Serge the Concierge

Free Brazilian Arts, Music, Dance and Film Festival, New School, NY, February 27

End the month of February with rays of sunshine thanks to Brazilian Arts, Music, Dance and Film Festival presented by Student Film Collective at New School in New York.

Details:

Event Date: Monday, February 27th from 6 to 9:30 – Location: Wollman Hall – Event Name: The New School Brazilian Arts, Music, and Film Festival  “Free Food, Films, Live Concerts by 2 Brazilian Bands from the Jazz School – Amanda Ruzza/Chris Stover Quintet and – Scott Kettner’s Maracatú NY Free to New School Students Come hang, eat and dance with us right after you are done with class!

Last sentence makes me wonder if it is opened to general public. I guess it is since they are spreading the word via social media.

Be Bop, Jazz Cats, Beat Beat Wall at Chelsea Space, Jazz Inspired Art and Textiles

Think jam session for the eyes, standards re-invented.

Beat beat wall features jazz inspired artworks and print textiles at Chelsea Space in London.

Free admission.

Cure for Baking Anxiety, King Arthur Winter 2012 Baking Demos, Baton Rouge to Burlington

This winter 2012, King Arthur Flour, brings its FREE baking demos to ten cities in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Vermont -

Their experts will offer recipes and tips on Perfect Pies & Savory Scones, and Baking with Yeast & Whole Grains. 

Some just in time for Valentine's Day if you plan on baking your love.

Program in a nutshell:

"King Arthur Flour demos are a unique blend of baking science, tried and true tips, and culinary theater; traveling baking instructors explain and entertain, inform and inspire. Attendees walk away with just enough baking science to understand how ingredients function in a recipe and why certain techniques are important to successful baking, while sharing the joy and tradition of baking at home."

If you suffer from "baking anxiety" this could be the right medicine

For full schedule, cities and other details visit Traveling Demos page.

Demo times for Weekdays

Noon to 2 pm: Perfect Pies & Savory Scones

7 pm to 9 pm: Baking with Yeast & Whole Grains

Demo times for Saturday & Sunday

11 am to 1 pm: Perfect Pies & Savory Scones

3 pm to 5 pm: Baking with Yeast & Whole Grains

The winter 2012 baking demos tour opened in Baton Rouge on January 26th and concludes March 25th in Burlington.

Today's stop is Kenner, Louisiana.

Get baking

(* Image of Heart Shaped Creme Brulee from pages of King Arthur Flour site)

February is Shochu Month in New York, Low Calorie, Healthy Spirit in Japan, Really?

Still in the mood for change that each new year brings and searching for a low calorie, healthier spirit (does such a thing exist?), in Japan Shochu is considered the drink of choice and over the past decade as grown to a position where it outsells Sake.

Lucky us in the NY tri-state area, to drum up interest in Shochu, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) will host ‘Experience Shochu, the National Spirit of Japan,’ a cross section of events in February 2012.  

On the program:

Along with restaurant promotions and a party showcasing Shochu during Fashion Week, a special day of tastings and a trade seminar featuring Junior Merino of the Liquid Chef will take place at the Astor Center, a veritable wine and spirits institution in its own right.

JETRO and JSS will partner with restaurants for a variety of tasting promotions on Sunday, February 12th as part of NY Shochu Night Out. Participating restaurants are Inakaya (231 W 40th Street), Robataya (231 E 9th Street) and Sakagura (211 E 43rd Street B1F). On this evening, a free Shochu tasting will be offered for dinning guests.

On Monday, February 13th, JETRO will host a day of Shochu tasting at the Astor Center featuring 16 Shochu producers. The walk around tastings (with a trade/press audience in the afternoon and a consumer event in the evening) will highlight leading artisan Japanese Shochu producers. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste a variety of Shochus from each producer and talk to the spirit makers. During the afternoon tasting, trade and media are invited to an hour long seminar by Toshiro TAKAHASHI, Director of JSS, and noted mixologist Junior Merino. He will discuss Shochu history, production and versatility as a neat spirit and cocktail component.

16 producers and their labels that will be featured at the Astor Center tastings are as follows:

Company Name	Labels
KITAYA	• Gokoo  • Jinkoo  • Gyokuro  • Yosaku
SHINOZAKI	• Sennen-no-nemuri  • Amaou-Umeshu Amaou-Hajimemashita
NISHI YOSHIDA SHUZO	• Ark Jakuunbaku  • Kintaro Mugi Shochu - Roasted Barley  • Tsukushi Mugishocyu - Black Label  • Tsukushi Mugi Shocyu - White Label
GENKAI SHUZO	• Barley Shochu IKI
YAMANOMORI	• Yama No Mori Shochu
SENGETSU SHUZO	• Sengetsu  • Kawabe  • Koisisou
TAKAHASHI SHUZO	• Hakutake Shiro
SANWA SHURUI	• Iichiko Special  • Iichiko Frasco  • Iichiko Kurobin  • Iichiko Silhouette  • Iichiko Seirin
KOMASA JYOZO	• Kozuru Kuro  • Kura No Shikon  • Window's Mugiichi  • Window's Migaki
SATSUMA SHUZO	• Satsuma Shiranami  • Kuro Shirnami  • Satsuma Otome  • Kuradashi Genshu  • Kannoko  • Kohaku No Yume  • Mugiwara Boushi
FUKIAGE SHOCHU	• Kaikouzu  • Fukiage Mugi
YAMAMOTO SHUZO	• Satsuma Godai  • Satsuma Kurogodai  • Satsuma Godai Umeshu
KYOYA DISTILLER & BREWER	• Kappa no Sasoi-mizu  • Heihachiro  • Hebess Cool
KUMEJIMA'S KUMESEN	• Kumejima's Kumesen  • Aragoshi Kumi's Umeshu
ZUISEN DISTILLERY	• Zuisen Hakuryu
TARAGAWA	• Ryukyu Ohcho

Wondering how to order, drink, serve Shochu, check the How to Shochu article bt New York Mutual Trading.

If you are in New York area and want to experience Shochu first hand, Sign Up Online for FREE consumer tasting taking place at Astor Center on February 13, 2012 from 6 pm to 8:30 pm.

Healthy toasting for Tokyo Thursdays # 220

Previously: Ame, Kumori, Yuki, Waku Waku Japanese Video Lessons, Courtesy of Japan Society

(* Illustration is wheat shochu "horsetail black" by Nishi Yoshida from pages of Rakuten site)

Travelling Colony, Art by Caravan and Manu Chao Open Sydney Festival First Night 2012

Caravan use is not limited to vintage fans as illustrated by My Cool Caravan, they can be vehicles for art as Travelling Colony, one of the Free events opening Sydney Festival First Night 2012 proves.

Presented by Sydney Festival and Carriageworks, it is the creation of Brook Andrew.

What's behind it?

Here are program's notes"

"Travelling Colony is a major new work by Brook Andrew, whose interdisciplinary arts practice travels internationally. For two decades this celebrated artist has been creating astonishing interventions into history through installation and interactive monuments, playfully seducing audiences into new ways of seeing compelling issues of race, consumerism and history.

Inspired by his Wiradjuri tradition, the circus and pop culture, Andrew has created a cavalcade of dazzling handpainted caravans in the huge industrial foyer of Carriageworks. Enter each of the caravans in Travelling Colony and immerse yourself in the stories of Redfern - its personalities, struggles and community.

Through this whirling zig-zag of caravans, archival footage, reflections and projections, visitors will be inspired by the histories of Redfern."

Free program opens at Carriageworks on January 8, runs til' the end of Sydney Festival First Night 2012 (January 29, 2012) and actually stays opened until March 4.

On opening night, January 7, festival offers a Free concert headlined by vagabond Frenchman of music, Manu Chao  at The Domain. 

(* Image of 'Art Caravan' from program pages of Sydney Festival First Night 2012)

Soul Satisfying, Filled with Love, Win Copy of Mourad New Moroccan

Call him an accidental chef, Mourad Lahlou started cooking while he was a graduate student in San Francisco.

He cooked more from memory of the flavors and colors of dishes he grew up with in his native Morocco than recipes. These humble beginnings led to Aziza, his popular Bay Area restaurant.

Mourad Lahlou first cookbook Mourad: New Moroccan (Artisan Books, Fall 2011) is filled with love and soul satisfying recipes.

We learn about basic spices, the dance of the seven salads, lamb bacon, burnt honey ice cream and a lot more.

All this served with a dollup of family memories.

We have 1 copy of Mourad: New Moroccan for the taking.

Try your luck by answering the following question:

What is the Moroccan equivalent of Chicken Pot Pie?

Send your entry to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by Saturday, December 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM (Eastern US).

This contest is open to U.S readers and is on a first come, first served basis.

If you won anything from us in past 30 days, let someone else try their luck.

Giving Thanks before Thanksgiving with 'Simply Truffles' Cookbook Contest, Win 1

It seems there is not enough time in the day, week or month to mention all the good books that have landed on our desk this Fall.

One of them is Simply Truffles, Recipes and Stories that Capture the Essence of the Black Diamond (William Morrow, November 2011).

We shared one of its recipes, Baked Eggs with Pine Nuts, Sprouts and Truffles, and had the pleasure to have a Simply Truffles Talk with Patricia Wells who penned the book.

If you are keen on expanding your cooking repertoire, we are giving thanks to you all for reading 'Serge the Concierge' before Thanksgiving by giving away 1 copy of 'Simply Truffles'.

How can you win?

Answer one question:

Why is Coppa from Italy perfect to wrap around truffles scallops?

Send your answer to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by Midnight (U.S Eastern)on Thursday, November 24, 2011.

This contest is on a first come, first served basis and is limited to U.S readers.

Feed your Chocolate Addiction, Win Copy of 'Choclatique', Some Gluten Free Recipes

If you missed this book Chocolate Curl Meringue Kisses recipe when I shared it, check it now.

Want to feed your Chocolate Addiction, this Sunday's contest has 1 copy of Choclatique (Running Press, October 2011) by Ed Engoron for the taking.

A number of the 150 recipes in the book are 'Gluten Free', for example Orgasmic Chocolate Soup, Chocolate Almond Butter Toffee Crunch, White on Black Chocolate Creme Brulee.

Other recipes are 'QR Code' enhanced amongst them Caramel Cheesecake Brulee and Boston Steamed Chocolate Cake.

In order to win this copy of 'Choclatique' answer the following question:

Name Native American group from South of the Border which was known for drinking cacao based beverages by the gallon.

Send your answer to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All answers must be received by Midnight (Eastern US) on Thursday, November 24, 2011

This contest is open to U.S readers only and is on a first come, first served basis.

Vancouver Poutine Festival, November 19, Free From Noon to 5 PM

Solid appetite and stomachs are a must for those attending Festival de la Poutine in Vancouver on November 19.

Cheese curd and gravy rule Poutine a french fries dish with roots in Quebec.

As of today, ticketed events 'Poutine a Volonte' and 'Poutine Crawl' are sold out.

You can still join in the fun for free from Noon to 5 PM at Hellenic Community Center.

Remy Scalza looked for Vancouver's Best Poutine (Inside Vancouver, June 2010)

(* Festival de la Poutine site is in French only)

Make your Wings Fly with Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip, Win 1 Thanks to Robert Rothschild Farms

Thanksgiving is 8 days away and the holiday parties marathon will start in earnest.

While dinner finishes cooking and before heading for the table, cocktail time will require some dips.

Give your Tortilla Chips a new twist and make your chicken wings fly with Buffalo Bleu Cheese Dip from Robert Rothschild Farms which we were happy to put to the test after it landed on our desk.

Want to give Buffalo Bleu a chance, there are 2 jars for the taking (one per winner).

What do you have to do to win this contest?

-List 3 songs with Buffalo in the Title?

E-mail your entry to info [at] njconcierges [dot] com

All entries must be received by Midnight (US Eastern) on Sunday, November 20, 2011.

Contest limited to U.S readers.

(* Prize offered by Robert Rothschild Farms)