Food Porn and a Favor

The Food Porn: Have you heard the term "food porn"? People like us, foodies with food blogs, might use that term to describe our food photography. And we're not the only ones. TouchVision is an internet news channel that streams a variety of "NewsMovies" on pop culture items, current affairs, weather, and various and sundry other topics including food. And they wanted one of our photos for their "Food Porn: Burgers of the East" segment. Woo hoo! One caveat: all of these burger photos will make you drool, so don't watch if you're hungry. Ours is the fourth one - the Fried Cheeseburger from Shady Glen in Manchester, CT, which is right down the road from us (fortunately or unfortunately, we're not entirely sure). 

The Favor: If we can ask again so soon after last week, two of our recipes are in the running in the "My Fresh Twist" recipe contest over at Fisher Nuts. If you are willing, and have a moment, check out our recipes and vote for one, or both, of them. You get 5 votes per day from October 23 until November 5. The links are below. Many thanks!

Rosemary Almond Butter Toffee

https://www.fishernuts.com/recipe-contest?page=gallery&recipe=933

Sweet Potato Risotto with Glazed Walnuts

https://www.fishernuts.com/recipe-contest?page=gallery&recipe=932

A Wedding at the Tappan Hill Mansion

Last weekend, our friend Frank married his soulmate Leila in a moving ceremony held at the Tappan Hill Mansion. What a beautiful location to begin a new life! The stone mansion, once owned by Mark Twain, had a wall of windows in the back that offer expansive views of the Hudson River. The building and the grounds were simply gorgeous. But, since this is a food blog, we want to talk about the food. We learned that the mansion is an exclusive venue for caterer Abigail Kirsch, Catering Relationships, and the food, besides being plentiful, was quite impressive, full of flavor, and beautifully plated. We had to take some photos, and we thought we'd share them. To Frank and Leila, we say congratulations, mazel tov, and thank you for sharing your special day with us. To the rest of you, enjoy the "food porn."

Starter: Grilled Vegetable Croque Monsieur - eggplant, sundried tomato and fresh mozzarella sandwich griddled in a pesto custard with a salad of white beans, artichokes, fennel and arugula.

Salad: Salad of Baby Greens - crumbled ricotta salata, dried cranberries and spiced walnuts with orange dijon vinaigrette, served with a wedge of warm balsamic drizzled cranberry sage flatbread.

Intermezzo: Mojito Granita - sweet-n-tart mint rum ice served in a lime wedge on a sea salt/sugar bed.

Entree Choice One: Balsamic Beef Tenderloin - roast tenderloin of beef with balsamic rosemary demi glace, tuscan vegetable tian, and orzo black quinoa risotto cake.

Entree Choice Two: Tropical Mahi Mahi - mahi mahi with a cilantro lime marinade, mango-red pepper relish, asparagus spears, and roasted sweet potatoes.

Dessert: Ice Cream Sundaes (and wedding cake, of course!)