YumSugar

Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 10-16, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 14:00:33 -0800

With romance in the air, why not spend time with your first two loves in life, food, and wine? Thankfully, there's no shortage of celebration for that this week, with numerous wine and food festivities around the country. Right now, I'm pondering a date-night cooking class - a fun date and an ideal way to get him cooking.

If we've left anything off our list, feel free to chime in below!

Miami, FL: Miami Spice - Feb. 10-12
San Francisco, CA: SF Beer Week - Feb. 10-15
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 10-27
Delray Beach, FL: Delray Beach Garlic Fest - Feb. 13-15
Lansing, MI: Michigan Deer & Turkey Spectacular - Feb. 13-15

To see the rest, read more.

Mt. Vernon, IL: Midwestern Herb and Garden Show - Feb. 13-15
Winter Haven, FL: Greek Festival of Polk County - Feb. 13-15
Indio, CA: Riverside County Fair - Feb. 13-22
San Francisco, CA: Date Night and Cooking Crush Classes - Feb. 12-13
Gardiner, OR: Confluence Wine, Beer, Seafood and Music Festival - Feb. 14-15
Washington, DC: Washington, DC, International Wine and Food Festival - Feb. 14-15
Columbia, SC: Festival of Wines and Food - Feb. 16

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Would You Eat This Paté?

YumSugar — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:11:31 -0800

I've found us the perfect item for a special holiday edition of Would You Eat This. You may have heard of duck or goose paté, but how about reindeer paté? It's a paté made from cuts of Swedish Artic Reindeer meat, cognac and spices. It's supposed to go great on buttered toast with a glass of brandy. It makes me sad to think I'd be munching down on Dancer, Prancer or one of Santa's other reindeer, however it probably wouldn't stop me from trying it. How about you guys, would you give it a try?

Would You Eat Raw Meat Sushi?

YumSugar — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 07:54:31 -0700

My gal Giggle sent me this video the other day. We all know about fish sashimi, but have you heard of horse, deer, or chicken sushi?! Be sure to check out the video and then tell me, would you eat raw meat sushi?

Animal Shot Glasses: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 04:00:34 -0700

Party animals, take note. These Goody Grams Pewter + Glass Animal Shot Glasses ($32) are perfect for any hunting enthusiast or lover of kitsch.

The bull, deer, bear, moose, and rhino shots can be displayed heads up, then flipped over to fill. Do you find them charming or just weird?

Noteworthy Nibbles - Mar. 24-31, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:00:40 -0700

Spring is in the air, and that's evident with the number of fun food events going on this week that pay homage to everything from rum to crawfish.

We can't wait to taste our way through the year's best wines at Wine Enthusiast's annual Toast of the Town, and taste tequila cocktails made by SF's top mixologists at the Nirvino Mixology Contest.

What events will you be eating your way through this week?

Seattle, WA: StarChefs Rising Stars Revue - Mar. 24
Coral Gables, FL: Coral Gables Wine & Food Festival - Mar. 26
San Francisco, CA: Wine Enthusiast Toast of the Town - Mar. 26
Tampa Bay, FL: International Rum Festival - Mar. 26-28
Chalmette, LA: Louisiana Crawfish Festival - Mar. 26-29
Lake Tahoe, CA: Winter & Wine Fest - Mar. 26-29
West Palm Beach, FL: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Mar. 26-29

To see the rest, read more.

Hammond, LA: Smokin' Blues & BBQ Challenge - Mar. 27-28
Lodi, CA: Lodi Spring Wine Show - Mar. 27-28
Uniondale, NY: Spring Craft Beer Festival - Mar. 28
Rutherford, CA: Napa Valley Mustard Festival Grand Finale Event - Mar. 28
Miami, FL: Deering Seafood Festival - Mar. 29
New York, NY: Friends of James Beard Benefit - Mar. 29
Miami, FL: Deering Seafood Festival - Mar. 29
Washington, DC: Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation DC - Mar. 30
San Francisco, CA: Nirvino Mixology Contest - Mar. 31

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Gordan Ramsay Goes a Hunting

YumSugar — Mon, 07 May 2007 03:00:19 -0700

Lately I've been trying to be more aware of my food chain. In fact, one of my goals for 2007 is to catch, kill and gut my own fish - Jimmy thinks I'm crazy, but I really want to do it. I think it would be a good reminder of the whole circle food chain thing. Also, fish are slimy and blech, but I'd probably have an easier time with a fish than I would, oh say a deer (mmm... venison).

Gordon Ramsay on the other hand, apparently doesn't have a hard time at all. In an upcoming episode of his show, The F Word (BBC America carries it, but is behind a season), Ramsay proves why he is the man most British men admire by hunting a deer. The episode hasn't aired yet, so I don't know if he actually succeeded, but I do know that someone did because later he carries the deer carcass through his restaurant. I guess the special that night was venison?

Source: Chow
The Daily Mail

Do You Feed Animals Food?

partysugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 05:43:39 -0700

I do not feed animals food. I'm not talking about domestic pets, like dogs or cats, I'm talking about wild, untamed animals. Sea gulls on the beach, squirrels in a park, bears in the forest, deers in a meadow - those sort of animals. I prefer not to feed them as they always come back in larger groups wanting more. As cute as they may be, I believe they are best left untouched by humans. How about you: Do you feed animals food?

Ramsay, Becks & Posh to Open LA Restaurant?!

YumSugar — Thu, 31 May 2007 13:52:36 -0700

Looks like our favorite controversial British chef, Gordon Ramsay might be opening a Los Angeles restaurant with the Beckhams. As Ramsay told the News of the World:

"We've been friends for a while and have spoken about it. There's always been something in the pipeline."

The restaurant would be Ramsay's second in the US and first on the West Coast. No word on what the menu will be like, but since dear ol' Posh is a vegetarian, she has reportedly insisted upon a wide range of vegetarian options. And something tells me she won't be thrilled if Ramsay drags a deer through this one...

Also, speaking of Ramsay, he's finally caved to government and conservationists and has decided to take endangered bluefin tuna off his restaurant’s menus.

Source: TMZ and Caterer Search

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The Stink Piles Up for Ramsay

YumSugar — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:58:19 -0700

Gordon Ramsay sure is causing a stink. Actually, make that PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) sure is causing a stink for Gordon Ramsay. PETA UK demonstrators dressed up as horses and dumped a ton of horse manure in front of his London restaurant Claridge's. Ramsay has been putting himself in the bad graces of PETA, first by dragging a slain deer through his restaurant and then by suggesting that people should eat horse meat. In an upcoming episode of his show The F-Word, Ramsay admits to eating horse.

"I've eaten horse", and says that it is healthy, with lots of iron and half the fat of beef and far more Omega 3 essential fatty acids. He describes horse meat as "slightly gamey" and "packed with protein".

Some are calling the horse meat statement a "ratings gimmick," and others say it's perfectly viable to consider other red meat sources. Either way I bet Ramsay didn't think it would cause such a stink.

Source: The Telegraph and Metro UK

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What's Yummy This Week: YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 12 May 2007 08:21:45 -0700

In case you've forgotten, Mother's Day is this Sunday. If you haven't bought her any great gifts, you can still make it up by planning a fantastic breakfast in bed with sparkling cocktails or juice.
If the person you celebrate on Mother's Day is not into breakfast in bed, why don't you surprise her with strawberry shortcake instead? We've got two recipes, one for beginners and one for those who love a kitchen challenge.
Did someone mention challenge? Get your oven mitts out, we've extended the deadline to our American Idol Themed Food Challenge. Get your submissions in by Tuesday May 15.
This week we saw a photo of Gordon Ramsay carrying a dead deer through his restaurant. He goes hunting on an upcoming episode of his show the F word and well, I guess venison made the menu that night. Oh and the new season of Hell's Kitchen starts on June 4.
Speaking of new seasons, Bravo finally announced the contestants for the upcoming season of Top Chef. New season starts June 13, with a special on June 6. The upcoming date means a lot of miscellaneous Top Chef news turning up everywhere.
If Top Chef's not your bag, then perhaps you enjoy Easy Entertaining on Food Network. If so, then be sure to check out our exclusive interview with host Michael Chiarello. We hear his Julia Child impersonation, learn how to make perfect crepes and discover a great red wine blend.
Everyone loves free stuff! In Japan you can get free drinks (as long as you watch a 30 second commercial) and here in the US, participating Häagen-Dazs stores will be giving away ice cream on Tuesday, May 15.

If you're looking for a way to start a healthier lifestyle, check out Heidi Swanson's new cookbook, Super Natural Cooking. She covers meals, salads, drinks, desserts and more. One of her desserts is great, even if I did screw it up a bit.
The who's who of the food world were out and about for the James Beard Awards. Was your favorite chef/restaurant a winner?
Finally, we want to know:
- What do you eat when you're drunk?
- Do you drink sparkling water?
- How about hot or cold water?
- Do You prefer hamburgers or hot dogs?