Arts & Culture

Saturday, December 10th- The Degenerate Craft Fair is different from your traditional holiday craft fair. Featuring over 75 artists and designers selling their work for generally under $50, some offerings include traditional craft items such as handmade jewelry, ornaments, and knitwear but also include original paintings, artist books, teeth sculptures, curious creatures and more! ( Degenerate Craft Fair )

Saturday, December 10th- The Yuletide Ball celebrates its 91st year as the cornerstone of the holiday calendar in Brownstone-Brooklyn, continuing its important work raising vital funds for early childhood education in under-privileged areas of New York City. Over 900 attendees, decked out in black tie, will be on hand to help support the signature project of the Yuletide Ball, The Brooklyn Kindergarten Society. Enjoy an open bar cocktail party, delicious desserts and dancing all night long. ( Yuletide Ball )

Sports

Sunday, December 11th- Winter sports are here this weekend. The Jets continue their playoff hunt at home with a battle against (gulp) Tyler Palko and the Kansas City Chiefs. Can the Jets win out and make a third straight AFC Championship before breaking the collective hearts of everyone in Strong Island? ( Jets-Chiefs Tickets )

Also Sunday night, The Blueshirts take on the Florida Panthers in a battle at Madison Square Garden. With a puck time of 7:30pm, if you make it after a day of Santacon, relax with the intensity of the New York Rangers to close out your weekend.( Rangers- Panthers Tickets )

Music & Entertainment

Friday, December 9th- Movie release day. Quiet night tonight? Check out these releases coming out today. Packed with a cast full of A-listers, comes “New Year’s Eve “(PG-13) starring Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Robert DeNiro, Jon Bon Jovi, and Abigail Breslin and so many more, about NYC’s most famous annual night. Also, Jonah Hill stars in “The Sitter” (R) about a college student (pre-weight loss) coaxed into babysitting the kids next door. Rated R? Count us in. Finally, read our review of Charlize Theron’s “Young Adult” (R) and figure out which theater nearest you is playing it. Check it out! Don’t blame us if you hate all of them though.

Friday, December 9th- Lotsa good music and concerts coming through this weekend. The biggest by far is Z100’s Jingle Ball, tonight at Madison Square Garden! 100% sold out, but featuring performances by Lady Gaga, Pitbull, LMFAO, Kelly Clarkson, Gym Class Heroes and more! ( Jingle Ball ). Also, tonight- a concert of somewhat different stylings- meet the LocalBozo crew at A Pale Horse Named Death from Type O Negative’s Sal Abruscato at The Studio at Webster Hall. An intimate venue, sure to be melted! (APHND Tickets). Also tonight, join my mom at the David Cook show at Irving Plaza. Can the former American Idol croon in front of a New York City audience? Guess you’ll have to see for yourself. (David Cook Tickets).

 Nightlife

Friday, December 9th- DJ Shred spins 100% Depeche Mode all night! VJ Johnny Blitz presents rare Depeche Mode videos – video screens surround the dance floor. The party has been going strong with 150+ fans since 2008. ( 3 Ten Lounge)

Saturday, December 10th- Can you handle it? Santacon NYC returns to Manhattan! Starting at 9am, you can find your starting point tonight for tomorrow’s day full of madness. Strap on a Santa suit and head on out for the bar crawl of the year. Come on, it’s as festive as it gets! ( NYC Santacon 2011)

Other

Saturday, December 10th- Pet Socialite Events, will open a one-weekend-only Holiday Pet Pop-Up Shop for pet lovers all around the metro area. The hottest names in pet fashion & products will be featured including: Animal Wrappers, Fab Dog, FouFou Dog, Hip Doggie, Jax and Bones, Oscar Newman, Pet Flys, and more! ( Pet Popup Shop )

Saturday, December 10th- It’s “pickles-n-whiskey” a tasting at Brooklyn Oenology. The weekend-long event pairs high-quality New York whiskeys – Kings County Bourbon Whiskey, Brooklyn Wheat Whiskey, and McKenzie Rye Whiskey – with the borough’s favorite pickles produced by Rick’s Picks, McClure’s, and Brooklyn Brine. ( Pickles ‘n’ Whiskey )

Sunday, December 11th- Another friendly reminder to check out the Cooking Channel’s Chuck Hughes, who we’ve featured on the LB all week as his first holiday special ‘Chuckmas’ debuts. You don’t even need to leave the friendly confines of your couch. So kick back, relax and throw on the Cooking Channel at 8pm ET for one of the most exciting young chefs whipping up food today.

And as Always, Droid users- make sure to Download the official LocalBozo.com App for FREE from the Android Market! Get all the information we can fit onto your smart phone, NOW!

As we countdown toward Christmas day, there are just tons of great holiday specials that capture the mood and the spirit of the season. Earlier this week, we ran a preview piece on Chef Chuck Hughes, the Canadian host of ‘Chuck’s Day Off’ on the Cooking Channel and recent competitor on the Food Network’s ‘The Next Iron Chef: Super Chefs.’ This weekend, Chef Hughes gets his first crack at his own holiday special as the Cooking Channel premieres ‘Chuckmas’ on Sunday, December 11th at 8pm ET, 5pm PT. For the first time, Chef Hughes will welcome cameras into his new home as he prepares a fun and festive holiday dinner for his entire family, sharing holiday hints and seasonal recipes along the way to point you in the right direction for preparing your own feast.

For those of you that can’t wait until Sunday, we’ve got yet another of Chef Hughes’ awesome recipes below for your tasting pleasure, exclusive to today’s post! For his unique take on carrot cake, make sure to look below!

LocalBozo.com was fortunate enough to meet with the esteemed Chef Chuck Hughes during his visit to New York City and get together for an exclusive video interview. Watch as we kick around his favorite haunts to visit in Manhattan, what we can expect from this weekend’s ‘Chuckmas’ special, and why this year’s holiday is such a special time for him.

Check out Chef Chuck Hughes’ site here for more information about the energetic chef and for all the details on the Cooking Channel’s ‘Chuckmas,’ replays, and how you can watch the special, check out the Cooking Channel.

Carrot Cake

Recipe courtesy: Chef Chuck Hughes

Cake:

2 cups/500 ml all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon/15 ml baking powder

2 teaspoons/10 ml baking soda

1 teaspoon/5 ml ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon/ 2.5 ml allspice

1/2 teaspoon/ 2.5 ml ground cloves

1/2 teaspoon/ 2.5 ml ground nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon/ 2.5 ml salt

1 1/2 cups/375 ml sugar

1 cup/250 ml canola oil

4 eggs

3 cups/750 ml peeled and grated carrots

1 cup/250 ml chopped pineapple

1 cup/250 ml walnuts, coarsely chopped

1/2 cup/125 ml dried cherries

1/2 cup/125 ml dried golden raisins

Frosting:

2 packages cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup/125 ml butter, softened

2 1/2 cups/625 ml icing sugar

Zest and juice of 1 orange

Maple Walnuts:

1/2 cup/125 ml maple syrup

1 cup/250 ml toasted walnuts

For the cake: With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C). Line two 8-inch (20-cm) springform pans with parchment paper.

In a bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, nutmeg and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, combine the sugar, oil and eggs with a whisk. Gently stir in the dry ingredients. With a spatula, gently fold in the carrots, pineapple, walnuts, cherries and raisins.

Divide the batter between the pans. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in the pans on a rack. Run the blade of a knife around the cakes and unmold. 


For the frosting: In a bowl, cream the cream cheese with the butter and icing sugar with an electric mixer. Add the zest and juice and continue beating until the frosting is smooth and creamy.

Spread the frosting over the top of the cakes and stack them on a platter.

For the maple walnuts: In a skillet, bring the syrup to a boil. Add the walnuts and stir continuously until the syrup has crystallized around the walnuts. Pour onto a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and let cool. Garnish the cake.

Yield: 12 servings

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Inactive Prep Time: –

Ease of preparation: easy

Active Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 30 minute

- Jane Van Arsdale

Chef Chuck Hughes has had a big year. He’s opened a new restaurant, purchased a home with his girlfriend, and all the while managed to juggle a red hot television career. But now he’s got a real challenge on his hands: hosting his first Christmas dinner at his home. And he’s invited a camera crew to tag along for “Chuckmas,” a holiday themed Cooking Channel food special perfect for the entire family.

Hughes, a native of Montreal, Quebec has set the French Canadian culinary world ablaze with his distinct style and lively personality. He is the chef and co-owner of the wildly popular Garde Manger and Le Bremner located in Old Montreal. But in recent years, Hughes has crossed the border to the delight of American food fanatics and in the process, not only proved victorious over super-chef Bobby Flay on “Iron Chef America,” but also hosts his very own series on the Cooking Channel titled “Chucks Day Off.”

“Chuckmas” will show off Hughes’ skills right in his element as he brings his magnetic charm and classic approach to cooking to the happiest time of the year. Throughout the special, viewers will get to know the Chuck Hughes the man as he attempts to manage the challenges of family and kitchen. Throughout the special, Chuck embraces the classic food culture of Quebec with a real passion and will show viewers a variety of his favorite seasonal recipes.

But before the show even airs, we’ve been given a glimpse at what’s to come. Below you’ll find our hands down favorite Christmas recipe, which will be featured on the special. The ‘Tourtiere,’ which is French for, “meat pie,” is a savory yet humble take on the traditional pot pie and will definitely appear on our holiday table. Grab a copy of our recipe and jump in the kitchen with Chuck Hughes’ for “Chuckmas” premiering this Sunday, December 11th, at 8pm ET/5pm PT only on the Cooking Channel.

Don’t start cooking that meat pie just yet! Stay tuned to LocalBozo.com all this week for the very best of New York City, including our exclusive video interview with Chuck Hughes. The celebrity chef and all around good guy took the time to speak with us about an array of topics close to his heart. The conversation ranged from his love of Manhattan around Christmas to the exciting food trends he wants you to know about! Eat well and Seasons Greetings!

 

Tourtiere (aka Meat Pie)
Recipe courtesy of Chuck Hughes
Total Time:
 7 hr 0 min

Ingredients

    4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
    4 onions, chopped
    3 tablespoons/45 ml canola oil
    3 pounds/1.5 kg ground pork
    3 pounds/1.5 kg ground veal
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    1 cup/250 ml veal stock

    1/2 teaspoon/2.5 ml ground cinnamon
    1/2 teaspoon/2.5 ml ground cloves
    1/2 teaspoon/2.5 ml ground nutmeg
    4 potatoes, grated
    6 batches Shortcrust Pastry, recipe follows, or store-bought
    2 eggs beaten with a little water, for egg wash

Directions

In a large saucepan, soften the garlic and onions in the oil. Add the pork and veal and continue cooking for about 15 minutes, stirring to crumble the meat. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Add the veal stock, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and potatoes and cook, stirring frequently, until the potatoes begin to fall apart, about 45 minutes. Let cool. Adjust the seasoning. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or until completely chilled.

With the rack in the lowest position, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Line six 9-inch (23-cm) pie plates with the pastry. Cover with the cooled meat mixture. Cover with a second crust. Brush with egg wash. Make an incision in the center. Press the edge to seal with a fork or your fingers. Bake until the crust is golden brown, 50 minutes to 1 hour.

- Jay Rubin