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Stephen Asprinio Opens His New Restaurant

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:15:31 -0800

As you may know, Top Chef Season 4 is just around the corner. It's hard to believe that we're already on the fourth installment, it seems like season one was just yesterday. The show just keeps getting better, however I have a special place in my heart for the season one folks. So when the gals at Karmic Kitchen tipped me off to the fact that Stephen Asprinio's restaurant Forte di Asprinio opened, I knew I'd have to share the info with you.

Stephen, known as the obnoxious wine guy from season one, has created his new space in West Palm Beach, Fl. The restaurant is said to be "modern chic" and will seat 175 folks inside and out. The menu will be "traditional Tuscan with progressive touches" but it's not going to be fusion.
And of course it couldn't be a place by Stephen if there wasn't wine. When asked about it he said:

We've got some unique wines not available anywhere else in the U.S. The cellar is more than 500 bottles - not bad for a space like this. Things like a '47 Cheval Blanc, several magnums, a Far Niente signed by the winemaker in its early days - things they couldn't get in Vegas, even.

So what do you guys think, are you interested in checking his new place out?

And in other news, according to his website, he's going to be the host of a new show and online wine course.

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Link Time: Watch Kris Allen's Video For "Live Like We're Dying"

BuzzSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:39 -0800

Kris Allen's music video for "Live Like We're Dying" is here - Music Mix

Jemaine Clement says that he and Bret may not return for Flight of the Conchords because they're dads now - Vulture

New Moon's Jamie Campbell Bower thinks Tim Burton should direct Breaking Dawn - MTV Movies Blog

Watch Jay-Z and U2 perform "Sunday, Bloody Sunday" in Berlin - Pitchfork

Five Mad Men spinoffs that would be great ideas - TV.com

Jim Carrey's new website may freak you out - MTV Movies Blog

JJ Abrams is directing and exec-producing the pilot for his show Undercovers for NBC - Coming Soon

Top Chef Masters is cooking for the cast of Modern Family today! - Steve Levitan's Twitter

This week's Parks and Recreation brings up an interesting relationship issue - TresSugar

Stephen Frears reunites with his High Fidelity screenwriter D.V. De Vincentis for Lay the Favorite - Cinematical

Top Chef 4 Star All Stars Recap

YumSugar — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:20:59 -0700

Last night Top Chef kicked off its new season with an All Star battle that pitted season one chefs against season two. On the season one team we had Harold, Stephen (oh how I missed his condescending smug attitude), Tiffani and Dave - surprisingly absent was Leanne, but she couldn't participate because she is now Bravo TV's food producer). The season two team consisted of fan favorite Sam, Elia, Marcel and Ilan. The two teams were going head to head and the team with the most wins contributed $20,000 to their favorite charity.

Overall it was a bit lackluster - there was no drama unfolding, as no one was getting kicked off, and all the food looked delicious - however it was fun to see my favorite contestants back in the kitchen. It was definitely a great tease (or should I say amuse-bouche) to lead into season three. There were a few good quotes and I'm sure you guys want to know about the food, and see some pictures. So let's get started, just read more

First of all, I can't get on with any of the recapping without pointing out three things. (1) Marcel rapped, again... (2) was that the Brooklyn bridge carved into Ilan's hair? I'm pretty sure it was and (3) the immersion blender in Ilan's mouth looked a bit... wrong? Oh my, now on to the recap!

The challenge started off with Padma and Chef Tom telling the former contestants that each team needed a team captain. Initially I thought it would be the two winners, but I should have known better! Instead of having the teams pick captains, the captains were chosen by a quickfire challenge! They were presented with two eggs and a large oven mitt. The oven mitt was for them to wear, because Padma tells them that they will be cooking eggs with one hand behind their back. They then cut to Stephen who says, "If you can't cook eggs, you're probably better off not being in the kitchen." I guess no one told those folks in Hell's Kitchen that.

In the end, Stephen wins with a "perfect omelette" and is chosen captain of season one - competing for the Susan G. Komen foundation. And even though his dish was topped with a dollop of saffron foam, Marcel is the runner-up and is chosen as captain for season two - competing for Share Our Strength.

The teams are then told that they're making a four course meal consisting of scallops, lobster, duck and kobe beef. Each team member chooses an ingredient and they will go head-to-head against the other season's chef. The team with the most winning dishes will be the victors.

Up first: Dave vs Elia with scallops - Elia produces two versions both paired with a marmalade, Dave produces a smoked scallop with a tapenade. In the end Elia's wins, although I must admit, I was rooting for Dave.

Next up: Stephen vs Marcel with lobster - Marcel's dish includes both a gelee and a foam (served tableside even!), both of which begin to deflate in the hot Miami heat. Stephen's is immaculately plated and consisted of beautiful saffron tones. Winner? Stephen.

Third course: Harold vs. Ilan with duck - The showdown is on! Season one winner vs season two winner, should be impressive, no? Actually turned out that the judges didn't really love either of them. Harold's was "incomplete" and Ilan's was a mess. In the end incomplete wins over a mess, and I say hurray, because well it's no secret, I heart Harold.

Last up: Tiffani vs Sam with kobe beef: Both dishes looked great, but Tiffani's was the winner. Chef Tom even mentions how nice it is to have her food again.

With a vote of 3-1, season 1 is declared the victor!

If you missed the show, you can check it out later this week (check the Bravo schedule) or stream it over the internet. Also, for a few hysterical comments on last night's show, visit our pals at We Cook, They Dish.

Now for a few of my favorite quotes:

"If the bitch can cook, let him cook!" - Dave about Marcel

"I have way too many people at home watching, I can't go home against this guy." - Harold about Marcel

"I'm so weeded right now." - Marcel

"I don't want to prove myself to these guys anymore." - Dave

"He's KIND OF cute?!?" - Ted Allen about Sam

"Don't read the blogs because you'll find shit on there that you don't want to know about yourself. Stuff that you probably didn't even know about yourself." - Sam

Oh Sam, was it something we said?

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Pack Your Knives and Ho-Ho-Holiday Special

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:18:38 -0800

Top Chef fans, set your TiVos! Next Thursday, Dec. 6, Bravo is airing the Top Chef Holiday Special where a handful of TC fan favorites prepare a holiday meal for our beloved judges.

The episode will feature Stephen Aspirinio and Tiffani Faison from Season One; Betty Fraser, Marcel Vigneron, and Josie Smith-Malave from Season Two; and Chris "CJ" Jacobson, Tre Wilcox, and Sandee Birdsong from Season Three. I understand how many of these folks are fan favorites, but I have to say, I'm a bit surprised by Sandee; maybe it was her fiesty ways in the Watch What Happens special?

No word on what the actual challenge is, but the episode will have the chefs going ~~head-to-head~~ knife-to-knife for a grand prize of $20,000. They'll be judged by the usual suspects - Padma Lakshmi, Tom Colicchio, Ted Allen, and Gail Simmons - who will also have input from culinary heavyweights Alfred Portale (chef of Gotham Bar and Grill), Eric Ripert (executive chef of Le Bernardin), Alan Wong, Elizabeth Falkner (executive pastry chef and owner of Citizen Cake) and Norman Van Aken.

I don't know about you guys, but I've already got my TiVo set.

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What's Yummy This Week

YumSugar — Sat, 24 Mar 2007 12:18:08 -0700

This week's unofficial theme has been tea. We're planning a tea party and informed you about the different types of tea.
Wolfgang Puck announced a new nine-point program designed to raise the bar on farm animal treatment - including no more foie gras in his restaurants. His announcement got us wondering, if you shopped sustainably?
There's a lot of great groups out there on TeamSugar. We want to make sure you know about them, so we've taken a page from Stephen Colbert's book and launched our better know a group series.
To celebrate the arrival of spring, we're cooking up a spring inspired secret ingredient challenge. Get your entries posted by April 10 and we'll roundup everyone's posts on April 13th. Choose your own spring related ingredient, such as asparagus.

I get a craving for breakfast and bake up some puffed pancakes (aka Dutch babies), while PartySugar bakes up a delicious, but slippery chocolate cake. Maybe we'll both give Seinfeld's chocolate babka a try next.
Tara Reid continues to invest in restaurants, this time with a new LA Eatery called Ketchup.
Season 3 of Top Chef begins filming this month, no word on who the contestants are, but we interviewed some of the auditioning hopefuls and who knows, maybe we caught the next Top Chef on tape!

Yummy Links: From Cupcakes to Cocktails

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Feb 2007 13:59:14 -0800

Be sure to check out the battle between Martha Stewart's and Amy Sedaris's vanilla cupcakes. Sometimes the beautiful ones don't always win. - Cupcake Bakeshop
If you've become overwhelmed by all of the chocolate desserts that the Valentine's season offers, then give these scrumptious Sour Cream Lemon Bars a try. - Baking Sheet
Sometimes the most simple dish can win over all of your guests. If you're looking for something delicious that will do the trick, try these Chicken Breasts Braised with Hard Cider & Parsnips. - The Amateur Gourmet
Either you love Valentine's Day, or you hate it. Either way you can get a tasty meal. - Chow

If you've ever found yourself wondering what happened to Stephen Asprinio from Top Chef Season 1, then wonder no longer. He's opening up both an "ultra-modern" wine boutique and a contemporary Tuscan restaurant. - Slashfood
I'll let it be known now, I have a serious weak spot for fried eggs, that's why this Southern Fried Eggs "Benedict" is going to get devoured this weekend. - The Delicious Life
What's a holiday without specialty drinks? If you need a few more ideas, check out these flirty drinks. - Liquor Snob