Fanciful Feasting© What’s New and Ask Ralph? October, 2008

Well it’s getting closer – you now have about 45 shopping days until the best time of the year, “Christmas”. Get going!…

November 4th is a very important for all Americans. Go out and VOTE…

From now until Election Day you have another way to vote for your favorite candidate. The Duchess of 44th Street, the famed Algonquin Hotel on 44th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue, is counting ballots with their Obama-tini and the McCain-tini. The ballots are being drunk in The Blue Bar and will be counted at midnight on Election Day. For more information www.algonquinhotel.com. Waawonderrfullway tovote-youbetya, hic!…

The Chocolate Show will be taking over New York City, November 7th, 8th and 9th from 10 AM until 8 PM. Pier 94 will be groaning with all the calories on display waiting to be snapped up. The Pier is at 12th Avenue and 55th Street and tickets are $28.00. Children (5 to 12) are admitted free, 2 children per adult, each additional child $8.00. Check out www.chocolateshow.com for more information. Come and sample and have fun…

Sometimes something comes a long that you want everyone to know about; this is the case with “New Zealand Natural” ice cream and frozen desserts.

I received 6 containers of this product: 2 frozen yogurts – Mango – Passionfruit and Forestberry, and four containers of Sorbet – Mango, Berry Fruit, Passionfruit and Lemon Lime. Just tasting this product you know that all the ingredient are natural, pure and fresh. I have never had a better product of this type in the United States.

Last year I was sitting on the wharf in La Rochelle in France and ordered lime sorbet and what arrived was unbelievably good. Writing about it now I can feel my mouth pucker from the clean taste and big pieces of fresh lime mixed into the sorbet. The lemon lime sorbet from New Zealand Natural comes closest to that taste and feeling. I have been having a spoonful each evening to make it last. Each flavor of sorbet is distinct and full of gusto. The Berry Fruit is so powerful in taste that I had to have a small bit for a serving. The Passionfruit had bits of fruit mix through it and the Mango left a clean cool taste for a long time after. All the other flavors did as well adding to the pleasure long after eating it.

The two frozen yogurts were rich and thick. I had the Forestberry first. It was so good, I decided to stretch it out again. I ate the Mango-Passionfruit the night of the second presidential debate and was delighted with the pieces of fruit mixed into it. This product is so superior to anything we have it’s unfair for it only to be on the West Coast. I have not tasted the ice cream because I am lactose intolerant; however, I just might agree to a stomach ache to try some!

This product arrived on the west coast of the United States and was a big hit in Hollywood with their scoop shops in 2007. It was Charlize Theron’s the Academy Award winning actress’ ice cream of choice during the shoot of Columbia Picture’s Hancock in which a scene is shot of her eating the ice cream. What flavor was it?

I must mobilize this city and get every one to write, phone and e-mail the company to get their collective butts over to this side of the United States. We can get Patty Lupone, Kelly Ripa and even Regis to eat all they would like them to. It truly is a great product and every one must try some. Listen Up executives of Kiwi brands – get it to New York City NOW! For more information and to get them over here go to www.nznusa.com…

I literally got this information from my friend Public Relations guru, Maureen Klein, as I was preparing this column:

Thursday, November 6, 2008 and continuing until Saturday, November 8, 2008 at 8:00 P.M. will mark the Premier performance of a new Opera Company to Brooklyn and New York City in a long forgotten space that is being rehabilitated by OperaOggiNY and Saint Peter and Paul parish in Brooklyn, New York at 288 Berry Street between South 2nd and South 3 Streets in Williamsburg. Tickets are $20.00. available only at the door.

McCaddin Memorial Hall Theater was built in 1897. When opened in 1898 it boasted a free library as well as the unique performance space. It was turned into a school and remained so until a few years ago. Because of a meeting between Thomas Lawrence Toscano, artistic director of Opera OggiNY and Father Rick Buehler, Pastor of Saint Peter and Paul’s church, the building will take on a new and very exciting life.

Rehearsals have started under the Music Direction of Bill Lewis and will bring serious Opera back to the theatre. The preparations for L’Oracola by Leone are going along beautifully and will not disappoint. The one act verismo opera which was performed by the company two years ago in a concert version has not performed staged in a long time. L’Oracola was composed by Leoni who was a student with Puccini and part of Ponchielli’s studio. The opera is set in San Francisco’s China Town, circa 1900. It’s an exciting project which I am looking forward to. I will certainly be in attendance. Remember November 6-7-8, 2008, McCaddin Memorial Theatre, 288 Berry Street, between South 2 and South 3 Streets, Brooklyn, New York – 718-312 8064 www.operaogginy.com…

I received three jars of Chocolate spreads from Le Pain Quotidien, the Belgiam bakery cafés that are opening all over New York City. They feature artisan breads, baked goods and gourmet retail goods and some of the best hot chocolate served in the French manner a large bowl. They have introduced the Chocolate spreads and sell them only in their shops. I received “Noisella”-Belgian Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread, “Brunette”-Belgian Praline Spread and “Blondie”-Belgian White Chocolate Spread. They also have “Noir”-Belgian Dark Chocolate Spread.

The Noisella was rich in hazelnut taste and thick and luxurious. I tried each spread on Oatmeal bread, crackers, with fruit and with a spoon. Noisella held up wonderfully and was very pleasing and I enjoyed it greatly, I did find a slightly grainy texture but that didn’t disturb me. I found the Praline weak in flavor and to sweet; the Blondie had no flavor and was also too sweet. This is a luxury version of Nutella.

Try the Noisella, it’s really good and will make a great gift. To find a shop near you go to www.lepainquotidien.com. The spreads are priced at $9.95 for a large jar…

“Pride and Glory” from Warner Brother’s is a strong violent film.
The film is concerned with police corruption in New York City and how one family handles the situation. It was a bit long for me, but kept me on the edge of my seat. Noah Emmerich who plays Francis Tierney, Jr. walks away with the acting honors in this film. It’s always great to see Jon Voight who handles his role truthfully as always. I remember seeing him in the original cast of “The Sound of Music” on Broadway, he played Rolf the telegram messenger. Go see “Pride and Glory,” but be warned it’s gritty.

If you need more information or have any questions please write me at this newspaper or e-mail me at RAskRalph@aol.com.