GritsnCheeseDish at the AC Food and Wine Festival

....At the Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival. Check back for scoop and highlights.

George Perrier says "Peace Out" to Le Bec Fin, Offers $40 Four Course Meals

Restaurateur George Perrier is saying "peace out" and Au revoir to his world renowned French restaurant Le Bec Fin after 40 years. Perrier will close his 5-star Philadelphia restaurant in spring 2011. The owner cites changing consumer tastes and wanting to do something different for the closing.

But there is a happy Le Bec Fin foodie ending: Now until the end of summer, Le Bec Fin will offer a $40 four course menu Tuedays through Fridays with seating from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in honor of their 40th anniversary Bon appetite!

Note: Perrier also owns George's in Wayne, PA, and both Table 31 at the Comcast Center in Philadelphia and Mia in Atlantic City along with his business partner Chris Scarduzio.

Foodie Love: Marcus Samuelsson and Maya Haile

A hit of "Foodie Love" to get you through the day.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson and beautiful wife Maya Haile.

Photo credit: Glamour

Caesar's Atlantic City: La Piazza

Still stuck on AC dining. Some of the best food not only comes from 5 star restaurants but from buffets. The all-you-can-eat buffet at La Piazza sends you to culinary bliss. In addition to the goodies in the picture, La Piazza offers a huge array of offerings including crab legs, steak, and desserts to name a few. Pocket hit $28--not too bad.


Pic: Mahi fish, mash potatoes w/gravy and mushrooms, fried chicken, shrimp salad w/cilantro, corn and peppers; and fried coconut shrimp.

Channel Your Inner Chef: A Day at Viking Cooking School, Harrah's Atlantic City

I attended a cooking class this afternoon at Viking Cooking School and channeled my "inner chef." Here's the dish me and my cooking mates made from scratch.

Making Dry-Rub Barbecued Salmon w/Cucumber Relish

Raw ingredients for the rub

Rub "the rub" in the salmon
Rub consists of chili powder, cilantro and other goodies

Cook it up
Serve over Rice Pilaf.
Top with your cucumber relish
(cucumber, tomatoes, lemon juice etc.)

Whala! You've created an easy dish friends and family will love.

Photo credit: Monica Peters