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A Sweet Saturday at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 14:00:23 PDT

After porking out at Charlie Palmer's Pigs & Pinot on Friday, I did the hardest possible thing. I mustered up the energy to get out of bed the next morning and head to a 50,000-square-foot pavilion filled with nothing but chocolate at the San Francisco Chocolate Salon. From chocolate fudge to chocolate liqueur to chocolate-covered Oreos, I left practically bathing in the stuff - and I still hadn't tried everything!

To see what I did sample, read more.

See You in South Beach!

partysugar — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:30:00 PST

This weekend the who's who of the food industry are taking an early Spring break and heading to Florida for the Food Network's annual South Beach Wine and Food Festival. We're so excited, because for the first time ever, we are going! We'll be soaking up the sun, watching informative seminars, tasting amazing eats, and attending awesome parties. For up to the minute details, follow us on Twitter and be sure to check back here next week for all our exclusive coverage. And, if you'll be there too, come up and say hi!

Get Ready For the South Beach Wine & Food Festival!

partysugar — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 07:50:41 PST

This year for the very first time ever, I will be attending the Food Network's annual festival in South Beach, Florida. I've been wanting to go to SOBE since YumSugar launched back in 2006, so I am totally excited! To prepare myself, I thought I would take a closer look at the event. Here you will find out more details, which seminars, tastings, and parties I will be at.

Titanic Tomato Fight Takes Over Valencia, Spain

YumSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:58 PDT

For many, corn boils and clambakes are the highlights of the season. But others look forward to very different Summer festivities - like the La Tomatina in Valencia, Spain. Yesterday, the town of Buñol, Spain (population: 9,000), held its annual world-famous tomato food fight. The event, which is on the last Wednesday in August, is an all-out escapade that involves more than 100 tons of overripe tomatoes, draws over 40,000 visitors from around the world, and spares absolutely no one.

To learn more about it and check out a gallery of images,

It's part of a weeklong festival that includes music, parades, dancing, fireworks, and a massive paella cooking contest. The hourlong exchange, which takes place in Buñol's Plaza del Pueblo, dates back to the mid-1940s. Legend has it that the fight either began as a spat between local merchants, or when disgruntled citizens started throwing tomatoes at politicians. Après-argument, participants hose one another off and jump in the Buñol River, while fire trucks hose down the plaza.

This looks disgusting yet fun, so I'm adding it to my bucket list of things to do. Can you imagine how much tomato pulp the photographer must've been covered in?! Would you participate in La Tomatina?

View 16 Photos ›

Food and Drink Factoids From Slow Food Nation

YumSugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:30:12 PDT

I learned a great deal during my experience at Slow Food Nation - not just about sustainable eating, but also all about gourmet food in general, from rice to coffee. To share all my foodie facts with you, I've put together a fun quiz. How much might you learn? There's only one way to find out!

Take the Quiz

Slow Food Nation Highlights: Marketplace

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 05:30:25 PDT

One of the main events of last weekend's Slow Food Nation was the Marketplace, a farmers market where the public could buy produce directly from producers. Farmers from 30 different counties in California were on-hand to sell everything from mushrooms to vinegar. Check out some of my favorite moments here.

Fast Facts From Slow Food Nation, Part Two

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 09:00:59 PDT

I had a full serving of education on my proverbial plate at Slow Food Nation this past weekend. Yesterday I tested your knowledge about the festival itself, and now I've got some more questions about what I learned. How much do you know about Slow Food? Take my quiz to find out.

Take the Quiz

Fast Facts From Slow Food Nation

YumSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 05:30:39 PDT

I had a full serving of education on my proverbial plate at Slow Food Nation this past weekend, where I listened to panelists, watched live cooking demonstrations, and toured taste pavilions galore. Are you curious to learn more about slow food? Take my quiz to see how much you know!

Take the Quiz

Slow Food Nation Highlights: Street Food

YumSugar — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:00:49 PDT

One of my favorite attractions at this weekend's Slow Food Nation was Slow on the Go, the tented market where vendors sold gourmet, ready-to-eat food. Like street food, the offerings were served out of carts and stands, but unlike typical fare, signs explained exactly where each ingredient was from. Here are a few of my favorite moments.

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 19 to 25, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:07 PDT

This Saturday is the Summer solstice, and if you're looking for a way to enjoy the longest day of the year, there are still oodles of food festivals happening all over the country. Strawberry season is in full force, peaches are popping up in Alabama, and a massive barbecue competition is going down in our nation's capital. Take a look at some of the best fests happening in the next week.

Costa Mesa, CA: Summer Food & Wine Festival - June 19
Cincinnati, OH: National Homebrewers Conference - June 19-21
Brooklyn Park, MN: Tater Days - June 19-22
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest - June 19-22
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 19-22
Norfolk, VA: Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival - June 19-22
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days - June 20-22
Clayton, NY: Great New York State Food and Wine Festival - June 20-22
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign-Urbana - June 20-22
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 20-22
Clanton, AL : Chilton County Peach Festival - June 20-28
Washington, DC: Safeway 16th Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 21-22

More local food events, so

Tuckerton, NJ: Bayman's Seafood and Music Festival - June 21
Cockeysville, MD: Great Grapes Wine, Art, and Food Festival - June 21-22
Huron, OH: Mulberry Creek Herb Fair - June 21-22
Litchfield, CT: A Taste of the Litchfield Hills - June 21-22
New York, NY: The Bar Show - June 22-23

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