snack

snackology: jet lag

I am en voyage - visiting beans in Costa Rica. Regularly scheduled posting to resume later this week. Here's a little something until then. A bientôt.

hotsnack: foam is out - espuma is in

All those food writers and editors who’ve been espousing a ‘no more foam’ movement will be happy to know that foam is out and espuma is in. It’s been spotted on menus and intoned by waiters delivering plates at restaurant all around town. A trend indeed.

How long will it take for people to figure out that espuma is Spanish for foam? To be sure I haven’t oversimplified the definition or missed some details of Spain’s culinary canon, I spoke with Gotham’s resident Spanish expert, chef Alex Ureña (Ureña 37 East 28th Street, NYC 212.213.2328). His verdict? “It’s the same thing.”

And in the face of foam, the foam-weary writers inevitably cry, “No more Ferran imitators!”  So let’s pause for a moment and take stock.

snackology: snack love

Given the electro-format of a blog, it’s impossible to send a bound galley preview to the culinary glitterati so that they’ll give you a back-of-the-book endorsement, like publishers do. Now that I’ve been serving up Snack for a few months, everyone’s had the opportunity to give it a taste. Seems everyone loves a good snack.

"Jennifer Leuzzi is one of the best connected, hooked-in bloggers in the foodie jungle--and Snack is compulsory reading. Of course I'll take these words back if she ever writes shit about me." --- Anthony Bourdain

“JL is my go-to gal for all insider info on hot food and wine scoops. She is smarter, funnier and cuter than any blogger I know.” --- Mario Batali

“If Coco Chanel married Escoffier and you threw in a little rock and roll, the result would be Jennifer Leuzzi---informed, beautiful, and she can do mise en place like noboby's business.” --- Peter Kaminsky

“The peripatetic Jennifer Leuzzi uncovers today’s and tomorrow’s dining gossip like a sleuth on caffeine.  She has a stealth-like way of gathering inside information from chefs and restaurateurs that is the journalist version of one of those magicians who removes your watch without your even knowing it.” --- Danny Meyer

“Is Jennifer in cahoots with the government wire tapping forces? I wonder because her information is always spot-on, timely and interesting. I turn to her blog all the time for the latest news…” --- Eric Ripert

snackspot: no romance - just food

Perhaps tomorrow evening you want to go out for a meal? Sans roses and candlelight? Here’s a list of spots open on February 14^th for business as usual. No romance, no special menu d’amour, just good food.

hotsnack: and the winner is...

The winner of the Valentine’s Day reservation desperation auction is….

The guy in the number one slot on the waiting list at Daniel. Given there’s 100 people on that list (and over 50 calls a day for reservations), I’m a bit surprised there were no winning bids on Snack.

And even though the auction is so over, it’s never too late to give some love to Citymeals-on-Wheels. Valentine’s Day or any day it’s always good for the heart.

So if you’re not going to shell out for dinner at Daniel tomorrow night, comments here are open, because inquiring minds (moi) want to know – what are you doing?

hotsnack: get your bid on for valentine's day

Ready to grab the last table for two at Daniel on Valentine's Day? Bidding is officially open now until 3PM on Monday February 13th. Open your wallet and your heart. It's for a good cause.

hotsnack: valentine’s day reservation desperation: the auction

Are you desperate for a Valentine’s Day reservation? Do you absolutely have-to-have-under-penalty-of-breakup (or worse - love embargo) a table for two on Tuesday night? Snack is your salvation.

On the auction block is…

A 9PM Tuesday February 14, 2006 table for two at Restaurant Daniel, one of Gotham’s (née, the country’s) top tables.  At said table, you and your amour will feast on Daniel’s special four-course Valentine’s Day menu and sip two glasses of Dom Perignon champagne. 

(Here we break for a big merci beaucoup to my co-conspirator, the ever generous and soignée chef Daniel Boulud.)

You may think I’m taking advantage of all those poor Valentine’s procrastinators to turn a quick buck. Mais non! 100% of the winning bid will go directly to Citymeals-On-Wheels (CMOW) in support of their commendable efforts to feed New York's home bound elderly. (CMOW is Daniel’s charity of choice, as he’s on the board of directors.)

Now read the FINE PRINT on how it’ll go down.

Here’s how to bid in the auction…

Bidding opens on Thursday February 9, 2006 at 10AM.

The opening bid is $600 because the Valentine’s Day menu at Daniel is $250 per person and there are no tables left.

Place your bid, click on the ‘comments’ section at the end of this post.  When you register to post a comment your name will appear but your email will not. You can use any handle you like (you may want to stay anonymous, in case your lover’s watching) but you MUST use your real email address, because that’s how I will get in touch with you when you win.

The current bid will be at the top of the list.

Comments and bids will close on Monday February 13th at 3PM.

Here’s how you collect the prize…

Snack will contact the winning high bidder via email, then put the winner in touch with CMOW. CMOW will make the transaction via credit card.

For complete transparency, neither Snack nor Restaurant Daniel will touch the funds. 

As a bonus, the winner will receive a letter of charitable donation for tax deduction from CMOW.  (Note that, in accordance with charitable donation rules, the amount of the tax deductible donation will be the final bid amount less $500, which is the market value of the dinner.)

Once you’ve paid, you get your table. Please note that the package includes the 9PM rez, the 4-course Valentine’s Day menu for two, and two glasses of Dom Perignon. At the end of the meal, you will be responsible for any additional beverages, tax, and tip.

Et voila! You get the table, you get the love and you get to help feed someone who’s hungry. It’s a tasty trifecta of good karma.

 

Photo credit: N. Nakajima

hotsnack: the last table for two

Do you have a Valentine’s Day reservation?

I do. Here – at 9PM.

Want it? Stay tuned to Snack to find out how you can get the last table for two.

Photo credit: M. Noguchi