Free Brunch for Mom

Broke, but still want to impress your moms? Forget about making her brunch!

Bring her to Toloache, 251 West 50th Street (between Eighth Avenue & Broadway), (212) 581-1818, toloachenyc.com, where they are offering free brunch for Mom when the family dines. The special runs between 11:30 am and 3pm this Sunday.

Blue Cheese Stuffed Dates Recipe

Need a party snack? This bacon wrapped, blue cheese stuffed date recipe will knock their socks off. Which is a good thing, especially if your party involves Twister. And best of all, it's super easy to prepare.

1 pckg bacon (we like a very salty version, skip the Maple)

1 container dates

1 chunk extra sharp blue cheese

toothpicks if desired (soaked in water)

balsamic if desired

Pit the dates and cut in half. Stuff with blue cheese. Wrap each half in bacon. Stick with water-soaked toothpick, if you don't like licking bacon grease off of fingertips. Lay on a baking tray covered in aluminum foil. Drizzle with a little bit of aged balsamic. Cook in a 375 degree oven for 7 minutes, or until bacon is done.

Drain on paper towels, and serve immediately.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly

Wandering around the Village the other night, we decided to slip in Good Restaurant for a bite after stopping by the opening of Entwine. (More on that to come).With a name like "Good Restaurant", you would think that the food would be...well...good.

Looks like Good has gone bad.

We grabbed a two top and ordered some dishes at random from the eclectic menu. Here's the lowdown:

Chickpea spread: Though rustic, it was inedible due to salt content, served with bread so stale, we wondered if it was secretly biscotti.

Sliders: Great serving size, but pulled pork on the dry side. Served with a spoonful of cucumbers?

Mussles: Flavorful broth, but every other bite was overcooked.

Fish tacos: The only saving grace of the menu, though the portion size was laughable (2 for $22). Terrific mayo and side of sweet corn.

Looks like sometimes, Good = Bad.

For the Love of Food: Arrested Butler Permitted to Keep Serving Famous Scrambled Eggs to Countess

The Daily Mail reports that a former Buckingham Palace butler who was arrested following a drunken bar brawl has been allowed to continue serving his famous scrambled eggs at the Countess of Arran's Castle Hill Estate in Barnstaple, Devon (UK)---despite a curfew order intended to be his punishment, and an electronic bracelet intended to monitor his movements.

The Countess reportedly said: "He is the sort of butler a lot of people would like to have. He is extremely hard working and a very good cook. He cooks the best breakfasts every day and the best scrambled eggs."

We love people who are passionate about their eggs. Stand by your butler, Countess!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1173928/The-butler-did--magistrates-remove-electronic-tag-continue-looking-Countess.html

Warm Asparagus Salad with Caramelized Onions

Asparagus is in season, and we know what to do with it. Here's an easy recipe for a warm asparagus salad with bacon and caramelized onions. With just 5 ingredients, this recipe is a breeze to throw together for a barbecue or impromptu picnic. And of course, adding the bacon is an instant crowd pleaser.

Ingredients:

3 bundles asparagus, chopped into 4 equal, bite-sized pieces (keep the tips but discard the ends)

2 lemons

6 strips bacon

1 small sweet onion

pinch brown sugar

Directions:

In a large skillet, cook bacon. Remove bacon, drain on paper towels. Reserve bacon drippings in pan. Chop onion and cook in pan with bacon drippings. Sprinkle a pinch of brown sugar to caramelize. Once onions begin to shrink, add chopped asparagus. Cover if desired.

Check on asparagus after 6 minutes. Asparagus should be al dente. Crumble and stir in Bacon.

Remove from heat. Squeeze lemon over skillet, toss, and serve immediately.

Park Slope Pork Off Pig Out Recap

Park Slope Pork Off (Photo by David Beausoleil)

If you missed it this Sunday, here's your Park Slope Pork Off Pig Out Recap.

Wow, that was a mouthfull!

Just like trying to take in all the tasty bites on offer from the 15+ professional/home chefs cooking up the pork at Loki Lounge.

Among my favorite dishes, the home-cured pork belly by Jonathan (winner of the Bacon Takedown), Melissa's pulled pork sandwich with homemade pickles, and Nick’s braised ham hocks with collard greens. Yum!

I also loved the "Pate Kirnan", though the tasty morsels were gone by the time I was ready to sample the goods! We secretly wished Pat Kirnan, our fave, snarky New York One reporter, could have seen it!

The turn out was amazing for such a rainy day, and we were thankful for all the people pigging out, since it was for a good cause: Kamay at Puso. We heart cook offs for charity.

Laurel Fantauzzo was terrific as hostess and hopes to make it a yearly event.

For more info: http://noteatingoutinny.com/2009/05/05/pork-love-continues-at-the-park-slope-pork-off/#more-2885 and http://porkoff.tumblr.com/.

Visit the charity's website at: http://www.kamayatpuso.org/

Real Housewives Party at Hudson Terrace

Oh, what can we say about these ladies?

It was very amusing to see some of them last night at the official opening night of Hudson Terrace/The Wrap Party for the Real Housewives. But where oh where were Bethany and the Countess? If you watched the season finale, you may have noticed a clash between Bethanny and Jill over their arthritis fundraiser (also at Hudson Terrace)...but we're not sure where the other two housewives were.

My friend Mariko and I did, however, find a Chuck Bass look-a-like. Loved him!

So just what's so hot about Hudson Terrace, you ask?

Hudson Terrace is a swanky new bi-level space with killer views on W. 46th St and Twelfth Ave, brought to you by the people behind Sidebar and the Pourhouse. And yes, we said Twelfth Ave.
Is it worth the trek?

We thought so...especially to see Simon texting in a corner for most of the night while we sipped champagne. Loved it!

I'll be giving you a more detailed profile of the space in the weeks to come.

Craft Restaurant Review

Photo by: Bill Bettencourt

Check out my new review of an old favorite, Tom Colicchio's Craft, on http://www.hotellx.com/craft-restaurant-nyc/

Free Pizza: This Week Only

And they say there's no such thing as a free lunch! Snapple is giving away free pizza (and free Snapples, 'natch) to the first 500 peeps to show at one of several pizza parlors in greater Manhattan.

Here's where you can get your free slice:

• Date: Wednesday, May 6
  Where: Silver Spoon Diner at 58-21 Junction Blvd. (Queens)Time: 10:30 a.m. till the first 500 people have been served
• Date: Thursday, May 7
  Where: My Little Pizza at 114 Court St, between Atlantic Ave. & State St. (Brooklyn)Time: 10:30 a.m. till the first 500 people have been served
• Date: Friday, May 8
  Where: Mezza Lunna Pizza at 98 8th Ave., corner of 15th St.Time: 10:30 a.m. till the first 500 people have been served

Don't say we never did anything for you!

New amNY Article: Drink a Block UWS

To see the original article, visit: http://weblogs.amny.com/entertainment/urbanite/blog/2009/04/