http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/index Behind the Burner offers invitation-only access to the glamorous, exotic and sometimes chaotic culinary world. Showcasing secrets from the front and back of the house, Behind the Burner reveals the tips and tricks of the trade that master chefs, mixologists, restaurateurs and other culinary visionaries are using to turn up the heat in restaurants worldwide. en-us Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:49:03 -0400 Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:49:03 -0400 Copyright 2010, Behind the Burner http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/top-10-toasts-to-the-irish.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/top-10-toasts-to-the-irish.html/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:49:03 -0400 Today we wear green, listen to U2, do a jig, pull pints and quaff whiskey to celebrate Irish culture and St. Patrick's Day. Here's our favorite lucky Irish toasts and blessings. 'Sláinte!' 1. Here's to a wet night and a dry morning. 2. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point in the wrong direction. 3. May the hinges of our friendship never grow rusty. And our ale never turn musty. 4. Let schoolmasters puzzle their brain With grammar and nonsense... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/whiskey-business.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/whiskey-business.html/#comments Tue, 16 Mar 2010 23:45:09 -0400 In honor of St. Patty's Day, Behind the Burner has teamed up with Tullamore Dew to bring you a trio of seasonal, super-drinkable Irish whiskey cocktail recipes. With the brand's new 10-Year-Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey—its first single malt whiskey in a 180-year history —we've got your libations options well covered. Tip: Tullamore Dew is the #2 Irish whiskey globally and has won over 20 medals at international spirits competitions in the last eight years. After all, this is the one... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/what-ales-you-our-top-5-picks-for-celebrating-st-pattys-without-the-green-beer.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/what-ales-you-our-top-5-picks-for-celebrating-st-pattys-without-the-green-beer.html/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:37:32 -0500 Now that St. Patrick's Day is two days away, it's time to start staking out the city's best Irish pubs where you can celebrate with a cold pint of Guinness. But if you're not a parade-goer and debaucherous bar crawls aren't for you, try one of these authentic pubs where you can get some real Irish beer (don't worry, we're not referring to green food coloring in Bud Light) and hearty traditional St. Patty's Day fare. It was hard to narrow it down, but after doing some extensive research (hiccup),... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/highend-food-court-where-to-find-not-so-fast-food-in-san-francisco.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/highend-food-court-where-to-find-not-so-fast-food-in-san-francisco.html/#comments Sun, 14 Mar 2010 22:44:01 -0400 Picture your local mall's food court. On one side you have Panda Express, across the way Burger King, Sbarro and, of course, Hot Dog on a Stick. But modern times and palates have evolved traditional fast food choices and many shopping centers have thankfully embraced gourmet. At the Westfield San Francisco Centre, you can find a diverse assortment of cuisines that don't involve deep-frying or their employees muddling a bucketful of lemons with a giant pogo stick. On a break between two 3-hour... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/tips-for-navigating-a-carb-attack.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/tips-for-navigating-a-carb-attack.html/#comments Sat, 13 Mar 2010 16:57:58 -0500 Almost everyone gets a carb attack now and again, that intense craving for nothing but high-carbohydrate foods. This particularly happens to those who follow strict low-carb diets, which is why they don't work. Your body revolts and it ends up craving even more what you "can't" have. The human body is meant to run on carbs, protein and other essential nutrients and cutting out starches completely is unrealistic and unhealthy. I know many of you are afraid of even the thought of allowing a crumb... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/hide-and-seek-getting-kids-to-eat-their-veggies.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/hide-and-seek-getting-kids-to-eat-their-veggies.html/#comments Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:20:47 -0500 We all know it's not easy to get kids to eat their vegetables or other nutritious foods. If you really want them to get the good stuff, you have to be creative. One way to get them to eat is to hide it in the things that they love. Try the smoothie. They are filling and you can really pack in a lot of nutrients and flavor in one terrific shake. They are also super convenient so a blender is an excellent investment. Tip: Try combining tomatoes or cucumbers with berries, apples or bananas. Use... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/hello-brooklyn-restaurant-week-ciao-tight-pants.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/hello-brooklyn-restaurant-week-ciao-tight-pants.html/#comments Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:24:18 -0500 Dine In Brooklyn is just around the corner, which means a tasty excuse to emerge from culinary hibernation and reacquaint yourself with this excellent foodie borough. From Williamsburg to Fort Greene, Coney Island to DUMBO, Park Slope and beyond, almost 200 restaurants are participating in this year's festivities. And the message is simple: "Quality food, no attitude on the side!" The deal? Lunches for $20.10 and three-course dinners for $25.00 (not including beverages, tax or tip). Tip: Be... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/food-lyrics-funky-restaurants-inspired-by-song.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/food-lyrics-funky-restaurants-inspired-by-song.html/#comments Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:16:15 -0500 Music and food have shared a long and resplendent history: slaves played whimsical beats during Roman feasts, lutes were strummed in the dining halls of Henry VIII and jukeboxes in diners merrily shook with the effort of blasting that new fangled "rock and roll". Now, Toronto based deli Sky Blue Sky Sandwich Company has taken the correlation of music and food to a whole new level; all of their sandwiches are named after songs by the band Wilco. Trailing only slightly behind is Greensboro, NC... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/cheers-for-manhattan-martini-week.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/cheers-for-manhattan-martini-week.html/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:14:01 -0500 This is a great week to be in New York. The sun is back! Bulky winter coats begone! Pale legs are reappearing under dresses. Sunglasses are on. The parks are packed. If lovely weather weren't treat enough, this week is also Martini Week. Brought to you by Tasting Table and Thrillist, 23 top bars and restaurants are participating in what just might replace Restaurant Week as my favorite New York tradition. Locations including West Village hotspot Highlands and the Plaza Hotel's Oak Room are... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/tart-treats-and-grand-central-terminal-your-commute-just-got-a-little-sweeter.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/tart-treats-and-grand-central-terminal-your-commute-just-got-a-little-sweeter.html/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 17:26:05 -0500 At Magnolia, when life hands them lemons, they start baking and what better reason to break out the Kitchen Aid mixer than March Lemon Month? That's right, the third month of the year not only marks the end of winter and ample St. Patty's shenanigans, but also an homage to the beloved, vitamin C packed citrus fruit. To celebrate "lemon month", Magnolia will be featuring all-things-lemon and we are talking more than mediocre cupcakes: lemon vanilla bundt cake, lemon bars, lemon iced molasses... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/winter-snowstorm-randombutdelicious-smorgasbord.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/winter-snowstorm-randombutdelicious-smorgasbord.html/#comments Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:54:53 -0500 Unless you're living under an enormous tree that fell on your house last weekend, you probably heard about the insane snowstorm that hit New York state and pretty much blitzed northern Westchester. (Funny, how fickle the weather can be...this weekend has been unseasonably warm and almost spring-like). After getting stuck in the city after work, I finally headed north that Friday morning only to find my car buried by snow and my parents stuck in the house—and the driveway impassably... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/french-revolution-move-over-cupcakes-and-make-way-for-macarons.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/french-revolution-move-over-cupcakes-and-make-way-for-macarons.html/#comments Fri, 05 Mar 2010 19:00:06 -0500 If the cupcake has dominated the dessert scene in recent history, it's about to face what pastry lovers might call the next French Revolution: the French macaron is positioned to be the new IT dessert. Unlike the cupcake that proved to be a viable business venture only in the last 10 years, the French macaron has being pulling its weight as a delicious morsel since its first incarnation during the Renaissance. Although food historians debate just how French the French macaron is—some... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/red-carpet-recipes-for-oscar-night.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/red-carpet-recipes-for-oscar-night.html/#comments Thu, 04 Mar 2010 15:59:23 -0500 We've been watching and waiting all year. From technological 3-D innovations to historical plots of revenge, it's certainly been a year full of award-worthy films. Sunday night will be the 82nd annual Academy Awards Ceremony, where the stars will gather in Hollywood to await the announcements of this year's winners. Let's be honest though— half the reason we watch the Oscars is for the pre-show red carpet entrances to see who will make the Best/Worst Dressed lists. But since the award for... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/playing-matchmaker-wine-and-dessert.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/playing-matchmaker-wine-and-dessert.html/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 16:01:46 -0500 Food and wine pairings get all the attention. People spend hours consulting with sommeliers about whether to order Burgundy or Zinfandel to go with the duck, scouring Food and Wine magazine for the latest pairings and lingering in wine shops deliberating about the right wine for their dinner party. But for some reason when it comes to desserts, these same people seem to forget their fear of offending a fellow diner's palate and order a standard dessert wine or simply coffee. Although wine can do... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/kitchen-gadgets-for-the-busy-cook.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/kitchen-gadgets-for-the-busy-cook.html/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:44:04 -0500 Making magic in the kitchen can be as easy as 1, 2, 3! Put down the menu and pick up your pots, it's time to acquire some primo gadgets in the kitchen that will make cooking a snap. Below are a few examples of wonderful, simple-to-use instruments to down-play your time in the kitchen. An onion chopper from CSN stores is a clever gadget to hide the usual tears that seem to be inevitable when slicing onions. Easy to wash and reuse, it prevents your eyes from welling up as well as the smell of... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/grate-lighting-for-dining.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/grate-lighting-for-dining.html/#comments Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:50:25 -0500 If there are any gourmands out there searching for unique dining furniture, look no further. Inspired by the classic four-sided box grater that no kitchen should be without, Latvian design firm BU Design has created a stylish lamp to compliment any food lover's home. Designed by Uģis Gailis, this clever, textured metal hanging lamp has a modern silhouette, while the tiny individual "graters" will illuminate any space by casting mesmerizing rays of light throughout. This lamp is also... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/how-to-store-vegetables-for-maximum-freshness.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/how-to-store-vegetables-for-maximum-freshness.html/#comments Sun, 28 Feb 2010 22:17:22 -0500 Even when we don't get our recommended 3-5 servings a day, vegetables make up a huge part of our diets, especially when we're trying to make our diets healthier. That said, there's no denying that we are much more likely to reach for leafy greens and colorful produce when the greens are their leafiest and produce their brightest. With busy schedules and juggling responsibilities, do yourself a big favor by storing your vegetables properly. This will keep them from going bad, giving you more time... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/more-than-mustard-frenchs-cookoff-2010-winner-is-named.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/more-than-mustard-frenchs-cookoff-2010-winner-is-named.html/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:39:51 -0500 French's annual Cook-Off took place Thursday morning in Midtown, where five contestants hailing from around the country threw down with their best recipes featuring a French's product. Elliott Penner, president of French's Foods, said that this contest is meant to celebrate home chefs by "bringing the consumers alive" and challenging them to create new flavor profiles with the products. That's right, that unforgettable tangy yellow mustard isn't just for ballparks and backyard barbecues anymore.... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/real-housewives-of-new-york-city-cooking-up-drama-for-season-3.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/real-housewives-of-new-york-city-cooking-up-drama-for-season-3.html/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:59:35 -0500 Deep in the heart of the Meatpacking District, New York's favorite reality mavens were gathering Wednesday night. Housewife Ramona Singer hosted a premiere party for the third season of Real Housewives of New York City at Tenjune. Guests, including Bravo's Head of Programming Andy Cohen, noshed on a meze spread and sipped cosmos. I was definitely hoping that I'd get to try Housewife Bethenny Frankel's soon-to-be-released Skinnygirl margarita but alas, I'll have to wait until it comes out. ... http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/zagat-releases-nys-best-cupcake-list.html http://www.behindtheburner.com/blog/entry/zagat-releases-nys-best-cupcake-list.html/#comments Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:49:43 -0500 For some people, it's all about the icing. For others, the cake makes the treat. Whichever frosts your boat, New Yorkers love their cupcakes. Maybe it's because they're so gosh darn cute. Or because they can be so bright and whimsical. Or maybe, if you're like me, it's because they remind us of birthdays in middle school when kids brought cupcakes for the whole class and you'd get a little sad that the last pink frosting one got taken because you just know that the pinks ones taste better than...