4th of July Festivities

One of my favorite holidays is fast approaching! I'm beyond excited for all the food I will have at my reach and all the beers I will surely drink. This day is always usually very simple for me. Beach in the morning and a backyard BBQ with hella good food and lots of beers to go around, capping the night with an amateur Firework display! That's pretty much a perfect 4th of July in my eyes.

However, maybe some of you don't have that option, or maybe your looking for something more extravagant and exciting. Or maybe your living on Long Island and your annual tradition was watching the Jones Beach Fireworks Show, and since its cancellation you have no idea what will replace it, well do I have some ideas for you!

NYC

Hudson Terrace:
         This is for the glamorous. The ones who want to party like its 1999. For the ladies who want an excuse to buy a new dress (me) and the fellas who want to break out the Pradas. Hudson Terrace will be hosting an exclusive Macy's Fireworks Display party on July 4th from 6pm to 4am. Ticket includes 4 hr open bar and All-You-Can-Eat BBQ food. Let me repeat this...ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT BBQ FOOD!!! A DJ will be playing tunes all night for your dancing pleasure. You can visit their website for more info at www.hudsonterracenyc.com

Marco Polo Cruises
        Enjoy Cruises? Dinner and Dancing under the stars? Better yet, under a Firework display? Then hop onto the Lucille Cruise boat for a night on the Hudson River, Full Buffet, 3 hr open bar and DJ spinning all night, from 6pm to 11pm. Tickets are selling fast. This is pretty much the best seat in the house for the Macy's Firework Display. Click Here for more event details and to purchase tickets.


QUEENS

Water Taxi Beach
          Celebrate our Independence on a man made beach in Long Island City. (Long Islanders this is the closest your going to get to your beloved Jones Beach show). Perfect views of the fireworks display, food and drinks for purchase and music to keep your body moving all night long. Very casual, very relaxed, perfect destination if you're not into the extravagant party scene and want a little something more than your average back yard BBQ.


LONG ISLAND

Jones Beach
        Although there will be no fireworks here this year ( =( ) Jones Beach will still be hosting there famous "Latin Night" on July 4th, featuring special guest, recording artist Kat Deluna and many others. Dance the night away and who knows, maybe you will still catch a glimpse of the millions of amateur fireworks going off throughout the night.


Whatever you choose, I hope you have a safe and enjoyable 4th of July! Party like its 1776!!!!

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

MARGARITAS

I'm sure there is some bartender (or as they are calling themselves now, Mixologist) out there that has created these tasty, delightful, make-you-wanna-dance-on-the-table summer drinks, but since I don't know them, I'm taking all the credit! =)

Plain margaritas bore me and so I wanted to try something to vamp them up!!! Here is what I made:

Banana Margaritas

2  bananas chopped

2 1/2 shots Tequila

1 1/2 shots Creme de Banana (delicious, I can drink this straight)

1 cup store bought margarita mix (if you don't want to use this, just put 2 shots Triple Sec and the juice of 1/4 of a lime)

Ice

Throw all the ingredients into a blender, Blend, Pour and enjoy!

I know this sounds strong, and you're right, it is, just how I like it!!!

Watermelon Margaritas

Watermelon (I just used the watermelon that already comes cut, but if you like to cut watermelon, buy the whole one)

2 1/2 shots tequila

1 cup store bought margarita mix ( again use the substitute above if you want)

Sugar

Ice

Place chopped watermelon in blender and blend until it becomes a thick liquid, then add the remaining ingredients and blend, pour, and Enjoy! ***Use sugar to make it as sweet as you want

Until next time...Salud!

TADA!

Today I'm going to be introducing:

~ Eat Up, Drink Up, or Shut Up ~

Every Wednesday I will post up a refreshing drink or savory food recipe for you to try at home. Of course for the next couple of months they will be themed around my favorite season..."Summer", Duh!

Stay tuned...

Cupcakes, Cookies and Cocaine

A recent study on rats has proved that fatty foods such as Ice cream, fries and so on, increase levels of dopamine in our brain and overload the pleasure centers giving us an addiction to food similar to that of a cocaine addiction.

Their study found that,

"Not surprisingly, the rats that gorged themselves on the human food quickly became obese. But their brains also changed. By monitoring implanted brain electrodes, the researchers found that the rats in the third group gradually developed a tolerance to the pleasure the food gave them and had to eat more to experience a high. They began to eat compulsively, to the point where they continued to do so in the face of pain. When the researchers applied an electric shock to the rats' feet in the presence of the food, the rats in the first two groups were frightened away from eating. But the obese rats were not. "Their attention was solely focused on consuming food," says Kenny."

HA!!!

I laugh mainly because this last line, "their attention was solely focused on consuming food" is clearly how I am on a daily basis. I can be in the middle of a tornado, I'm not running for cover until I finish eating!! I laugh also because this study just confirms that, although I'm not obese, I indeed have an addiction to food, and you know what, I'm not sorry for it! Did they really need to study rats to figure this all out? They could have just studied me. Watched me at 3pm at work when I'm cranky, light headed, and my attention span is down to zero and all I can think about is when I can get my next fix a.k.a meal!!!!

Shoot, if anything, this article made me want a cupcake even more =)


Read the full article on this study at Fatty foods may cause cocaine-like addiction

Let's Drink and Be Merry!

This weekend Long Island will be hosting it's first Wine & Food Festival!! Yum!!

Wineries across the North and South Forks of Long Island will be hosting numerous events to treat your palette. Including, dessert pairings, specialty Italian Dishes, live music and special dinner menus.

The event will be kicking off on Saturday with a VIP Reception and ending the weekend on Sunday with it's Grand Tasting at Mitchell Park in Greenport, where over 50 wineries and restaurants will be sharing unique wine and food delicacies for your tasting pleasure!!!

This event will also be featuring special guest chefs such as:

Daniel Gagnon

Season 5 contestant on Bravos Top Chef.

If you are in the Long Island area make sure this Festival is on your agenda and come and support a weekend filled with good wine and great food!

For more information on events and to purchase tickets go to their website www.longislandwineandfoodfestival.com

Would you like some Scotch with that Cigar?

OK fellas this one's for you:

Scoth and Cigar Tasting June 23rd NYC

For more info on this guy's night out idea you can check their website:

 http://www.thefiftybest.com/local/best_events/

Cigars and Scotch...How much more manly can you get??

Vinho Verde Week NYC

June 21 - 27

This week NYC restaurants and liquor stores will be celebrating this beloved Portuguese wine, perfect for summer thirst quenching! Many restaurants such as 10 Downing, BLT Prime and Spice Market will be serving special wine pairings and Vinho Verde by the glass. Liquor stores around the city will be offering free wine tastings throughout the week as well. Amen to that!!!

So for that post show drink or after work rendezvous, you can check out all the schedules and the rest of the participating restaurants on their site:

www.vinhoverde.com/week/

Happy Drinking =)

Lunch Date

So I've been told i have some pretty weird turn-ons! Some of which being:

• Great food
• to die for drinks
• a hardworking man
• a man in business suit
• hands (i know very weird )
• strong hugs
• a strong handshake
• stimulating conversation
• a passionate person

and so on and so on...

Recently my BF (I wont use real names in my post, so lets call him Don Pepe =) ) has gotten a job right around the corner from where i work. Instantly the first thing that pops in my head is LUNCH DATES! Although this is nice because i will be able to see him more, and in 3 years of us dating we have never had a lunch date so this would be something new and fresh for us, strangely that's not the only reason why this concept excites me. What really makes me look forward to our possible lunch dates is this:

                          I will be sitting across from a HOT man, in business attire, after enduring a hardworking morning, over most likely, the best lunch I've ever had, engaging in a beautiful conversation with a man with passionate opinions, ending with a strong hug and a kiss!!!

OMG!!! Yes, i am more excited about our lunch dates because within an hour time i will be experiencing at least 6 of my turns ons. Most likely sending me back to work completely refreshed and elated!

Yes, i am a strange individual! =)

Cupcake Tour NYC

Affinia offers New York City cupcake tour
http://www.cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com/


Omg Omg Omg!! I wish I could book this and spend an entire day indulging in sweet heaven!! Maybe you can! If your looking to spend a night in NYC, BOOK THIS!!!! And you know what, maybe I will, just to take this tour. Or maybe there is a way I can get my hands on their list. I hope Sweet Revenge in the West Village makes the list (I will highlight this brilliant place soon), if not, I'm sure you can always make a pit stop =) Either way, this is a brilliant idea! Bravo Affinia!!!

P.s. Please check out this blog I linked, brought to you by 3 women who clearly understand the fabulousness (I know I know, that's not a word, i'm just so excited) of the Cupcake, and mark it as your "favorite". If your a cupcake lover like myself, you will appreciate it =)

Just a random thought...but I've always wondered why people who live or visit New York would EVER eat at a chain Chinese food restaurant. I.e. P.F. Changs, where a meal for two will probably run you about $40! We live in NEW YORK people! We have THE best family owned Chinese food restaurants in the states! (yeah I said it). Like Empire Ginger in Smithtown, Shanghai Garden in Flushing, and the little closet sized mom and pop restaurants in Chinatown. Whats better than a $5 lunch special? Or a quart of Pork Fried Rice for $2??!! That's comfort food for ya!!

So please, if your visiting NY or your a local whose looking for a good eat, and you're getting lured in by the bright lights and fancy looking overpriced Chinese food chains...STOP YOURSELF! And go to a local establishment!! Your belly wont be disappointed, and neither will your pockets =)

OK, back to my chicken with broccoli....

Drum Roll Please...

WELCOME!

As a first time blogger, I must admit, I am a little nervous to be sharing the crazy world I like to call my mind, with you, but just as excited to give you a front row seat to what goes on in there when I am around food, wine, margaritas and anything that revolves around them...PURE EXCITEMENT! My goal is to portray this excitement and joy through my writing, so that you may feel the same way when you read my posts.

I have a lot of good ideas to make this blog a fresh and exciting read. I plan to spotlight "hidden gems" around NYC and across Long Island, where I will give my left arm if you don't agree it's a must visit! lol I will share my successful or tragic attempts at recipes I find. Give opinions and reviews on numerous events held throughout the Boroughs and Long Island that I will attend. (of course revolving around food and alcohol =) ) I will also be (try) changing my quote (you can find under my blog title) everyday with another funny, informative or random quote, of course, related to food or alcohol! Two of the greatest pleasures in life =)

Let the yumminess begin!!!!!!