sue's blog

As you know, we attend many trade shows and conferences finding all the latest and greatest to share with you our inquistive audience. We recently attended the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. As you can imagine it is a huge spectacular and there's something amazing and interesting around every corner.  

there's no black curtains but my hotel room is all white. Really. I'm staying at the latest addition to the Sofitel family in Vienna. Designed by the world-renowned French architect, Jean Nouvel his motto "presque rien - scarcely anything" is the formal principle for the hotel. 

As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend I am reminded of a trip Diana and I took several years ago to Hawaii.  We had the privilege of going to Pearl Harbor on Memorial Day. It is a day I will never forget. 

Last night the best culinary minds gathered to see who would be chosen top chef by the prestigious James Beard Foundation.

Here's some of winners:

S. Pellegrino's annual guide in Restaurant magazine features the world's 50 best restaurants it is a must have for anyone looking to travel to some of the finest restaurants in the world.

Today had many Chef's around the country on pins and needles as they waited for the announcement of the semi-finalists of the all important 2011 James Beard Foundation Awards.

Stephanie Izard and I at the Academy for Global Citizenship fundraiser

When I started doing research for our article on Mardi Gras a funny thing happened. Now many of you know that I'm a life-long Chicagoan and couldn't be prouder. Some of you may also know about my love of baked-goods. So it's not surprising that I have been participating in Paczki (pronounced Poonch-Key) Day for many years. I thought that Paczki Day was celebrated on Fat Tuesday the day before Ash Wednesday, and as such spent many a Fat Tuesday devouring some paczki. Paczki are round jelly filled donuts that come with a variety of fillings.