YumSugar

Let's Dish: What's Your Favorite Dirt-Cheap Meal?

YumSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:08 -0700

Although prices of almost everything have soared, good deals do exist. The New York Times scoured the boroughs to see what kind of fare could be had for $1, and earlier this year, New York magazine proclaimed that "beggars can be choosers" when it comes to 99-cent finds. Even in my expensive backyard, the Bay Area, there are deals to come by. My favorite bargain? The 99-cent, foot-long hot dog with all-you-can-eat ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut at Slots-a-Fun in Las Vegas. I also love the McCormick & Schmick's $2 bar menu, which includes mussels and burgers. I have to say that when it comes to these prices, value does in fact have a taste: delicious.

What about you? What's the best thing you can find at a rock-bottom price?

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Make Gourmet-Tasting Meals From the 99 Cent Store

YumSugar — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 08:13:31 -0700

With the economy in a bit of a downturn, eating like a gourmet foodie can seem a bit extravagant. Cooking a three-course meal for your entire family while on a budget can seem downright difficult. Yet Christiane Jory, author of The 99 Cent Only Stores Cookbook, believes you can do it easily by shopping at dollar stores. And before you start rolling your eyes - I know you're doing it because I did - I should mention that the book actually contains recipes for things that sound delicious. I mean, what about gruyere beignets, salmon souffle and Pinot Noir poached pear tarts doesn't sound good?

I first heard about this book on NPR - you can listen to the whole story online - and thought it was absolutely fascinating. While I don't think I could eat this way completely - sorry folks, I've become a fresh fruit and veggie snob - I do think it's fantastic to show people how to create good tasting food on the cheap. And besides, with the economy the way it is, this book might end up as a must-have for all of us!

So what about you? Do you think you could make gourmet-tasting meals from the 99 cent store?

Have You Ever Dined & Dashed?

YumSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:01:00 -0700

As you may have heard, Ms. Tyra got herself into a wee bit of dine & dash trouble the other day and the whole thing got me wondering: have you ever dined & dashed? I haven't, first of all Jimmy would kick my butt if I even tried, and secondly my conscience would probably haunt me forever, but there was a time when service was so terrible and the food ungodly that I definitely thought about it... How about you? Have you ever dined & dashed? Image Source

Yummy Link: Yellow Tail Introduces a Sparkling Wine

YumSugar — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 15:13:39 -0700

If you're a fan of the [yellow tail] brand of wines, you'll be happy to hear that they've announced a new sparkling white wine. - Cheap Fun Wines

Yummy Link: Like Clif Bars? Try Clif Wines

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 02:38:41 -0700

Did you know that the folks behind Clif bars have started the Clif Family Winery? - Cheap Fun Wines

Yummy Links: From Waiters to Laptop Bags

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 11:58:35 -0700

Be sure not to miss this exposé into the world of waitering by The Amateur Gourmet. It's a great read. - Serious Eats
Ever get a bottle of wine and discover it's been "corked"? A lot of people would just throw it out, but just a little Saran Wrap will help uncork corked wine. - Cheap Fun Wines

Not everyone seems to eat Peeps, but I think everyone can appreciate these Peep S'mores. - Baking Bites
Warning: I'm about to make a seriously bad pun. These edible cigars with garlic-yogurt dipping sauce are smoking! I can't wait to try these. - Hooked on Heat
Think you hate tofu? Oh but think again. How could you hate something that is dredged in flour, browned in butter and then slathered in maple syrup? - Gastrokid
The bf has been trying to get me to bake a tomato pie for the last two years. Maybe he'll settle for this drool-worthy tomato and olive tart. - What's For Lunch, Honey
These vegan blueberry muffins look so tasty you probably won't notice that they're missing the butter. - Have Cake Will Travel
Once again, Elise manages to make even simple things like creamy asparagus soup look amazingly elegant. - Simply Recipes
And this is not food related in any way, but geeksugar's giving away a pink laptop carrier that is probably too fancy for the market, but if you win it, you could always try. - geeksugar

Yummy Links: From Red Bean Kit Kats to Tastier Coffee

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 13:59:19 -0700

I obviously need to go to Japan, or have someone in Japan send me a package (hint hint!), because where else am I going to get Red Bean Kit Kat? - Candyblog
Sorry that the rest of you are suffering through winter, but here in San Francisco we've got weather so warm that Shuna's Lemon Sherbet is going to hit the spot. - Bay Area Bites via Eggbeater
Sam over at becks & posh, tackles one of Heidi Swanson's granola recipes. This one looks amazing and simple, give it a go you guys. - Becks & Posh
Table Manners ponders whether or not vegetarians have the right to demand meat-free environments. Sorry veggies, in my opinion, if you demand meat-free environments, your friends are going to stop calling you. - Chow
There's a motion to get more women involved in judging and testing, and since women do most of the buying shouldn't the industry know which wines women want? - Cheap Fun Wines
Since commercial nut butters (like peanut butter) contain extra sugar, salt and shelf-sustainable chemicals, why not make your own homemade nut butter? - The Daily Tiffin
Want better tasting coffee? Clean your coffee maker with vinegar every so often. - lifehacker

Yummy Links: From Peanut Butter Bacon Pie to Alton Brown

partysugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 06:50:08 -0700

Must make: frozen peanut butter pie with candied bacon. - Gourmet
Find out which cheap olive oils taste good.- Serious Eats
Learn the basic technique for teriyaki chicken. - Chow
Erik Trinidad teaches Nightline how to make fancy fast food. - Eat Me Daily
An inside look at the ultimate New York City pop-up event. - The Epi-Log
Who knew Tom Colicchio had so many lookalikes? - Eater
Madonna is "not a cheese person." - Grub Street
Alton Brown disses his fellow Food Network chefs. - Food Network Humor

Food Section Sampler - Sept. 30, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 12:50:50 -0700

Beer tries to earn a spot next to cheese plates. - Wall Street Journal
Reforming school lunches isn't easy - or cheap. - Washington Post
New green cookware lets you sauté without worry. - San Francisco Chronicle
In West Virginia, pepperoni rolls are an old-time favorite fast food. - New York Times
Should restaurants be allowed to ban diners from using laptops? - Boston Globe
How dinner parties are changing among cost-conscious foodies. - Chicago Tribune
One LA bakery's strawberry cake is a local legend. - Los Angeles Times

Source: Flickr User Samat Jain

Get Your Cheap Cheesecake!

partysugar — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:15:09 -0700

To commemorate their 30th anniversary, the Cheesecake Factory will be lowering the price of cheesecake. When the first Factory opened in Beverly Hills in 1978, a piece of cheesecake was only $1.50. Tomorrow, (which also happens to be National Cheesecake Day) the restaurant chain will offer cheesecake at its original ($1.50) price!

In addition to serving the cheap cheesecake, the Cheesecake Factory is introducing a special, limited-edition flavor, the 30th Anniversary Chocolate Cake Cheesecake. A portion of the sales of each anniversary slice will be donated to America's Second Harvest.

If you can't make it to a Cheesecake Factory tomorrow, no worries, the "sweet initiative" celebration - additional promotions have yet to be announced - will continue throughout the year.

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