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Getting Out of the Kitchen: 10 Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Nevin Martell February 26, 2018 2 Comments

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Chefs work notoriously long hours, so it’s important they sometimes leave the burners behind so they don’t burn out. We chatted with 10 chefs about where they like to go in the winter months – and what they like to do and eat once their well-deserved vacation begins.

Kyle Bailey of The Salt Line, Washington, D.C.
“Every year, my wife, Tiffany, and I take the first two weeks of January and go on a food vacation. Last year we visited her parents in Maui; this year we went to Thailand. We decided on Thailand since neither of us had been there and we’re both big fans of the cuisine. We stayed in Bangkok, Pai, Chiang Mai, and Chiang Rai. We had something big planned every day, as there were plenty of tours and animal sanctuaries. We spent one day with elephants and another with tigers, which was something I never thought I’d get to do. We made sure to spend a few days walking around exploring each place we stayed so we could take in the sights. We stumbled upon a couple of out-of-the-way food markets that really blew our minds. We didn’t cook on this trip since there were so many options with all of the food stands in the different cities. We ended up eating around four or five meals a day, trying to get in as much authentic Thai food as we could.” Make a reservation at The Salt Line.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Sergio Rivera of ETARU Hallandale, Hallandale Beach, Florida
“Whenever I have a chance during winter I love to go back home to Puerto Rico to visit my family. I prefer to get away from the city by going camping in the Carite Forest. On my way to the campground, we always go thru Guavate and we stop at a lechonera to get spit-roasted pork and morcilla (blood sausage) with rice and pigeon peas.” Make a reservation at ETARU Hallandale.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Adrienne Guttieri of Trademark, New York, New York
“Friends of mine have a house up in Tannersville, Pennsylvania. My girlfriends and I have been friends since pre-school, but we rarely get the time to see each other with the busy lives we all lead. Nonetheless, we try our best to get together. Who doesn’t love a weekend filled with hot tubs, fire pits, a ton of what we like to call ‘good years’ (great red wine)? Plus, Camelback Mountain resort is only 10 minutes away. As far as the food goes, Tannersville has a couple of hidden gems, but we usually like to come prepared and cook for ourselves. I always hit Fleisher’s on the Upper East Side for a couple of steaks and whole chickens, which we cook out on the outside grill. And we always bring the essentials to snack on: crudité, duck fat onion dip, and a great selection of meats and cheeses from Di Palo’s Fine Foods and Murray’s Cheese.” Make a reservation at Trademark.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Brad Day of Tullibee, Minneapolis, Minnesota
“After relocating my family from New York to Minnesota, I have found there is no better winter getaway location than right here in our great state.  I enjoy taking my family on mini-vacations to explore ice castles, sledding, and the many lakes for outdoor activities, while I personally appreciate the solitude of ice fishing.” Make a reservation at Tullibee.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Juan Manuel Barrientos of El Cielo, Miami, Florida
“My wife, our six-month-old baby, Azul, and I do an annual family Christmas gathering on the Colombian island of San Andres. We love the crystal clear water and pure white sands. It’s the perfect setting for my family because we love water sports, especially diving. But the most important factor in our love for the island is its tranquility. My entire family is in the restaurant business, so it’s the perfect setting to disconnect from the everyday life stressors. While there, we usually keep a balance between cooking and enjoying traditional dishes at the local restaurants, which have fabulous seafood.” Make a reservation at El Cielo.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Jennifer Salhoff of aMuse, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
“The mountains around Burlington, Vermont, are a great place to get away in the winter. I usually go to Mad River Distillers while I’m there because they have great charcuterie and cheese boards. Plus, they always have something new brewing that pairs well with the food. If I am looking for a great cocktail, a visit to the Bar Hill Gin distillery is in order.” Make a reservation at aMuse.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Anthony Genovese of The Wild Son, New York, New York
“Colorado is my favorite place to go during the winter. I grew up taking family ski trips to the mountains out west, where I fell in love with the amazing conditions and beautiful scenery. There is nothing better than bunking up in a cabin where it’s quiet and without all the distractions of the city. Most of the day is spent on the mountains, exploring backcountry and finding new trails, but we always make time to eat together. I like to go shop at the markets in the village and make simple, but nutrient-rich, meals that help us recover, so we can hit the trails again the next day.” Make a reservation at The Wild Son.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter Vacations

Vasiliki Vourliotaki of Ousia, New York, New York
“My favorite place to be during the winter months is Pilio, Greece because it has snowy mountains, the ocean, rivers, and beautiful forests. It’s a paradise for chefs who want to explore the region’s authentic cuisine. Every time I’m there, I always order the spetsofai, a spicy Greek dish made with sausages, peppers, and tomatoes. The area is also known for its spoon sweets, pies, rabbit stifado (stew), and much more. The best place to visit is Tsagarada, a small village where you eat with locals by the fireplace.” Make a reservation at Ousia.

Chefs Share Their Favorite Winter VacationsContinue Reading

January 2018 Restaurant Weeks: New Year, New Dining Deals

OpenTable January 2, 2018 2 Comments

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January 2018 Restaurant Weeks

Beat the post-holiday blues with savings, courtesy of January 2018 restaurant weeks in a city near you.

* Galveston Restaurant Week comes to the Gulf Coast with $12-$20 lunches + $25-$35 dinners, January 6-21. Make a reservation.

* Shellfish Showcase hits Seattle with the city’s top chefs creating unique seafood-centric dishes, January 7-25. Make a reservation.

* Charleston Restaurant Week features special three- and four-course menus at the CHS’s most revered restaurants, January 10-21. Make a reservation.

* Oakland Restaurant Week is happening in the Bay Area with $10, $20, $30, $40 + $50 lunches and dinners, January 11-21. Make a reservation.

* Baltimore Restaurant Week is bringing $15-$20 lunches + $20-$35 dinners to Charm City, January 12-21. Make a reservation.

* Bethesda Magazine Restaurant Week has it all with $18-$22 brunches, $15-$25 lunches + $25-$37 dinners, January 12-21. Make a reservation.

* Kansas City Restaurant Week has royally good $15 + $33 lunches and $33 dinners, January 12-21. Make a reservation.

* Sacramento Dine Downtown grows in Cali’s capital city with three-course $35 dinners, January 12-21. Make a reservation.

* dineLA showcases LA’s diverse dining scene with $15, $20 + $25 lunches, $29, $39, $49 + $95 and up dinners, January 12-26. Make a reservation.

* Ann Arbor Restaurant Week promises to delight with $15 lunches + $28 dinners, January 14-19. Make a reservation.

* Center City District Restaurant Week comes to Philadelphia with $20 lunches + $35 dinners, January 14-26. Make a reservation.

* Nashville Restaurant Week starts soon with creative three-course, prix-fixe menus at Music City restaurants, January 15-21. Make a reservation.Continue Reading

October 2016 Restaurant Weeks: Fall Into Delicious Savings

Caroline Potter October 5, 2016 Leave a Comment

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October 2016 Restaurant Weeks

Keeping it local or having an autumn travel adventure? Check out these steals on meals in cities in North America.

* Park City Dine About invites you to mine for terrific offers, including $10 + $15 lunches and $20 + $40 dinners through October 9. Make a reservation.

* Seattle Restaurant Week returns with two terrific weeks of $18 two-course lunches + $32 three-course dinners, October 9-13 and October 16-20. Make a reservation.

* Santa Cruz Restaurant Week comes ashore on October 12 with three-course $25 and $35 dinners through October 19. Make a reservation.

* Farm to Fork South Jersey Restaurant Week has freshly harvested deals with $25 + $35 dinners, October 16-21. Make a reservation.

* Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Restaurant Week comes to the Twin Cities in a couple of weeks with $15 + $20 lunches and $25, $30 + $35 dinners, October 16-21. Make a reservation.

* Western New York Local Restaurant Week is your chance to support independent restaurants by taking advantage of $20.16, $30.16 + $40.16 lunches and dinners, October 17-23. Make a reservation.Continue Reading

Touchdown: Delicious Game Day 2016 Specials for Sunday #CHI #LA #NYC #PHL

Caroline Potter February 4, 2016 Leave a Comment

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When Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos take on Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers on February 7 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, there are thousands of restaurants around the nation that will be ready to host hordes of hungry and thirsty football fans. In that spirit, we’ve gathered some fun offers and specials that are a thousand steps above jarred salsa and wings from your local pizza joint. Find out where to celebrate game day 2016  in delicious style this weekend.

Alla Spina, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Add a touch of serious sophistication to your viewing with these conversions being offered by chef Julie Kline. She’s putting an upscale twist on two traditional game day dishes with her amazing Mortadella Hot Dog and playful Pig Tails with Fennel Agrodolce. Make a reservation at Alla Spina.

Game Day 2016

American Cut, New York, New York
American Cut will be hosting a Sunday tailgate party on February 7, beginning at 5:30PM. For $150 per person, guests will enjoy offerings from chef Marc Forgione such as the NYC Pastrami Spice Sub, American Cut Wings with a chili lobster sauce, Tater Tots, Sunchoked Spinach with fontina and smoked salt, and desserts from pastry chef Tara Glick. Pair it all with drinks and specialty cocktails from the open bar while you soak up the gridiron action showing on two large projector screens with surround sound. Make a reservation at American Cut.

Game Day 2016

American Whiskey, New York, New York
There are delicious two-for-one Smokey Chicken Wings from executive chef Roger Jacobsen, and even better, are the $7 pours of Stranahan’s, Breckenridge, and Defiant whiskeys from beverage director Joey Vargas in honor of Broncos QB John Elway who wore No. 7. You’ll also enjoy a free glass of Prosecco each time your team scores — if you are wearing a jersey of that team! Make a reservation at American Whiskey.

Blog American Whiskey_Braised Short Rib Sandwich_Credit Alexandra Romanoff copy

Analogue, Chicago, Illinois
Located in the city’s Logan Square neighborhood, Analogue invites guests to enjoy a special menu of Cajun-style takes on football faves. The Big Game menu features Cajun Nachos with cheese sauce, red beans, chef Alfredo Nogueira’s pico de gallo made with pickles, and his housemade hot sauce, the Kaplan Burger, made by sous chef and butcher Danielle Kaplan, a cult-fave carryover from her days at Butcher & Larder, that features two patties, cheese, ketchup, mustard, pickles, and onions; and housemade Jalapeño Poppers. Guests can enjoy the game as it is projected on a blank wall in the typically TV-less restaurant. Make a reservation at Analogue.

Blog Analogue Burger copy

Brother Jimmy’s, New York, New York
The specials are all about the Carolina Panthers at Brother Jimmy’s. After all, the slogan here is “Put some South in Yo’ Mouth.” There’s the Panther Pulled Pork Sandwich and Charlotte Pimento Cheese Fries, and look for the enthusiastic staff to be passing blue shots around throughout the night. Plus, there are a whopping 25 televisions and a tricked out sound system that will keep you focused on all the action. Make a reservation at Brother Jimmy’s.

Blog Brother Jimmys_BBQ Ribs_Credit Matt Hayek copy

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Restaurants, New York
So, it’s not T-Rex Tuesday, but you can still make game day seriously roar here. Founder and pit master John Stage of the meat mecca that is the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que dynasty invites you to quaff craft beers and dine on Dino signatures such as Dino Wings, St. Louis Ribs, and Creole Deviled Eggs at any of his New York locations. Make a reservation at a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que Restaurant near you.

Game Day 2016Continue Reading

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Caroline PotterCaroline Potter is the Chief Dining Officer for OpenTable, Inc. She’s a dining trend-spotter and an OpenTable VIP, who dines out more than she eats in and has accrued more than 10,000 Dining Rewards points. Caroline started working in restaurants as a teen and she’s since tackled every front-of-the-house job, from bartender and hostess to runner and server. She trained as a chef at Manhattan’s prestigious French Culinary Institute, cooking at L’Ecole. In addition to her role at OpenTable, she has written about food from farm to table for New York City’s famed Greenmarket and Edible Brooklyn and Edible East End magazines. Caroline is also a Certified Master Gardener.

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