YumSugar

Trend Alert: Celebrity-Crafted Food Carryalls

YumSugar — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700

These days, virtually every celebrity - from Lauren Conrad to Jessica Simpson - has his or her own womenswear, footwear, accessory, and fragrance line. But celebrity lunchbags and farmers market totebags? Lately we've seen the celebrity, fashion, and food worlds collide, with all sorts of celebrity-designed carryalls for everything from our groceries to our lunch.

PartySugar and I might have been on to something when we said that we prefer to carry our farmers market goodies in style. It seems others were thinking the exact same thing. First, Whole Foods announced Sheryl Crow would be custom-designing its latest green grocery bag. Then celebrity chef Mario Batali jumped on the design bandwagon, randomly unveiling his own line of sleek lunch bags. The latest? A collaboration between Jennie Garth and the Sierra Club.

While I'm a bigger fan of some of the designs than others, if this trend encourages shoppers to be more eco-friendly - wasting less resources on plastic and paper grocery bags and lunch bags - then it's for the better. What do you think of the trend? Would you buy Sheryl's, Mario's, or Jennie's bags?

Source, Source, Source, and Source

Earth Day Happy Hour: 360 Vodka

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 13:18:33 -0700

Saving the planet, one glass at a time. This is the slogan for 360 Vodka an "eco-luxury" vodka. Although the vodka is distilled four times and then filtered five, it uses an energy-efficient process and creates very little waste. The labels are 100-percent recycled and processed in a cholorine-free manner, the bottle is 85-percent recycled, and the facility that filters it has also gone through measures to reduce its eco footprint over the last several years.

At the Earth Friendly Distilling factory - where 360 is created - there is a daily recycling program and on-site recycling center, they have no paper towels or cups in their breakrooms, and any generated oil is collected and reused. They also state that by creating the vodka their way, they've saved 113 trees, 48,371 gallons of water, and 5,409 pounds of solid waste. And every bottle cap returned to the distillery will result in a $1 donation to selected environmental organizations.

I think all of this is rather great for Earth Day and every day, but what I really want to know is how it tastes. The four distillings and five filterings are supposed to result in a clean, smooth vodka. I know that it might be a bit gimmicky, but their plant is at least doing what many other factories should be doing. So tell me, are you interested in trying this vodka - I found it online for $32.99 - or do you think it's all big marketing scheme?

Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 27-Nov. 3, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:00:15 -0700

With Halloween falling on a Saturday this year, everyone's in for a fun-filled week. Although every major city's likely to have some sort of costume-heavy celebration this weekend, leave some time (and belly room) for some serious food events. New Yorkers have their annual Chocolate Show, Bostonians can veg out on eco-friendly fare, and San Franciscans will discuss and sample the best of the city's street food.

Where will you be eating and drinking this week? Tell us in the comments below.

Washington, DC: Taste of Success - Oct. 27

San Francisco, CA: Hewitson Wine's Mad Hatter Party - Oct. 29

San Francisco, CA: The Street Food Movement: SF Hearts the Cart - Oct. 29

Grand Rapids, MI: Food, Wine & All That Jazz - Oct. 30

Decatur, GA: National BBQ Festival - Oct. 30-31

New York, NY: Chocolate Show - Oct. 30-Nov. 1

Boston, MA: Boston Vegetarian Food Festival - Oct. 31-Nov. 1

New York, NY: Day of the Dead Brunch - Nov. 1

Chicago, IL: A Tasteful Pursuit Dinner - Nov. 2

Boston, MA: StarChefs Boston Rising Stars Revue - Nov. 3

Source: Flickr User jeffreymcmanus

Gail Simmons on Eco-Friendly Weddings

partysugar — Fri, 29 May 2009 08:00:41 -0700

Last week when I spoke with Gail Simmons about weddings, I was blown away by her inspirational ideas. Although she may not come across as a green goddess when she's judging Top Chef, she's actually very eco-conscious. Having an environmentally friendly wedding was very important to her and her now-husband, Jeremy. To find out her suggestions for throwing an eco-chic event, read more.

Send a save the date email. Instead of sending formal save the date cards, Gail chose to save paper. She let her loved ones know when and where her wedding would take place through a short, but sweet email.
Cut back on the invite. Gail examined every aspect of the invite and asked herself where she could use less paper. "I've never understood why wedding invites come with two envelopes. What is that second envelope for? Why is it necessary?" She ditched the extra envelope and sent information on hotels and lodging to only out-of-town guests.
Use recycled paper. This is a no-brainer! Gail printed all of her wedding stationary on regular sized, 100-percent recycled paper.
Don't waste the flowers. "Flowers are such a big thing, but they are wasteful. They cost so much money, are on a table for a couple of hours, and then what?" Gail came up with a clever way to lengthen the life of her wedding flowers. While she and her guests were dancing the night away, her wedding planner gathered the vases and wrapped each bouquet in craft paper. When her friends and family left the wedding, they were given a bouquet of fresh flowers to take home!
Give an eco favor. Gail's wedding favor was a reusable farmers market tote bag. "My friends still use them to this day."

Did you go green at your wedding? Share your stylish eco-tips with us below!

Source

Should TV Chefs Be Responsible For Promoting Eco-Friendly Cooking?

YumSugar — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:26 -0700

When we recently disagreed with the assertion that cooking shows are too unrealistic, many of you seemed to share our opinion that food TV can actually be rather inspiring. Well, here's another question for you to ponder: Should TV chefs serve as role models?

In a Huffington Post article titled "Nasty Habits of Food Network Celebrities," columnist Isabel Cowles criticizes Food Network chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, Sandra Lee, and Guy Fieri for "encouraging wasteful, unhealthy behavior."Cowles derides De Laurentiis for using (and not recycling) nearly 1,000 square inches of aluminum foil on an episode of Everyday Italian. She frowns on Sandra Lee's use of packaged foods that come in more bags, bottles, and packaging. She doesn't approve of a chili recipe by Guy Fieri that calls for four pounds of meat from three animals, which, she maintains, encourages the reckless consumption of big-agriculture meat. Cowles argues:

The image these chefs are creating of our country's food ethos and practices wreaks of wastefulness, over-indulgence, and laziness. The Food Network and its celebrity chefs should inspire Americans to savor quality food and the entire process of making a meal . . . It's a shame that these chefs don't use their popularity to truly help improve how Americans cook and eat.

I'm curious to hear what you think. Are television chefs being wasteful? Is it their responsibility to serve as an example for the rest of us? Should cooking shows lead the way in encouraging America to reduce its kitchen carbon footprint - or is society expecting a little too much?

Source

Go Green! Fashion Your Own Chip Clips

YumSugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:00:06 -0700

Ever since Party suggested using wine bottles as darling water holders, I've been wanting to share an eco-friendly tip of my own. If you're like me, you've got a surplus of plastic clamped clothes hangers sitting in your closet. I often return hangers to the dry cleaners, as a way to recycle them - but I save the ones with clamps, and turn them into chip clips.

It's beyond easy: carefully twist the clips off (or, if they're soft plastic, you can remove them with a sharp knife), and you've got a useful (and completely free!) clip for chips or anything else that needs preserving in your pantry. Have you ever done this before? What other upcycling or eco-friendly tips do you have for keeping a green kitchen?

View 3 Photos ›

Come Party With Me: Gossip Girl Premiere - The Look

partysugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:15:55 -0700

You don't need to go all out with crazy decorations for a Gossip Girl season premiere party, but I do recommend cleaning your living room. A neat space will make you and your guests feel more comfortable. Give everyone their own folding tray table and floral-printed serving tray. Stripped dish towels make chic and eco-friendly napkins. Place the appetizer on a large platter, serve the pasta in bowls, and sip the bellini in champagne flutes.

A simple bouquet of red flowers mimics the pattern on the trays and completes the look.

Photo courtesy of The CW

Noteworthy Nibbles - July 21-28, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:00:15 -0700

Food events this week are all over the map, both literally and figuratively speaking. This weekend, I'm hoping to join some friends in a budget- and eco-friendly Slow Food potluck dinner. If I've got the time, I'd love to make it out to the world-famous Gilroy Garlic Festival, where garlic lovers come in droves to sample everything from garlic fries to garlic ice cream.

One day, I'd would enjoy making a trip to the Oxnard Salsa Festival and Indiana's Pierogi Fest. What will you be attending this week? Let us know below!

Fremont, MI: National Baby Food Festival - July 22-25
Farmerville, LA: Louisiana Watermelon Festival - July 23-25
Portland, OR: Oregon Brewers Festival - July 23-26
South Boston, VA: Virginia Cantaloupe Festival - July 24
Ypsilanti, MI: Summer Beer Festival - July 24-25
Frankfort, IN: Frankfort Hot Dog Festival - July 24-25
Summit, NJ: Summit Wine & Food Festival - July 24-26
Gilroy, CA: Gilroy Garlic Festival - July 24-26
Whiting, IN: Pierogi Fest - July 24-26

To see the rest, read more.

Chincoteague Island, VA: Chincoteague Blueberry Festival - July 24-26
Fredericksburg, TX: Gourmet Chili Pepper & Salsa Festival - July 24-26
Columbus, OH: Jazz & Rib Fest - July 24-26
Sugar Grove, IL: Sugar Grove Corn Boil - July 24-26
San Francisco, CA: Slow Food Potluck - July 25
Castle Rock, CO: Castle Rock Wine Fest - July 25
Seattle, WA: Ballard SeafoodFest - July 25-26
Oxnard, CA: Oxnard Salsa Festival - July 25-26
Courtland, CA : Pear Fair - July 26
San Mateo, CA: Festa Italiana Street Fair - July 26

Source

Let's Dish: What Are Your Wedding Pet Peeves?

partysugar — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:50:46 -0700

When I chatted weddings with Gail Simmons a couple of weeks ago, she shared her tips for hosting an eco-friendly big day and let me know her wedding pet peeves. "When the wedding doesn't reflect the personality of the couple, that really bugs me." Also on her list: a menu that lacks creativity, and dessert buffets. "Twenty-foot-long tables covered in cakes and desserts - it's so wasteful, people take one slice and don't really need or want more than that."

I agree with Gail to an extent, I've never been a fan of buffets - but not because they're wasteful, because they promote overeating! My biggest pet peeve at a wedding reception, however, is a bad Champagne toast. Oh and running out of alcohol is a big no-no.

How about you? Now's your chance to get them off your chest: what are your wedding pet peeves?

Source

Starbucks Aims to Be Healthier, Greener

YumSugar — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:30:47 -0700

America's largest coffee chain has decided to jump-start its own eco-friendly food revolution: Earlier this week, Starbucks announced it would be rolling out a new food menu on June 30 as part of its "Real Food. Simply Delicious" campaign. And yesterday, the chain said it would install new water faucets in its stores as part of an environmental initiative.

The company is reworking 90 percent of its baked goods, and eliminating high-fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, and food coloring from its products. Starbucks is also removing preservatives from items whenever possible, attempting to mimic the number of ingredients used in homemade baked goods. In addition, this Summer the coffee titan will test the viability of a Frappuccino formula that appeals to health-conscious consumers, and the chain will begin selling salads. Despite premium prices of natural ingredients, the company maintains these changes will not affect prices on its food menu.

Yesterday, Starbucks also revealed a plan to install new water faucets that meter out water across all US stores by September, a change that could save each café up to 150 gallons of water a day. It hopes to expand this green initiative internationally by Fall.

The coffee company continues to make frantic changes in hopes of reviving sales. I'm skeptical about whether these strategies will truly spark sales - since things like instant coffee, ciabatta-bread sandwiches, and value meals really haven't. Still, I'll admit I hope that health-conscious Frappuccino comes to market. What do you think of these changes?

Source