NRA Show Blog

It’s time for an Oscar Party!

By Kristina Vanni, Food & Recipes Contributor

This year you can eat and drink just like the stars, but in the comfort of your own living room!  Here you have all the tools to throw an Oscar bash of your very own. First of all, you have to spice things up with a small wager. You and your guests can fill out Oscar ballots with your predictions and even play Oscar Bingo! Download the official forms here: Oscar Ballots and Oscar Bingo

Next step -- snacks! I met up with the legendary Wolfgang Puck himself and he was nice enough to share some of his culinary wisdom with Better Recipes. Here is his advice on how to throw a Hollywood A-list party in the comfort of your own home.

 

Hello 2011 from everyone at Floored!

 
By Kristina Vanni, Food & Recipes Contributor and Better Homes and Gardens BetterRecipes.com editor

Welcome to 2011 Floored! readers My fellow contributing bloggers and I have so much in store for the new year. From the 2011 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show Hot Chef Challenge to the International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event Star of the Bar competition, to NRA Show 2011 and IWSB news, information and updates here on the blog, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and more. There is something new every week here at Floored!

It has become something of a tradition I contribute a New Year's story to Floored! Chicago has so much to offer and it is always a pleasure to share some of the adventures with you!

This year I was lucky enough to ring in 2011 at the incomparable Peninsula Hotel in Chicago. It is not only the ideal location to ring in the New Year, but Chicago's premiere hotel to enjoy year-round, including during the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show and IWSB.

Delish Christmas dinner recipes

 
By Kristina Vanni, Food & Recipes Contributor

It is so great to be back as a contributor to the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show and International Wine, Spirits & Beer Event blog Floored! I eagerly anticipate the events every year, and can't wait until the 2011 shows! 

With Christmas just around the corner I wanted to share some of my "Top 10 Recipes for Christmas Dinner" from Better Recipes. From duck to ham, beef to lobster, and even a decadent vegetarian option, we have it all covered. My personal favorite is Spicy Maple Glazed Lamb Chops with Spinach. I developed this recipe after a visit to Australia this year on behalf of Meat and Livestock Australia (an NRA Show 2011 exhibiting company) and Plate Magazine. The experience was nothing short of the trip of a lifetime! I wrote about our adventures on my Better Recipes blog, "The Daily Dish." Check it out!

The New Twist, Las Vegas Style

Blogger’s note: This special post was written by NRA Show Hot Chef Challenge 2009 winner and BetterRecipes.com writer Kristina Vanni
 
It is a rare experience when a culinary adventure begins in a hotel room. That is exactly what happened while staying at the newest Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas. This sophisticated urban sanctuary of sophisticated elegance is a magnificent resort destination located in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip. The epitome of luxury and innovation, everything here is cutting edge. From the lighting system to the television, and even the curtains, are all controlled by the clock sitting on the nightstand.  
 
The modernism revealed in the guest rooms carried through to the hotel’s cuisine at signature restaurant Twist by Pierre Gagnaire. The award-winning cuisine of this three-star Michelin chef, is Gagnaire’s first restaurant in the United States. The innovative menu infuses the simplicity of classic French cuisine with a contemporary flair.

2010 Hot Chef Challenge's Photo Finish

 
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Chef Marcus Samuelsson was named Celebrity Chef Judge for the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show 2010 Hot Chef Challenge contest.

Today's video and photo shoot at Affinia Chicago for the 2010 Hot Chef Challenge was a blast. Floored's very own food and recipes blogger and National Restaurant Association NRA Show 2009 Hot Chef Challenge winner Kristina Vanni flew in from Los Angeles to help with the "making of the 2010 announcement video."

While filming, Affinia Chicago and Marcus Samuelsson's (check out this flickr photo of Marcus at NRA Show 2009 - can't wait to have him back this year, too!) C-House team rolled out the red carpet and treated the National Restaurant Association's NRA Show team and bloggers Chicagonista, Second City Soiree and I Like to Eat to a delicious "meet and eat."

Stay tuned for more 2010 Hot Chef Challenge details coming later this month.

Photo by: National Restaurant Association/Matthew Fessenden 

O Canadian Nanaimo Bars

Origial post by Floored's resident food blogger Kristina Vanni of Better Homes and Gardens Better Recipes

The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver are coming to a close this weekend! Athletes from across the world have gathered in Vancouver, British Columbia to compete. We are learning more about our neighbors to the north, but what about Canadian cuisine? Check out this video and recipe to learn about a local favorite - Nanaimo Bars!

Canadian Nanaimo Bars

A Gourmet Way to Embrace 2010

 
By Kristina Vanni

This year I was lucky enough to celebrate New Year's in style at the extraordinary Affinia Hotel Chicago, along with the culinary offerings of celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson's C-House restaurant. 
 
The recently renovated property features custom designed guest rooms with a bi-level entry that creates a residential feeling. I immediately felt right at home, and was very pleased with the array of features offered by the hotel. My favorite was the “pillow menu” (Buckwheat, Swedish Memory, Magnetic Therapy, Sound, Down and Hypo-Allergenic) where guests are offered a la carte sleeping options.
 
Upon leaving the hotel to explore the Magnificent Mile and to grab some lunch at Gino’s East next door, I was greeted by the attentive and knowledgeable concierge. He offered a “fast pass” to the front of the line at the iconic pizzeria, which proved priceless as I passed by the long line of diners waiting outside in the freezing Chicago cold!
 
The highlight of the Affinia Chicago is chef Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant, C-House. After dining at his restaurant Aquavit in New York City, I eagerly anticipated the decadent New Year’s Eve menu and wine pairings.

Fire and Ice: Drinks and Desserts for the Holidays

By Kristina Vanni

While exploring the New York Chocolate Show this fall, I discovered the unique and delicious Fire and Ice Cocoa Mix from 2 Chicks with Chocolate. Their combination of dark chocolate and cocoa nibs along with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves is simply irresistible. I love using the mix to create the unique and delicious Fire and Ice Martini. Simply prepare the mix with milk and cream, and shake it up with chilled Cold River Vodka*. This super-premium vodka is a craft distiller from Freeport, Maine. From “Ground to Glass” this vodka is produced from scratch with potatoes from their farm and with water from a nearby aquifer.

Fire and Ice Martini
 
1 ¼ cup milk
1 ¼ cup cream
1 ½ cup 2 Chicks Fire and Ice Cocoa Mix
8 ounces Cold River Vodka

Hot Chef Fridays: Small Plates

By Kristina Vanni, contributing blogger

Small plate dishes were at the top of the National Restaurant Association's What's Hot list for hot trends in 2009, and the new 2010 survey of more than 1,800 American Culinary Federationmember chefs notes the trend of smaller portions for a smaller price continues into the coming year. Small plates, tapas and appetizers are a great option for the plethora of the holiday parties and get-togethers this time of year. 
If you are entertaining guests in the coming weeks or if you are asked to bring a dish to share, this recipe is an easy go-to option during the holidays. This “Triple Onion Tart” is sliced into thin wedges for a savory and cheesy indulgence.
 
For a step-by-step video instruction on how to prepare this recipe for “Triple Onion Tart” click here: 

Quick and Easy Recipes to Help Turn Winter Blahs Into Ahs!

  
By Derrek J. Hull, Blogger-in-Chief

Old Man Winter is blanketing much of the country with cold temps, high winds and snow. So, why not stay indoors to keep warm and enjoy these quick and easy mouth-tempting recipes served up by the editors at Better Homes and Gardens and chefs at Lamb Weston.

Barbecued Chicken Thighs
by BHG

Ingredients

3 tablespoons brown sugar 
2 tablespoons finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
8 chicken thighs (about 2-1/2 pounds total)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:
For sauce, in a small saucepan combine brown sugar, onion, vinegar, mustard, celery seed, and garlic powder. Bring to boiling, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; set aside.
Skin chicken, if desired. In a small mixing bowl combine paprika, turmeric, and salt; rub over the chicken.
Grill chicken on an uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 20 minutes. Turn chicken; grill for 15 to 20 minutes more or until chicken is tender and no longer pink. (Or, place chicken on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Broil 5 to 6 inches from the heat for 28 to 32 minutes, turning once.) Brush with sauce during the last 5 minutes of grilling or broiling. Makes 4 servings.
Make-ahead tip: Prepare sauce up to 48 hours ahead; cover and chill.