Calling All Foodies!

By Megan Kian

After a long hard week at work the weekend is finally here and you’re wondering what you should do with your two days off. The only place I can think of to spend my Saturday is at Smorgasburg, the food flea market located in Brooklyn. Two Saturdays ago I decided to head down to Williamsburg, Brooklyn to find out what Smorgasburg was all about.

The setting for Smorgasburg couldn’t be more serene. It’s set right on the water with a small park only a few feet away. But what is Smorgasburg? The idea for Smorgasburg initially sprang from the food that was being served at the Brooklyn Flea Market. There was such a following that the Brooklyn Flea Market decided to create a completely separate flea market that would only serve food — and good quality food at that. At Smorgasburg you can find 100 plus vendors selling everything from blood orange glazed donuts (they were delicious!) to fancier dishes like gazpacho and sandwiches with hand pulled mozzarella. You’ll feel like you’re in food heaven.

Smorgasburg is aptly named. Turn the corner and you’ll find a completely different type of food than what you had at the stand a few feet away. While it can get pricey, I enjoyed every bit of it. Smorgasburg is featured on the Williamsburg waterfront from 9AM to 5PM every Saturday.

Have you been to Smorgasburg? If so, how did you like it?

Disclaimer: The Nutritioulicious staff was not paid to promote Smorgasburg. All opinions are our own.

National Mediterranean Diet Month

It’s May, and that means that it’s finally starting to feel like summer and it’s National Mediterranean Diet Month! What a great time of year to sing the praises of a lifestyle that has been shown to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve brainpower.

The Traditional Mediterranean Diet consists mainly of fruit and vegetables, whole grains, olive oil, fish, beans, nuts, herbs and spices, small amounts of dairy, and red wine (sounds a lot like what I recommend!). In 1993, Oldways, a Boston-based non-profit that develops consumer-friendly health-promotion tools including the Whole-Grain Stamp, introduced the Med Diet Pyramid. The pyramid was based on the dietary traditions of Greece and southern Italy when the rates of chronic disease were among the lowest in the world, and adult life expectancy was among the highest. The pyramid was updated in 2008 and is very much in line with the recently released 2010 Dietary Guidelines.

As you can see, physical activity and enjoying meals with others are the foundation of the pyramid, which shows just how important they are to a healthy lifestyle. Fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and beans, olive oil, nuts, seeds, and herbs and spices take up the most space of the pyramid, indicating that the majority of your diet should include those foods (have you heard my tip about making half your plate fruits and vegetables?!). Next in line: fish and seafood, a group of foods that are also emphasized in the 2010 Dietary Guidelines. Poultry, eggs, cheese, and yogurt should be eaten in moderate portions, and meats and sweets are occasional treats. Check out the Oldways website to get a detailed list of foods consumed on the Mediterannean Diet and learn more about National Mediterranean Diet Month.

Over the next couple of days, Nutritioulicious intern Jo will be sharing some Mediterranean dishes she recently cooked up!

What are some of your favorite foods that fit the Mediterranean Diet?

Disclaimer: I was not paid to promote Oldways or the Mediterranean Diet. All opinions are my own. 

Photo Credit: Oldways

Fresh Pasta & Eataly

Last summer New Yorkers were buzzing about a newly opened gourmet food and wine market called Eataly. Eataly is not just any gourmet market — it is all Italian all the time. From the freshly made bread and pasta, to the butcher shop, pescheria (fish market), and produce market, and for the end of the trip cravings the espresso bar, gelateria, and pasticceria (pastry shop), you feel like you’re in Italy exploring the bounty of wonderful, delicious Italian cuisine everywhere you turn.

Not only can you buy all these delightful Italian specialties at Eataly, but you can also eat there. They have multiple restaurants including a pizza joint, a fish restaurant, a meat restaurant, and a vegetable restaurant featuring seasonal vegetables.

One of the highlights of Eataly is the vegetable butcher they have on staff. Never before had I heard of this type of job! The name really says it all – this is a butcher for vegetables. She will wash, clean, and cut your vegetables. So if you don’t know how to prep an artichoke for cooking or you don’t have time to chop vegetables but want a home cooked meal, she’s there to save your day!

Last week I visited Eataly (as I tend to do when I’m in the neighborhood) and decided to treat my husband and myself to some fresh pasta.  That night we had a pasta sampler for dinner.

We tried the Agnolotti dal Formaggio – little pillows stuffed with four cheeses topped in a tomato basil sauce. The agnolotti were so cute (see below)!

We also had Ravioli Zucca – ravioli stuffed with butternut squash and amaretto cookies in a butter sage sauce. This was my absolute favorite! I felt like I was eating in a restaurant!

Do you have a favorite gourmet market? What do you like to buy there?

Food Meets Fashion

The following post was written by nutritioulicious™ intern Jo Bartell

As I shared in my intro post, I used to work in fashion, and I hope to combine my career as a dietitian with my love for fashion. Fashion and food have always been among my favorite topics, and lately it seems I’m not alone! Food and fashion are coming together in pop-culture and in Hollywood, where food and restaurants are becoming as trendy and fashionable as the newest clothing designers and runway shows. Chefs are even becoming the newest celebrities.

This concept became even more evident this season at Barney’s New York, where the holiday windows read, “Have a Foodie Holiday.” I went to check out this perfect depiction of the foodie/fashion combination last week and I wanted to share some pictures with you.  Renowned chefs from Julia Child and Jamie Oliver to Paula Deen, Rachael Ray, Daniel Boulud, and Bobby Flay are featured this holiday at Barney’s in an elaborate, whimsical display that is undoubtedly attracting attention from fashionistas and foodies near and far.  Enjoy!

Trail Blazers: Julia Child, Thomas Keller, Jamie Oliver

Paula Deen & Rachael Ray

Bobby Flay, Mario Batali, Daniel Boulud

Do you have a favorite celebrity chef?