The Taste Cafe

GO: AnQi (Costa Mesa, CA)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:59:38 -0500

Don’t Miss: Champagne & Caviar…

‘Rather than get caught up in using molecular techniques for their own sake, Chefs Carson and Rossi thoughtfully construct a slate of dishes that dazzle and amaze; each and every dish offering a symphony of sensation without compromising flavor or integrity of the food.’ - http://tangbro1.blogspot.com/2011/01/anqi-01292011.html

http://www.anqibistro.com/

GO: Your Place (multiple locations, PA)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:33:57 -0500

Don’t Miss: the Stromboli. This is the ONLY stromboli worth eating :)

http://www.yourplace.biz/index.html

MAKE: Salty & Sweet Chocolate Butter Toffee

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:12:43 -0500

So Addictive!

http://nestleusa.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/happy-english-toffee-day-salty-sweet-chocolate-butter-toffee/

GO: Bianca (NYC, NY)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:10:25 -0500

Don’t miss: Lasagnette di Verdure, Gorgonzola Gnocchi…

An amazing, cash-only Italian find.

http://www.biancanyc.com/menu2.html

MAKE: Milk tapioca cookies (Kue bangket)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 23:00:41 -0500

These really melt in the mouth, are made from tapioca flour and are from Riau-Indonesia… they deserve to be exposed worldwide.

http://beelittlefood.blogspot.com/2012/01/milk-tapioca-cookies-kue-bangket.html

MAKE: Tipsy Maple Corn

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 22:54:50 -0500

Tipsy Maple Corn: popcorn with butter, maple syrup, bacon…and bourbon.

http://www.food52.com/recipes/7133_tipsy_maple_corn

MAKE: Birthday Cake Martini

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 21:24:41 -0500

Sweet and lots of vanilla flavor with a hint of almond. Garnish with colorful nonpareils, because who doesn’t love sprinkles on their Birthday cake?

http://fragrantvanillacake.blogspot.com/2011/07/birthday-cake-martini.html

GO: The Bazaar by JOSÉ ANDRÉ (SLS Hotel - LA, CA)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:40:00 -0500

Don’t Miss: Foie Gras Cotton Candy, Olive Oil bon bons, Coconut in a half shell…

http://www.thebazaar.com/

‘José Andrés is a culinary legend in Spain and the United States.

The menu is split into two sections: Traditional Tapas and Modern Tapas. The traditional is a solid run-through of traditional Catalonian tapas, while the modern is the experimental— the magic of food and science that one would expect at The Bazaar.’

Read a fantastic review at The Hungry Nomad

FIND: Opera Fudge

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 20:26:35 -0500

Peanut Butter and Vanilla are the best!

Opera fudge is not a fudge at all. It is a deliciously rich, creamy fondant made with heavy cream from our local dairy, delicately flavored with vanilla and coated in pure chocolate liquor. This wonderful confection can be found in the vicinity of Lebanon, PA! In Lebanon County, two well-known family companies make opera fudge: Wertz Candies on Cumberland Street and Van Winkle’s on Guilford Street.

MAKE: Swedish Fish jello shots

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:28:01 -0500

http://www.ericasweettooth.com/2012/01/swedish-fish-jello-shots.html

MAKE: Dessert Degustation!

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:24:00 -0500

This post is more for inspiration! This girl is an artist.

Tropical Harvest: a dessert she started creating using colors - dehydrated starfruit / pineapple caviar / salted crumble / black sesame ice cream / passionfruit cheesecake foam / black sesame powder.

http://awalkingdream.blogspot.com/2011/12/2011-dollys-dessert-party-dessert.html

MAKE: Sage Goat Cheese Ebelskivers

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:21:34 -0500

A beloved treat in their native Denmark, ebelskivers are light, puffy pancakes that can be filled with fruit, chocolate, jam or cheese and served for breakfast or as an hors d’oeuvre, dessert or light supper

http://foodbabbles.com/2012/01/12/ebelskivers-two-ways/

The special pan and flipping tools can be found at William Sonoma.

FIND: Citrus Sorbet Topped Conch Ceviche

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 16:13:07 -0500

Created by Chef Robert Irvine, this Citrus Sorbet Topped Conch Ceviche redefines the dish!

http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/best-bites-from-acs-food-and-wine-festival/pictures/index.html

MAKE:Custard-Filled Baklava (Baklava Muhalabiyya)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:59:56 -0500

Hard to find, here’s a recipe for this decadent version of Baklava

http://desertcandy.blogspot.com/2007/10/baklava-worth-searching-for.html

GO: Animal (LA, CA)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:42:31 -0500

Don’t miss: Bacon Chocolate Crunch Bar

http://www.animalrestaurant.com/

‘Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo are the duo behind the Los Angeles restaurant Animal, which opened in 2008. The chefs became nationally known for their surprising—shocking, even—menu items, which include pig ears, pig tails, crispy pig’s head, veal brains and a bacon-chocolate bar. ’ - Great review on the WSJ

GO: Son of a Gun (LA, CA)

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 15:35:34 -0500

Don’t Miss: Shrimp Toast, King Crab leg in Tabasco butter, Santa Barbara Spot Prawns (when in season)

http://www.sonofagunrestaurant.com/

A New American Seafood spot that draws, locals, gourmands and other chefs.

FIND: Indian Fry Bread

productiongreen — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 14:49:25 -0500

I first enjoyed this Native American treat at a Pow Wow!

Served warm, crispy on the outside and doughy on the inside, you can top it with anything… savory or sweet. My two favorites are mixed berry compote or honey… just plain honey. Soooo yummy.

Hard to find, I recently spotted this as a sandwich bread at The Cheesecake Factory. I requested to pay for it plain with honey to drizzle on top and they were happy to oblige!

FIND: Exotic Fruits

productiongreen — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 17:54:00 -0500

Morro Bay Finger Limes

These are so cool, kind of a cross between caviar and citrus. The taste is more like a light lemon, but the fruit pops out in these tiny “caviar-like” beads.

Grown at Shanley Farms

Buddha’s Hand

is in the citron family and is one of the oldest members. It is entirely rind based and has an extremely low number of calories and has health benefits similar to that of a lemon.

GO: True Food Kitchen (CA & AZ)

productiongreen — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 16:12:00 -0500

Don’t Miss: Spaghetti Squash Casserole & if it’s in season, their Watermelon/Cashew Salad is amazing too!

The entire delicious menu is centered on the principals of Dr. Andrew Weil’s Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Food Pyramid.

http://www.truefoodkitchen.com/locations-menus/california/fashion-island.php

FIND: Turkish Cotton Candy

productiongreen — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 17:34:00 -0500

Nothing like it! Pismaniye, or Turkish Cotton Candy is like nothing I’ve EVER tasted before. So light and fluffy, just don’t inhale while eating it :)

This Turkish sweet is made by blending flour roasted in butter into pulled sugar.

http://www.buyarabic.com/storeitem.asp?ic=FB249204JI997