Compete for love & glory!
We’re looking for a diverse group of people to compete in the $12 Challenge in NYC during the month of August, 2009. Click the link below to see some examples of the show:
http://www.food2.com/series/12-challenge
But now were going to make a bunch more. Shooting will take place at various times (mostly weekends) during the month of August. It will take about three hours of your time, not to mention your energy and ingenuity.
We are looking for both “suitors” and “dates” for the $12 Challenge. The “suitors” are the cooks that will compete for the affections and culinary accolades of the “dates”.
The suitors (or cooks) should be single, sexy, and ingenious cooks. Big personalities and enthusiasm will go along way
The dates (or judges) should be single, sexy, and have a love of food and romance. We also welcome people with unique dietary requirements.
If you’re interested on being on the $12 Challenge, please 1) send a photo or two of yourself plus 2) your phone number 3) a brief description of why you’d be a great suitor or date. Also, please 4) describe the type of person you tend to be romantically attracted to. All sexual orientations are welcome. You must be between the ages of 20 and 30 (sorry!). Send submissions to: nfg.films@yahoo.com
Participants will be paid $100 in cash, plus have a 50/50 chance at winning money to take your judge on a fancy date.
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( 2.6 / 8 )Last Friday, continuing my quest for NYC's best pasta dishes, I headed to the Meatpacking District, to hit up Scott Conant's Scarpetta. I had heard raves about this place since it opened, most notably about Conant's Spaghetti Pomodoro, and I was excited to try it.
Scarpetta looks like a restaurant you'd find in the Meatpacking district, sleek and stylish, with a more conservative than casual feel. I took a seat at the bar and knew exactly what I wanted; the Spaghetti with tomato and basil. I also requested their bread basket, which at first the bartender told me they didn't serve at the bar after 10:30, which for a foodie, is just a dumb rule, but for a drinker, who cares. I of course used my magic, and made a bread basket appear.
I'm glad I made them bring me the basket for the various breads are good, and I enjoyed the three sides to put on them; olive oil, eggplant, and marscapone butter.
The Spaghetti with basil and tomato was delicate, perfectly cooked, and very good. Did it blow my mind? No. It was spaghetti. Would I ever order it again? No. It was spaghetti. I'm not sure why the dish has gotten so much press, maybe since I don't eat a lot of spaghetti at restaurants I don't have much to compare it too, but again, it was fine, just not mind-blowing. Would I recommend Scarpetta as an Italian restaurant to go to in the Meatpacking district, of course.
And so my journey continues for the best pasta dishes in NYC!
Scarpetta
355 W. 14th St. (at 9th ave)
New York, NY 10014
212-691-0555
www.scarpettanyc.com
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( 3.3 / 23 )I began my NYC pasta adventure last night all the way downtown in Tribeca at the newly opened Locanda Verde. Locanda Verde used to be the critically panned Robert Deniro owned spot Ago, but now Deniro has brought in a stellar new team of culinary heavyweights to revitalize the restaurant. The team of Josh Picard (Lure,Chinatown Brasserie) Ken Friedman (The Spotted Pig, The John Dory) and chef Andrew Carmellini, have done an amazing job. I never went to Ago, but Locanda Verde is awesome!
I can feel a vibe when I initially walk into any restaurant, and the vibe I got here was casual, festive, and fun. It was surprisingly unpretentious, which for some ill-conceived reason I thought it might be, but I was very comfortable as I took my seat at the bar.
I was lucky enough to try two pasta dishes here (recommended by Mr. Picard); the Maltagliati with pesto and parmigiano-reggiano and a ravioli dish that was actually titled My Grandmother's Ravioli.
The Maltagliati was a light, delicious pasta, sprinkled with pine nuts to give it a little crunch. It was simple and vibrant, and a pleasurable Summer dish.
The ravioli dish was outstanding! This was one of the best ravioli dishes I have ever had. Each ravioli was filled with pork, veal, and beef, and they practically melted in my mouth. The tomato sauce had a great sweetness to it which I loved.
(Non-pasta related note- I was also hand fed, by a table of gals (yes, the NYC FOODIE has some great game!), the sheeps' milk ricotta with sea salt and herbs, which was orgasmic and addictive! A must!)
This was an amazing start to my NYC pasta adventure. Locanda Verde is not only a great place to go for pasta though, it's a great spot to go for some wine and a fantastic and fun Italian meal.
Locanda Verde
379 Greenwich St. (bet. Franklin and N. Moore)
New York, NY 10013
212-925-3797
www.greenwichhotelny.com
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( 3 / 159 )Friday night I had planned on dining on pasta to begin my pasta culinary adventure, but fate had a different path for me. I got a call from a good foodie friend of mine who insisted I meet him at Salumeria Rosi, a small salumi shop and restaurant helmed by chef Cesare Casella.
The place is small and has some sort of unique artwork/scuplture on one of it's walls, which is both unique and festive, just like the food I was about to consume.
When dining with fellow foodies it is always a true culinary adventure, and I had not expected, but should have known, that we were about to consume most of the dishes on the menu! That's right, plate after plate of food started to arrive, and it was glorious!
We started with a plate of their salumi which consisted of parmacotto, prosciutto cotto, prosciutto arrosto, porchetta, arista, mortadella, pancetta. Basically, a lot of meat. But this was not your regular Italian meat, this was the freshest and best meats I have ever had. There was a juiciness to each slice that was delicious, and great to have with a nice glass of wine.
After this initial tasting of meat, the ongoing arrival of plates with small Italian bites started to arrive. Dishes such as Lasagna with a pork and beef ragu and bechamel sauce ($8), Costina ($6), a spicy Tuscan spare rib, slow-cooked with tomatoes, rosemary and garlic, Caponata ($5) a sweet and savory Sicilian eggplant relish, were all great!
There were some standouts and memorable dishes that I cannot stop thinking about too. My favorite dish of the night was the Risotto with zucchini and basil pesto ($8), it was delicious and vibrant, and the perfect Spring/Summer dish. I loved the addition of toasted almonds which gave a nice crunch to the dish.
A dish called Sette Fagioli ($6) which is a seven bean salad ended up being the best beans I have ever had in my life!
Pancia ($9), a pork belly cooked in its own fat with Ciccerchie beans, dandelion, and crispy skin was amazing and addictive!
The Insalata di Asparagi ($6), sliced asparagus, radishes, arugula, grated hard-cooked egg, and parmgiano, was another great seasonal dish that lingers in my mind.
Salumeria Rosi also has a great bowl of mixed olives that is wonderful!
Salumeria Rosi is a great place to go for a glass (or three) of wine and some amazing and festive small Italian bites. Be it a date, a night out with some foodie friends, or just on your own, Salumeria Rosi will make you smile, I still am!
Salumeria Rosi
283 Amsterdam Ave (bet. 73rd and 74th)
New York, NY 10023
212-877-4800
www.salumeriarosi.com
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( 3.1 / 85 )The NYC FOODIE loves every kind of food. When I dine though, I noticed I rarely go to Italian restaurants, but there are some exeptional ones in NYC. So I have decided to go on some Italian culinary adventures in the weeks ahead to seek out and dine on some of New York City's best pasta dishes!
Bon Appetito!
NYC FOODIE
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