The Food Maven Diary
[Archives]
Coffee, Tea, and Me ... Plus a Mediterranean Cruise
The whirlwind promotion tour continues: This Saturday is the most fun event I am doing before Christmas. I'll be speaking about the history of food in New York at the Brooklyn Museum. I know I will make you laugh (a lot) and think (a little), and tell you things you didn't know that you will be delighted to know.
Then, after my presentation in the auditorium at 2 p.m., I (and the Community Committee that is sponsoring this event) am hosting a coffee hour in the Beaux Arts Court that will feature some of my borough's best baked goods. Naturally, there will be plenty of Junior's legendary cheesecake (the real recipe is in my book), plus cupcakes and tarts from Downtown Atlantic, a wonderful restaurant and bakery on Atlantic Ave., and Red Velvet Cake from Raven the Cake Man, the young Brooklyn baker that Joan Hamburg is always carrying on about.
Naturally, I'll be happy to autograph your copies of "Arthur Schwartz's New York City Food" (a $45 value), which is included in the $75 price of the event, as is all-day admission to the Museum and parking. I know you will get your money's worth, and assure you that the money is going to a good cause: The Brooklyn Museum, which has many world-class collections and, I feel, is the only city museum that truly serves its community. It is located at 200 Eastern Parkway, and is easily reached by subway, as well as by car. The New Lots subway line stops directly in front of the museum. For reservations, call (718) 501-6286.
Right now, the Museum boasts a wonderful exhibit of photos of Marilyn Monroe, and paintings of children by John Singer Sargent. You can get a free guided tour of either simply by asking at the reception desk of the museum. The new very contemporary entrance to the old Beaux Arts museum is something to behold, too. If you want to make a day of it in Brooklyn, this is a good anchor event, and I will be happy to help you plan the rest of your excursion to my borough, my hometown. Just write to me at Mavensmail@aol.com.
Hope to see many of you there.
Cruising: Venice to Athens
In May, I will be hosting another Mediterranean cruise, and I am more excited about this one than any other I've done. For a start, it's on the Crystal Serenity, the Crystal line's newest and most luxurious ship. I have sailed on Crystal before (the Harmony) and think it was the grandest cruise ship I've ever been on. Next, we get to use the ship as our hotel while in Venice for a full day. We board on May 16 but don't sail until the 17th. Then we have a day at sea, on which I will do a cooking demonstration, before we stop at several ports in the Aegean Sea. Take a look at the full itinerary by going to the website of Alice Travel and to the page on Crystal's website.
Besides, the cooking demo aboard ship, our group will also be treated to dinners at two of the specialty dining rooms aboard – one is an adjunct of Nobu, the impossible-to-get-into New Wave Japanese restaurant in Manhattan. The other is an adjunct of Valentino, the famous Italian restaurant in Los Angeles. We'll also have our own private cocktail parties and other good, very special stuff.
Before we board the ship in Venice, there is also an optional land package that is in the planning stage as we speak. We'll be staying in Verona, just west of Venice, and exploring the Veneto region's gastronomic delights and beautiful countryside.
I'll give you more details as I know them. But you can book right now simply by calling 1-(888) 414-2323.
