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Lisa Garza Might Be Getting Her Own Show

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:41 -0700

An overwhelming majority of you felt Lisa Garza should get her own show on the Food Network, yet she was the only finalist on last season's Next Food Network Star to walk away without a deal.

Now the food and media world is abuzz with rumors that the Dallas restaurateur scored herself a new show on CBS. When asked about the rumors, Garza reportedly stayed mum, saying she "can't afford to screw it up" by saying anything to the media just yet.

If this rumor turns out to be fact, I'm curious to know what type of format the show will use. Would you watch this chef on her own show, even if it weren't on the Food Network? Stay tuned for further details.

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How Long Has That Been In Your Fridge?

YumSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 14:11:39 -0700

You've probably been here before: you're cleaning out the fridge and you get to that open jar of mayonnaise. You wonder how long it's been there, and when you opened it. Then you realize that even if you could remember when you opened it, you wouldn't know if it was still any good. The labels, if they're even there, are often confusing. So what do you do? Well luckily I've got the tip and the answer to help you out. To find out read more

The folks at ShopSmart were recently on the CBS Early Show and offered some practical advice regarding how long things last once opened.
Here are some of their tips:

Mayonnaise lasts 2 months once opened.
Eggs last 3-5 weeks.
Leftovers should be good for 3-4 days.
Jarred pasta sauce is good for 5 days once opened.

These are just general guidelines, you should just use your best judgement. And as I always say, when in doubt, toss it!

So how do you know how long stuff has been in your fridge? It may sounds ridiculously simple, but all you have to do is label the jars when you open them. Simply put today's date on the labels and then next time, you'll know how long it's been in there. I have a set of adhesive labels that I use, but a set of "Hello My Name Is" stickers could be a lot of fun too.

How about you, do you have any labeling tips?

Source: LifeHacker and CBS News

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Caffeine Could Be Good For Women's Memory

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 08:03:11 -0700

What was this post going to be about? I completely forgot what I was going to write. If only I drank more caffeine...

According to a new French study, drinking three or more daily cups of coffee or tea may help women preserve their memory. Participants in the study took several tests over the course of four years. The women who stated they drank at least three cups of coffee or tea per day showed less of a drop in test scores during the study, than their non-caffeine drinking counterparts. Although the study was conducted on older women (65+), and is only observational, I can't help but wonder whether if I should start my daily coffee routine back up.

Source: CBS News via Topix
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Yummy Links: From Green Cake to Broken Corks

partysugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 06:50:45 -0700

Celebrate the color green with a kiwi matcha lime tea cake. - Cooking With Amy
Is CBS making a knockoff of The Chopping Block? - Eater
Learn how to make an amazing tomato salsa. - Serious Eats
Could it be time to put a fork in Top Chef Masters? - Grub Street
A week of no-cook dinners. - Bon Appétit
Another reason to dislike Kelly Choi: her annoying tweets. - Eat Me Daily
What to do when you break a wine cork. - Chow

Would You Buy Genetically Modified Food?

YumSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 12:00:36 -0700

A recent CBS News/New York Times poll shows that 53 percent of Americans won't buy food that has been genetically modified. I can see where folks would be concerned, and wondered what you thought? Would you purchase food that had been genetically modified? Or are you a food purist at heart?

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Would You Lick a Magazine?

YumSugar — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 03:15:51 -0800

Food advertising is a funny thing. Unlike perfume ads, which can attack your sense of smell and sight, food ads have long relied on witty text and droolworthy images. That is, until now. In the Feb. 18th issue of People magazine, Welch's is running full page ads for their grape juice. The twist? These ads contain lickable flavor strips. That's right, they're hoping you'll lick the magazine.

The technology comes from a company named First Flavor, and the Peel 'n Taste ads work much like dissolvable breath strips. You tear the ad off, stick it on your tongue, and taste the product. They say that it can't be re-sealed once it's peeled, so you'll be able to know if someone else has licked it or not.

This isn't the first time lickable strips have been placed into magazines, CBS's Cane ran one last fall. However, I'm not sure if they'll catch on. Especially considering that not all strips will contain actual essences of what they're promoting. The Welch's ad does, but other ads in the works do not. So what do you think, would you lick a magazine?

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Chatting with Gail Simmons - Part 2

YumSugar — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 11:02:47 -0700

Last week I brought you part one of our chat with Gail Simmons. We learned about her history and background so this week we're going to learn more about her life, especially in regards to everyone's favorite cooking reality show, Top Chef.

Part one of our interview left off with Gail talking about Food & Wine magazine. She's currently the Special Projects Manager, which means she's responsible for various projects, including the Food & Wine Classic in Aspen. The Classic is her number one priority, which is why, due to the filming schedule, Ted Allen appears on Top Chef as her replacement.

When Bravo approached Food & Wine about participating in their new food reality show, Project Runway had already been on the air for a while. It was the same production company, so they knew it would be handled well.

"When Bravo came to us and said they wanted to do this show, it was just such a perfect fit. Because we [Food & Wine] are about finding young talent, and that's exactly what Bravo's franchise of reality competition shows are about."

So even though they knew it would be done well, was she receptive towards being on reality tv?

"Not that I was unreceptive, it's just that I didn't know what would happen. Even before Top Chef I did a lot of television and media work for the magazine: The Today Show, CBS, etc. When I found out I was going to be on a reality show, I knew it would be done tastefully and told my mom, 'Don't worry, I won't be tied to a tree eating maggots in a bikini.'"

To hear more from Gail, including how she feels about being the "mean" judge, read more
Even though she knew her future wouldn't involve bikinis and maggots, she probably didn't know that, when all was said and done, she was going to be "mean" judge. Not once during our two hour breakfast did she come across as cold, b*tchy or mean, so why is she like that on tv?

"At first I was a little shocked when I was told people thought I was the
"mean" judge. I now understand that the version people see of me on Top Chef is a very edited version and not what I am like in real life. I am in a way playing a character just like anyone else on any other TV show. I would like to think that everything you see me say on the show is true and honest. What is the point of it otherwise right? Besides, if we only gave compliments all the time, it would not be very interesting to watch.

"That being said, I always try to give constructive criticism to the contestants and commend them for a job well done. For better or worse, the sweet part of what I say does not always make the final cut. In the long run, I am happy to be perceived as "mean" as long as I am also perceived as relatively intelligent."

Now that Top Chef has been going strong for three seasons, and is already casting for season four, has her life changed any?

"Top Chef has definitely changed my life in so many ways. It has certainly forced me to eat things I would never otherwise get a chance to try or would want to for that matter. [Editor's note: When asked, Gail said she disliked both black beans and veal, so future Top Chef contestants, take note!]

"I have learned so much about television as well - I would never have imagined how many hours we shoot to create a 44 minute show every week! It has also obviously given me much more visibility in the food world and beyond, as well as a little less privacy in my every day life. Even though I have been in the industry for years, it has become harder to be anonymous at restaurants anymore. Or in line at the grocery store. For the most part people are so generous and enthusiastic about the show so being recognized on the street or subway is still a novelty and very flattering. "

"Top Chef has also made me realize how hungry the world is for this type of information about food. It validates what we try to do at Food & Wine every day. I am so proud of how many people tell me that Top Chef makes them want to eat, cook, try knew things! It is very exciting. So is knowing that I play a small part in discovering and fostering new, young talent."

So if she wasn't busy discovering new talent, what would she be doing instead?

"Hmm... I'd be a zoologist. I really like animals."

See? It must be the editing! After all, how could someone who loves animals enough to make them her second career choice be a cold-hearted b*tch?

Whether you love her or hate her, Gail says she returns to Top Chef soon and that the season gets really exciting. The winner will be announced live this year, so even if we could have coerced her into spilling the beans - and believe me, we tried! - she wouldn't have been able to tell us. Looks like we'll just have to tune in and, in the words of Bravo's marketing department, "watch what happens!"

Images Courtesy of NBC Universal Entertainment Group

How To Be A Success In The Kitchen

partysugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 01:18:51 -0700

Twenty seven years ago on May 31 Christopher Kimball, a prominent figure in the culinary world, founded Cook's Magazine. In 1993, he relaunched the magazine as Cook's Illustrated, the only non-glossy food magazine of its kind - all of the images are illustrations rather than photographed pictures. Kimball is the author of many cookbooks including The Cook's Bible and host of the television show "America's Test Kitchen". Here are his tips to being a success in the kitchen:

1. Read the recipe carefully. Read before you start so that you are adequately prepared.

2. Be prepared: Pull all the ingredients/tools you need BEFORE you start cooking, so that you know you have everything you need.

3. Follow the directions: Be sure to prepare the food as instructed in the ingredient list. Food that is uniformly and properly cut will not only cool at the same rate, but will also be more visually appealing.

To read the rest of his tips, read more

4. Pre-heat your oven. Most ovens need at least 15 minutes to preheat fully. So plan accordingly. If you don't pre-heat your oven properly, your food will spend more time in the oven and, therefore, your food may be dry and overcooked.

5. Keep substitutions to a minimum. There are certain substitutions that are acceptable but, in general, try to use the ingredients called for in the recipe.

6. Monitor the dish as it cooks. The cooking times in our recipes are meant as guidelines only. It is important to follow the visual clues provided in the recipe because there are always variations in ingredients and equipment.

Now that you've seen Cook's Illustrated tips for culinary mastery, why not share your recipe for success in the kitchen: what do you do to ensure a successful dish?

Source: CBS The Early Show

All the News That's Fit to Eat - May 16

YumSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 11:59:32 -0700

Have you ever heard of kaiseki? Something tells me this 500-year-old traditional Japanese menu is going to be the next big thing in high-cuisine. - LA Times
Here we go again with the labeling thing: if you think truffle oil is made out of truffles, you might want to think again. Plus, with all the food scares recently, it makes you wonder, who's watching what we eat? - New York Times

As a generation of folks used to fine dining retire, senior living centers must step up the quality of their cuisine. - The Oregonian
On the other end of the age spectrum, foodie parents are feeding their little ones gourmet baby food. - Houston Chronicle
Discover which wines go with what's sizzling on the grill. - Sacramento Bee
Love Pizza? Love Beer? How about a pizza flavored beer? - CBS2 Chicago

Here in San Francisco, there's a new pie shop in town. Mission Pies supports a local farm that supplies ingredients and hire local teens as servers. - San Francisco Chronicle
If you're lucky enough to be in Seattle this weekend, be sure to head down to the annual Seattle Cheese Festival. You can eat lots of cheese and see Mother Noëlla Marcellino - a Benedictine cheese-making nun. And if you go, pick me up some Beecher's flagship cheese, okay? - Seattle Times

The Joy of the Calm-a-Sutra Tea Contest

YumSugar — Mon, 30 Apr 2007 14:28:19 -0700

I found this relatively odd contest that I have to share with you guys. First of all, did you know that there's an organization called TeaUSA.org that is a combined effort of The Tea Association of the USA, The Tea Council of the USA and the Speciality Tea Institute? Yah, I didn't know that either. But now that we all know that such an organization exists, I can now happily tell you about their new contest. The contest - which I admit, caught my eye purely because of its name ("The Calm-a-Sutra of Tea") - is a "nationwide search for the most unique and creative way to drink tea and further educate the public on the health benefits of drinking tea."

So what does that really mean?
Well, for starters it's actually a video contest. In order to win, you need to create a 1-2 minute video of yourself drinking tea (hot or iced) in the "most unusual, unique and/or off-beat scenario." You must also include what health-benefits of tea drinking appeal to you and why. Once you've got your box-off smash hit video ready, upload it to YouTube, fill in the application by May 28 and wait for the judges to choose you!

So what do you get if you win?
A $20,000 scholarship (which makes me think you have to be a student - however I couldn't find that stipulation in the rules), afternoon tea at a "trendy NYC tea salon," and the weirdest, most random part of the prize - "a chance to appear live on the CBS Early Show on June 4, 2007 with Justin Guarini" - yep that's right Justin Guarini of American Idol. Maybe he's an avid tea drinker? or just loves tea? Also, doesn't it seem weird that it's "a chance" to be on TV? Oh well, either way I have a feeling some of the videos are going to be worth checking out.

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