From the Martinique to your table - the chef at the Cafe Martinique shares his recipe for Rigatoni a la Vodka -
Ingredients:
1 onion
3 cloves garlic
3 shots vodka
1/4 cup olive oil
1 can whole plum tomatoes
2 small cans tomato paste
1 qt heavy cream (or you can use a combination of light and heavy cream)
1 small bunch of fresh basil, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 stick butter
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Directions:
Chop onion and garlic and cook in olive oil until soft.
Form mixture into a circle with a hole in the middle, pour vodka in the
center of the circle and allow to cook off (about 5 minutes). **Pour
vodka into a shot glass or other wide-rimmed container before pouring
into the pot. Never pour alcohol directly from a bottle into a hot pan.
It is flammable and there is a chance that flames could find there way
into the bottle and cause it to explode.
Rinse plum tomatoes under
water and rinse out all the seeds. (Seeds make the sauce bitter.) Cut
into quarters or eighths and add tomato pieces to mixture. Add cream and
tomato paste, stir until combined and hot. Chop approximately 5 basil
leaves and add to the sauce. (Save additional basil leaves for garnish.)
Add cheese and butter and simmer over low heat for approximately 30
minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. Season with salt and
pepper to taste. Serve over rigatoni pasta.
Move
over, Paris. Spring has officially sprung in New York City!”
Now that the weather is getting a bit nicer (though we still
recommend packing your umbrella and raincoat just in case!), there is a lot to
do in New York City this Spring. This spring the opportunities are endless, so
to help narrow it down – here’s our Top List…..
Easter in the City
The annual Easter Parade and Bonnet Festival is happening April 20, 2014 with
the Easter Parade on 5th Ave. from 49th to 57th Streets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Crazy Hats and Bonnets abound and are truly works of art. It’s definitely a
once in a lifetime, only in NYC experience, so don’t miss it.
Tribeca Film Festival
Lights, Camera, Action! The iconic Tribeca Film Festival will take place April
17-26 in Tribeca. The festival is trying something new this year in which the
last Friday of the event will be completely free. Approximately 3,000 - 5,000
tickets will be given away at select 60 AT&T retail stores in NYC from
April 14-17. For more information, visit http://tribecafilm.com/festival.
Yankees and Mets Opening Day
Whether a Yankees or a Mets fan, guests can experience one of baseball’s
biggest days this April. Opening day for the Yankees is April 7, 2014 at Yankee
Stadium, where they will play the Baltimore Orioles. If guests are die hard
Yankees fans, we also recommend checking out the Mint Pros Yankee Stadium VIP
Tour where guests can tour the stadium before a game…and the best part is that
the tour is led by a famous Yankee player! For the Mets, opening day is a little
earlier, March 31, 2014 at Citi Field. The Mets play host to the Washington
Nationals.
Central Park
Enjoy the great weather by visiting one of New York City’s most beautiful
landmarks. A simple stroll through Central Park will make for unforgettable
memories, but to get a true New York experience, guests can ride in a horse and
carriage tour through Central Park. Check here for more information: http://www.centralpark.com/guide/tours/horse-carriage-tours.html
Walking Fashion Tour
New York City is known for its elaborate and iconic storefront windows, and The
Fashion Window Walking Tour will show guests the best of them. Organized by the
fashion experts at Windows Wear, guests can be sure that they will have a
knowledgeable tour guide and that they will experience amazing storefront
windows! With spring upon us, windows will be updated with stunning new spring
trends. Check out this tour every season for fabulous new, updated windows every
time! Visit http://www.windowswear.com for tickets and more information.
Cherry Blossom Festival
The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is holding its annual Sakura Matsuri on April 26,
2014 - April 27, 2014. Here, guests can witness the beautiful cherry blossoms
beginning to bloom throughout the garden. The weekend celebrating Japanese
culture will feature live dancers, a tea ceremony, and and Ikebana flower
arranging. There is also a booth where guests can take a “Samurai Selfie” in
warrior cutouts! Guests should be aware that picnicking is not allowed in the
garden for this event, however a variety Japanese food is offered. For tickets
and more information, visit nyctourist.com
NYCTourist.com is one of NYC's most popular travel & tourism sites
helping people research & plan travel to New York City since 1997.
