It’s Time for a Loud Celebration… So Let’s Eat in Honor of the Hunger Games: A Menu

Two truths about Maggie Rulli:

1) I gladly accept any reason to celebrate anything.

and 2) Every celebration deserves a menu.

 

Which brings me to my current situation… A menu to celebrate the release of Hunger Games.

But what to serve in honor of a movie that revolves around starving districts? Desperate for some Hunger Games Menu inspiration, we’re gonna

Take it to the Blogs early in today’s post -

- Yum Sugar shows us how to eat our way through the Hunger Games, including this easy recipe for tasty, no-kneed bread that would make even Peeta proud.

Photo Credit: Camilla Salem over at Yum Sugar

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- HuffingtonPost took their celebration to the next level with their no nonsense list of Capitol worthy fare.  Lamb, fig and olive stew, creamy carrot soup, lamb chops with fizzled onions, Rosemary Orange Chicken and Shortbread… just to name a few of the drool worthy dishes Katniss devours on her way to the Capitol.

Photo Credit: Eating Well over at The Huffington Post

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- If ya wanna get all fancy pants at your party, peep these beautiful cupcakes from Fictional Food. Lit on fire from the inside out and finished with a Capitol worthy frosting job – Fictional Food shows us the how to create these little bites of delight.

Pics over at FictionalFood

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- Another cupcake sure to be the envy of every district is this winner from The Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Hunger Game Dish contest. Please… you had me a salted caramel Tracker Jackers.

Shout out to  Julie Eisenberg for this sweat, salty, non-deadly tracker jacker recipe.

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- SheSuggests really nailed it with her version of a Hunger Games menu – heck, her entire Hunger Games Party is a celebration I aspire to throw! She Suggest – I tip my blogging hat to you my friend.

Capitol’s honey pudding pic over at SheSuggests

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- Need  more ideas?? How about 150 more Hunger Games inspired treats?? Oh, there’s a Hunger Games cookbook for that.

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After scouring the interwebs for inspiration, here is my It’s Time for a Loud Celebration… So Let’s Eat in Honor of the Hunger Games: A Menu -

- Hot chocolate - On her train ride to the capitol, Katniss gets her first hit of rich, sweet, creamy hot chocolate decadence a treat so good it makes her shudder. Oh yeah, I want in on that.

- Strawberries - The night of the reaping, Katniss gathers strawberries to eat with her family. While morbid and depressing to associate strawberries with her family’s final meal before the games… remember that strawberries are coming into season and about to be super ripe and tasty. So just eat up and enjoy!

- Loaf upon loaf of bread! –  From Peeta’a kind gesture in the very beginning, to the role of sustenance throughout the games – some people might say bread has a starring role in Hunger Games (and by some people, I mean me. Just now.) So indulge with two types: Hearty, whole grain bread for survival, and a lavish, sweet baguette for fun.

- Goat Cheese – In honor of Prim and her precious goat, I’m putting out a nice spread of goat cheese. Slather some on those bread loaves and Boom – hunger Games’ meal.

- Mint Tea – Katniss reminisces about the mint tea she shared with her family in district 12. For a spring treat, steep some mint in hot water, cool over ice, add a splash of lemon and a hit of agave – you got yourself some tasty iced, mint tea!

Enjoy! And May the odds be ever in your favor. (I just couldn’t help myself…)

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What’s on your Hunger Games Menu??!

Five Reasons to Get Your Butt Over to Bryant Park Before Winter Runs Out!!

While meandering through Manhattan last week (obviously while on the hunt for my next cafe to check out) I stumbled right into this little NYC gem: Extended Holiday Shops at Bryant Park.  Now until February 26th, select shops from Bryant Park’s Holiday spread will remain open (and that’s in addition to the park’s skating rink and restaurant!).

So here are your Five Reasons to Get Your Butt Over to Bryant Park Before Winter Runs Out: 

1) Bryant Park is simply straight up GORGEOUS in the winter -

Surrounded by the impossibly tall buildings of Midtown, Bryant Park is a little oasis nestled in between skyscrapers and snug right up next to the New York Public Library (which has eye appeal in its own right). And please, let’s just look at that fountain – It’s like some fancy, old school plaza right out of Europe smack dab in middle of NYC.

2) The Southwest Porch at Bryant Park -

In a city as huge and potentially intimidating as NYC, there is actually a place that exists where you can come relax… with a fire pit, heated lamps, swing chairs, rockers, Adirondacks, christmas lights, full service bar, outlets to charge your laptops – and it’s free… FREE. Added bonus – it’s actually clean. I have no idea how they do it, but somehow this public space is one I can actually sit down in without thinking I probably just caught some strain of  the next pandemic to sweep over the world. Definite win.

3) The Yummy Food Options - 

While in Bryant Park, hopping around the many droll worthy food stands is a must. Let’s explore a few together:

- Kettle Corn NYC -

If the smell of sweet and salty popcorn isn’t enough to lure you into Kettle Corn NYC’s booth, I think this next statement will persuade you: THEY GIVE AWAY FREE SAMPLES! And fairly decent sized samples at that – always a value add in my book. You’ll be offered the original flavor when you first sample… enjoy. But make sure you ask to try a few others as well. My recommends: Chocolate, Caramel, and Cinnamon! (Full disclosure… I only tried the dessert corn. But come on, when it comes to chocolate or savory I will ALWAYS choose chocolate.)

Brought the Papa Rullz back to check out the corn as well. For those of you not in the know, you should be informed that Papa Rullz is quite the popcorn connoisseur… let’s just say that he takes his popping very seriously. After one sample, the Mr. Rullz was buying not one, not two, but THREE bags of Kettle Corn NYC. FYI – his fav was the original.

The Papa Rullz mid popcorn toss to mouth… nice moves Dad.

- Aroma Espresso Bar -

Even a casually reader of this blog knows about my Cappuccino addiction. So when I saw the Aroma Espresso Bar stand at Bryant Park, I OBVIOUSLY had to get a drink (Never mind that I was coming from another coffee…) – and booooy am I glad I did!! There is something about sipping a well foamed Cappuccino outside in the cold that is so perfect and indescribable. For those of you who don’t want to brave the chill, Aroma has a fairly large indoor seating area that is shockingly warm. Bonus – they give you a little hunk of Aroma chocolate with every order… they sure know how to make me happy

- Wafels and Dinges and mmm… Enfes! -

Both shops lured me inside with that distinctly seductive smell of freshly baked goods. While I was too full on Kettle Corn and Aroma to nibble away on any Waffles or Turkish pastries… the lines speak for themselves. I will be back for both.

- Other yummy must-tries include: Big Apple Cider, Pickle Me Pete, and TopArepa.

- Note: In addition to the extended holiday shops, you can always hit up Celsius - Bryant Parks very own bar/lounge.

4) Skating at CitiPond -

Nothing says winter romance like a skate beneath the skyscrapers while holding your significant other’s hand… tote presh. Come on dudes – I’m practically giving you boyfriend points with these date ideas here! Are you taking notes?!? But seriously… the Bryant Park skating rink is twice the size of Rockefeller Center and it’s free – FREE (with your own skates). Personally, I also had fun watching the Zamboni go around in a circle.

5) Free WiFi for all! -

Bryant Park has been offering its visitors free WiFi since 2002 – take that little fact nugget, post up with your comp at Bryant Park and surf the web to your heart’s content.

More Links To Love Bryant Park ALL YEAR ROUND!

- Want in on some Bryant Park fun but can’t make it down to 42nd street?? See all the action on the Bryant Park webcam. 

- Ride the Bryant Park Carousel, play a game of Chess/backgammon, challenge yourself to some petanque, Ping Pong anyone? Or get your knowledge on in the Bryant Park Reading Room.

- Bryant Park events range from movies in the park to music concerts and even football games – click here to view a full list of events!

 

Bryant Park - 

Location: Bryant Park is situated behind the New York Public Library in midtown Manhattan, between 40th and 42nd Streets & Fifth and Sixth Avenues.

Subway: Take the B, D, F, or M train to 42nd Street/Bryant Park

Jan/Feb Park Hours:

• Sunday to Thursday – 7:00 am to 10:00 pm
• Friday and Saturday – 7:00 am to Midnight

Let’s take it to the Blogs - 

- Lauren Loves to Eat ate her way through Crepe Cafe and Wafles and Dinges… and shares photos from every bite along the way!

- Local Bozo calls the Bryant Park skating rink “one of the most magical experiences that Manhattan has to offer this holiday season” – and now that the holiday shops are extended, so is this magical experience!

- Midtown Lunch focus on all the yummy options still being offered in Bryant Park thanks to the extension of The Holiday Shops.

- Doll House Jeans talks up Aroma’s stand at Bryant Park, saying it’s a great place to stay warm while you sip a hot cocoa post ice skating… or while you check facebook on the park’s free WiFi!

- I really Like Food claims that Kettle Corn NYC’s stand serves up THE BEST kettle corn they have ever had!

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What are your favorite stands to hit up in Bryant Park??

Pearl River Mart – An undefinable, one of a kind, shopping experience.

Pearl River Mart isn’t just a store… Pearl River Mart is an experience. Shopping at Pearl River Mart is something you have to prepare for, both mentally and physically. It is an event that must be planned, scheduled and executed. Pearl River Mart has the chance to change the way you think about shopping… if you let it.

Overstatement?? I think not. Limber up my friends… because we are going on a Pearl River Mart adventure.

What began 30 years ago as the first Chinese American department store, has become an NYC institution and national retailer. Credited with fostering trade relations between The U.S. and China, Pearl River Mart offers various goods that showcase Chinese and Chinese/American culture… as well as a boat load of other equally interesting products.

Let’s take a gander inside.

Toes cold? Keep them warm at Pearl River Mart.

Discover authentic tea pots like these -

Nestled next to your favorite, lovable cheesy I Heart NYC coffee cups… in an assorted array of colors no less.

Don’t forget to look up – I warned you to limber up… this is serious.

Plates and Bowls? Boom.

Glasses and Mugs? You better believe it.

aaaaaaand more mugs!!

And just when you think you have Pearl River Mart pegged… they go and sell something like this little gem.

One glance at the Pearl River Mart blog proves that nothing is too far out for Pearl River – soaps, candies, yoga pants, tea infusers, incense, bubble gum… All in a day of shopping at Pearl River.

Pearl River Mart, Defined:

When people ask, “so, what exactly is Pearl River Mart?” my response is simply: It’s an undefinable experience. Part grocery store, part home goods retailer… It’s as if an authentic Chinese mart got frisky with an IParty and Pearl River Mart was what popped out. Shopping at Pearl River is simply an event that cannot be missed.

Confused? I would be lying if I didn’t say me too. But it’s simply all part of The Pearl River Magic.

 

Pearl River Mart - 

477 Broadway, NYC (btw) Grand St. & Broom St. – SOHO

Subway: RW prince St. / 6  Spring St.

 

Let’s take it to the Blogs:

- The Tea Enthusiast’s scrapbook says a Pearl River Mart tea-pot is the perfect gift for any tea lover.

- Smartgrrrl sums up the inside’s of Pearl River Mart best: “the place is jam-packed with STUFF, and all the stuff is so lovely and/or strange and/or hilarious that you can’t help but wander around whispering, ‘I want to buy all the things.’”

- MommyPoppins names Pearl River Mart a must visit for when touring around NYC’s Chinatown with the kids.

- Big Biege Box applauds the home goods section of Pearl River Mart for its diversity, quality and low low prices.

- Michele Busch say Brooke Shields shopping at Pearl River Mart… so you know it’s legit.

- And a shout out to my Cousin, Tina, for introducing me to the wonders of Pearl River.

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Have you made the trip to Pearl River Mart yet?? Go, buy some awesome stuff, and report back.