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A Conversation With Diddy

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:00:03 -0800

Rapper and mogul Diddy was in San Francisco last week promoting Cîroc, his vodka brand. I was lucky enough to sit down with the musician, and we chatted about entertaining. Not surprisingly, he consumes a lot of Cîroc and his signature drink is a Cîroc and lemonade - say it fast and it sounds like a lyric in one of his songs, "ci-rocking lemonade." To find out what the Diddy had to say, read more.

PartySugar: What’s new with Cîroc?
Diddy: The newest thing with Cîroc is our success. Our success and our appeal. The sales went up 1,000% and just the appeal is becoming more recognizable to the consumer.

PS: Aren't you coming out with some new flavors?
D: Yeah. In the world of Cîroc, one of the biggest differences is the flavors. Red Berry and coconut. Now most flavors, to be honest, in the vodka industry, most flavors just haven’t been done right. They taste like cough syrup. I went down with the innovation team, and I was like, whatever we do I want to make sure that this doesn’t taste like cough syrup.
And then also make something that really tastes like what it says. If it says coconut, let’s make sure it tastes like coconut. If it says red berry, let’s make sure it tastes like red berry.

PS: Do you ever cook?
D: I cook breakfast.

PS: What music do you recommend for cooking?
D: Music for cooking? Marvin Gaye’s always good for cooking.

PS: What are your guilty pleasure foods?
D: I would probably say jello. Strawberry jello.

PS: If you had to drink one type of alcohol for the rest of your life what would it be?
D: Vodka. Cîroc.

PS: Besides yourself, who are some celebrities that know how to entertain/host a good party?
D: I never seen anybody do it how I do.

PS: What was the first alcoholic drink you ever drank?
D: Peach schnapps and orange juice, before I was enabled.

PS: What do you think will be the next big thing in cocktails?
D: Jello shots.

Stay tuned for Diddy's tips for hosting the ultimate party!

Can You Guess the Chef About Town?

YumSugar — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 06:50:48 -0800

As it turns out, November isn't just about Thanksgiving - it's also about tons of charity events and celebrity chef appearances! We've spotted so many kitchen stars out and about this week that I thought it'd be fun to quiz you on which of America's biggest food personalities have been popping up around town. Are you ready to play? Let's begin.

Question 1 of 8

Which chef stayed busy plating courses at a fancy Atlantic City dinner?

Guess the Celebrity Vegetarian!

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:50:07 -0700

Not only was last Thursday World Vegetarian Day, but it also kicked off the beginning of National Vegetarian Month! With society's growing awareness about the social, health, and environmental impacts of going meatless, vegetarianism has been on the rise. Naturally, it can't hurt that Hollywood has a number of meat-free role models. Curious to see if you can name them? Here's your chance to find out!

Question 1 of 10

Which actress described herself as a "very strict vegetarian"?

Guess the Chef About Town!

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 03:50:26 -0700

With Fashion Week, awards shows, and charity dinners, September's turned out to be a month full of star-studded events. Some of our favorite celebrity chefs and food personalities have been out and about, painting the town red for an assortment of these shindigs. Who's been busy doing what? Play our guess who quiz to find out!

Question 1 of 10

Guess which TV chef showed up to check out Ralph Rucci's latest collection?

Jennifer Aniston Dreams of Opening a Mexican Eatery in NYC

YumSugar — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 16:00:20 -0700

As it turns out, those purported rumors of Jennifer Aniston hoping to open a restaurant are actually true.

On The Tonight Show, the star of the new movie Love Happens confirmed that she does, in fact, want to be a restaurateur. Aniston told talk show host Conan O'Brien:

I've always wanted to open a restaurant. My dad had a restaurant in New York City, called The Fives, in the days of yore. And that always was fun . . . New York needs a great Mexican restaurant . . . I love Mexican food! And usually, a really great night is had in a Mexican restaurant, no?

The movie star, who was a waitress "for a good couple years" before her acting career took off, even said she'd be up for a guest-server stint. To see her talk about the hopeful venture further, keep reading.

Match the Wine to Its Celebrity Maker!

YumSugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 05:50:09 -0700

When it comes to wine trends, critters are so 2004. Cute animals on labels have been seemingly replaced by celebrities' names. "Anybody who's anybody, living or dead, from golfers to rock stars to actors, has his or her own wine label," wrote Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher, "Tastings" columnists at the Wall Street Journal.

You may already be familiar with some of Hollywood's more renowned winemakers - like Andrew Firestone - but I'm willing to bet there are a few luminaries behind the label that'll still surprise you. Can you match the wine to its star vintner? There's only one way to find out!

Source

Question 1 of 8

2004 Koala Blue Shiraz

Kate Moss Penning Cookbook

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:30:49 -0700

Britain's leading ladies seem to have caught the culinary bug: First it was Gwyneth Paltrow, then Liz Hurley, and now it's Kate Moss.

According to the Mirror, the world fashion icon is working on a Jewish cookbook. Inspired by friend Stasha Palos, who recently authored a Jewish cookbook, the supermodel has "fallen in love with the idea of doing something similar, with a unique Moss twist." Sources say she's aiming to be the first supermodel ever to release a cookbook, and has been "trying her hand at everything from chicken noodle soup to salt beef and potato latkes, nondairy pareve carrot and honey cakes."

While I'd buy a book by Kate Moss on personal style, I think I may pass on her recipes. Still, it's comforting to know that a waif-ish supermodel has a love of food and the kitchen. How do you feel about Kate's move? Would you buy her cookbook?

Update: A rep for Moss tells People that, despite the rumors, the supermodel is definitely not writing a cookbook: “We do not know where it came from but it is definitely false.”

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Meet 901, Justin Timberlake's New Tequila

partysugar — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 11:30:44 -0700

He's already a pop singer, fashion designer, and restaurant owner, but Justin Timberlake's latest job title? Spirits maker. Yesterday the young entrepreneur announced the launch of his new line of tequila, 901. The brand has been in development for over two years and plans to hit liquor store shelves in May.

A spokesperson for Timberlake explains that "901 is that time of night when your evening is ending, but your night is just beginning." The number also happens to be the area code for Memphis, TN, Timberlake's hometown. With more and more celebrities getting into the food industry, 901 isn't a surprise to me, and I look forward to tasting the tequila when it arrives.

What do you think of Timberlake's latest endeavor? Are you interested in sipping his tequila?

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PETA Wants to Make Tofu Flavored Like George Clooney

YumSugar — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 03:30:22 -0700

PETA is running out of viable ideas. In yet another absurd turn of events, the animal rights organization wants to harvest - get this - actor George Clooney's sweat to create a new flavor of tofu.

The group obtained one of the actor's sweat-laced gym towels to raise money at a fundraising auction, but then decided it might be better off using the actor's perspiration in a food product. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk penned a proposal to Clooney himself, in which she discussed the invention, to be called CloFu:

The technology actually exists to take your perspiration and make it into George Clooney-flavored tofu (CloFu) . . . we would attract many people who don't try tofu because they worry that it would be bland . . . we hope this idea meets your approval.

The star's response? "As a mammal, I'm offended," he said. I second that. I mean, I love George Clooney as much as the next gal, but the entire concept is disgusting. By George, does PETA really think that consumers are so dumbstruck by stars that they would eat something like CloFu? Are you as horrified by the letter as I am?

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Rock Star Sting Produces Fields of Gold

YumSugar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:00:58 -0700

Meet Sting, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter - and organic farmer.

Last night at a town theater in Figline Valdarno, Italy, the rock star opened up about his 300-hectare Tuscan estate, which includes a 100 percent organic farm. There, he produces extra virgin olive oil, chestnut and acacia honey, fruits, vegetables, jam, salami, and other food products that are popular among fellow Tuscans.

"I came here and I decided to stay and be a farmer, because I wanted to nourish my family with genuine quality products in a healthy environment," the singer explained. "With this business in Tuscany I am trying to help myself and those who are close to me to live better in a natural context."

The celebrity also spoke about another highly anticipated product of his estate: his own label of wines, scheduled to roll out in September. The line will include a Chianti and a Toscana made primarily from Sangiovese grapes grown on his estate. The first release will be 30,000 bottles of 2007 vintage that have been cellared for two years.

Although I knew Sting was a notable environmental activist, I must admit that I had no idea he had a 100 percent organic farm that produced goods such as olive oil and salami. Would you buy Sting's wine to support his efforts?

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