It's The HoliGAY Season!

So I know I've been MIA for over a week but between working like a slave and baking up a storm to send out my Gay Gourmet™ holiday packages and I haven't had a moment to breathe, blog, nor shop for people's Christmas gifts! Well, except for Momma Gladys who is getting fabulous items as always! (I mean I had to go through a bottle of Visine® tired eye relief I've been working so hard!)

So let me catch you up and share some last minute gift ideas as I scramble to make some last minute purchases myself!!

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Well my good friend and NYC employee Christopher Miller had his annual HoliGAY party which is always a blast! I have to mention it for three reasons...

1. I always end up drinking a little too much. I'm always surprised by how drunk I am and how quickly it happens! (see exhibit A) But I'm always glad I'm in good company that is equally as jolly!!

2. Chris is not a cook but boy does he know how to order some pasta for a house full of Gays and employ his friends to make dessert! I always say if you really can't cook then you better have a little black book set aside of people who can! Special shout outs have to go to that lasagna that was delivered and John Mcgarry who can throw down when it comes to holigay cookies!!

(Exhibit A.)

3. I ended up bringing a faboo holigay cocktail! (and I ask how'd i get so drunk..ha)

The Caramel Apple Bowl

1. Bottle Svedka Vanilla - (I know, I know..I'm Stolichnaya Vodka's biggest fan and it seems like blasphemy for me to be using Svedka but they are both fabulous in their own right and to be honest when you're on a budget Svedka is a fantastic vodka that you can buy for under 20 bucks! You'll always be my wife & love Stoli but I unfortunately I am polyamorous and have taken on a mistress!)

1. gallon of your favorite Fresh Apple Cider

several packages of candy canes for garnish.

In a very large punch bowl combine bottle of Svedka with gallon of cider. Ladle over ice, garnish with a candy cane and drink responsibly!! DELICIOSO!

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My favorite little gay marketing firm Target 10 also had a fabulous holigay party at the lounge at Elmo! You may know Elmo as it is owned by Bob Pontarelli and Stephen Heighton of Barracuda and now Industry Bar fame!

I have to say I love the lounge at Elmo and Christmas isn't Christmas if I don't attend at least one event there during the season. Plus they make a fierce Blood Orange Cosmo...maybe they'll share a recipe with me so I can pass it on to all of you! It's FIERCE!

The Target 10 Holigay party was a blast and I even met some fabulous ladies from Ink & Roses PR. (See Exhibit B.)






Good times were had by all!!
Pauric & Louise
Matt in a sensible riding cap!









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Continuing on through the holigays I was honored to be invited by the Fabulous Paige Turner (click the link & then see exhibits C. D. E.)

to check out Next Magazine's Snowball Event at The Limelight Marketplace.



So I grabbed my besty Gabe, hailed a reindeer and off we went! (see exhibit F)
Although I am a Limelight purist and remember what it was like in the days of yore (& still wish it was that way) I have to say that it's quite beautiful what they have done to the space.


The Snowball event was a blast! Paige Turner did a bang up job of hosting as always, there were tons of giveaways, friendly sales people ready to give you free samples, tiny noshes of grilled veggies and dips, free & DELICIOUS VeeV Spirit drinks (the sage cocktail was my favorite) and last but certainly not least the hot boys of Undergear (see exhibit G) helping Ms. Turner and giving away cute undies and delicious Mango Lip Balms!! Santa was also there somewhere but he definitely was upstaged by his "elves." I love you MARK where ever you are!! sigh...

Shopping highlights were definitely the counter at Mari's New York..try the Thai Coffee Brownie! YUM!! and the OM beauty products...ugh I could've spent a fortune!

Gabe & I

Undergear Elves. (Mark is on the right..so what if he can't talk intelligently about art?)

Me & the boys!


Thank You NEXT Magazine, Paige Turner & VeeV for what was a most fabulous evening!



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Speaking of products I have to take a moment to mention Korres Yoghurt Body Butter. (extra moisturising cream for dry skin conditions)

(insert old timey jingle here...ha! it's coming as soon as I can think of it!)

but seriously..

If you haven't discovered Korres RDW (run don't walk) to get some!!! I have to say I'm not a body butter type of gay but I received a bottle as part of a gift and I decided to give it a try as my apartment is freezing so any extra layers I'll take!

Well, since I started using it I've already gone through a bottle and ran out to buy another! I'm OBSESSED! It smells delicious, it's 94.4% natural, and it's doing a bang up job protecting my skin during this winter in NYC!! brrr.

Who would've thought Shea butter, Quince extract, sunflower, avocado & almond oils would make me a body butter junkie? The people at Korres did and you all need to know about it! (no they aren't paying me for this...I'm honestly obsessed)

So spread the work my little gays and gay friendlies!! It comes in all sorts of scents and it's a perfect last minute gift for anyone!!! (well except my family cause if I bought it I'd probably keep it for myself..so you're on your own Muñoz family!)
They also have a full line of other body/beauty products!


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Other great last minute holigay gift ideas can be found here..

The Original Flask

gifts for food people

My favorite/fabulous gift guide

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What else? hmm.. I put up a fabulous little tree named Liza in my tiny apartment...and they said it wouldn't fit! I showed them! (don't you get any ideas...) (see exhibit H)

(exhibit H)
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Oh! The Gay Gourmet™ holiday gift box included some fabulous things!

White & dark chocolate Peppermint thin-mint cookies
Martha's Rosemary Carmel Corn (which I was calling Rosemary Clooney Corn)
Figgy Sugar Cookies with a Brandy Glaze (the brandy glaze makes it!)
Salted Pumpkin Caramels (my favorite)
Rainbow Sugar Cookies (recipe to come)
and Pecan Sassies! (orange ginger and sour cherry) (recipe to come)

This took forever to make and put together but it was worth it and if you were lucky enough to get one you know what Im talking about! Even hottie Andy Cohen of Bravo fame tweeted that he got the package and I quote "mmmmm"


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Other than that I hope you all have a happy and healthy Christmas/holigay and a safe and prosperous New Year! Drink and Eat your faces off (resposibly of course) cause you can go on the Weight Watchers Pointsplus™ program starting January 1st!

Oh and look how cute my niece Penelope is!!! If this doesn't make you feel all warm, fuzzy and Christmasy I don't know what will!!

Frankly™ catching up with The Gay Gourmet™

Frank is an everyday guy. Borough born & bred he goes to work, comes home, has a beer..lives the Italian American dream! He is also the annoying next door neighbor who always has something to say, an opinion to give or a poignant question to ask... and always unprovoked!

Just recently he came knocking at my blog door A-GAIN and after berating me cause I haven't been around to make him some good braciole he told me that he had some things to say about past posts...so without further adieu..


Frankly on Queery the Gay Gourmet Vol.1






Frankly discovers Momma Gladys






Frankly on Deconstucting a Turkey




It's Frankly who he is...




Deliciously Living,

Michael Muñoz
The Gay Gourmet™
©2010 Michael Muñoz

GOURMET ALERT! - INDUSTRY BAR NYC OPENS! - The Gay Gourmet™

Well Gays, Lesbians, bachelorettes, fruit flys, Jerseyites and everyone in between Hells Kitchen welcomed a new fancy GAY bar last night called Industry! Owners Bob Pontarelli and Stephen Heighton (of Barracuda & Elmo fame) boasted a 4,000 square foot space with a game room complete with pool table, performance space, lounge & party room with a private bar and boy did they come through! Just walking up to the front door one gets this feeling that the space is going to be intimidatingly huge and fabulous!

I walked in last night not knowing what to expect with it being a Tuesday night & ass-cold outside! What I walked into was a party to which I was apparently late and it was only 8:45pm! Mind you the doors opened at 8! The space upon walking in was not the intimidatingly huge that one gets from the entrance but warm and cozy as it is sectioned off in a fabulous way...oh yea and gorgeous with tons of amber lighting! (which really is the best lighting..why everywhere isn't amber lit is beyond me) People were already knees deep in liquor and fully exploring the space. What was a Gourmet to do but jump right into a Hendricks gimlet and booty shake it through the space myself!

4,000 sq feet indeed..I mean I didn't measure it but I'm pretty good at guestimating size if you know what i mean! (Don't you get any ideas) The performance space is a good size with a cute loungey area and the back bar was definitely the place to be as it was a little hidden and therefore easier to get a drink! (What? I like a good gimlet!)

I knew I was in love immediately for a few reasons...Lady Bunny spinning hot tracks all night & dancing her face off in the booth, Flotilla De Barge whom I haven't seen out in forever, Hendricks & Stoli Wild Cherry were amongst the liquors behind the bar, hot boys a-plenty and some of my favorite faces from the hood were in attendance!

Rumor had it that Natasha Bedingfield was playing at 12:30am but this Gourmet has been having long days and needed to get some shut eye before work so unfortunately I couldn't stay much past midnight. A source told me that at 1am she still hadn't gone on so maybe it was just a rumor in passing? I guess I'll have to see what the neighborhood buzz is to really find out!

A Homo-fabulous mention has to go out to the boys of OutspokenNYC who helped get that party started by throwing their first Tweet-up party! @aurosan @TJKelly10 @StevieNYC @jonathan_bender @TylerHWilliams (of Queery The Gay Gourmet™ fame) @DrCorton @Pardee are certainly gay, opinionated and super fun to be around! It was great to finally meet and connect with them seeming how our twitter conversations and recommendations are endless!! Maybe it's even time to join forces and write a joint blog or do a Gay Gourmet™ homo-fab video blog just for you all!! Who knows?!?

What I do know is that Hell's Kitchen is now more fabulous than ever with this new addition and if you are in the hood definitely stop by and check them out! Tell them I sent you! It may not get you very far but at least you'll be the fabulous one in the know!!

Deliciously Living,

Michael Muñoz
The Gay Gourmet™
©Michael Muñoz 2010

Photo Highlights from the opening!!


The Gay Gourmet™ & Tyler H Williams finally meet!


Fabulous friends - Anthony & Francesca Darling!


Of course I had to get in the middle!


Hey Ladies!


Werqin' a hot orange chain that I thought was yellow last night!





Flotilla Photo Shoot!





Paige Turner & I in our bathroom Headshot shoot!

Man Keepin Mac & Cheese!

They say the way to a man’s heart it through his stomach. Well I don’t know who “they” are but if there is any truth to that this recipe will have them on their knees beggin’ for more! (And who doesn’t like to be a little dominant every once in a while?)

This serves 8-10 in a 13x9in pan.

Sometimes I get small rectangular baking dishes and separate it into smaller batches and then freeze it for later!

That way you can have an intimate evening for two with a smaller portions & leave room for dessert if you know what I mean!!

8 oz block of yellow or white sharp cheddar (reserve about a handful for topping)
8oz pepper jack (reserve about a handful for topping)
4 oz of muenster cheese
6oz of manchego
small canister of ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1/2 cup grated Romano

1/2 stick butter.
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup of flour

1 tsp grated nutmeg
Heaping tsp of paprika
6 or so squirts of Frank's Hot Sauce (or any Louisiana style hot sauce Frank's is the best though!)
heaping tsp of freshly ground pepper

3 cloves garlic (grated, pureed or pressed)
1 box of pasta shells

I cup of diced Proscuiitto
13x9x2 pan or dish.

Start to boil water for pasta on a back burner & preheat oven to 350

In a heavy bottomed sauce pot, over medium heat begin to melt butter. Once butter is soft whisk in flour to make a roux. Once combined add milk and whisk till thickened, about 3 mins or so. Add nutmeg, paprika & Frank's Hot Sauce.

Add cheddar, jack, muenster & manchego cheeses handfuls at a time till melted and combined! Add 1/4 cup of both Parmesan and romano as well. Depending on your stove you may have to lower heat to medium low as to not burn cheese sauce.

Season water with salt and add pasta to boiling water and cook till Al Dente as pasta will continue to cook in oven with cheese sauce..so you don't want it too soft.

Once pasta is done put it in pan and stir in garlic and pepper. Carefully pour in cheese sauce and stir! Top with ricotta cheese and smooth evenly over top to create a nice creamy layer! Once evenly spread top with reserved Cheddar, Jack, Parmesan & Romano. Put in oven for about 20 mins till bubbly and then under broiler for about 5 to 8 mins till top is crusty, golden and the littlest bit burnt!

As mac is baking, heat a pan with 1tsp of Olive Oil over medium heat and add Proscuitto. cook till crisp! Once crisp transfer to a paper towel to drain oil.

Pull Man Keepin' Mac out of the oven and top with crisp Prosciutto! Let sit for 10 to 15 mins to cool slice and serve!!!



Deliciously Living!

Michael Muñoz
The Gay Gourmet™

©Michael Muñoz 2010

EAT ME OUT! Ep.1 Peter's Since 1969

Eat Me Out is the segment of my blog where I give you the inside look at new Gourmet places that I find and LOVE!!

The jingle kinda looks like this!

"When You're trying to decide where to eat,
And you wanna find a place that can't be beat,
Who's the gay with the hand on the where about?
Take a seat, listen up & eat me out!"


I am so honored and happy that this FABULOUS restaurant is my first guest on Eat Me out!

Peter's Since 1969 is an amazing place! When you walk in it feels like walking into someone's home and the food is definitely soul warming!! But wait..forget about reading this blog watch the video and let me and owner Melissa Magal take make your mouth water!! (at the food not at how hot we are...either way drool on!)





Peter's Since 1969 (Williamburg)
168 Bedford Ave
(between 7th St & 8th St)
Brooklyn, NY 11211
(718) 388-2811
Mon-Sun 12 pm - 11 pm


Peter's Since 1969 (Hells Kitchen)
587 9th Avenue New York, NY 10019 -
(212) 868-0600
Open Daily 11am-11pm



Many thanks to Melissa & her husband Arnan for being fabulous people and making such good food!!

Deliciously Living,

Michael Muñoz
The Gay Gourmet™
©Michael Muñoz 2010

Wishful Eating Vol. 2 Fruitcakes & Abercrombie & Fitch

COCKTAIL TIME - Pour it - Sit - Sip & Read!

Hot Apple Bang!

2oz Stoli Wild Cherry
4oz Apple Cider
1 cinnamon stick

Get large cozy mug

Heat Apple Cider with cinnamon stick till hot over medium heat in sauce pan
Pour in mug add Stoli Wild Cherry!

Sip carefully & Enjoy!

As always drink responsibly!
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SO the holiday season is upon us and I don’t know about you but each year that passes it feels less and less festive to me. Maybe it’s because Radio City starts advertising for the Christmas Spectacular way too early or maybe it’s just because the day before Halloween I saw Christmas stuff at Duane Reade.

I LOVE Christmas! I mean I'm the type of guy who wants to be snowed in at a ski lodge/log cabin sitting round the fire, my baby by my side (Yigit Pura will you marry me?), family and friends singing carols, drinking till they do things they regret, Judy Garland’s Christmas Special on the television and the Christmas Goose ready for the feast! I know Vomit! Right? Call me a hopeless romantic or whatever but I will have my cinematic Christmas one day! Just not in October!!

I think where I’m heading with today’s segment is that there is a right way to do “the holigays” (yes HoliGAYS) and a wrong way AND I feel like most choose the latter!

Im not saying everyone has to have a Dolly Parton Christmas or whatever my version of Christmas is. But what I am saying is that everyone gets so crazy about the holidays for the wrong reasons. I mean Black Friday isn’t called Black Friday because it’s joyous. It’s awful! Does anyone really need to be at work at Macy’s at 4am so Aunt Jo and Grandma Lil can knock them over because there is only one leopard print Snuggie® left? NO! (even though they are cute!)

The best gift my Momma Gladys, ever gave me, besides life, was this handmade sterling silver necklace.

Now every year we would have a discussion about how I didn’t really need clothes. I would say “MA! Do not buy me any Abercrombie & Fitch! I may have pictures of their models everywhere but their clothes really don’t fit me!” She’d smile and nod and Christmas morn I would end up with all these A&F clothes with the excuse "What if you want to wear a shirt under it?" (Im gay we wear tight clothes...it was a long battle but she gets that now)

This particular Christmas I was doing a show at a fabulous little theatre in Wisconsin and I had mentioned in passing that I would love to have a lumberjack-chic wardrobe to take with me… (what?? Im gay!!!) You know what I’m talking about…red & black plaid, shearling insulated jacket, Timberlands etc etc. I came home for 2 days for Christmas and on Christmas morn she began to get teary-eyed. When I asked what was wrong she replied “I didn’t know what to get you and I was gonna buy you clothes but you said not to. But I went all over the city looking for that jacket you wanted and all I found was one at this place called Rags-a-GoGo and I couldn’t bring myself to buy you “vintage” clothing…so all I got you was this…”

Well I certainly felt ungrateful…but upon opening the necklace I myself felt a little verklempt! She said it meant luck & prosperity, it looked like a squiggle to me and for all I cared it could’ve meant ice cream and sausage. The fact of the matter was that she had put so much thought into this Christmas and didn’t fall into the let me buy things for my kids just cause I have to mindset. (Not that momma G didn't put thought into the A&F clothes but you know what I mean..it was a long battle and it really meant something)


No I didn’t have a fireplace, nor was I surrounded by a family of 400 but it was the warmest Christmas I could remember and it sure felt like what I long for every year.

I guess the moral of the story is don’t buy a beef stick just because you see the Hickory Farms catalog all over Aunt Ida’s house but put a little thought into it. Ooo big revelation Gay Gourmet..”It’s the thought that counts” like we haven’t heard that before and what does this have to do with food anyway?!?!

Well, no.1 I would put large sums of money on the fact that this would really and actually be true if people were really thinking about the holiday and of the people as opposed to just thinking about getting it over with.

No.2 Wishful Eating is my segment that is basically conversations over coffee, breakfast, lunch etc that I have with you. Feel free to talk back!

No.3 I am at Starbucks…”Who are you to judge me?” having a Weight Watcher® friendly Skim Cap. And a delicious “James” Sandwich from City Sandwich (649 9th Ave NYC).

Really folks, as we get into the hustle and bustle I wish you the most joyous of holiday seasons this year. And remember whether your Kris Kringle is the poor unfortunate at the office, your secret crush or your deaf Uncle Moe everyone deserves their own Jimmy Stewart Holiday, bells and all. So go the extra mile and maybe if you walk down one more street or in one more outlet you’ll find that fruit cake that’s is liquor soaked (how bad can fruit cakes really be?), the non-existent skinny section at Abercrombie or that perfect something!

Here’s to an extra GAY holiday this year! Make it one to remember!

Deliciously Living,

Michael Munoz
The Gay Gourmet™

You may find some fun meaningful items via 3 people & their gift guides that I'm completely obsessed with! (Pink = link, CLICK AAAAAWAY!)

Ms. Rachel Zoe - so good!

Tyler H Williams worked hard on this list and it shows!!

It's New York & Im a New Yorker

oh and a great holiday cover by the HOT boys of Astoria Boulevard to put you in the mood! YUM!

Click here to download their hot Christmas Cover!

Frankly!™ Ep.1 Frankly asks who is The Gay Gourmet™?

Frank is an everyday guy. Borough born & bred he goes to work, comes home, has a beer..lives the Italian American dream! He is also the annoying next door neighbor who always has something to say, an opinion to give or a question to ask... and always unprovoked!

In this first Episode of Frankly!™ Frank knocked on my blog door to find out who I am...



Well Frank, I'm glad you're curious! The Gay Gourmet™ is not a what it's a whom! And the Whom is me! Michael Muñoz! I had this idea two years ago, while watching and being bored by normal cooking shows, to put together a show that encompasses my love for food, musical theatre, style & culture. A reality/variety/cooking show if you will. Well, 2 years later here we are with the blog and a lot of momentum and I couldn't be happier!

Things to coming in the next weeks/month.. The Gay Gourmet™ theme song, fun musical food dance numbers, more recipes, interviews an lots of gay love from yours truly.

So no I unfortunately haven't come across a gay carrot just yet..but if I do I'll be sure to save it for you. As for what's "gay" about it.. I guess it's just one gay man's opinion on the world as he sees it..fortunately it revolves around good food and gay(happy) times!

Deliciously Living,

Michael Muñoz
The Gay Gourmet™

©2010 Michael Muñoz