I am in "The Club" now

Well, it is the club I frankly do not care to be part of. I am celebrating the 1st anniversary of my 29th birthday. The fab hub says it is better than the alternative.....
I was born at 5:28am on 5/28/78---killer planning mom!
Due to things out of my control I had my birthday party the weekend before. I thought this was the worst thing but it ended up fine. We hosted a murder mystery party that was incredible. We had 20 people participating in the murder mystery that was set in the 1920's in a speakeasy that was a brothel cover up during prohibition. It was so much fun. My mom came up a day early to roll up her sleeves and help cook. My girlfriend from NYC flew in to help celebrate. We made almost everything from scratch--two sauces (marinara and vodka), chicken saltemboca, two kinds of fresh bread sticks-one with Parmesan the other with sesame seeds, six pounds of meatballs, endive stuffed with a Gorgonzola mix, a nut and cheese plate, ravioli, and I had the bakery that made our wedding cake hook up a revolver on the top of my cake. Everyone dressed up and played their role to perfection. There was so much extortion I could not keep up. It was a so much fun that I will be sure to do another one.
Happy birthday to me!

Because Everybody Loves Pomegranate-Champagne Punch

This is simply the best pomegranate-champagne punch. People have licked the bottom of the bowl.

From Bon Appétit December 2007.

1/2 cup water
1/2 cup sugar
2 750-ml bottles chilled brut Champagne
1 1/2 cups white rum
1 1/4 cups pomegranate juice
1 large lemon, thinly sliced
Pomegranate seeds
Fresh mint leaves
1 ice block

Bring 1/2 cup water and sugar to boil in small saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Simmer 5 minutes. Cool syrup completely.Combine Champagne, rum, and pomegranate juice in punch bowl. Add enough syrup to sweeten to taste. Mix in lemon slices, pomegranate seeds, and mint leaves. Add ice block to bowl.

I leave out the mint. I leave out the seeds...I use pomegranate juice in my ice ring that I make in a cool bundt style pan. I layer my ring with lemon slices and blueberries. You have to freeze a layer...add fruit...freeze a layer....

This is really great! I recommend making more than what you think you will need.

Enjoy!

January 20, 2009 --- The End of an Error

I have seen some intersting things today. A bumper sticker with the above quote was my favorite. When I was out with the fab hub we saw a group of angry Taco Bell workers picketing. I saw one of the longest and jerri curliest mullets I have ever seen. Many, many ill behaved children. A rubber chicken. Kinda random.

I heart Little Italy

Alright, I have been here for a few hours and I have already found the place I will try and visit no less than twice a day. The Ferrara Cafe is heaven Pure bliss of biscotti by morning and cannoli by night. I am staying in Chinatown; Little Italy is 2 blocks away. Did I mention the streetside gelato? I have been up since 4:30 with only a 4 hour nap last night. The latte I just had with my almond biscotti will keep me awake for a bit but I need to sleep some before Century 21.

Bizarre is the only way to explaine it

This week has been an absolute roller coaster ride. In all my years of experience I have never seen this kind of stuff. Things that you may only see once in a three to five year span, odd things all through the week. Tuesday was the peek. Three crazy anomalies in one day. Jacked up. Due to the all the odd ducks floating in the moat around my desk I am going in on my day off today to go put the finishing touches on some stuff. If you need your dose of "Are you kidding me?!" law suits I can be your fix.
Then it is off to NYC. I am so excited to get out of my city and into another. I will share all the food I can. And yes, after each person I asked where to go: I now have reservations on Friday at NOBU.