Food & Drink

Thank you to Queen of the Quarter Life Crisis Jamie Stone for inviting me to a fun bash last night at Equinox in West Hollywood, where beauty bloggers gathered for an evening of braids, low-cal cocktails and bumpin’ beats (complete with a Dj and electric violinist!). This weekend, I challenge you to treat yourself with:

• Boho Braids at Blo—You too can be the “girl on fire.” Just saddle up to a stylists’s chair and relax for about a half-hour while they work a little twisted magic on your hair. I received a little triple-braid action (see left) that’s sure to last me a couple days!

• Refine cocktails—Um, pre-dance night drink? Make it two—especially since these are no-calorie mixers.

• The Spa at Equinox. It figures; I’m surrounded by sweating hard bodies, and all I’m thinking about is the lavender essence emanating from the spa. In any case, I recommend booking a massage, stat.

Happy Friday!

When I think of a 5-star culinary gem, I usually don’t think of a tiny strip mall by the freeway and a bill that’s under $200. This is what makes Papilles, my new favorite French restaurant, so endearing. Inspired by the bistronomique movement in Paris (uptown food meets downtown vibe), Papilles is one of the few places you can enjoy a rich gourmet meal and a fantastic bottle of wine for just under $60 a person—then stroll home in jeans and sneakers. (OK, I wore red Pour La Victoire pumps last time, but still.) (more…)

I’ve been really obsessed with juicing and cleanses lately, especially around the holidays when the fattening food was all over the place.  Since I was heading back to NJ for the holidays, I decided to do a cleanse for my first three days there, hoping to get at least a little detoxified while I was away from Los Angeles.  Since so many people had raved about the BluePrintCleanse, I decided this time I would try it out and hopefully reset my body a little.  (more…)

A few weeks before the holidays I was introduced to Dig Inn, a market to table “fast food” restaurant that New Yorkers might categorize as a “work day lunch spot.” Having been a freelancer for a while now working from home, I’d kind of fallen out of the loop with lunch spots for office professionals and was eager to check it out.  As it turns out, Dig Inn is the reincarnation of Pump Energy Food, a lunch joint that I did used to frequent while I was working an office job.  Pump was originally created for the New Yorker that craved healthy and nutrient rich foods- but the flip side was that it actually had that healthy (no butter, low sodium etc)  taste.  Dig Inn also serves healthy fare- but with the philosophy that being healthy doesn’t mean depriving yourself- but rather eating dishes prepared with fresh, high quality, wholesome ingredients and making smart choices.  In other words, the food at Dig Inn taste delicious but are still made with a conscious effort to be good for you.

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I’m a bit of an expert on surviving long haul flights, given that my first 17 hour one was at the tender age of 6 (we have a lot of relatives in Asia). Even as a young one, I distinctly recall thinking, “Man, this sucks” as I took in the plane’s stale air, questionable food, and roaring overhead noise while barfing into an air sickness bag. Since then, experience and technology have been great aids in reducing the airplane’s assault on the five senses so far that I even LIKE long haul flights (but capped at 17 hours tops). My tips at dealing with the pains of traveling:

1.    Feel:  As every travel-related site and dermatologist will tell you, airplane air is bad and dry, wreaking havoc on complexions (read: breakouts) and your throat. You have to stay moisturized.  I like to prepare first by stocking up on water after TSA frisks me. You may be thinking, “Why should I buy water when I get it for free on the plane?” True, but I can’t be the only one that gulps down their tiny airplane ration of water two minutes after receiving it. I also remain terrified by a story a friend’s father told me. He was stranded on the tarmac for 4 hours, parched and hungry, after the flight attendants ran out of provisions. I’d prefer for that not to be me.  Experts also tell you to avoid drinking on the plane as alcohol dehydrates, but if you are a nervous traveler, I don’t see the harm in slightly indulging. A friend of mine has a long time fear of flying and kind stewardesses routinely used to give her shots of tequila on the plane.  Worked for her, and she even did one with Flava Flav one time at 6 am. (more…)

By Jessica Dang

Vodka has long been the drink of choice for a night out on the town, but at the dinner table? At a Russian Standard Vodka tasting this month, we learned from Igor Galburt, the company’s global brand ambassador, that, not only is straight vodka becoming more commonly paired with food, it’s also considered a celebratory spirit. If your goal is to have a festive holiday cocktail party with family and friends this season, vodka should be right up there on the list along with champagne! (more…)

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Donatella Arpaia, that is. You may have visited one of her many numerous restaurants, seen her sitting next to Jeffrey Steingarten as one of the judges on Iron Chef America or recognize her as the winner of Meatball Madness, beating out chefs like Andrew Carmellini. She returns to the New York Food and Wine Festival September 29th to defend her title. We caught up with her before her meatball battle and next big project: the birth of her baby! Read on to see what pregnant chefs crave and her favorite munchies in New York City.

The Daily Obsession: Legend has it that you used to be a corporate lawyer before going into food. How did you decide to make the switch and why? Were you wrestled with indecision?

Donatella Arpaia: I grew up in the restaurant business and my father and brother are both restaurateurs so it’s in my DNA, but from early on I was encouraged to be a lawyer. I enjoyed the study of law but hated the practice of it. At the time I was living in a small studio above my brotherls restaurant, Cellini on 54th st. I was grabbing a bite at the bar when I saw my brother needed help because his hostess didn’t show up I got up and pitched in. That was it! I knew at that moment I needed to change directions. I struggled a bit because I studied so hard and a lot was invested in my education, but really, I had no doubt about the change of course I was about to embark on. I never looked back!

TDO: For many people, pursuing a career in food is a dream—what advice would you give to them for success?

DA: Food is a wonderful and exciting ride but many people have only a very limited idea of what the reality of this industry is like. It’s hard ! I recommend they work in area of food they are interested in to get a really good taste of the reality of this industry. You must be extremely committed and passionate to succeed. (more…)

Now that the biggest wedding of the year is behind us (minus that tiny little royal one), the details keep rolling in. You can say a lot of things about the Kardashians, but they know how to work their fame into…well basically anything (reality show, OPI nail polish collaboration, self-tanner line, almost credit card.) The newest emerging wedding detail is a sweet gift that the newlyweds left for hotel guests: a personalized assortment of Georgetown Cupcakes. Monogrammed with the K and K logo, guests like Maria Menounos got to try a half dozen cupcakes: Red Velvet, Lava Fudge, Salted Caramel, Peanut Butter Fudge, Chocolate Coconut, and Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream.

I’ve wanted to try Georgetown Cupcakes after reading Sara’s early write-up and watching their TLC reality show, DC Cupcakes. Yes, NYC is quickly approaching max cupcake saturation, but with the arrival of Sprinkles this year, it’s only fitting that the other cupcake heavyweight enters SoHo in Winter 2011. Until then!

Recently we had a chance to chat with Washington Post food & travel editor Joe Yonan who recently published the book Serve Yourself – a guide to cooking for one.  As a single New York gal, I’ve often struggled with figuring out exactly what and how to make my own dinner.  Yes, it sounds silly- but I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve actually developed a strategy for ordering off Seamlessweb.  So I was eager to read Joe’s new book and jumped at the chance to find out a little bit more about the man himself- and his life in food and travel. (more…)