The first “Tools of the Trade” Online Auction began yesterday. The eBay auction puts up some of the cherished items of NYC’s best chefs up for your bidding in an effort to support Slow Food NYC’s Harvest Time in Schools Program. more…

I have slowly fallen into Web 2.0 madness. I’ve had my twitter account for awhile now, heck I even agreed to let Munch Monster have a say in the world of twitter. Granted I don’t follow many people yet, and I still resist the temptation to let the 12 people following me know that I just watched the Battlestar Galactica special on SyFy. But I jumped on twitter tonight to find some great news. Eric Ripert has been awarded legion d’honneur tonight. more…

The term “food porn” has come to mean just about any picture of food. We use it here at Munch Monster in such a way quite often. But Anthony Bourdain has no interest in mere food pictures. When Bourdain thinks “food porn” he thinks of dishes that just ooze sexiness. Those items on a plate, like crispy pork skin tacos, that are just as obscene as can be. To some these dripping dishes are pure ecstasy, and for others they are disgusting. And that’s part of what makes them so appealing. more…

This week the cheftestants are given a huge challenge: don’t mess with Eric Ripert’s Le Bernardin. Once again Chef Ripert returns to Top Chef as the “fish guy,” with the remaining six battling it out in a fish filleting Quickfire. That is then followed up with the cheftestants taking over the kitchen of Le Bernardin in NYC. The problem is they have to live up to Chef Ripert’s high standards. more…

It’s impossible to be able to cook with your favorite chefs. Unless you happen to be lucky enough to be friends with them that is. Eric Ripert, one of my personal favorites, has come up with a way to do the next best thing. He’ll design a dinner party menu, share it with you, and in turn you share the experience with him. For me it has to be one of the best uses of the internet to promote the idea of great food. more…

Top Chef is getting ready to premiere. Soon folks, soon we’ll watch the 17 new “cheftestants” jump through hoops and hopefully have a restaurant war. Padma and Chef Colicchio are back, as is mainstay Gail Simmons from Food & Wine Magazine. Sadly Ted Allen, now more known for his Top Chef and Iron Chef appearances is bowing out as a judge. Instead author and food critic Toby Young takes his place. I’m just happy to hear my favorite guest judge, Eric Ripert, is continuing his bond with Top Chef. more…