Hot Chef Fridays: Fall Flavors in New York City

by guest blogger Kristina Vanni

Local ingredients and organic produce were at the top of the National Restaurant Association's annual list of hottest trends in 2009. For chefs and home cooks alike, there is nothing more satisfying than browsing a local farmers market for the freshest seasonal ingredients. 
 
Chef Brandon Kida’s “Taste of Fall” menu at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in New York City embraces the ingredients of the season. It takes diners on a culinary journey as they soak in the priceless views of Central Park, while floating 35 stories up within the Manhattan skyline. Chef Kida’s contemporary cuisine reflects international influences from his travels and his Asian-American background. 

Chef Kida explains, "While traveling throughout Southeast Asia, I was inspired by the balance of tastes. This balance is always what inspires me when I create my seasonal menus."