I attended the press preview of the 1st Annual NYC Hot Sauce Expo last night at Jimmy’s No. 43 restaurant, where I watched a panel of judges suffer through a whopping twelve categories of hot sauces, with flavors ranging from fiery and fruity to scorching scotch bonnet. While I greatly doubt my ability to savor over 100 sauces in one sitting, I look forward to sampling these products at my leisure in my home kitchen, with a number of safety drinks handy! 

Mark your calendars for April 20-21, 2013, where the NYC Hot Sauce Expo sets up in Brooklyn, New York’s East River State Park, featuring eating contests, hot sauce awards, fire eaters and other capsaicin-oriented treats! 

—Alexa Weibel, Associate Food Editor

We asked 22 chefs for their secret supermarket staple ingredients.

Read them all here!

Behind the Scenes: The view from our New York City office today.

A little architectural detail en route to the photo studio via Senior Food Editor Nina Elder.

(Source: instagram.com)

Taco time should be all the time! (Photo via judena20)

So many delicious desserts to choose from at Daniel Boulud’s Epicerie Boulud! What would you pick? (Photo by Assistant to the Editor-in-Chief, Judi Pena)

Hearth Restaurant in New York, NY (photo by Judena20)

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RAISE A GLASS TO ELECTION DAY!

Facebook statuses and Twitter feeds are sure to exceed capacity as election results unfurl tonight. So why not take a break from your electronic devices (just this once!) and embrace the political hullabaloo—USA style—at your local bar. Here are 5 New York City bars serving up patriotic drinks in bipartisan options. We’ll drink to that!

·      Legal-aged voters can enjoy “Rum-ney” shots at SideBAR or “Barack O-Bombs” at the Village Pourhouse, both $5. Still undecided? Why not try both, just to be safe!

·      Looking for “Another 4 Years?” Indulge in the whiskey, blueberry, lemon and lime concoction over at Carmine’s in Midtown. Or if you prefer “The New Guy in Town,” sample that Absolut Cherrykran, cranberry and lemonade-laden beverage.

·      Vodka fan? Head to the Library Bar at the Hudson Hotel for “The Donkey,” while bourbon-lovers should sip on the “Mint Romney.” But hey, don’t be afraid to switch sides—this is all in the name of flavor!

·      Had a stressful day at the polls? Consider the “USA Martini” at the 40/40 Club. The indulgent mix of Godiva white chocolate liqueur, grenadine, blueberry vodka, vanilla vodka, and blue Curacao will give you a sugar high no matter who wins.

—Colleen Thornhill, Food Editorial Intern

Get more:

• Political Party F(l)avors We Love!
• How to Throw an Election Party
• 6 Yummy Patriotic Recipes 

On Sunday, volunteers gathered in high numbers to help victims of Hurricane Sandy in Rockaway, NY. One unexpected treat? Sweetery NYC, one of New York’s favorite food trucks, made a surprise arrival and started distributing free coffee and cookies to the volunteers and town’s residents, who spent the day cleaning out flooded basements and collecting much-needed supplies. Good food can warm the soul, and these folks proved it with their generosity.

For more information on how you, too, can help victims of Hurricane Sandy, visit Occupy Sandy Relief  or NYC Service.org.

—Colleen Thornhill, Food Editorial Intern

Read more from our team here!

“My good friends down the street in Brooklyn made a huge pot of beef stew to keep us cozy as they rode out the Hurricane Sandy together. It was a meal (and a night) I won’t forget.”

—Stacy Adimando, Food Editor

Coriander Old Fashioned from New York City’s Booker and Dax Bar at City Harvest’s Bid Against Hunger Fundraiser.