YumSugar

Move Over Latté Artists, The Amazing Latté Printer Has Arrived

YumSugar — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 03:01:51 -0700

You may have seen beautiful latté art before, but have you ever seen latté art with text? How about cups of joe with intricate patterns and images? If you haven't, then you're in for a treat. Inventor Oleksiy Pikalo has taken an old X-Y flatbed plotter - a machine similar to a printer - and converted it into a latté art machine. With it he can program different images and patterns to display on top of his morning coffee. This image is one he created, and you can see the machine at work - it's really pretty fascinating - when you watch the video. To check it out, just read more.

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A Whole Latte Beautiful Art

YumSugar — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 12:01:18 -0800

This past weekend, my friends and I found ourselves waiting in line for some tasty coffee. When our orders came up, we each had some cutesy latte art - hearts, leaves, etc. - and it got me wondering about latte art in general. Some baristas really take pride in it and there are many clever designs out there. I recently came across this video that walks you through several different designs, including rabbits and stars. The unknown barista is very inspirational; after watching it, I wanted to give it a try myself!

To check out the video and get inspired, read more.

Coffee + Creativity = Art

YumSugar — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 15:53:59 -0700

The bf (we're going to call him Jimmy from now on, okay? I really hate that phrase bf) is really into coffee. As in, we got rid of our microwave counter space in order to make room for the coffee pot, espresso machine, grinder and all the other bits of coffee paraphernalia. So when I found this link, I immediately had to forward it to him. For several years, Duluth based artists Andy and Angel Saur have been creating all of their works of art with coffee. Like fine watercolors, the coffee works as washes and shading and each painting is 100% coffee (with the exception of an acrylic coat to preserve the art). It started when the artists were working on a new exhibit for a coffee house. Hoping to create something unique and fun, they decided to work with coffee as a medium. To achieve the different gradients, the artists brew their own thick coffee and dilute as needed. I personally think the results look rich and inviting, like sepia toned paintings. And somehow even their rendition of George Costanza mananges to capture a nostalgic feeling. But don't take my word on it, decide for yourself by checking out their coffee art gallery.

Source: Tastespotting

Latte Art: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 04:00:28 -0700

As Starbucks's dominance slips, I hope more people will turn to local coffee shops for their daily caffeine fix. The number one thing I love about my neighborhood cafe, Murano, is that the cappuccinos come with a pretty foam heart. In my opinion, the best coffee drinks are made with love, and latte art of any kind demonstrates a true passion for coffee-making. How about you: Do you appreciate latte art?

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Noteworthy Nibbles - June 9-16, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 14:00:07 -0700

From Dr Pepper to pork to Philly cheesesteaks, this week's noteworthy nibbles seem to pay homage to time-honored American food traditions. We can't wait for the first ever Great American Food & Music Fest in Silicon Valley, which will feature guests like Bobby Flay and Guy Fieri, as well as famous regional specialties from all across the United States. Know of anything we've left off the list? Please feel free to chime in below!

Ithaca, NY: Taste of the Nation Ithaca - June 9
New York, NY: Wine Enthusiast Toast of the Town - June 15
Emporia, VA: Virginia Pork Festival - June 10
Lockhart, TX: Chisholm Trail Roundup - June 11-13
Kapalua, HI: Kapalua Wine & Food Festival - June 11-14
Winston-Salem, NC: Hot Ribs, Cool Music - June 11-14
Minneapolis, MN: Taste of the Nation Minneapolis - June 12
Salem, OR: Wine, Chocolate, and More! - June 12-13
Las Vegas, NV: Coffee Fest Las Vegas - June 12-14
Mountain View, CA: Great American Food & Music Festival - June 13

To see the rest, read more.

Oak Grove, VA: Chesapeake Bay Wine Festival - June 13
Minneapolis, MN: Famous Dave's BBQ & Blues Festival - June 13
Dublin, TX: Dr Pepper Birthday Celebration - June 13
Richmond, VA: St. Joseph's Italian Festival - June 13-14
Cockeysville, MD: Great Grapes! Wine, Art, and Food Festival - June 13-14
San Francisco, CA: Cochon 555 - June 14
Los Angeles, CA: Taste of the Nation LA - June 14
Ojai, CA: Ojai Wine Festival - June 14
Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 15-30

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Would You Try This Chocolate Inhaler?

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 03:30:55 -0700

Meet Le Whif, a chocolate inhaler that's being marketed as the perfect accompaniment to coffee and an effective way to curb chocolate cravings. Like chocolate bars, the product, which debuts stateside in May, comes in multiple flavors (mint chocolate, raspberry chocolate, mango chocolate, and plain chocolate). But unlike chocolate bars, the caloric content seems to disappear into, well, thin air.

Explains lead inventor and Harvard professor David Edwards: "Over the centuries we've been eating smaller and smaller quantities at shorter and shorter intervals. It seemed to us that eating was tending toward breathing, so, with a mix of culinary art and aerosol science, we've helped move eating habits to their logical conclusion. We call it whiffing."

Since inhaled substances have subsisted for centuries, I'm actually rather surprised that this innovation has only now come into existence. Would you give Le Whif a whiff?

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Noteworthy Nibbles - Nov. 4-10, 2008

YumSugar — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:00:33 -0800

This week Noteworthy Nibbles includes an international chocolate show complete with chocolate-inspired runway designs. In sunny Florida, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival should be quite the spectacle. Folks who live in Virginia have the great fortune of two oyster events this weekend. Personally, I'm looking forward to San Francisco Wine Week!

Know of anything we've left out? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Orlando, FL: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival - Nov. 4-9
Philadelphia, PA: Celebrity Chef Tour - Nov. 6
St. Helena, CA: CIA Worlds of Flavor International Conference - Nov. 6-8
Palm Desert, CA: The Art of Food & Wine - Nov. 6-9
Ann Arbor, MI: Save a Heart Celebration of Wine and Food - Nov. 7

To see the rest, read more.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL: Food & Wine Fest - Nov. 7
Urbanna, VA: Urbanna Oyster Festival - Nov. 7-8
Cleveland, OH: Heinen's/WVIZ World Series of Wine - Nov. 7-8
Dover, DE: Dover Downs Delaware Wine Festival - Nov. 7-8
Las Vegas, NV: Odyssey Las Vegas - Nov. 7-9
New York, NY: Tastings NYC - Nov. 7-9
New York, NY: Chocolate Show - Nov. 7-9
Kona, HI: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival - Nov. 7-16
Providence, RI: The Great International Beer Festival – Nov. 8
Reedville, VA: Oyster Roast - Nov. 8
Washington, DC: Metropolitan Cooking and Entertaining Show - Nov. 8-9
Studio City, CA: Go Green, Go Organic - Nov. 9
San Francisco, CA: SF Wine Week - Nov. 10-15

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Registry Roundup: Gadgets and Gizmos!

YumSugar — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:28:51 -0700

One of the most fun things to add to your wedding registry is kitchen gadgets! From microwave ovens to coffee bean grinders, no kitchen is complete without a few gizmos. When choosing your registry items, be sure to look through your items first. If you already have a state-of-the-art mixer, then there's no need to register for another. If you never drink coffee, why bother with an espresso machine? Also, take note of which of your items you want to replace, and the colors you'll want to get.

Not sure where to begin? Take a look at our handy printable registry as well as all of our wedding coverage at IDoSugar.

KitchenAid Professional 620 Stand Mixer - $899.95	Breville Cordless Immersion Blender - $149.95
Alessi electric toaster with bun warmer - $199.00	Espresso Machine by Cuisinart - $315.00
Margaritaville® Frozen Concoction™ Maker DM2300 - $379.95	Breville Compact Juice Extractor - $150.00
Cuisinart Microwave Oven - $149.95	Dualit Toaster, Red - $239.95
Frisper 'Freshkeeper' Food Vac - $14.95	Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker with Extra Freezer Bowl - $110.00
Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker - $129.00	Cuisinart Brick Oven - $249.95
White Bodum Grinder - $19.99	Cuisinart Cordless Electric Jug Kettle - $69.99
Breville ® Die Cast Espresso Maker - $399.95	Pump Espresso Machine by Delonghi - $250.00
Jura-Capresso Impressa Z6 Fully Automatic Espresso Coffeemaker - $3,699.00	Hamilton Beach® Stainless Steel 12-Cup Percolator - $39.99
Bunn-O-Matic BTXB Coffee Maker, Thermofresh Home Brewer - $200.00	Salad Chef with Cruet - $19.95
Oster Classic Milk Shake Maker - $69.95	Cuisinart ® Smart Stick™ Stainless Steel Hand Blender & Chopper - $49.95
Electric Citrus Squeezer - $169.00	Chef'sChoice Egg Cooker - $39.95
All-Clad® Slow Cooker - $199.95	Zojirushi® Neuro-Fuzzy® Logic Rice Cooker - $184.95
Fagor 6-Qt. Pressure Cooker - $139.95	Portable Professional Griddle - $110.00
Double Stainless Cast Iron Portable Range - $149.00	Breadmaker by Cuisinart - $165.00
Breville® Ikon 5-Speed Juicer - $199.95	Breville® Hemisphere™ Die-Cast Blender - $299.95
Jura-Capresso Z-Series Cup Warmer - $999.00	UNO™ Round Belgian Waffler - $59.95
Cuisinart Prep 9 9-Cup Food Processor - $149.99	Cuisinart 5.5Qt Stand Mixer - $299.99
Vitamix Blender - $545.00	Toaster Oven by KitchenAid - $149.99
Michael Chiarello's Panini Gift Set - $89.00	KitchenAid 9-Speed Hand Mixer, Red - $89.95

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Meet Top Chef Hopeful Richard Blais

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:28:31 -0700

We've introduced you to the next set of Top Chef hopefuls, however we've been lucky enough to get to know a few of them better. You already met Andrew, and today we'd like to present Richard.

Richard Blais is already known in the industry as being innovative and adventurous. He's got a penchant for molecular gastronomy, but he's got the résumé to go with it. He's worked along side Thomas Keller, Daniel Boulud, and Ferran Adria, plus he's helmed several restaurants including One Midtown Kitchen in Atlanta. And if he looks strangely familiar to you, it might be that he recently battled Mario Batali on Iron Chef America.

So, what should we expect from him? And why would someone with such a fantastic résumé even bother with Top Chef? To find out what he had to say, read more.

YumSugar: What drew you to Top Chef, why'd you decide to audition?
Richard: It came about, well they found me. I got a phone call and went on the audition. I really wasn't thinking too much about it. I'd seen the show of course, but my initial reaction was, well I don't really know too much about the show. My ego got in the way for a split second, but then I talked to myself about what an immense personal challenge it is and decided to do it.

YS: How did Top Chef compare to Iron Chef?
R: It's a totally different competition. It's a different thing. Iron Chef is kinda restaurant versus restaurant, if that makes any sense. Whereas Top Chef is like a gladiator being stripped of his armor. You're kind of raw and by yourself . . . that sounds sad, I made that sound sad, but it's not. It's just much more of an individual competition.

YS: Was the Top Chef experience what you were expecting?
R: I was nervous going in. It was very tough, tougher than I thought it would be. I was not prepared for the social pressure. The cooking was okay, a stove is a stove, food is food, I've seen it before. But hey, go live in this house with 15 other people. . . . I pride myself on being socially awkward.

YS: Were you surprised to see another faux hawk? [Note: Cheftestant Jennifer also sports a similar hairdo.]
R: Yeah. We both have fair skin, light colored hair, and are really good cooks. It was definitely an odd thing for both of us. I wondered if I got in because I had a cool haircut, but then saw hers. To be quite honest I think mine's a little bit better than Jen's, but don't tell her that! I've seen the photos, it's a little bit poufed up in some of them. I'm wondering if there wasn't a little bit of PhotoShop going on.

YS: What were some of the ingredients you brought with you on Top Chef?
R: Raz el Hanout - a North African spice - some cool equipment - a little electric smoker, immersion circulator, portable cooker - coffee oil, lecithin, xanthan gum, crazy molecular gastronomy stuff that's not that crazy.

YS: You seem to like the more scientific/gastronomy techniques. Want to tell us more about that?
R: Scientific? [laughs] I failed chemistry twice. . . . Science is a part of food, art is a part of food, culture is a part of food. One of the great things about cooking is that I don't feel like I have a job. I just do what i do.

If you can find a way through science to make you food better, then you should do it. Whether it's technology or technique. My genre gets portrayed as cold and it's not. If you can use the microwave to make your meal better then you should do it it, but if you zap food with a laser gun just to zap food with a laser gun, then it doesn't make any sense.

Photos courtesy of Bravo