Events

This page is dedicated to touting all cool and fun food and wine events and happenings around NYC and the country – all related to food, wine, cocktails, food styling, writing and photography. See below for links to stories, photos and videos of the events I’ve hosted and/or attended plus upcoming events in support of food, wine, spirits and lifestyle.

Kristen teaches a Cooking for Color 4 Kids Class at Madiba Restaurant in Brooklyn!

Cooking with Color 4 Kids by Kristen Hess

This past week on June 27, Kristen launched a new cooking program for kids called Cooking with Color 4 Kids © with eDiningNews at Madiba Restaurant in Brooklyn. This interactive, hands-on cooking class is designed for the whole family, as Kristen teaches kids and parents how to cook colorful, healthy recipes through the color palette, ripe with fruits and vegetables and fresh, natural ingredients.

Food Color Wheel
Food Color Wheel

The class began with an introduction to the color wheel and the various benefits of eating colorful fruits and vegetables in the spectrum. Kristen had the kids name some of their favorite Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue and Violet foods and discussed ways to add more color into your cooking. Instead of just making a cheese pizza, add some spinach and fresh tomatoes or basil. Make your Macaroni and Cheese healthier by adding some broccoli to it.

Madiba Restaurant, Brooklyn NY
Madiba Restaurant, Brooklyn NY

Lots of fun colorful ideas were exchanged as the kids got ready to start making some of their own colorful recipes from the South African Restaurant Madiba in Brooklyn.

Students making South African Pap Cornmeal with Monkey Gland Sauce and Tomato Onion Gravy
Students making South African Pap Cornmeal with Monkey Gland Sauce and Tomato Onion Gravy
Kristen with students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant
Kristen with students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant
Kristen with students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant
Kristen with students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant
Students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant
Students and parents after Cooking with Color 4 Kids class at Madiba Restaurant

On the cooking menu were South African specialties such as:

South African Pap with Tomato Onion Gravy
South African Pap with Tomato Onion Gravy
South African Chakalaka
South African Chakalaka
Monkey Gland Sauce
Monkey Gland Sauce
Shebeen Salad with Wild Greens, Papaya, Mango, Berries, Avocado and Nuts
Shebeen Salad with Wild Greens, Papaya, Mango, Berries, Avocado and Nuts
Pumpkin Fritters
Pumpkin Fritters
Pumpkin and Corn Salad
Pumpkin and Corn Salad
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos Tea

All in all, it was a fun, interactive class that the kids and parents loved. And most of all a rewarding experience for me as I got to teach kids how to cook and eat healthy by adding colorful fruits and vegetables to their everyday cooking!

The class was videotaped live on Livestream by eDiningNews, and the video will be featured online for those who missed the class. All in all, it was a fun, interactive class that the kids and parents loved. And most of all a rewarding experience for me as I got to teach kids how to cook and eat healthy by adding colorful fruits and vegetables to their everyday cooking.

Stay tuned for more class locations and dates as the cooking program grows around NYC!

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The Artful Gourmet caters a small corporate client event for Visual Marketing Partners at The Flow Space in NYC

Kristen Hess Catering

This was a crazy busy week for me – one of the reasons being that I catered a small corporate client event for 75 people at The Flow Space in the Meatpacking District in NYC for Visual Marketing Partners design agency! I created a menu of small bites and appetizers for the event including Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce, Mini Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Quiches, Smoked Salmon Blinis with Creme Fraiche, Chives and Dill, and Teriyaki Chicken Rolls with Asparagus and Scallions and a Sesame Soy Glaze. We also served fresh crudite platters with chips and dip and had plenty of wine pouring for the guests courtesy of Pierre Loti Wine Bar. The event was a lot of work to prepare for in terms of the food and catering but it was a huge success and the clients and guests loved all the food and wine, which to me is the most important thing – full bellies and happy smiles all around. Cheers!

Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Rolls with Asparagus and Scallions
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Rolls with Asparagus and Scallions
The Flow Space, Meatpacking Dist NYC
The Flow Space, Meatpacking Dist NYC
Food Spread at the Catering Event for VMP at The Flow Space
Food Spread at the Catering Event for VMP at The Flow Space
Mini Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Quiche
Mini Spinach, Mushroom and Cheese Quiche
Smoked Salmon Blinis with Chive Creme Fraiche and Dill
Smoked Salmon Blinis with Chive Creme Fraiche and Dill

 

Crudite Platter and Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce
Crudite Platter and Mini Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce

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Join me for a fun Meet the Chef Event at City Crab NYC on Wed June 19th from 6-7:30 pm!

City Crab NYC -1

A special event with a live chef demo at City Crab on Wednesday June 19 from 6:00-7:30 / 235 Park Avenue South (19th Street)!

 CityCrab-4

Featuring Chef Michael “Sheffy”Siry – Sheffy will do a live cooking demonstration of how to cook and break down a crab (either Dungeness or Blue) and will then show us how to use the crab meat to make the City Crab Signature Crab Cake!

Crab Cakes

Registration fee of $15 includes a glass of red or white wine or a beer and a complimentary crab cake.

All guests are invited to stay for dinner after and receive a 20% discount.

City Crab NYC

Sponsored and Hosted by Kristen Hess, The Artful Gourmet and David Hillman of eDiningNews.com

Sign up online at The New York Meet The Chef Meetup Group –  www.meetup.com/MeetTheChef

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New York City Wine & Food Festival

NYCWFF

I recently attended the NYC Wine and Food Festival which was an amazing, star-studded event that is held every year at Pier 57 at the Chelsea Piers. The Grand Tasting event, sponsored by Shop-Rite and KitchenAid, is an all weekend affair – filled with food, wine and cocktail samplings from hundreds of vendors!

Cupcakes

I of course experienced major food coma all weekend which is apparent once you see the photos of all the deliciousness I was exposed to that weekend.

Filet & Foie Gras

I also attended a special French Benoit dinner by Chef Alain Ducasse with the KitchenAid team at One Bryant Park one evening – Filet and Foie Gras, Gougeres, six different French wines, Sauteed Scallops, French Cheese and Meat platters and divine Poached Pears with Chocolate Sauce and Vanilla Ice Cream. WOW!

Giada de Laurentiis

The next day got even better as I went backstage at the festival and had the opportunity to meet Giada de Laurentiis in person (she’s GORGEOUS! And tiny!), Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri as they did their cooking demos on stage for a full audience.

Guy Fieri

I have to say Guy Fieri is a RIOT. He had the audience rolling in laughter and even had them running around the stage grabbing spatulas and cast iron pans like the Price is Right. Pure entertainment!

Click here to see all the photos of the event and stay tuned for some behind the scenes videos of Giada, Guy and Bobby – coming soon on my video channel!

 

FLAVOURS Food Tasting and Cocktail Reception with Paris Gourmet at Ava Lounge, Dream Hotel NYC

FLAVOURS Tasting Event by Paris Gourmet at Dream Hotel NYC
FLAVOURS Tasting Event by Paris Gourmet at Dream Hotel NYC

Check out the full scoop on this premiere FLAVOURS French food and wine tasting event I attended with Paris Gourmet at the Dream Hotel in NYC!

Link to photos and story: http://wp.me/p24PsS-1OH

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French Restaurant Week Press Event at Orsay NYC

Master Chefs at Orsay Press Event
Master Chefs at Orsay Press Event

It’s French Restaurant week in NYC, Sept 17-30th. In honor of this, I was invited to a special press event at Orsay in NYC to learn more about the participating restaurants, meet the Master Chefs and mingle while tasting some delicious French chartucerie and appetizers and champagne. The event was sponsored by Paris Gourmet, a specialty food importer, OpenTable, and Action Against Hunger charity.

Cheese and Chartucerie at Orsay
Cheese and Chartucerie at Orsay
Cheese Gougeres & Croque Monsieurs
Cheese Gougeres & Croque Monsieurs

Check out my photos of the event, the food and champagne and lovely Orsay restaurant

Find out more about French Restaurant Week

Follow French Restaurant Week on Facebook to get special announcments and offers

Follow Action against Hunger on Facebook

Follow Paris Gourmet on Facebook 

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Meatopia! 2012

Meatopia 2012: Meat - Drink - Fire - Music
Meatopia 2012: Meat – Drink – Fire – Music

***Check out the fun photos from Meatopia 2012 event on Sept 8th, Randall’s Island NYC! Awesome event sponsored by Joshua Ozersky and Whole Foods, Amstel, Diageo, oXo, Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors and more. Butchers, Knives, Music, Meat, Fire. OH, and RAIN!

Charred, delicious Meat!
Charred, delicious Meat!

But that didn’t stop us from sampling all the delicious charred, grilled, smoked and braised MEAT and of course brewskies to go with!

Meatopia Event 2012
Meatopia Event 2012

Chef Celebrities Gabriele Corcos & Debi Mazar from Extra Virgin, Zak Palaccio, April Bloomfield, Pat LaFrieda, Alex Guarnaschelli, John Stage, Mike Toscano, John Walsh and many others shared the stage serving up scrumptious food, and the live Butcher’s Competition went on despite the storms and mud!

Butcher Armand "The Arm" Ferrante
Butcher Armand “The Arm” Ferrante

Armand “The Arm” Ferrante has been crowned Whole Foods Market’s Best Butcher 2012. 

The three finalists in the 2012 Best Butcher contest were:

West coast champion: Jon “Kabali” Kalabolas (Lafayette, CA)
Central U.S. champion: Andy “The Animal” Alcorn (Ft. Collins, CO)
East coast champion: Armand “The Arm” Ferrante (Middletown, NJ)

Check out more details on the event on the Meatopia and Whole Foods website!

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A Special Rooftop Event by The Artful Gourmet + Miditto for KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure 

Sunset Wine and Dine Rooftop Event for KitchenAid Cook for the Cure
Sunset Wine and Dine Rooftop Event for KitchenAid Cook for the Cure

*UNFORTUNATELY WE NEED TO CANCEL TONIGHT’S EVENT DUE TO WEATHER, AND ARE IN THE PROCESS OF PLANNING A NEW EVENT DATE FOR THIS – WILL BE ANOTHER EVENING IN EARLY AUGUST! STAY TUNED FOR THE NEW DATE ANNOUNCEMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS! 

Join The Artful Gourmet and Miditto for a special Rooftop Sunset Wine and Dine Event in support of KitchenAid Cook for the Cure and Susan G. Comen For the Cure to raise money for cancer research.

Event Details: 

  • Thursday, July 26th 6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
  • Limited to 40 people only – tickets $30 per person
  • Private rooftop with panoramic city views at The Monterey at 175 E 96th St in NYC
  • Wine provided by miditto wine clique, and business member Pierre Loti Wine Bar and Restaurants
  • Food created by Kristen Hess, The Artful Gourmet (stuffed mushrooms, caprese cocktails, mini skewers, strawberry terrines, plus mini-cupcakes donated by Tasty Pursuits

We’re championing the health benefits of good life, good people, good food and wine.  Join us in our efforts to raise a toast AND exceed our fundraising goal of $500! 

This is how you can help the cause, while you are enjoying the fiesta!

1. Tip the Tip.  Ayza Wine Director, Lea Williams, will be present to answer questions about wine and food pairings.  All we ask is that you “Tip the Tip” jar, which will ALL be donated to the KitchenAid Cook for the Cure funds.

2. Tip and Be Merry.  For every glass you drink, we ask you to consider tipping the Tip Jar.  ALL funds will be donated.

Everyone who tips and attends will be eligible to win a special gift from miditto business member sponsors:

Ayza Wine and Chocolate Bar – Worth $100+ Pierre Loti Wine Bar and Restaurants and Bar Chevere – a case of wine!

Space is limited to 40 people. Support the cause and purchase your tickets.

RSVP by Wed 7/25 and get your tickets at http://sunsetwinedine.eventbrite.com/

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More fun Food and Wine Events around Town!

KitchenAid's Cook for the Cure Midnight Brunch
KitchenAid’s Cook for the Cure Midnight Brunch

Check out the photos of some tasty food and libations from KitchenAid‘s Cook for the Cure Midnight Brunch

Zokos-Cookstr Potluck Party for City Harvest
Zokos-Cookstr Potluck Party for City Harvest

Check out the photos from the Zokos/Cookstr July Event in support of City Harvest

French Bastille Day Celebration NYC 2012
French Bastille Day Celebration NYC 2012

Fun photos from the French Bastille Day Celebration on 60th Street – July 2012

Taste of LIC 2012
Taste of LIC 2012

Check out the food and event photos from the Taste of Long Island City Annual Event fundraiser for The Chocolate Factory Theatre!

Big Apple BBQ Block Party - Madison Square Park NYC 2012
Big Apple BBQ Block Party – Madison Square Park NYC 2012

Check out the mouthwatering photos from the Big Apple BBQ Event in Madison Square Park NYC!

Taste of Queens 2012
Taste of Queens 2012

Check out the full report plus photos and videos from the Annual Taste of Queens event!

Tasting Table Test Kitchen Event, Soho 2011
Tasting Table Test Kitchen Event, Soho 2011

Check out the full report and photos from this amazing event sponsored by Tasting Table, KitchenAid and Jenn-Air!

Bocuse D'Or Chef Competition at CIA, 2012
Bocuse D’Or Chef Competition at CIA, 2012

View the full report, photos and videos on this exciting international Chef competition at the CIA!

Tiger Beer Chinese Potluck Event
Tiger Beer Chinese Potluck Event

Check out all the juicy food porn and details on this exciting Chinese New Year Potluck food event sponsored by Tiger Beer!

IACP Awards Gala, Austin TX 2011
IACP Awards Gala, Austin TX 2011

Get the full download on this exciting annual IACP (International Association of Culinary Professionals) event in Austin TX

New York Restaurant Show 2012
New York Restaurant Show 2012

Check out the awesome food finds at the Annual NY Restaurant and Foodservice Show sponsored by NYSRA!

Chef Madison Cowan, Live Media Tour NYC 2012
Chef Madison Cowan, Live Media Tour NYC 2012

Read about Chef Madison Cowan, get recipes and watch videos of his live media tour for the National Pork Board

French Spirits Soiree, 2011
French Spirits Soiree, 2011

Watch the fun video, get recipes and photos of the French Spirits Soiree held at Astor Center in NYC with eDiningNews and The Dizzy Fizz

House Beautiful-Kitchen Aid Event with Tyler Florence Kitchen of the Year 2011
House Beautiful-Kitchen Aid Event with Tyler Florence Kitchen of the Year 2011

View my photos of this special event in Rockefeller Center with Tyler Florence, KitchenAid and House Beautiful. See more photos of their gorgeous Kitchen of the Year!

Colicchio-&-Sons-Culintro-Event
Colicchio-&-Sons-Culintro-Event

A special event at Colicchio & Sons in NYC sponsored by Culintrosee photos of the luscious food and drinks

Tyler-Florence-Oscar-Mayer-Hot-Dog-Event
Tyler-Florence-Oscar-Mayer-Hot-Dog-Event

I met Tyler Florence (again!) for a fun event sponsored by Oscar Mayer in Times Square. Tyler made some fun and creative

toppings for the crowd and I got to also ride in the Oscar WeinerMobile! Too fun! Check out all the great photos from the event.

 

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