After last week’s Flay vs. Morimoto Battle: Eggnog what can the Chairman have up his well tailored sleeve?

Well, it’s a battle between Cat Cora and Michael Symon. A contest between the first female Iron Chef (Cora) and the first Next Iron Chef winner (Symon) certainly sounds like fun. I love to watch Symon cook and I love to watch Cat do anything.

The guest judges for tonight include a singer, an actress and a chocolatier as the legendary Patti LeBelle, Tony Award winner Cady Huffman and one of the great patry chefs in the world, François Payard are on hand.  Hmm, two ladies and a pastry chef.  Could the theme ingredient be another sweet holiday treat?  Perhaps Symon can unleash his chocolate covered bacon again.

Just when cocktails reach new heights with dessert in a glass, Grand Marnier brings cocktails to dessert.  Grand Marnier has teamed up with international pastry stars Francois Payard and Nicolas Boussin to release the first luxury Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons.  These little desserts are edible cocktails designed to complement the specific flavor notes of the four luxury drinks they accompany: Grand Cosmo, Grand Margarita, Grand Mojito and Orange Crush.  Two of the four recipes are listed below.  All four recipes are included in a cocktail booklet that ships with the Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons.  The Grand Marnier Cocktail Macaroons are sold exclusively at Payard Patisserie & Bistro in New York.  For more information read Cocktails that are Good Enough to Eat! Grand Marnier® Debuts the First Luxury Cocktail Macaroons.

Grand Marnier Cosmo Family

Grand Marnier Margarita Family

Grand Margarita

1 part Grand Marnier Liqueur

2 parts Jose Cuervo Tradicional

1 part Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

1 part Simple Syrup

Shake with ice and strain into a salt-rimmed margarita glass.  Garnish with a lime wedge.

www.GrandMarnier.com

NEW YORK, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Sweet dreams are
guaranteed when Ferrero(R) chocolates, Perrier-Jouet, ABSOLUT(R) Vodka and
Target(R) join together for an evening of mouth watering confections and
cocktails. It all happens at Ferrero(R) chocolates Present SWEET Sponsored
By Perrier-Jouet, ABSOLUT(R) and Target on Saturday, October 11, as part of
the 2008 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival presented by Food
& Wine and Travel+Leisure magazines.

Building upon its success last year, the ultimate late-night dessert
party is returning with Food Network ‘Ace of Cakes’ star Duff Goldman.
Serving alongside him will be 43 of New York City’s top pastry chefs and
confection makers who will attempt to outdo each other with dazzling
concoctions of sugar. And for some of the nearly 1,800 guests who yearn for
something with a little more bite, the city’s favorite cheesemongers will
also be on hand serving up their most creamy delectables!

The centerpiece of the Festival weekend, this year’s event will feature
sumptuous cakes, pastries and rich velvety candies created by the likes of
Pichet Ong of P*ONG, Francois Payard of Payard Patisserie and Johnny
Iuzzini of Jean Georges Restaurant. Guests can feast on Alex Stupack’s
(WD-50) Warm Brioche with Maple Syrup and Smoked Creme Anglaise; Nancy
Olsen’s (Gramercy Tavern) Pumpkin Cheesecake with Lime Whipped Cream and
Spiced Cranberries and Deborah Racicot’s (Gotham Bar & Grill) Maple Walnut
Torte with Warm Roasted Apples.

And how do you top it all off? With delicate champagnes and spirits.
Perrier-Jouet will offer guests a little extra sparkle with perfectly
paired champagne selections from their world-renowned cellars. There’s even
a flowing Absinthe Fountain where attendees will be introduced to this
exotic spirit newly available in the United States. Inside the Target Sweet
Spot celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson will be spinning her trademark blend of
music that has made her a favorite of the American Music Awards, The
Sundance Film Festival and MTV Video Music Awards in Miami among others.

Ferrero(R) chocolates invites you to save plenty of room for dessert on
October 11th when Perrier-Jouet, ABSOLUT(R) and Target(R) join them to host
SWEET, a fantasy evening of desserts and fine spirits at The Waterfront,
608 West 28th Street between 11th and 12th Avenues from 9:00 pm – 12:00 am.
To learn more or to purchase tickets at $175 each visit
http://www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com or call 866 969 2933.

Ferrero(R) chocolates is the presenting sponsor of SWEET for the second
consecutive year, supporting the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our
Strength(R), two admirable organizations fighting to end hunger in New York
and throughout the United States. For more information on SWEET, the
Ferrero family of chocolates and Ferrero’s partnership with Share Our
Strength please visit http://www.ShareSomethingSweet.com.

The Absolut Spirits Company, Inc., is a subsidiary of V&S Group, part
of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard, headquartered in New York, and
operates under the auspices of V&S Absolute Spirits in Stockholm, which
produces and markets ABSOLUT(R) VODKA, ABSOLUT CUT(TM), Level(TM) Vodka,
FRIS(R) Vodka, Plymouth(TM) Gin and Cruzan(R) Rum. The Absolut Spirits
Company, Inc. imports ABSOLUT VODKA, Level Vodka, Plymouth Gin and Cruzan
Rum in the US and distribute the brands through FutureBrands LLC, a joint
venture with Beam Global Spirits and Wine.

Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S.,
and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA. In
July, 2008, Pernod Ricard completed the acquisition of the V&S Group, the
parent company of the New York-based Absolut Spirits Co, Inc. (ASCI). In
addition to the iconic ABSOLUT(R) Vodka brand (which is sold in the United
States through Future Brands, a joint venture between ASCI and Beam Global
Spirits and Wine), Pernod Ricard USA’s leading brands include such
prestigious spirits as The Glenlivet(R) Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Chivas
Regal(R) Scotch Whisky, Jameson(R) Irish Whiskey, Wild Turkey(R) Bourbon,
Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin(R), Beefeater(R) Gin, Martell(TM) Cognac, Malibu(R)
flavored Rum, Kahlua(R) Liqueur, Hiram Walker(TM) Liqueurs, Pernod(R) and
Ricard(R); such superior wines as Jacob’s Creek(R) and Brancott Estate(R);
and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier Jouet(R)
Champagne, G.H. Mumm(R) Champagne and Mumm Napa(TM) wines. The company is
based in Purchase, New York, and has more than 900 employees across the
country. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products
responsibly and has an active campaign to promote responsible drinking.

For more information on this, please visit:
http://www.acceptresponsibility.org.

Target is based in Minneapolis and serves guests at 1,648 stores in 47
states nationwide by delivering today’s best retail trends at affordable
prices. Target is committed to providing guests with great design through
innovative products, in-store experiences and community partnerships.
Whether visiting a Target store or shopping online at Target.com, guests
enjoy a fun and convenient shopping experience with access to thousands of
unique and highly differentiated items. Target (NYSE: TGT) gives more than
$3 million a week to its local communities through grants and special
programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with
nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community
needs.

SOURCE 2008 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival

Las Vegas has plenty of attractions, but this could be a first: A 13-foot clock, made to resemble a chocolate truffle, that makes chocolate truffles.

The chocolate clock will be on display at Francois Payard’s Patisseries & Bistro in Caesars Palace. The inner mechanics of the clock are rigged to crank out truffles every 15 minutes.

We can see the next step. Which casino will be the first to introduce a slot machine that dispenses chunks of chocolate instead of coins?