Untitled Document Home
Chef & Hotel Profile
Publisher's Page
Gift Guide
Travel Adventures
Epicurean Events
Health Minded
Spa Baby Secrets
Sips
Book Bites
Culinary Coup
Sense of Style
Kids Kaleidoscope
Tinsletown Tidbits
Wheels
Radio Show & Links
Contact Us


                      

ROCK CENTER CAFE

Plates by Chef Anthony Prontelli Pack the Room

by Bonnie Carroll

 

There is no place on earth to get into the spirit of the Holidays like Rock Center Café in Rockefeller Center. The chic café overlooks the skating rink and is a casual restaurant where patrons enjoy American Italian favorites prepared by talented Executive Chef Anthony Prontelli.

 

Chef Prontelli was born in the Bronx to Italian immigrants from Tuscany, and graduated from the Culinary Institute of  America in 1992. He began is career creating signature pasta dishes at Mama Leones, and also worked at the American Festival Café before joining the Patina Group. According to general manager Christopher Sjoholm "Chef prontelli has been the backbone of the café since its inception."

 

The memorable views and amazing collection of original Warhol prints in the popular bar create one of the most enticing dining venues in New York. Open 365 days a year, this is a place you dream about returning to. It is the synergy of grown up business and childlike fantasy that permeates all your senses.

Luncheon favorites include jumbo shrimp $16.00; a unique presentation of cocktail shrimp served with a palate of cocktail sauce and curry mayo, seared Berkshire pork tenderloin $24.00; served with celery root and parsnip puree, fig jus, roasted beet salad $14.00, red oak lettuce, bosc peasrs, maytag blue cheese, spiced walnuts, vanilla honey vinaigrette, 10 oz. beefsteak pepperjack cheese burger $19.00 with frizzled onions, tomato, smoked bacon, tomato aioli, and crispy fries.

The grand finale of a fantasy afternoon at the Rock Cafe is the New York cheese cake with strawberry sauce. It's amusing that cities around the country serve something called New York cheese cake, but believe me until you taste this you don't know what cheese cake is!

Rock Center Cafe will be serving a spectacular New Year's Day Brunch to bring in 2010. The Prix Fixe menu is $38.00 per person and includes a sparkling line up of Chef Prontelli's best, including lobster bisque, smoked salmon Napoleon, prosciutto eggs Benedict, slow roasted salmon, steak and eggs and a sinful finale of key lime pie with blackberry sauce, apple crostada with bourbon caramel sauce, or melted Valrona chocolate tart with white chocolate cream. Reservations are recommended. Bon appetit and Happy New Year!

Rock Center Cafe

20 West 50th Street

New York, NY 10020

212-332-7620

Mon-Thu 7:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m

Fri 7:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Sat 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Sun 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.


 

There was a wedding in Positano on October 12! 

          Congratulations to Rino & Lauren Piscitelli
                     www.cookingvacations.com.

Rino and Lauren were married in the Madre Assunta Church in Positano by Don Giulio. After the Church celebration, everyone celebrated with pranza at La Taverna del Leone, where Chefs Philomena and Fortunata prepared an endless 9 course lunch.  A Prosecco toast started off the festivity, followed by Mozzarella & cherry tomatoes on a skewer, delicate polenta squares baked with sugo, delicately fried alici & biancetti with lightly tossed with sea salt and served in paper cones-and that was just the aperitivo!  First course included zucchini & melanzana stuffed with an olive, cheese, and bread, small size focaccio, zucchini flower bites, and more.   Second course included hand-made ravioli Caprese,- stuffed with organic Ricotta and basil.  Third course Risotto pescatore.  Forth course, fresh caught Pezzonga, a delicate local white fish served with Julian-style vegetables.  Fifth course, filetto grilled and served in a slow cooked Aglianico wine with a piping of potatoes.  Sixth course semi-freddo and miniature cannoli.  Then, seventh, Zia Domenica's home made cookies and Capri dolci secci.  And the cake!  A pearl white wedding cake, layered with red fruits, sweet cream, and decorated with tiny pearls of almond paste and white roses.  The evening ended with an assortment of café, grappa, Sambuca, limoncello and heart shape Majani chocolates.

                                                            
Buon Appetito!
 Lauren Birmingham-Piscitelli

                                    wedding cake


New Addition to the French Pastry School Faculty
Joshua Johnson the Newest Chef Instructor in L'Art de la Pâtisserie 

                                                  

Longtime associate of The French Pastry School's founders, Jacquy Pfeiffer and Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F., is Joshua Johnson, the newest addition to the faculty of The French Pastry School at City Colleges of Chicago. Chef Johnson, whose experiences have taken him from Chicago to New York to France, will be teaching in the school's full-time 24-week L'Art de la Pâtisserie - The Professional Pastry and Baking program beginning in January, 2010 as well as in the Continuing Education program.   

The 24-week full-time certificate program, L'Art de la Pâtisserie, offers intense instruction on all aspects of pastry, baking and confectionery arts in a comfortable, hands-on setting. Topics taught include breads and breakfast pastries, cakes, tarts, mini pastries, chocolate and sugar candies, wedding cakes and French entremets, as well as chocolate and sugar sculpture techniques. Chef Johnson will be teaching the chocolate theory, technique, and confectionery part of the program. 

Chef Johnson's experience as a professional pastry chef and chocolatier has taken him to some of the best establishments in the country, and has exposed him to the most rigorous pastry competition in the world. Johnson apprenticed with Ambrosia Euro-American Pâtisserie and worked for Chef Sébastien Canonne at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago Hotel for several years. Also working on Canonne's team at the time was Pastry World Champion, En-Ming Hsu, who is now also a Chef Instructor in L'Art de la Pâtisserie program.  

Johnson's pastry adventure took him to François Payard's famous pâtisserie in New York City, and later to France. In 2003, he was asked to assist Chef Canonne in the most challenging and prestigious competition in the world for an artisan, the Meilleur Ouvrier de France (Best Craftsman in France). Johnson assisted Canonne in his preparation for the arduous competition which took place in 2004 (when Canonne was awarded the revered title).  

Upon returning to the United States, Johnson co-founded and co-owned Cocoa Bean Fine Desserts in Geneva, Illinois for several years. He will begin teaching at The French Pastry School in January, 2010. "I'm excited to see my students learn and improve their techniques," said Johnson, "and I'm equally excited to realize all that I can learn from them." 

Co-founder and Academic Dean of Faculty and Programs, Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F. is pleased to once again work with Johnson and include him among The French Pastry School faculty. "Josh shows an incredible dedication to the craft of pastry and exhibits qualities that his students will benefit greatly from," said Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F. "His patience, curiosity, passion, knowledge and experience all enable him to not just guide, but also inspire his students."

The French Pastry School is a premier international institution of pastry arts education. Superb instruction, superior equipment, and top quality ingredients enable the co-founders and Academic Deans, Chefs Jacquy Pfeiffer, and Sébastien Canonne, M.O.F., to uphold an exceptional educational facility for pastry and baking. The French Pastry School's team of award-winning instructors has grown to a faculty of eleven renowned instructors, including  Master Baker Jonathan Dendauw, Pastry World Champion Dimitri Fayard, Bob Hartwig, Pastry World Champion En-Ming Hsu, Chef de Cuisine John Kraus, Laura Ragano, Master Cake Artists Nicholas Lodge & Mark Seaman, and Joshua Johnson. 

The French Pastry School offers the rare opportunity for students to learn the art of pastry in an intimate setting, being personally mentored by masters in their field. Students' skills are finely honed through hands-on practice and repeated exposure to the best pastry techniques, tools, and ingredients. Our programs are ideal for anyone from the career changer to the professional to the novice. For more information on The French Pastry School, please visit www.frenchpastryschool.com.


  Ritz Paris at the top over 100 years    

 THE RITZ PARIS AT THE TOP FOR 100 YEARS

The legendary parisian palace continues to improve the exceptional quality of its service by focusing on every detail.

To celebrate its second Michelin-star, the Espadon restaurant has been freshened up under the direction of renowned french interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon. In a peaceful setting lighten by the antiques Murano chandeliers, the dining experience will be even more unforgettable.

The lobby area, the shopping gallery and all the guest rooms have also been refreshed with new paintings and touched up with new carpets.

Our king and queen size beds are draped with the softest linens by Quagliotti, the prestigious Italian brand supplier of Royalty.As an ultimate refinement, guest' initials can be embroidered on the pillow cases (upon request).

We also added to our fleet Jaguar XJ and Range Rover courtesy cars for romantic escapes in the magical City of Lights.

Voted as the only French hotel with the "World's Best Service" in 2009 by Condé Nast Traveller UK, the Ritz Paris team makes constant efforts to keep its standards higher. We are committed to exceeding our guest's expectations and fulfil their wishes.

Cesar Ritz said "The best is not too good" and we are working on that ethos every day.
www.lhw.com    Email: resa@ritzparis.com  +33(0)1 43 16 30 70


Celebrity Chef Jeffrey Saad to Open at Guy Fieri Road Show at the Gibson Theatre in Los Angeles on December 17th

The Spice Smuggler and runner up from Season Five’s “The Next Food Network Star,” Jeffrey Saad, will be doing the opening cooking demonstration for the first ever food entertainment concert, the Guy Fieri Road Show, on Thursday, December 17th at the Universal City Walk’s Gibson Theatre.

Jeffrey Saad and Guy Fieri first met when Guy was a judge on one of the episodes of Season Five’s “The Next Food Network Star” in which Jeffrey was competing. Jeffrey was inspired by Guy, and the two kept in touch after the show ended. Shortly after their first meeting, Guy invited Jeffrey to take the stage with him at one of his food show events in Anaheim, California.

“We had a blast,” says Jeffrey. So, when Guy presented him with the opportunity to do the opening cooking demonstration for the Los Angeles stop of the Guy Fieri Road Show, there was no hesitation on Jeffrey’s part. It was a no-brainer.

Billed as “food meets rock,” the concept is the first of its kind to make the concert hall scene. The event will include cooking demonstrations and music selected personally by Guy Fieri. “Guy is reinventing food entertainment,” says Jeffrey. “It’s exciting just to be asked to be a part of it.”

Fieri shot to fame after winning Season two of "The Next Food Network Star.” He’s the host of two Food Network shows, “Guy’s Big Bite,” a conventional cooking show, and "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," on which he tours the country looking for great food finds. That show has also spun off two books, including one that recently hit bookshelves. With the Guy Fieri Road Show, Guy will be able to connect with thousands of fans live in a concert format across the country.

The Los Angeles food concert will begin with Jeffrey at the helm doing a cooking demonstration. Jeffrey will be making his delicious Shrimp Sliders with "kim chee" style slaw. According to Jeffrey, “This is a dish that anyone can make and get a taste of the world via the use of spices.”

In addition to being known as the runner up on the most recent season of “The Next Food Network Star,” Jeffrey is also the National Spokesperson for the American Egg Board, a recipe consultant, and motivational speaker. He currently hosts a series of webisodes called the “Spice Smuggler” on foodnetwork.com. Building on that “cooking without borders” style, each month Jeffrey takes spices off the rack and brings them to life in his kitchen and on his blog, which can be found at www.jeffreysaad.com.



2008
March 08 | April 08 | May 08 | June 08 | July 08 | August 08 | September 08 | October 08 | November 08 | December 08 | January 09 | February 09 | March 09 | April 09 | May 09 | June 09 | July 09 | August 09 | September 09 | October 09 | November 09 | December 09 | February 10 | January 10 | March 10 | March | April 10 | May 10 | June 10 | July 10 | August 10 | August 11 | September 10 | October 10 | November 10 | December 10 | January 11 | February 11 | March 11 | April 11 | May 11 | June 11 | July 11 | September 11 | October 11 | November 11 | December 11 | January 12 | February 12 | March 12 | April 12 | April | May 12 | June 12 | July 12 | August 12 | September 12 | October 12 | November 12 | December 12 | January 13 | February 13 | March 13 | April 13 | May 13 | June 13 | July 13 | August 13 | September 13 | October 13 | November 13 | November | December 13 | January 14 | February 14 | March 14 | April 14 | May 14 | June 14 | July 14 | August 14 | September 14 | October 14 | November 14 | December 14 | January 15 | February 15 | March 15 | April 13 | April 15 | May 15 | June 15 | July 15 | August 15 | September 15 | October 15 | November 15 | December 15 | January 16 | February 16 | March 16 | April 16 | May 16 | June 16 | July 16 | August 16 | September 16 | October 16 | January 17 | February 17 | November 16 | December 16 | March 17 | April 17 | May 17 | June 17 | July 17 | August 17 | September 17 | October 17 | November 17 | December 17 | January 18 | March 18 | February 18 | April 18 | May 18 | June 18 | July 18 | August 18 | September 18 | October 18 | November 18 | December 18 | January 19 | February 19 | March 19 | April 19 | May 19 | June 19 | July 19 | August 19 | October 19 | September 19 | November 19 | December 19 | January 20 | February 20 | March 20 | April 20 | May 20 | June 20 | July 20 | August 20 | September 20 | October 20 | November 20 | November 20 | December 20 | January 21 | February 21 | March 21 | April 21 | May 21 | June 21 | July 21 | August 21 | September 21 | October 21 | November 21 | January 22 | December 21 | February 22 | March 22 | April 22 | May 22 | June 22 | July 22 | August 22 | September 22 | October 22 | November 22 | December 22 | January 23 | February 23 | March 23 | April 23 | May 23 | June 23 | August 23 | September 23 | October 23 | November 23 | December 23 | January 24 | February 24 | March 24 | April 24 | May 24 | June 24 | July 24 | August 24 | September 24 | February 08 | January 08

2007
December 07
| November 07 | October 07| September 07 | August 07 | July 07 | June 07 | May 07
April 07
| March 07 | February 07 | January 07

2006
December 06
| November 06 | October 06 | September 06 | August 06 | July 06 | June 06 | May 06
April 06
| March 06 | February 06 | July 06

2005
December 05
| November 05 | October 05 | September 05 | August 05 | July 05 | June 05

© 2008 Bonnie Carroll, All Rights Reserved