YumSugar

Join Us Today For Park(ing) Day!

YumSugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 08:00:00 -0700

In case you weren't aware, today is Park(ing) Day, a yearly event where businesses and volunteers take the time to construct parks in parking spaces in an effort to make the world a greener place.

We'll be hosting a special taste challenge at CasaSugar's Sweet Spot Park, so stop by between 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. today to participate. CasaSugar's Sweet Spot Park will be in downtown San Francisco from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Howard Street between 2nd Street and New Montgomery. In addition to our fun, one lucky winner will be walking away with a $1,000 IKEA gift card courtesy of CasaSugar, and geeksugar will be on hand to show you the latest in solar technology.

Can't make it to our Park(ing) Day celebration? We'll keep you posted with the results of our taste challenge. Are you going to visit any Park(ing) Day parks in your town?

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Aug. 4-11 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 14:45:00 -0700

So you weren't able to make it to last week's Maine Lobster Festival? Breathe easy, because this weekend presents a whole new plethora of opportunities. Choose between watermelon, sweet corn, elephant garlic, country cornbread, and others. (Hey, I never said it would be easy.) Or, if you're in Northern California, join me at the first-ever SF Chefs.Food.Wine, a four-day food and wine event in the heart of San Francisco. What will you be attending? Let us know below!

Hope, AR: Hope Watermelon Festival Festival - Aug. 6-8
San Francisco, CA: SF Chefs.Food.Wine. - Aug. 6-9
Lenox, MA: Tanglewood Wine and Food Classic - Aug. 6-9
Mendota, IL: Mendota Sweet Corn Festival - Aug. 6-9
Columbus, OH: Columbus Wine Festival - Aug. 7-8
Wilton, ME: Wilton Blueberry Festival - Aug. 7-8
Crystal Falls, MI: Humungus Fungus Fest - Aug. 7-9
North Plains, OR: Elephant Garlic Festival - Aug. 7-9
Portland, OR: The Bite of Oregon - Aug. 7-9
Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Summer Restaurant Week - Aug. 7-16
Austin, TX: Festival of Cheese - Aug. 8
Woodland, CA: Woodland Tomato Festival - Aug. 8

To see the rest, read more.

Jamesport, NY: North Fork Craft Beer BBQ and Wine Festival - Aug. 8
Paso Robles, CA: Winemakers' Cookoff - Aug. 8
East Nashville, TN: Tomato Art Fest - Aug. 8
Woodland Park, CO: Vino and Notes - Aug. 8
Anaheim, CA: Celebrity Food Show - Aug. 8-9
San Francisco, CA: The Gourmet Housewares Show - Aug. 8-10
Shelburne, VT: Vermont Fresh Network Annual Forum - Aug. 9
Clark County, KY: Slow Food Country Cornbread Supper - Aug. 10
Houston, TX: Houston Restaurant Week - Aug. 10-23

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - July 7-14, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 14:00:31 -0700

July's biggest holiday may have come and gone, but there's still so much to celebrate in the realm of Summer eats - whether it's salmon, sandwiches, or super-sized ketchup. Next Tuesday, don't forget to raise your glass to France's independence day. I plan to hightail it straight to my nearest French bistro to enjoy some moules frites. What are your plans for Bastille Day?

If you know if anything else that's going on, please feel free to chime in below.

Traverse City, MI: National Cherry Festival - July 4-11
New Orleans, LA: Tales of the Cocktail - July 8-12
Hollywood, FL: Slow Food Glades to Coast Hot Tropical Night - July 9
Cordova, AK: Copper River Wild Salmon Festival - July 9-11
Park Ridge, IL: Taste of Park Ridge - July 9-11
Pleasanton, CA: Alameda County Fair's Rib Cook-Off - July 9-12

To see the rest, read more.

Brentwood, CA: Brentwood Cornfest - July 10-12
Cambridge, MA: Taste of Cambridge - July 11
Bedford, VA: Horse and Hound Wine Festival - July 11
Sandwich, MA: SandwichFest - July 11
Los Altos, CA: Los Altos Arts and Wine Festival - July 11-12
Coral Gables, FL: International Mango Festival - July 11-12
Buffalo, NY: Taste of Buffalo - July 11-12
Santa Barbara, CA: Santa Barbara French Festival - July 11-12
Collinsville, IL: World's Largest Catsup Bottle Festival - July 12
Providence, RI: Rhode Island's World of Flavors - July 12
Seattle, WA: Seattle Chocolate Salon - July 12
Los Angeles, CA: Bastille Day Los Angeles - July 12
Athens, OH: Ohio Brew Week - July 12-18
New York, NY: Softshell Crab Extravaganza - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day on 60th Street - July 13
New York, NY: Bastille Day: La Fête Nationale - July 14

Source

Come Party With Me: Dolores Park Picnic - Drinks

partysugar — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:50:38 -0700

Typically when we go to Dolores Park on a sunny day, everyone brings a bottle (or two, or three) of wine. However, since this picnic is a plan-ahead event - rather than the normal impromptu affair - I'm making a special drink. Fresh-squeezed lemonade comes to mind when I hear the word picnic and this blushing pink version is prefect because it's spiked with vodka and sour cherries. It's a refreshing concoction that screams Summer. If you prefer not to imbibe alcohol, simply omit the vodka and enjoy the cherry lemonade on its own.

To check out the recipe, please read more.

Fizzy Sour Cherry Lemonade
From Gourmet

Ingredients

2 lb fresh or thawed frozen sour cherries (1 qt), stemmed and pitted
1 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 to 1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups vodka (optional)
2 to 3 cups chilled sparkling water
fresh sour cherries with stems, garnish

Directions

Blend cherries in a blender at low speed until skins have broken down enough to brightly color liquid.
Pour through a sieve into a 2-quart pitcher, pressing on and discarding solids. Add lemon juice and sugar (to taste), stirring until sugar is dissolved.
Pour 3 tablespoons vodka (if using) into each of 8 tall (10-ounce) glasses filled with ice. Add 1/2 cup cherry lemonade to each and top off with sparkling water.

Serves 8.

Make ahead: Sour cherry lemonade can be made 1 day ahead and chilled, covered.

Print recipe with images | without images

Come Party With Me: Dolores Park Picnic - Desserts

partysugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:30:50 -0700

Although one can buy the famed Bi-Rite ice cream around the corner and creme brulee in Dolores Park, I still plan on making a delicious picnic dessert for my sister and her friends. The menu is healthy and light, so this theme will continue with a fruity, melt-in-your mouth crumble.

I chose this recipe because it utilizes blackberries: I'm always making sweet treats that feature strawberries or blueberries, but rarely plump juicy blackberries. These blackberry crumb bars come together quickly and simply and can be made up to three days in advance. To serve this recipe at your next picnic, read more.

Blackberry Crumb Bars
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, and 1/2 cup (1 stick), room temperature, plus more for pan
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled), plus more for pan
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 containers (5 ounces each) blackberries

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. Line bottom with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on two sides; butter and flour paper, tapping out excess.
Make topping: In a medium bowl, whisk together melted butter, brown sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; add 1 cup flour, and mix with a fork until large moist crumbs form. Refrigerate topping until ready to use.
In a medium bowl, whisk together remaining 3/4 cup flour, baking powder, and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; set aside.
In a large bowl, using an electric mixer, beat room-temperature butter, confectioners' sugar, and vanilla until light and fluffy; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Reduce speed to low; mix in flour mixture. Spread batter evenly in pan; sprinkle with blackberries, then chilled topping.
Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted in center comes out with moist crumbs attached, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool completely in pan. Using paper overhang, lift cake onto a work surface; cut into 16 squares. To store, keep in an airtight container at room temperature, up to 3 days.

Makes 16.

Print recipe with images | without images

Paul McCartney and Friends Launch "Meat Free Mondays"

YumSugar — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:06:21 -0700

For those of you who haven't become recession flexitarians just yet, Sir Paul McCartney and friends want you to start somewhere. That's why today the Beatle and other celebs launched the UK version of "Meat Free Mondays," a campaign that already exists in the US and Australia to convince consumers to forgo meat one day a week. To check out which celebrities were in attendance, read more.

At the UK party, McCartney - along with fellow conservationists Stella McCartney, Yoko Ono, Kate Bosworth, Moby, and Kelly Osborne - walked the green carpet in London's St. James's Park to draw attention to climate change issues. There, the singer emphasized that going meatless even once a week means fewer greenhouse gas emissions from the world's livestock population. "I thought this was a great idea," McCartney told reporters. "To just reduce your meat intake maybe by one day a week and this would seriously benefit the planet . . . You've had too much over the weekend anyway and you're all running down to the gym to try and work it off, so just have a meat-free Monday."

With increased concern over greenhouse gases and more of a focus on affordable and healthy options, meatless eating has become a popular concept, even taking flight in the progressive town of Ghent, Belgium. Although I've already had a couple of meaty bites today, I'd consider implementing this beginning next week.

What about you: do you think you could go meatless one day a week?

View 6 Photos ›

Source

Yum's June Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 05:50:42 -0700

This morning when I woke up and realized it was the first day of June, only one thought came to mind: hello Summer! With its warm weather and long days, June is a perfect time for outdoor cooking and alfresco entertaining. Whether you're hosting a chic soirée by the pool or packing up your family for a picnic in the park, here are six items that will make your month magnificent and memorable.

View Slideshow ›

Happy Hour: 2007 Schloss Schönborn Estate Riesling

partysugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 16:15:28 -0700

It's National Riesling week and while you could enjoy a discount on European Riesling at a number of restaurants in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Miami, and Las Vegas, you can just as easily celebrate by sipping a bottle in the comforts of your own home. I highly recommend my current Riesling of choice, the 2007 Schloss Schönborn Estate Riesling. It's a juicy, drinkable white with a slight sweetness. The aroma is peachy, the taste minerally, and the finish crisp and light. Riesling is an excellent between season wine because it pairs with light salads and heartier dishes. I enjoyed Schloss Schönborn on a warm day at the park and was surprised at how smooth and friendly it was. How do you feel about Rieslings? What will you drink to toast Riesling week?

A Delightful Day at See's Candies

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:30:34 -0700

Today isn't just St. Patrick's Day; it also happens to be American Chocolate Week! To celebrate - and because I had so much fun quizzing you on See's Candies last month - I took a rare private tour of the company's South San Francisco plant. When I walked through the parking lot smelling nothing but chocolate, I knew I was in for a treat. To join me on my adventures, keep reading.

View Slideshow ›

Taste Test: Crunch vs. Krackel

partysugar — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:15:01 -0700

Last Friday after hearing the news that Hershey's had changed its chocolate formula, YumSugar and I decided to perform a taste test. Luckily we had the perfect place to host a chocolate taste test - CasaSugar's space at Park(ing) Day! For the taste test, we pitted Nestle's Crunch against Hershey's Krackel. To check out the taste test in action watch the video below!

To see the results, read more.

We blind folded each participant. Next we gave them a bite of Krackel followed by a bite of Crunch. The taster had to answer the following three questions:

Which is the Krackel and which is the Crunch?
Which tastes better?
Which tastes more chocolate-y?

According to our tasters:

47 percent think Krackel tastes better
53 percent think Crunch tastes better
79 percent could identify when blindfolded, while 21 percent guessed wrong!
33 percent thought Krackel was more chocolatey
67 percent thought Crunch was more chocolatey
Split on which was crunchier

If you were to choose one, which do you prefer: Hershey's Krackel or Nestle's Crunch?

View 11 Photos ›