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Meet Tony Abou-Ganim, the Modern Mixologist!

partysugar — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:00:12 -0700

One of my favorite seminars at the Food and Wine Classic was Tony Abou-Ganim's party punches and sangria class. A pioneer in the world of classic cocktail making, Ganim is known for establishing cocktail programs at prestigious bars in San Francisco, New York, and most recently Las Vegas. Referred to as the Modern Mixologist, Tony takes a culinary approach to cocktails and considers himself a "bar chef."

Earlier today I had the chance to speak with Tony over the phone. To see what the fabulous Abou-Ganim had to say in my exclusive interview,

The Barbecue Guru's Tips for Better Barbecue

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:45:44 -0700

Those of you who are barbecue fanatics are probably familiar with barbecue guru Steven Raichlen. Steven is the author of over ten cookbooks, including the BBQ Bible, and is the host of the PBS show Primal Grill. He recently finished a world tour in promotion for his new book Planet BBQ, and his last stop was the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. I watched his cooking demonstration and snagged a bunch of great grilling tips. To see Steven Raichlen's barbecue tips,

Happy Hour: Inniskillin Sparkling Ice Wine

YumSugar — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:15:49 -0700

At the Aspen Classic, PartySugar and I came across Inniskillin, an ice wine maker from Canada. Their Sparkling Ice Wine was unbelievably delicious and a true dessert wine treat. Although it has a rather high price point, around $70 for a 375ml bottle, ice wines cost more than regular dessert wines because they're produced from grapes that have been frozen on the vine. The labor-intensive technique results in a sweeter, very concentrated wine.

The sparkling varietal from Inniskillin has a light hint of apricot and caramel. The tiny bubbles brighten the body, making it less syrupy. It would pair well with fruits, poundcake, or blue cheese, but it's tasty enough to sip on its own.

The folks at Inniskillin call their sparkling ice wine "liquid gold," and I've got to say, they're not far off. Have you ever tried ice wine? What did you think of it?

Laura Werlin on Pairing Cheese and Wine

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 10:15:50 -0700

One of my favorite classes during the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen, was Laura Werlin's American Raw Milk Cheese seminar. Laura is one of America's foremost cheese experts and an awarding-winning author. Upon arrival, I was greeted with a plate of cheese and three wines (a white, red, and dessert). Laura walked us through each cheese and wine pairing while giving the rundown on what we were tasting. She also provided some interesting cheese tips. To see her tips for pairing wines and cheese and to learn more about cheese in general,

PartySugar's Top 10 Moments Found in Aspen

partysugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:00:57 -0700

It's hard to say good-bye to a long weekend of fabulous food and wonderful wine. However, the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen ended last Sunday and until next June, I won't come into contact with any festival as fantastic. To commemorate the occasion, I've rounded up my top 10 favorite Aspen moments. From complex sushi rolls to French piña coladas, check out my list below and click though for all the magnificent photos.

Chatting with Gail Simmons at the CIA awards dinner
We hadn't seen Gail since her last visit to San Francisco, so it was great to catch up with her at this event. Topics of conversation: the location of Top Chef Season 5 (New York City!) and her upcoming nuptials.
Gerard Craft's chicken liver terrine at the Best New Chefs Dinner
This delicious bite was insanely balanced: rich, crunchy, sweet, and salty.
Chatting with Rocco DiSpirito at the David Chang party
After I interviewed him, Rocco and I spoke later that evening over lettuce wraps and pork buns. We both agreed living alone in a big city is expensive!
Toni Abou-Ganim's party punches and sangria class
Learning how to make party drinks from a master was informative and entertaining. I caught his attention when I was the only one in the audience who knew grenadine is made from pomegranates instead of cherries!
Getting ham from Jose Andres
During his demo, I answered all of Chef Andres' questions correctly (little did he know I lived in Spain for two years!). He rewarded me with a piece of fresh sliced jamon.

To discover what else made my list, plus a gallery of images, just

YumSugar's Top 10 Things Found in Aspen

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 10:15:15 -0700

During the three days PartySugar and I spent at this year's Food and Wine Classic, we came across a lot of amazing and tasty things. From pork to peas, we were treated to some of the best food from some of the most amazing chefs on the planet. It was a difficult task, but I've rounded up my top 10 favorite things. Read them below and then be sure to click through for all the pictures.

David Chang's Pork Party (specifically the pork buns)
We were lucky enough to attend the David Chang and friends after-party on Saturday night. The highlight was chowing down on his pork buns and wraps, and then learning that there was also crab and whole roasted piglets.
Ming Tsai with tofu on his face
During his cooking demonstration, Ming got a piece of tofu on his face. When he looked at the mirror (which was facing the crowd) he said, "I can't see it, all I see is white people."
Jose Andres cooking with his 9-year-old daughter Carlota
He has such a great personality and is so much fun to watch. Having his daughter help on stage made it even more fun.
Jeremy Fox's Best New Chef dish
I was a bit dubious about the Best New Chef's pea, mint, white chocolate, and macadamia nut concoction, but it was so delicious! I couldn't stop eating them, PartySugar practically had to pull me away from the the table.

To discover what else made my list, plus a gallery of images, just

How Many Sponsors Are in This Photo?

YumSugar — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 01:30:32 -0700

An event like the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen is no easy task to pull off. Not only does it take loads of time and energy, it also takes quite a few pennies. To help out, events like these are usually sponsored by several companies. In this case, KitchenAid is definitely the prominent sponsor. Yet they're not the only one. Can you find all the sponsors? Including KitchenAid, how many sponsors are shown in this David Chang cooking demonstration?

What's Yummy This Week — YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 09:30:30 -0700

We went to the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen! Don't miss a morsel of our coverage.
Explore the food at the Best New Chefs party, then go behind the bash.
Hungry for some food porn? Take a tour of the Aspen tasting tent.
Cooking with Tom and Padma taught us that celebrity chefs are just like us!
PartySugar put her chorizo to work in a crostini appetizer.
I made a zesty, zippy lemon poppyseed cake.
Mix up a pear sazerac for a surprising Summer cocktail.
Get even more cocktail ideas, plus dishes and decor, for a Summer solstice celebration.
Tell us: Would you eat bone marrow?
Catch up on what's happening in Hell's Kitchen.

A Closer Look at the Grand Tasting

partysugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 16:00:05 -0700

Words and pictures can hardly describe the grand tasting tent at the Food and Wine Classic in Aspen. When I first walked in, I was overwhelmed by the never-ending tables filled with wine, cocktails, and food. However, by the third tasting, I felt like a seasoned pro. To share the incredible experience, we've put together this exclusive video. Enjoy!

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Drinking the Tasting Tent: Cocktails

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:00:28 -0700

With the food ranging from s'more bites to duck paninis, you could imagine that the liquid side of Aspen was also quite varied. Although it's called the Food and Wine Classic, there were actually loads of mixed drinks to be found. During one of the five grand tastings, PartySugar and I ended up skipping the wine and going straight for the cocktails. To check out some of our favorite finds just click the "Start" button.