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American Airlines Hopes Boston Market Meals Will Take Off

YumSugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 14:00:16 -0700

Perhaps Virgin America's move to take flight with absinthe has inspired other airlines to focus on its in-flight services. American Airlines has announced that it will begin serving items from Boston Market on select flights.

Beginning tomorrow on flights to and from Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and Hawaii, American will offer a bevy of menu items from the chain popular for its rotisserie chicken. The $10 selection includes the Carver sandwich, the Beef Brisket Grinder, and the Italian Grinder, as well as the Chicken Caesar, Market Chopped, and Italian Chopped Salads. The airline plans to serve the selection to additional routes starting July 1.

The familiar Boston Market brand could be welcome on airlines, which are not usually known for their selection of food. Still, even though I haven't been to a Boston Market in a while, I don't recall shelling out anywhere near $10 for a sandwich. Would you order Boston Market on your next flight?

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Boston Market Latest Chain to Promote Cheaper Meals

YumSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:15:42 -0700

Boston Market is the latest restaurant chain to succumb to sluggish spending. The Golden, CO-based corporation announced yesterday that it will offer a larger discounted menu of 11 meals for $5.

Boston Market joins a list of food chains - such as Subway, Quizno's, and Domino's - that have been promoting meals for $5. The company's chief brand officer, Judy Cantrell, said:

The $5 price point is an important part of the new vernacular in the restaurant industry. It’s become a price point that consumers respond to, and we see an opportunity to increase the quality of choices with our slow-roasted rotisserie chicken meals.

The value menu includes the chain's popular one-quarter rotisserie chicken, classic chicken salad, and rotisserie chicken pot pie, which come with a side dish and a drink. The company will promote its newly-priced menu with a TV commercial and online campaign. Will you try one of their $5 meals?

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Food Section Sampler - Sept. 16, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 11:45:58 -0700

What caused legendary Central Park destination Tavern on the Green to file for bankruptcy? - New York Times
Homemade versions of fast-food favorites turn out to be cheaper. - Washington Post
LA is facing a proposed city ordinance that would require farmers markets to pay tens of thousands of dollars in fees. - Los Angeles Times
Israeli hummus tastes nothing like its American counterpart. - Boston Globe
Learn how to make your own naan. - Chicago Tribune
A preliminary tasting of Indian wines looks to be promising. - Wall Street Journal
Even Bourbon's biggest skeptics will find no flaw with the Rhodie cocktail. - San Francisco Chronicle

Source: Flickr User phenominam

Airlines Aiming Higher With Fancier Coach Meals

YumSugar — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:50:20 -0700

These days, airlines are engaged in new flights of fancy: in an effort to set themselves apart from competitors, many have been upping the ante on food offerings.

Airlines began charging for meals post-9/11, but food-for-purchase replacements never fared well. They came with high price tags, questionable freshness, and inventory challenges. But major players have found a way to tackle these issues, and hope to enhance their brand images with a revamped reputation for good food.

Delta Air Lines serves Ben & Jerry's ice cream, cheese plates, and a new array of dishes created by culinary impresario Todd English that includes grilled chicken gyros and almond butter sandwiches. In May, American Airlines partnered with Boston Market, hoping to levy the rotisserie chain's name recognition. Although Hawaiian Airlines has long kept a focus on high-end food, it, too, has tried to elevate coach sales. While meals are free on Hawaiian, paying an additional $10 buys passengers satay chicken with vermicelli, or a sushi bento box with edamame and teriyaki chicken.

Airlines have found savvy methods of measuring the success of food programs, like using credit card readers to monitor the popularity of foods. Do you think the new tactics work? Has airline food gotten tastier?

Happy Hour: Kiwi Cobbler

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 16:00:42 -0700

Last week at the market, I spotted some New Zealand kiwis for a good price. I know they're not local and organic, but they simply looked too plump and verdant to pass up, so I bought a ton. And, when life handed me a bunch of kiwis, what did I do? Make a kiwi cobbler, of course.

I'm a sucker for muddled fruit cocktails, and this one from Boston fine-dining institution Radius is no exception. I love how fresh it tastes with one whole kiwi, torn mint, and a splash of seltzer. Make it in a minute when you read more

Noteworthy Nibbles - Aug. 11-18, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:30:27 -0700

If you don't have any solid plans for this weekend, don't let the food festivities pass you by. From New Mexico's Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights event to an Iowa homage to sweet corn, August is packed with distinctive culinary celebrations.

Personally, I wish I could attend North Carolina BBQ pitmaster Ed Mitchell's dinner at the James Beard House - but I'll happily settle for a local lesson in making Summer farmers market cocktails. What's on your tasting itinerary for the weekend? Pipe up and tell us in the comments!

Houston, TX: Houston Restaurant Week - Aug. 11-23
New York, NY: Modern Israeli Cuisine at the James Beard House - Aug. 12
San Francisco, CA: Botanical Spirits & Summer Farmers Market Cocktails – Aug. 12
Chicago, IL: Taste of the Nation Chicago - Aug. 13
West Columbia, SC: Eat, Drink & Think Local - Aug. 13
Red River, NM: Hot Chili Days, Cool Mountain Nights - Aug. 13-15
West Point, IA: West Point Sweet Corn Festival - Aug. 13-16
Boston, MA: Fisherman's Feast – Aug. 13-16
Delcambre, LA: Delcambre Shrimp Festival - Aug. 13-16

To see the rest, read more.

Springfield, MO: Summer Sizzle BBQ – Aug. 14-15
Emporia, KS: Flint Hills Beef Fest - Aug. 14-16
Sonoma County, CA: Grape to Glass Weekend - Aug. 14-16
San Rafael, CA: San Rafael Food & Wine Festival - Aug. 15
Cary, NC: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ - Aug. 15
Hayward, CA: Hayward Zucchini Festival - Aug. 15-16
Napa, CA: Taste of the Nation Napa Valley - Aug. 17
Philadelphia, PA: Taste of the Nation Philadelphia - Aug. 17
New York, NY: Legends of Barbecue with Ed Mitchell - Aug. 18
San Francisco, CA: Summer Garden Party at the Magic Flute - Aug. 18

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Food Section Sampler - July 29, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:47:01 -0700

The Italian government awards Prosecco the highest level of quality, D.O.C.G. status. - Chicago Tribune
When Summer gives you a cornucopia of fresh heirlooms, preserve them in homemade tomato sauce. - San Francisco Chronicle
Kai Chase, Michael Jackson's personal chef, has written a cookbook, aptly titled Fit for a King. - Salon
Julia Child's close friends have mixed reviews of her portrayal in Julie & Julia. - Washington Post
US brewers' latest developments include a $20 draft-beer system and 55-calorie beer. - Wall Street Journal
Increased community support means school gardens have become a priority, despite a faltering economy. - Los Angeles Times
On the Julie & Julia movie set with food stylist Susan Spungen. - New York Times
The newest drink on the market: Fruit2day, juice studded with chunks of real fruit bits. - Boston Globe

Source: Flickr User uberculture

Food Section Sampler - July 15, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:00:30 -0700

Tim Hortons, Canada's beloved doughnut and coffee chain, is taking on New York. - New York Times
Local darling and Beard Award winner Nate Appleman is leaving San Francisco restaurants A16 and SPQR. - San Francisco Chronicle
Frozen fruit soufflés surpass ice cream in complexity. - Los Angeles Times
Inedit, Ferran Adria's new wine-style beer, falls flat. - Chicago Tribune
The hottest topics touched on at foremost spirits convention Tales of the Cocktail. - Washington Post
Cooks are preparing more beef at home - which means markets are able to lower the price of meat. - Wall Street Journal
A pie crust taste test reveals shocking results. - Boston Globe

Photo by flickr user VirtualErn

Food Section Sampler - May 13, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:50:34 -0700

El Bulli's Ferran Adrià is studying the art of pizza making in hopes to open a pizzeria in Barcelona. - Los Angeles Times
New York City has become a hotbed for cook-off challenges. - New York Times
Soave, the once ubiquitous Italian white, is working hard to make a comeback. - Wall Street Journal
How to get the most out of shopping at the farmers market. - Chicago Tribune
Strawberry-rhubarb chicken is a seasonal twist on the classic sweet-and-sour chicken. - Washington Post
Boston's African-American communities are paving the way for a new class of healthy, sustainable soul food. - Boston Globe

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Food Section Sampler - May 27, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:50:40 -0700

A growing number of food vendors have taken to the streets of San Francisco. - San Francisco Chronicle
Make Jacques Pepin's smoked salmon paté in a matter of minutes. - Boston Globe
El Bulli's Ferran Adrià has developed a beer that's meant to be enjoyed like wine. - New York Times
The Wholesome Wave Foundation, a federal food assistance program that draws families to farmers markets, is breaking ground. - Washington Post
What are the keys to whipping up a well-balanced vinaigrette? - Chicago Tribune
Scientific breakthroughs have allowed California to make major advances in blueberry farming. - Los Angeles Times
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, long championed for its editorial independence, is under fire for accepting industry-paid trips. - Wall Street Journal

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