LYRA MAG.

SPICE ISLANDS COOK-OUT -A  CULINARY  CLASS Tastebuds Kitchen , a spacious ( very -by NYC standards) -restaurant worthy event space/school- was SRO packed---by the cooking inclined last week. Homemade-blend your own India spice Garam Masala w/ 11 SPICE ISLANDS-or buy ready version Savory samples of appetizers- entrees-desserts- enhanced with a few- deeply flavorful and fresh SPICE ISLANDS spices-are mouthfuls of world global cuisines made with simple, quality ingredients livened up authentic flavors from far flung locales. POPULAR!

Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo Shares His Exclusive Holiday Recipes From  Il Gattopardo and The Leopard at des Artistes FINALLY---t wo recipes for hearty and flavorful dishes from two of our favorite restaurants...   The Leopard at des Artistes ’  Christmas Salad Of Clams, Mussels, Shrimp, And Octopus In A Fresh Lemon Dressing  and Il Gattopardo’s  Artisanal Lobster Raviol i -  that add Italian flavors to holiday feasts. AND will dazzle the tastebuds of guests-as well as leave time to enjoy their bon mots too! Courtesy of Leopard at des Artistes' Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo...who conjured up probably one of the best meals we have ever eaten anywhere. ( Review )

33 West 54th Street, Midtown Manhattan, NYC Even walking at an uncharacteristic for midtown Manhattan  leisurely pace, it's easy to miss the small windowed street front to Mozzarella E Vino . However-past the entrance -a big hearted casual eatery, and a welcoming staff- attributes for a fine dining experience for solo eaters-or a crowd- wonderfully exists ...tempting enthusiasts of Italian food  willing to forgo showier dining non-essentials in order to concentrate on the most delicious 'rustic' cuisine, delivered professionally.

Highlights From International Restaurant & Food Service Tradeshow: Geared toward professional providers of foods/drinks-anywhere from restaurants to summer camps...this recent NYC gathering of culinary provision provider- reflected the growing sophisticated tastes of a globally connected world...who may be staying home more -yet when venturing forth...expect a higher quality of eating offerings-that are healthier-and or/more indulgent. No surprise-quite a few vendors also seen at the Fancy Food Show-and overlapping of food trends, namely gluten free eats, natural (vs artificial) ingredients, a booming NY State distillery-craft-brew scene and new comer, raw cookie dough, Equipment: In addition to many pizza ovens to deliver gourmet outdoor grill worthy- wood fire style -crisp thin crusts, indoors...other most wanted industrial gadgets... SPACEMAN soft serve ice-cream -and frozen beverage-milkshake-smoothies machines. Pictured swirl soft serve -to use with mixes for cream...

Contemporary Italian Southern Cuisine- A Midtown Oasis of Culinary Art-Traditional Hospitality New to us but a neighborhood staple (est. 2001) ...the special midtown Manhattan hideaway,  Il Gattopardo -located in an historic Rockefeller townhouse across the street from MoMa--- is a worthy dining establishment that begs a return visit. ASAP. Yes, that good. "SE VOGLIAMO CHE TUTTO RIMANGA COM'È BISOGNA CHE TUTTO CAMBI." “If we want things to stay as they are, things will have to change.” - Tancredi Falconeri, Il Gattopardo by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, 1958  (and for cinema fans...the Visonti classic)...printed on the menu-- summarizes this modern trattoria's pasionate'mission' of serving satisfyingly 'simple' dishes of southern Italy-interpreted in the most contemporary sumptuous ways...as the top tiered restaurants do ( or should )...allowing the finest ingredients deftly presented in a seasonal menu-to shine through -flavored ...

via GIPHY In our inbox... The  Italian Championship of Pasta  will take place for the first time in New York, from March 7th to September 12th.  ITALIAN'S FOOD CHAMPIONSHIPS  and  SPEAKITALY NYC  are glad to invite you to celebrate one of the most important ingredients in the Italian cuisine and partecipate in deciding Il Campione Della Pasta! Food connoisseur  Riccardo Costa  is enthusiastically part of the team and will be gifting at every match his  Vecchia Cucina: Antique original family recipes from my grandma's secret kitchen  book   to a lucky one!

WHAT: A press event that introduced (and reaffirmed) the wonders of the great state of Vermont...that serves up a lot of beautifully scenic, fun outdoors, user friendly destinations for snow pursuits, gourmet dining and laid back good times...! From the northern Jay Peak Ski Resort -near the Canadian border-to the more southerly-   Hermitage Club at Haystack Mountain -a private forested-mountain oasis with a 90,000 sq foot slope side lodge with numerous facilities-and easy to get to from NYC and Boston,   Mt. Snow.  home to the largest freestyle terrain east of the Rockies...there was plenty of new exciting ventures planned for the upcoming 2016-2017 season-year round. Kudos to Killington's score of the  first WORLD CUP races to touch down on the east coast-Thanksgiving weekend. Very cool. Other top spots that beckon... Stratton,  (major thanks for our 2 bedroom condo+lift tickets-raffle win-CANNOT WAIT)  Okemo  (top rated snowmaking covering...