What is it about girls' night out that’s different from any other event? I've done my share of dinner parties where ladies love to eat, drink and be merry, but I still needed to do a little research on my own. I asked the ladies -- my clients, my wife, all my female friends. The answers were the same: Girls just want to have fun, with great food, great drinks and great friends. Luckily, you can do all that without going overboard -- here are my tips to avoid overindulging.
The Kitchen is serving up some tricks and even better treats for Halloween with Jeff Mauro's Monster Mac and Cheese and Katie Lee's Butternut Squash Soup. Learn fun and easy ways to make Frightening Food Crafts, and then it's time to Pass the Cauldron Cake. The Piece of Cake Halloween party is packed with great ideas for everything from decor to dessert, and Geoffrey Zakarian serves up a Shirley Temple of Doom that's perfect for trick-or-treaters both young and old.
Scott Conant brings a deft touch and an unwavering passion to creating singular dining experiences with soulful food and a convivial atmosphere. His career spans nearly 30 years and includes multiple restaurants, an enthusiastic following of fans and an ever-expanding brand. He has established himself as one of the country’s top chefs and restaurateurs.
A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Scott broke out onto the restaurant scene in his 20s, running the kitchens of famed Italian spots such as il Toscanaccio, Chianti and City Eatery, which earned glowing reviews under his leadership.
Scott officially put his name on the map when he opened the beloved L’Impero in 2002. It garnered a three-star review from The New York Times, the title of Best New Restaurant from the James Beard Foundation, and praise from top publications such as Gourmet and Food & Wine, which named Scott one of America’s Best New Chefs in 2004.
Following the success of L’Impero, Scott opened Alto, an elegant Italian restaurant in midtown Manhattan. Always looking to raise the bar, Scott eventually moved on to bring his own vision of sophisticated, savory Italian cooking to life with Scarpetta, which he now operates in Las Vegas and Miami.
In March 2016 Scott opened Impero Caffè, a relaxed Italian spot for all-day dining at the INNSIDE New York Hotel that serves a variety of antipasti and housemade pastas, the hallmarks of his cuisine. In the same year he opened Mora Italian, a modern, convivial osteria in Phoenix.
In recent years Scott has also opened D.O.C.G. Enoteca, a casual wine bar at The Cosmopolitan Las Vegas, and unveiled his SC Culinary Suite, a beautiful private loft in SoHo where he can interact directly with guests and bring them his special brand of hospitality through private dinners, cocktail parties and cooking demos. In 2013 he debuted a signature menu at McCarran International Airport’s new American Express Centurion Lounge.
Scott has appeared on the Today Show, The Chew, CBS’ The Talk, Live with Kelly & Michael, and Good Morning America, and he is a regular judge on Chopped, consistently one of Food Network’s highest-rated programs. He has also published three cookbooks: New Italian Cooking, Bold Italian and The Scarpetta Cookbook.
As Scott continues to embark on new opportunities, he looks forward to sharing his enduring philosophy: Savor the pure pleasure of food, down to its last taste.
The finale has arrived! For the pre-heat Halloween party, the bakers must make a glowing edible centerpiece and three creepy treats for a spooky dessert bar. For the main heat, the bakers must create light-up jack o' lantern cakes. The winning baker carves out the title of Halloween Baking Champion and takes home $25,000!
With a diverse culinary background and a passion for sharing her knowledge with food enthusiasts, cooking expert Aida Mollenkamp prepares delicious dishes while providing answers to questions submitted by Food Network viewers in her interactive cooking show, Ask Aida. From recipe and ingredient issues to advice on kitchen machinery and tools, Aida even offers guidance for impromptu parties, feeding a crowd, make-ahead dishes, and time-saving tips.
Growing up with an Italian-American mother and a French stepmother, Aida was always surrounded by good food. Eventually, she made her way into the kitchen and discovered her true passion for cooking. In the years since, Aida has worked everywhere from a gourmet deli and California Pizza Kitchen to the Hotel Bel Air and, most recently, at CHOW.com.
Having studied Hospitality Management at Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration, Aida worked at Ernst & Young in Hotel and Restaurant Consulting before traveling to Europe to attend culinary school at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu Paris. She lived between Florence, Italy and Paris, France for two years, and graduated with a Grand Diplôme in 2004.
In January 2005, Aida joined the editorial staff at San Francisco-based CHOW.com, a Web site created for food and drink enthusiasts. As the Food Editor, Aida fulfills many roles. She regularly appears in instructional videos for the site, serves as an expert spokesperson, runs the test kitchen, works as a lead food stylist, develops recipes, and writes informative articles.
When not working, Aida continues to live the life of a food fiend, whether hunting out the hottest restaurants, searching for the newest artisanal products, or hosting her friends and family at laidback dinner parties and lively cocktail hours. She currently resides in San Francisco.
It's Halloween and Giada De Laurentiis is creating spooky treats for the kids to enjoy at her festive backyard party: Pumpkin, Maple and Bacon Cheesecake, Witch Finger Cookies and Chocolate-Fig Black Hats.