Favorite Birthday Food

 Everyone always has to have a special meal on his or her birthday. It could be a juicy diner hamburger with a large size of fries and onion rings. It could be a bowl of spaghetti, graced with garlic bread. These are the foods that help make the day even more special.

What is your favorite birthday meal? Mine used to be risotto Milanese , the creamy saffron drenched rice dish from Milan. Now it's spaghetti with sauce although I wouldn't;t say no to shrimp cocktail and clam chowder.

What dish  makes your special day sing? Let us know.

Festival Season

 late summer is the time for festivals and street fairs. These are always fun to go to and see what's up and coming food wise.It's also a chance to sample fun food and drinks along with buying neat treats.

Street fairs and festivals are not necessarily booths selling cool jewelry, accessories and tees.new Jersey and especially New York City is always bustling with them. These are great places to try everything from crepes to different kinds of burritos and tacos. What's great about these get togethers is that you can try all sorts of food that you normally wouldn't It's a chance to sample different foods like chips on a sticks This is a whole potato spiralized  and then stuck on a bamboo stick. It;s deep fried to crispiness and different flavorings can be sprinkled on it.Of course festivals also have the usual hot dogs and hamburgers but some like the Ventnor New Jersey seafood Festival, held this weekend. This city directly south of Atlantic City is offering such delights as crab cakes and possibly shrimp cocktails. There will also be oysters for those who love the treats of the sea.There is also the Comfort Food Festival  in Tom's River ,New Jersey a little of the shore from Ventnor's Seafood one. This features. local businesses like the candy store Netty's that's famous for their homemade fudge and hand dipped candies.

Of course big cities are known for their September street fairs. Chicago still celebrates it's strong German heritage with an early  Octoberfest.It's a non alcoholic one at the Lincoln Park Zoo. but you can still get a cup of alcohol free beer along with brats and giant pretzels.Another non alcoholic beer fest is the city's Bavarian Block Party . There's music and bratwurst in the city's West Loop district. Naperville, Illinois hosts an Irish Festival complete with a whiskey tasting What about the West and East Coast? San Diego is hosting a  couple this weekend if you can get last minute tickets to them.One is RB Alive and it offers a wide array of food trucks, wine tasting and a beer garden. Further north in San Francisco, there is a dearth of great food fairs. Chocolate lovers can had to the San Francisco International CHocolate Salon to sample everything chocolate.There are even chocolate sculptures to admire  as you nibble on dark , milk vegan and white chocolate. Of course Manhattan hosts a wide range of food festivals and street fairs right now, There are fairs and harvest festivals right now in all the boroughs and you can sample everything from Italian to Caribbean treats throughout the month.

The weather around the country is perfect for festivals and fairs. Check out the ones in your area and enjoy.It's a great chance to sample fun food and buy cool stuff.

An Elegant Fall Outing

Autumn is a beautiful time of year for picnicking outdoors.It really cries for an elegant spin on the meal, with whole cold roasts as opposed to the usual quickly made sandwiches and slaws The menu should be both classy and classic.Top it off with a soft or hard cider for some variety and kick.

Instead of the usual picnic fare think whole roasts. You can roast a chicken, Cornish hens or even a turkey breast the night before and let chill(you can also use leftovers too).Quail or partridge also works here and you can either buy it on line or from a good poultry farm in your area. A cold London broil is another good choice.. Nix any gravy , it would be to messy to bring along . Besides the roasts have their own juices anyway that can be sopped up with bread.As for bread aim for baguettes.or brioches. These can accompany the meat or are perfect for pates and cheeses. Sides can be simple: tomatoes with a sprinkle of  sea salt, boiled artichokes with lemon wedges or lettuce wraps filled with steamed veggies. Another route is fish and seafood. You could have cold poached salmon with a light sauce or even a shrimp cocktail with a spicy dip. Make sure the shrimp have been peeled before you pack them. Nothing ruins an elegant outing more than having piles of shells scattered about. For something much simpler think easy pates or a variety of cheeses, form sharp English cheddar to creamy French brie dabbed on sliced baguette rounds.

Desserts can be simple yet decadent. Shortbread is always a good choice. It's rich and classy along with being the perfect end to an outdoor meal.Tuiles, those delicate French butter cookies would be  right in place too. They can be baked into cones and filled with raspberries(in season right now) and crème fraiche for a decadent dessert. They are also good just baked in the traditional style , a square resembling a roofing tile,hence the name. Pears are just coming into season and creating a pear tart with a buttery crust would be a perfect end to a feast of  cold roasted Cornish hens or salmon. Apples, too are also out right now. Pair slices with sharp cheddar for a different take or bake into a galette. This  last is a rustic Gallic spin on the traditional pie and is just as easy to make. Have thermoses of good espresso or tea  to drink with it.if you can , bring a flask of brandy along to add for fun and to keep the chill out along with containers of whole cream for the coffee and tea. A packet of chocolate mints is a nice touch so remember to pack those.

The crisp air and even crisper fall ware call for an elegant outdoor meal. Pack up one and take to your favorite place  and enjoy. Nothing is better or more decadent than eating classy food outdoors on a beautiful chilly day.