing I Ever Ate!! We dared my friend Arnowitz to go up to her and say something even though we all know Alex wished it was me that came up to her (sorry Arno)...Anyway, just wanted to tell you about that special moment Alex and I had before mentioning that she is now opening a new restaurant in NYC, which I am so excited for! Don't get me wrong, Butter is amazing, but it's such a scene. Like Thanksgiving Eve kind of scene and I'm not down for that. Her new restaurant, The Derby, has a supper club-esc feel to it, which could be SO cool or SO cheesy. Menus aren't being revealed until tomorrow, but being the VIP that I am, I was able to retrieve a few photos of the place and the food. Cannot wait to test this place out. Love ya AG!

Break Eats

So, every year I make a list of places I NEED to eat at while I'm home in dirty jerz.

Here's what I think the Thanksgiving 2010 Lineup will be...

River Park

Locanda Verde

Market Table

Torrisi Italian Specialties

La Esquina 

Koi

Countdownnnn

Italy Countdown: 62 Days

Ran Does Clams

Adding some spice back into Burrnttoast with my newest column: "Ran Does...." This will be featuring all of Michael Ran's mouthwatering creations, so when he blows up on the food scene all Bobby Flay style, you'll all know where you heard about him first. Above is a picture of leftovers from Ran's linguine with white clam sauce. Even though I didn't get to taste it myself, rumor has it that it was pretty damn good. I'll confirm in a week when he cooks me my dinner. 
[ps: burrnttoast is anti-negativity]

Feta Fries

Why the Greeks can't just call their fries french fries with lemon squeezed over them is a mystery to me, but I'm not going to sit here & complain because of how damn good they are. Greek fries are always thick and tangy with the perfect amount of seasoning on them. I came across this post on Serious Eats and let me tell you, the Souvlaki Truck (yes I know, another fucking food truck roaming the streets of NYC) is taking it to a whole new level. Adding piles of feta onto Greek fries is genius. I sincerely wish I though of that every single time I'm out for Greek. In my opinion, a little drizzle of tzatziki would complete the shit out of these fries. 

Ran Does Chicken

Every food connoisseur knows to wipe off any excess juices off the rim of the plate, but I'm not one to judge... My friend Ran, who I share the common language of food with, sent this picture to me earlier today. I'm guessing it's some sort of chicken cutlet, side salad, tomato concoction. Honestly, I would eat it.... maybe would have put the chicken on top of the lettuce then the tomatoes on top of the chicken, but not everyone has an eye like mine. Now if only he would quit being so selfish and make me some dinner. 

Missing You

If I could have anything in the entire world right now it would be an everything bagel from NY with lox, scallion cream cheese, red onions, tomato and cucumbers (scooped and toasted) with a mother fucking peach snapple. 9 days couldn't be going any slower...

T-Give

So in a couple of days I'm headed back East for Thanksgiving break. My momma called me the other day for my Thanksgiving food requests. OBVIOUSLY the first thing I demanded from her were her pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. Yes, I know, if you were to put cream cheese frosting on a fucking pickle it would taste good, but these pumpkin bars are the shit! It's not only the frosting that makes them, it's the moist pumpkin cake as well. Oh, and I personally think pumpkin flavor sucks, but these babies are my only exception. Pretty sure she jacked the recipe from butter goddess Paula Deen. Check It

Choose Me!

So my dad sat down and chit-chatted with the Ed Levine of Serious Eats the other day... NO BIG DEAL! As i finished balling my dad out for not pimping me out for a Serious Eats internship this summer, I went on their site to find this post: Seeking a Few Great Contributors. Not to toot my own horn or anything but there is no doubt in my mind that I should be the next great contributor of Serious Eats. Some available columns they need people for are breakfast, cheap eats, bar food...blah blah blah. Not that I don't love me some cheap breakfast food at a bar, but I don't want to  waste my time writing about typical topics like that, I want to write about shit people are interested in. For example: Kate Burr's Favorites or something intriguing like that. I'm totes going to be pitching my idea to them within the next week or two, so keep your fingers crossed!

Chopstickz

At this very moment I am watching my favorite show: The Best Thing I Ever Ate - Chopsticks Edition. Wait, like chopsticks edition also known as Asian Galore edition! I cannot deal with Asian food. It's without a doubt my favorite (Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Indian, etc.) Watching this is a form of torture. I'm a Jew from New York. Asian food is in my blood and being out here in bumble fuckISH Colorado is painful. There is no good Asian and you have to travel an hour for dim sum - like that is not normal. Someone needs to get some immigrants here and do something about this situation. I also usually like saying what dish I would do if I was to be on the show, but I'm not going to be a bitch and choose one dish....

Shumai

Spicy Tuna with Crispy Rice

Pho

momoFUKu

My sweet tooth has been yearning for this day... the day David Chang would allow me to have Milkbar's cookies & pies 2,000 miles away from home. Today is the day Momofuku Milkbar opened their online store! I already placed my order for the compost cookies, cornflake cookies and the crack pie. Even though I'm headed back to NYC in 3 weeks, there was no waiting this out. I love you David.

Compost Cookie

Cornflake Cookie

CrackPie