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7 Spectacular US Farmers Markets

YumSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 06:50:45 -0700

Last week, US Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack proclaimed Aug. 2-8 as National Farmers Market Week. In the past year, the number of farmers markets has grown nearly five percent, and there's good reason to get behind them: they're sustainable, community-driven, and personal. But perhaps most importantly, they're fun! While all farmers markets have a way with engaging all the senses, here are some of our top picks from across the country. Keep reading for greenmarkets worth seeking out.
Source: Flickr User ahl

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Would You Watch a 5-Year-Old's Cooking Show?

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 10:30:30 -0800

Last week The Oregonian had an interesting piece about a 5-year-old child who has his own cooking show. On Portland Community Media's show The Big Kitchen With Food, kid chef Julian Kreusser shows viewers how to make chocolate chip zucchini bread, a killer spaghetti sauce, and persimmon smoothies. To learn more about the pint-sized chef and check out a video of his show, read more.

It's possible that before he was teething, Julian was cooking. By the ripe old age of three, he was scrambling eggs and inventing recipes such as toasted green olives. The next year, he decided he wanted to cook on TV. And at his current age, he's already achieved his goal.

"He actually understands what he's doing. He's not just following orders," explains Portland Community Media executive director Sylvia McDaniel. In fact, all of the show's recipes are Julian originals - and so is the show's theme song. More importantly, viewers love him: "It has potential to be a national program," she says.

I'm not sure what to think. On the one hand, both Julian and the show are adorable, but on the flip side, I wonder if he should be on a playground instead of a televised cooking show. Watch the video below and tell me: What do you think of the kid chef?

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Yummy Links: From German Beer to Healthful Holiday Eating

partysugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:15:47 -0800

Five German beers worth trying. - The Atlantic
Do you live in Miami or Portland? Get excited because Eater has expanded to those cities. - Eater
Frank Bruni's memoir Born Round may be turned into a television show. - Grub Street NY
Learn what Josh Ozersky will be up to now that he has bid the Feedbag adieu. - The Feedbag
Scripps Networks has acquired the Travel Channel, meaning that the Food Network is back in bed with Anthony Bourdain. - Eat Me Daily
Must make: creamy corn soup with roasted poblano chili. - Serious Eats
Everything you need to know about stuffing. - The Epi-Log
How to stay healthy during the holidays. - Chow

Source: Flickr User Maggie Hoffman

Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 20-27, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:30:55 -0700

This weekend, the T-minus one week countdown to Halloween begins. If you aren't too busy planning your fright night agenda and costume, take the time to hit up some of this month's biggest events, like Chicago's Champagne fête or the annual Kohler Food & Wine Experience. As the weather gets rainier, I'd personally love to spend a sun-spilled weekend eating my way through Scottsdale.

Know of any events we haven't included on the list? Feel free to pipe up about them below.

San Francisco, CA: Root Division's Annual Art/Food Auction - Oct. 22
Scottsdale, AZ: Crave Arizona - Oct. 22-24
Portland, ME: Harvest on the Harbor - Oct. 22-24
Kohler, WI: Kohler Food & Wine Experience - Oct. 22-25
Chicago, IL: Tour de Champagne Chicago - Oct. 23
Chicago, IL: Beef: From Plains to Plate - Oct. 23-25
Fredericksburg, TX: Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest - Oct. 24
Lexington, NC: Barbecue Festival - Oct. 24
Detroit, MI: Harvest Beer Festival - Oct. 24
Orlando, FL: Central Florida Veg Fest - Oct. 24
Lynchburg, TN: Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue - Oct. 24

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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

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Noteworthy Nibbles - July 21-28, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:15 -0700

Food events this week are all over the map, both literally and figuratively speaking. This weekend, I'm hoping to join some friends in a budget- and eco-friendly Slow Food potluck dinner. If I've got the time, I'd love to make it out to the world-famous Gilroy Garlic Festival, where garlic lovers come in droves to sample everything from garlic fries to garlic ice cream.

One day, I'd would enjoy making a trip to the Oxnard Salsa Festival and Indiana's Pierogi Fest. What will you be attending this week? Let us know below!

Fremont, MI: National Baby Food Festival - July 22-25
Farmerville, LA: Louisiana Watermelon Festival - July 23-25
Portland, OR: Oregon Brewers Festival - July 23-26
South Boston, VA: Virginia Cantaloupe Festival - July 24
Ypsilanti, MI: Summer Beer Festival - July 24-25
Frankfort, IN: Frankfort Hot Dog Festival - July 24-25
Summit, NJ: Summit Wine & Food Festival - July 24-26
Gilroy, CA: Gilroy Garlic Festival - July 24-26
Whiting, IN: Pierogi Fest - July 24-26

To see the rest, read more.

Chincoteague Island, VA: Chincoteague Blueberry Festival - July 24-26
Fredericksburg, TX: Gourmet Chili Pepper & Salsa Festival - July 24-26
Columbus, OH: Jazz & Rib Fest - July 24-26
Sugar Grove, IL: Sugar Grove Corn Boil - July 24-26
San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Potluck - July 25
Castle Rock, CO: Castle Rock Wine Fest - July 25
Seattle, WA: Ballard SeafoodFest - July 25-26
Oxnard, CA: Oxnard Salsa Festival - July 25-26
Courtland, CA : Pear Fair - July 26
San Mateo, CA: Festa Italiana Street Fair - July 26

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 16-23, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:47 -0700

This weekend doesn't just mark Juneteenth and Father's Day. It's also packed with events that honor all of the pleasures of Summer, from peaches, blueberries, and watermelon to ribs, RC cola, and moon pies. But that's not all: this Friday marks the acclaimed Aspen Food & Wine Classic, which we're so excited to be returning to this year. Stay tuned!

Know of any important food events we've left out this week? Feel free to chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 16-30
Clarksville, AR: Johnson County Arkansas Peach Festival - June 16-21
St. Helena, CA: StarChefs Rising Stars Napa & Sonoma - June 17
Emmett, ID: Emmett Cherry Festival - June 17-20
Portland, ME: Taste of the Nation Portland - June 18
Oakland, CA: National Homebrewers Conference - June 18-20
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest 2009 - June 18-21
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 18-28
Dallas, TX: Food For Thought Dallas - June 19
Crewe, VA: Virginia Chicken Festival - June 19
Owego, NY: Owego Strawberry Festival - June 19-20
Rotan, TX: Juneteenth Enrichment Festival - June 19-20
Boston, MA: American Craft Beer Festival - June 19-20
Aspen, CO: Aspen Food & Wine Classic - June 19-21

To see the rest, read more.

Stowe, VT: Stowe Wine & Food Classic - June 19-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days Festival - June 19-21
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign Urbana - June 19-21
Clayton, NY: The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival - June 19-21
Flagstaff, AZ: Made in the Shade Beer Tasting - June 20
Brewton, AL: Alabama Blueberry Festival - June 20
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20
Bell Buckle, TN: RC & Moon Pie Festival - June 20
Martinez, CA: King of the County BBQ Challenge - June 20-21
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 20-28
Boise, ID: Savor Idaho - June 21

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Noteworthy Nibbles - April 28-May 5, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 14:00:51 -0700

From the Indie Wine Festival to the Oscars night of the food world, May has signaled a slew of new and exciting food events. I can assure that you'll have a great time at Chicago's Toast of the Town or any of the Taste of the Nation events. Got any other food events to add? Please feel free to comment below!

Chicago, IL: James Beard Foundation's Tru Celebration - April 29
Chicago, IL: Toast of the Town Chicago - April 30
New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Jazz Fest - Apr. 30-May 3
Newport Beach, CA: Taste of the Nation Orange County - May 1
Portland, OR: Portland Indie Wine Festival - May 1-2
Huntsville, AL: Whistle Stop Festival - May 1-2
Fort Lauderdale, FL: Las Olas Wine & Food Festival - May 1-2

To see the rest, read more.

Breaux Bridge, LA: Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival - May 1-3
Pensacola, FL: Pensacola Crawfish Festival - May 1-3
New York, NY: Continental International Restaurant Week - May 1-10
Scottsdale, AZ: Taste of the Nation Arizona - May 2
Maui, HI: Maui Onion Festival - May 2
Aberdeen, MD: Maryland Beer & Foodfest - May 2-3
Annapolis, MD: Great Grapes! Wine, Art, & Music Festival - May 2-3
San Diego, CA: Taste of the Nation San Diego - May 3
Houston, TX: Taste of the Nation Houston - May 3
New York, NY: 2009 James Beard Foundation Awards - May 3-4

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Apr. 21-28, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 14:00:24 -0700

If you thought last week was jam-packed with food events, then get excited for this week, as the festivals just get better. If I could teleport myself around the world, there's no question I'd hit up the nation's celebrations, from pickles to pie to asparagus to spam.

We will, however, be supporting the cause to end childhood hunger at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation series (if you're signed up to go to the San Francisco event, perhaps we'll see you there!). If you know of any other events we've left off the list, chime in below!

Dallas, TX: Dallas Wine & Food Festival - Apr. 22-26
Beaufort, NC: Beaufort Wine & Food weekend - Apr. 22-26
Sugarland, TX: The Grand Wine & Food Affair - Apr. 22-26
San Francisco, CA: Taste of the Nation San Francisco - Apr. 23
New Haven, CT: Taste of the Nation New Haven - Apr. 23
Wilmington, DE: Taste of the Nation Wilmington - Apr. 23
Mount Olive, NC: North Carolina Pickle Festival - Apr. 24-25
Stockton, CA: Asparagus Festival - Apr. 24-26
Pompano Beach, FL: Pompano Beach Seafood Festival - Apr. 24-26
Waikiki, HI: Waikiki Spam Jam - Apr. 25
La Crosse, WI: Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine & Cheese Festival - Apr. 25
Celebration, FL: Great American Pie Festival - Apr. 25

To see the rest, read more.

San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Beer Festival - Apr. 25
Vidalia, GA: Vidalia Onion Festival - Apr. 25-26
Maui, HI: Taro Festival - Apr. 25-26
Branson, MO: Missouri Wine Fest - Apr. 25-26
South Pittsburg, TN: National Cornbread Festival - Apr. 25-26
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Wine Festival - Apr. 25-30
Toledo, OH: Taste of the Nation Toledo - Apr. 26
Portland, OR: Taste of the Nation Portland - Apr. 27
Worcester, MA: Taste of the Nation Worcester - Apr. 27

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Meet the 2009 James Beard Award Nominees!

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:30:53 -0700

Last month, we introduced you to the semifinalists for the 2009 James Beard Awards. This morning, the short list of final nominees was unveiled, and the winners of the awards - nicknamed the "Oscars of the food world" - will be revealed at an awards gala at Manhattan's Lincoln Center on May 4. In addition to the highly anticipated nominations for outstanding restaurateur, outstanding chef, and outstanding restaurant, among others, the foundation's other honors - in cookbooks, newspaper writing, restaurant design, and blogs - were also announced.

Did any of your favorite chefs and restaurants make the list? View the all the nominations, or check out a summary of some of the biggest award nominees when you read more.

Outstanding Restaurateur Award
Tom Douglas, Tom Douglas Restaurants; Seattle, WA
Keith McNally, Balthazar, Lucky Strike, Pastis; New York, NY
Richard Melman, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises; Chicago, IL
Drew Nieporent, Myriad Restaurant Group; New York, NY
Stephen Starr, Starr Restaurant Organization; Philadelphia, PA

Outstanding Chef Award
José Andrés, Minibar; Washington, DC
Dan Barber, Blue Hill; New York, NY
Tom Colicchio, Craft; New York, NY
Suzanne Goin, Lucques; Los Angeles, CA
Paul Kahan, Blackbird; Chicago, IL

Outstanding Restaurant Award
Babbo, New York, NY; Chef/Owner: Mario Batali, Owner: Joe Bastianich
Boulevard, San Francisco, CA; Chef/Owner: Nancy Oakes, Owner: Pat Kuleto
Fore Street, Portland, ME; Chef/Owner: Sam Hayward, Owner: Victor Leon and Dana Street
Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL; Chef/Owner: Frank Stitt
Jean Georges, New York, NY; Chef/Owner: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Owner: Phil Suarez

Rising Star Chef of the Year Award
Nate Appleman, A16; San Francisco, CA
Sean Brock, McCrady's; Charleston, SC
Johnny Monis, Komi; Washington, DC
Gabriel Rucker, Le Pigeon; Portland, OR
Michael Solomonov, Zahav; Philadelphia, PA
Sue Zemanick, Gautreau's; New Orleans, LA

Best New Restaurant
The Bazaar by José Andrés, Los Angeles, CA; Chef/Owner: José Andrés
Corton, New York, NY; Chef/Owner: Paul Liebrandt, Owner: Drew Nieporent
L20, Chicago, IL; Chef: Laurent Gras, Owner: Richard Melman
Momofuku Ko, New York, NY; Chef/Owner: David Chang
Scarpetta, New York, NY; Chef/Owner: Scott Conant

Outstanding Pastry Chef
Gina DePalma, Babbo; New York, NY
Kamel Guechida, Joël Robuchon; Las Vegas, NV
Pichet Ong, P*ong; New York, NY
Nicole Plue, Redd; Yountville, CA
Mindy Segal, Mindy's Hot Chocolate; Chicago, IL

Outstanding Wine Service Award
Bin 36, Chicago, IL; Wine Director: Brian Duncan
Blackberry Farm, Walland, TN; Wine Director: Andy Chabot
Le Bernardin, New York, NY; Wine Director: Aldo Sohm
Patina, Los Angeles, CA; Wine Director: Eric Espuny
Picasso at Bellagio, Las Vegas, NV; Wine Director: Robert Smith

Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional
Dale DeGroff, Dale DeGroff Co., Inc.; New York, NY
Merry Edwards, Merry Edwards Wines; Sebastopol, CA
Garrett Oliver, The Brooklyn Brewery; Brooklyn, NY
John Shafer and Doug Shafer, Shafer Vineyards; Napa, CA
Julian P. Van Winkle, III, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery; Louisville, KY

Outstanding Service Award
Daniel, New York, NY; Owners: Daniel Boulud and Joel Smilow
Emeril's New Orleans, New Orleans, LA; Owner: Emeril Lagasse
La Grenouille, New York, NY; Owners: Charles Masson and Giséle Masson
Spiaggia, Chicago, IL; Owner: Larry Levy
Vetri, Philadelphia, PA; Owners: Marc Vetri and Jeff Benjamin

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