Free this Wednesday, April 17th after work? Come join the Bar-Top Bandits and I at Johnny Utah’s in NYC for their biggest country dance party! It’ll be tons of fun and they have some amazing drink specials on deck! RSVP on Facebook, here.
See you there, cheers!
Look out for more Small Chick Big Deals event coming up soon…
So on a sunny little day in March, I journeyed to a lovely large place that had a wonderful sign posted outside the front welcoming craft beer enthusiasts from all regions of the states.
As I walk into the Lexington Armory – I stop dead in my tacks.
I look to my co-worker and said, “I think we found beer heaven.”
She agreed and we made our grand entrance into the wild brew-gallery of the most unique and delicious crafts beers New York City has ever seen.
Now, as a young millennial, I am searching for the latest and greatest in the craft beer world. I admit that cider is my go-to treat, but after this festival my brew-knowledge was lifted to a whole new level of deliciousness.
A few of my favorite tastings/experiences include:
The Two Girls One Pint table
Original Sin Cider – Cherry
Peak Organic – Simcoe
McKenzie’s Hard Cider – Lazy Lemonade
The House of Shandy – Curious Traveler
And of course…
Angry Orchard! But I already tried that one C;
Moving on, we grabbed ourselves the most delicious pretzel I have ever had. No seriously, this pretzel must have been caressed by the most delicious beers while baking to a crisp.
I obviously could not contain myself and started eating before I snapped a picture. #sorrynotsorry
Many of the tables had a representative from the brewing company! I was able to meet the representative for Angry Orchard and I could not be more exited. I give the festival a 4.5 out of a 5 start rating – the only thing I would have liked to see is the similar beers/ciders near each other to make it a little easier to navigate, other than that it was a complete success!
When the day was over we left with our complementary beer/shot glass, we were absolutely over the moon and left with wonderful memories of delicious craft beers.
I will be attending next year and already can’t wait!
Seriously, do not miss out. I will see you there! (:
You will see me again soon, my good Sir’s.
Au revoir!
Fräulein Rose
This past Saturday, I had the pleasure of attending of the Grand Tasting at the 5th Annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival better known as NJWFF with my boyfriend, Jason. The NJWFF takes place at the Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, NJ. The ride to Crystal Springs was breathless, even with the snow, which if anything made it more magical.
Jason & I at NJWFF
The event was huge and got a great crowd, each room filled with other foodies like us trying the best food and wine New Jersey offers. The amount of food we consumed was overwhelming and it was hard to take food pictures because it was so crowded and I couldn’t wait to get each sample in my stomach, but I still remember our favorites. Our favorite room was the Spanish charcuterie room that was just added on the weekend of the event. The men behind the charcuterie were awesome at answering at answering questions we had. Plus, the charcuterie was some of the best I’ve had.
Some of our favorite dishes we tasted were:
Those were just some dishes that stuck out to us at the tasting! It was great to see the chefs in their element! I definitely want to check out the restaurants mentioned above, since I haven’t. All of the dishes stood out to us because they were unique and memorable!
Chef Jose Andres & I at NJWFF!
One of the highlights of the night, was meeting the chef of honor and legend, Chef Jose Andres. I even got a picture with him! He was so sweet and it was unexpected which made it that much better! After meeting Chef Jose we continued to explore the different food and wines a bit more, and catch some of the entertainment including a really talented tapper.
It was definitely a night to remember and I would love to attend NJWFF again next year and try to stay at Crystal Springs if possible! We were both so proud to be from the great state of NJ with so many talented chefs!
Hope to see you at NJWFF next year!
Now that I live in Bergen County, there are tons of places I want to try. Burgerwood, which is right next door to me in Englewood is one of them. Burgerwood is a local burger joint, that recently opened by local Bergen County young professionals. Now, this is the dish SCBD is all about so when I got word of their Grand Opening Party in their new location, 24 Van Brunt Street (right next to BergenPAC) I had to tell my readers, especially my Bergen County readers the details! Make sure you save the date– Friday, March 29th because you won’t want to miss it!
Burgerwood, which was formerly located on Palisade Avenue, will now have a full bar, bigger space, outdoor seating, valet parking and more at the new location. Delivery will still be available and their number hasn’t changed so now you can still come to get the same great burger… and a beer!
Burgerwood‘s Grand Opening Party starts at 7:00 PM and goes until midnight, there will be a live dj providing music for the night and drink specials for those who show up with flyers. To find out more details and RSVP, check out the Facebook event, here.
Hope to see you there! Cheers!
The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York’s peerless multi-day celebration of cocktails and culture, the start of ticket sales begins today at noon for the festival that will take place on May 17-21, 2013, across the city. Tickets may be purchased at the Manhattan Cocktail Classic’s website. Highlights of the fourth year include the legendary opening night Gala at The New York Public Library that attracts thousands of libations enthusiasts; dozens of events ranging from boozy brunches to spirited soirées, bar crawls to bus tours, pig roasts to punch parties; and a three-day trade conference for beverage industry professionals. Ongoing updates and additional details about events and seminars will be posted to the Classic’s website as the festival approaches.
Crystal Tavern at Crystal Springs Resort (One Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg NJ) will serve a special St. Patrick’s dinner on March 17th from 5-9pm.
The menu, offered as a 3-course prix fixe($38 or $52 with beer pairings) or a la carte, includes sheep’s milk ricotta and nettle gnudi dumplings with crispy pork rinds to start, followed but a choice of three entrees, from the traditional Corned Beef with Irish Soda Bread and accompaniments to Black Sausage & Mash to Irish Lamb Stew cooked with Crystal Springs’ own lamb that’s raised for them at their Rifle Ranch in Colorado. A Mint Brownie Baked Alaska rounds out the menu and each dish will be paired with beer, either Irish or East Coast American craft beer, including the dessert (served with Mothers Milk Stout from NY). Call 973-827-5996 Ext. 3 for reservations.
Interested in taking a class? Check out these awesome St. Patty’s Day classes provided by Coursehorse:
Last, celebrate with some of these sweets that’ll knock you off your feet:
In honor of St Patrick’s Day, Georgetown Cupcake is offering a vanilla and a chocolate St. Patrick’s Day Cupcake. Both are only available by pre-order, but will be available in the shop for pickup on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. These cupcakes are vanilla or chocolate cupcakes topped with a light green buttercream frosting and a fondant shamrock. We also have an Irish Crème cupcake available all month (by both pre-order and in store pick up). The Irish Crème is a chocolate cupcake topped with a non-alcoholic irish-crème-infused vanilla frosting and a fondant shamrock.
Sweet Revenge, in the West Village will be offering a special Black & Tan cupcake for St. Patty’s Day! Can’t go wrong with a Guiness draft or Chocovine to go with a cupcake!
Happy St. Patty’s Day!
If you’ve been an avid SCBD reader from the beginning you know one of my favorite places to grab lunch while I interned at The Rachael Ray Show was Potbelly Sandwich Shop. It was an easy walk from the former studio in Midtown East, affordable, and delicious and I’m not normally a big sandwich person. Check out my original post featuring Potbelly, here.
I loved eating Potbelly so much that I wanted them to open up in New Jersey. Now over a year later, they are opening their second New Jersey location (the first is in Jersey City) at Bergen Town Center in Paramus, NJ. The Potbelly official grand opening is this Tuesday, February 19th at 11am.
In honor of the opening they are having an Oven Warming Party (which I found out via Twitter) tomorrow from 11am-1:30pm. The first 260 people to sign up (admits you and one guest) can enjoy a Potbelly Originals sandwich, a bag of chips, and a fountain drink, all for a $5 cash donation per person that will be going to Family to Family to raise funds for their projects. Be sure to RSVP, here, tonight! I’m planning on attending, so maybe I’ll see you there?!
The Menu
Photo Credit: DNAinfo.com
If you can’t make it out tomorrow, make sure you stop by for their official grand opening Tuesday or anytime the rest of the week. I highly recommend the Roast Beef sandwich which is my personal favorite, I’ve even ordered it “Bigs” (30% more meat) because it’s that delicious!
Here’s to a successful grand opening and giving Potbelly a warm welcome to Bergen County!
Happy Eating! 
Valentine’s Day is quickly approaching and there are tons of ways to celebrate! Interested in taking your Valentine out for special dinner, or better yet out during Valentine’s Day weekend.
Here’s a few places to take your sweetheart out to:
Maura’s Kitchen in Nyack is buying every lady their first Pisco Portón Cocktail on Valentine’s Day. Feel the love with their great Peruvian grub and cocktails.
They will have a few specials for the night including, back by popular demand, their Peruvian Osso Bucco. Call 845-535-3533 to make a reservation.
Triomphe, the hidden gem in the historic Iroquois hotel in Midtown Manhattan has designed a decadent four-course Valentine’s Day tasting menu. Executive Chef Jason Tilmann has prepared a menu full of foie gras, caviar pearls and oysters – all aphrodisiac foods – quite suiting for this romantic holiday. Each course is paired with a glass of wine. The first course will be a grilled corn and oyster chowder with caviar pearls followed by a roasted striped bass with spaghetti squash with a roasted cauliflower and warm tomato caper vinaigrette. Other menu items include pecan crusted pork loin and a Valrona chocolate soufflé with Grand Marnier anglaise. $125 per person.
Jay Z’s The 40/40 Club is serving a special Valentine’s Day Dinner Menu as well as the Cupid’s Kiss cocktail for the non-conventional couple that would like to share a romantic meal while enjoying the sports bar scene. The 3-course menu includes a grilled vegetable terrine & pesto oil appetizer, four entrée options, and two dessert options. Guests may choose from the beef tenderloin wrapped with turkey bacon, fresh herb marinated roasted French chicken breast, old bay style snapper fillet, or 4oz lobster tails. For dessert, guests may indulge in red velvet a la mode or a homemade cheesecake. $80 per couple. The club recently underwent a $10 million renovation and expansion to include 5 private lounges, luxe stadium style seating and over 30 flat screen televisions.
Valentine’s Day Live Jazz 5 Course Menu at Session Bistro,$139.95 for two. Limited seating begins at 6:30pm. Call (201)880-7810 to reserve your seats.
Blue Morel at the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown will offer a delicious 4-course menu with multiple options including oysters, hearts of romaine, butter-poached Maine lobster, rack of lamb and chocolate fondue for two. The full menu can be seen here. It’s $75 per person. Reservations available February 14-17 from 5:30 to 10pm.
One of the most romantic restaurants in New Jersey, Chakra will celebrate Valentine’s Day weekend with various events. On February 14, 15 and 16, the restaurant will serve a romance-friendly three-course menu resplendent with oysters, lobster, caviar, truffles, foie gras, lamb, 40-day aged steak, chocolate and other delicacies to ensure a delicious and memorable experience the guests will love sharing with their Valentines. Vegetarian options available, the menu is attached ($85 per person, tax & gratuities additional). Reservations: 201-556-1530.
On Sunday February 17, the temperature will rise a few degrees and the clock will turn back to the 1940s with a special dinner and show featuring the Va Va Va Venus burlesque show and a menu of 1940s classics such as Waldorf salad, beef Chateaubriand and baked Alaska. The evening will begin at 6:30pm with pre-dinner cocktails courtesy of Brugal Rum, followed by a three-course dinner and a playful show at 7pm. Reservations are required and can be made at 201-556-1530. Pre-dinner Cocktails, Dinner & Show: Priority Seating $115 General Seating $105 (tax & gratuities extra).
China Latina is offering romantic meals – and hotel rooms. Their Valentine’s Day Weekend Party Package ($350) includes a three-course dinner for two with complimentary glasses of champagne and cocktails in Executive Chef Julieta Ballesteros’ Asian-meets-Latin American restaurant, plus a room at the four-starred Hotel Indigo where China Latina is located. And the next morning, wake up to a complimentary breakfast at China Latina! The Valentine’s Day Weekend Party Package is available from Thursday, February 14th through Saturday, February 16th. Reservations for dinner for two ($125) are also available, as well as a dinner that comes with an open bar from 10 pm to midnight ($165). If you’re on your own that night, head on up to their year-round rooftop bar Dragones will host a wild Singles Party for folks on the prowl. Mingle during the open bar from 9 am to midnight ($55 per person) while a DJ spins live, plus toast with champagne and new friends at midnight.
Photo Credit: FriendsEat.com
If you and your sweetheart love feasting on Southern fare, head to Neely’s Barbecue Parlor on the Upper East Side, which will serve shareable barbecue platters for two ($79 including complimentary glasses of champagne, add $20 for a pitcher of house wine or Neely’s signature sangria) from Thursday February 14th through Saturday, February 16th from 4 pm to 11 pm. Hold court in the festive restaurant, which is laid out like a gorgeous Southern home, and go to town on Applewood Smoked Chicken Wings, Memphis-style Ribs, BBQ Shrimp, Fried Catfish and sides like Pinto Beans with burnt ends. There’s even Romance in a Bowl – a refreshing salad featuring baby spinach, strawberries, brie, sugared almonds and lime poppy dressing. And for the grand finale of this Valentine’s Day dinner, grab your sweetheart by the hand and head into Neely’s Valentine’s Day Dessert Room: Choose from decadent treats like luscious Red Velvet Cake with cream cheese icing, Pecan Pie, Key Lime Lemon Bars, Cookies, Brownies, Cupcakes and more. And for couples who prefer to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic evening at home, Neely’s Barbecue Platter for Two, which includes Red Velvet Cake or Cheesecake for dessert, is also available to go ($79).
For a romantic dinner in the countryside, look no further than historic The Ryland Inn, about an hour outside Manhattan in Western New Jersey. This landmarked, sprawling white cottage sits on a 200-year-old estate and reopened this past fall with gifted Executive Chef Anthony Bucco at the helm. His food reflects the atmosphere of The Ryland Inn, which is like a farmhouse meets a cathedral – comfortable yet elegant. From Valentine’s Day through Sunday, February 16th, Chef Bucco will offer a sensual three-course tasting menu ($99). Start with a luscious Pastured Egg with Anson Mills-sourced polenta and black truffles, or a lighter option like Oysters with Champagne gelee and caviar. Main courses include Rohan Duck with maple-glazed turnips and duck rillettes and Butter-poached Lobster with almonds and cauliflower, among other standout dishes. The grand finale is the Sweetheart Dessert Tasting starring chocolate, hazelnuts and espresso components.
Photo Credit: Opentable
Lavish and luxurious New York restaurant The Russian Tea Room is pulling out all the stops for Valentine’s Day. Settle into one of their gorgeous red leather banquettes and enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu ($125 per person) featuring over-the-top dishes like Lobster Salad with a vanilla-champagne sauce, Octopus Terrine and Black Truffle Foie Gras Mousse. Couples can also splurge on The Russian Tea Room’s extensive caviar selection – one of the best in the city – as well as on bottles of champagne and flights of vodka. Taste four different vodkas – Russian Standard, Purity, Czar’s Village and Jewel of Russia Wild Berry for $26.
Photo Credit: NY Mag
Virgil’s Real Barbecue in the Theater District will offer specialty cocktails like the Chocolate Kiss ($11), a blend of Grey Goose Vodka, Crème Cacao White, and smooth Godiva White liqueur topped with shaved chocolate. But Virgil’s doesn’t just cater to the lovebirds – they’ve got your back if you’ve had a tough break up. That’s what the Beer Kir for the Broken Heart is for, made with raspberries, Maker’s Mark, sweet Vermouth, lemonade and Lindeman’s Raspberry Lambic.
Photo Credit: NY Street Food
There is nothing more romantic – or stressful – than cooking for your loved one on Valentine’s Day. Admit it; you have your favorite take-out place, just in case, on speed dial. What if I told you that you could learn how to make a Valentine’s Day feast from the master himself David Bouley? That’s right, on February 14th, chef Bouley is organizing two exclusive cooking classes in his elegant Test Kitchen. Those who wish to wow their lovers with a four-star meal can opt for the Valentine’s Day Cooking Class ($275), where they will learn how to prepare an incredible meal, and leave with the recipes, ingredients and culinary confidence of a chef! For those who wish to share this unique experience with their special someone, Bouley will be conducting a Cooking Class & Dinner for Two ($650; wine pairing $125 per person) starting at 7:30pm, where couples will learn how to prepare a sumptuous six-course meal filled with irresistibly healthy, local and all-natural ingredients, and then sit down and enjoy the exquisite fruits of their labor to the sound of the grand piano! Reservations can be made by calling 212-964-2525, but tell your readers to act fast though, as seating is extremely limited.
Interested in cooking at home this year?
Check out this awesome Valentine’s Day menu from Fairway’s own Cheesemonger, Steve Jenkins.
A few weeks ago I had the honor of attending the Chili Cook-Off held by Iadventure.com– it was a great time and I got to try some awesome chili. If you love Iadventure.com and the foodie events they have, I have good news…
SCBD is teaming up with Iadventure.com and offering an exclusive 50% off discount code to the following foodie events:
It’s easy just the click the link to the event (above) and when you purchase your tickets, put in the code SCBD50 (all caps & ends with a zero) and you get half off your tickets!
Cheers to fun foodie adventures!
Mark your calendars NJ– there are some hot foodie events underway:
The Big Brew Beer Festival
Saturday, February 16th 2013
Make sure you use the exclusive SCBD discount code SCBDBBF for $10 off General Admission & SCBDBBFVIP for $15 off the VIP tickets!
This is the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the beer lover in your life 
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New Jersey Food & Wine Festival at Crystal Springs Resort #NJWFF
March 15-17th 2013
Photo Courtesy of NJ Food & Wine
Tickets are now on sale for the 5th Annual New Jersey Wine & Food Festival at Crystal Springs, which takes place March 15-17, 2013 and celebrates the best chefs of the region. This year, the Festival welcomes acclaimed Chef Jose Andres of Minibar, The Bazaar, China Poblano, Jaleo, Oyamel and Zaytinya in Washington DC, Los Angeles and Las Vegas among others, as the Guest of Honor.
The pioneer of molecular gastronomy in the US and recipient of multiple James Beard awards who was named “2012 American Chef of the Year,” Chef Andres will prepare an exclusive cellar dinner in Restaurant Latour’s award-winning 135,000 bottle wine cellar on Friday March 15 and also greet the attendees of the Opening Gala Dinner that night. On Saturday March 16, Chef Andres will sign his books during a special event and one of his restaurants will also be featured during the evening’s Grand Tasting.
More event information & tickets can be purchased, here.
Resort reservations can be made starting January 16 at 888-881-6991.
These events are not to be missed, make sure you buy your tickets today!
