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Food Section Sampler - May 27, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:50:40 -0700

A growing number of food vendors have taken to the streets of San Francisco. - San Francisco Chronicle
Make Jacques Pepin's smoked salmon paté in a matter of minutes. - Boston Globe
El Bulli's Ferran Adrià has developed a beer that's meant to be enjoyed like wine. - New York Times
The Wholesome Wave Foundation, a federal food assistance program that draws families to farmers markets, is breaking ground. - Washington Post
What are the keys to whipping up a well-balanced vinaigrette? - Chicago Tribune
Scientific breakthroughs have allowed California to make major advances in blueberry farming. - Los Angeles Times
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, long championed for its editorial independence, is under fire for accepting industry-paid trips. - Wall Street Journal

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Food Section Sampler - May 13, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:50:34 -0700

El Bulli's Ferran Adrià is studying the art of pizza making in hopes to open a pizzeria in Barcelona. - Los Angeles Times
New York City has become a hotbed for cook-off challenges. - New York Times
Soave, the once ubiquitous Italian white, is working hard to make a comeback. - Wall Street Journal
How to get the most out of shopping at the farmers market. - Chicago Tribune
Strawberry-rhubarb chicken is a seasonal twist on the classic sweet-and-sour chicken. - Washington Post
Boston's African-American communities are paving the way for a new class of healthy, sustainable soul food. - Boston Globe

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Ferran Adrià: El Bulli Staff Is Well-Fed

YumSugar — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:00:46 -0700

Ever wonder what the staff at the world's most renowned restaurant eats? If you're certain that El Bulli's family meals are studies in foie gras and osetra caviar, think again.

According to Gourmet, molecular gastronomy master Ferran Adrià prefers to serve his staff classic dishes. These might include anything from chicken mole to Waldorf salad with chocolate ice cream for dessert.

This doesn't mean that the food futurist takes kitchen meals lightly. “I concern myself with what the staff eats first of all,” he says. In fact, one chef's sole responsibility is to cook the staff meals, and every staff menu through the restaurant's 2009 season has already been planned!

“I guarantee that El Bulli feeds its people like no other restaurant,” says Adrià. “How else would we convey to a young chef one of the most important principles of our métier: that he must look out for himself in order to look out for others?”

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Yummy Link: Eating at the Best Restaurant in the World

partysugar — Sat, 26 Apr 2008 13:03:18 -0700

if you're wondering what eating at El Bulli - the best restaurant in the world - is like, be sure to check out this account. It describes the four hour, once in a lifetime, too many courses to count dining experience. - Boarding Area via Bitten

Yummy Link: Ferran Adria's Top Tips

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 14:01:39 -0700

Can't get an El Bulli reservation to save your life? That's okay, you can create your own magic at home. Here are Ferran Adria's top tips for home cooks. - Chez Pim

50 Best Restaurants in The World

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:31:38 -0700

Last night Restaurant Magazine announced their annual list of the world's 50 best restaurants and I am ridiculously embarrassed to say that even though two of them are really close by (Chez Panisse and the French Laundry), I have not been to any of the ones on the list. While I go hang my head in foodie shame, you can check out the list. Oh and it's worth noting that the top 6 are the same as last year and there are only 5 new entries and one that has re-entered. And finally, if you don't recognize him, that's El Bulli's head chef Ferran Adria in the photograph.

1 - El Bulli, Spain - Best in Europe
2 - The Fat Duck, UK
3 - Pierre Gagnaire, France
4 - The French Laundry, USA - Best in the Americas
5 - Tetsuya’s, Australia - Best in Australasia
6 - Bras, France
7 - Mugaritz, Spain
8 - Le Louis XV, Monaco
9 - Per Se, USA
10 - Arzak, Spain

To see the rest of the list, none of which I've eaten at either, read more

11 - El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
12 - Gambero Rosso, Italy
13 - L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon, France
14 - Hof van Cleve, Belgium
15 - Noma, Denmark - The biggest climber - up 18 places from last year
16 - Le Calandre, Italy
17 - Nobu London, UK
18 - Jean Georges, USA
19 - Hakkasan, UK
20 - Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, France
21 - L’Astrance, France
22 - Can Fabes, Spain
23 - L’Ambroisie, France
24 - Restaurant Gordon Ramsay UK
25 - Troisgros, France
26 - Le Bernardin, USA
27 - Martin Berasategui, Spain
28 - Le Gavroche, UK
29 - Le Cinq, France
30 - Charlie Trotter’s, USA
31 - Dal Pescatore, Italy
32 - Daniel, USA
33 - Rockpool, Australia
34 - St John, UK
35 - Chez Dominique, Finland
36 - Alinea, USA - Highest New Entry
37 - Bukhara, India - Best in Asia
38 - DOM, Brazil
39 - Oaxen Skärgårdskrog, Sweden
40 - Chez Panisse, USA
41 - Enoteca Pinchiorri, Italy
42 - Cracco Peck, Italy - New Entry
43 - L’Arpège, France
44 - River Café, UK - Re-Entry
45 - Oud Sluis, Netherlands - Biggest drop - down 26 places from last year
46 - Combal Zero, Italy - New Entry
47 - Le Quartier Français, South Africa - Best in Mid East & Africa
48 - Taillevent, France - New Entry
49 - Bocuse, France
50 - Les Ambassadeurs, France - New Entry

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Ming Tsai on Best Meals, Food Politics, and What's Next

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:41 -0700

If it hasn't become apparent over the last few days, I'm an enthusiastic fan of Ming Tsai's. Last week, the Simply Ming chef stopped into San Francisco to host a party for the Macy's Come Together campaign. While demonstrating how to make potstickers, Ming, an exceptional storyteller, made fun of his parents who were present in the audience, told tales of mischief in France's Michelin-starred restaurants, and recalled his win against Bobby Flay on Iron Chef America ("rumor has it that I may soon face off against Iron Chef Morimoto," he told the crowd).

I got to kick back with Chef Ming, who, in between his thoughts on joining Top Chef Masters, must-have kitchen ingredients, and tips for keeping cool when hosting a party, had more surprising thoughts to share! Learn what they are when you read more

Ramsay Missing From the World's Best Restaurants List

partysugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 10:15:44 -0700

Yesterday Restaurant magazine and S. Pellegrino announced its famed list of the world's 50 best restaurants. The list is developed by a large panel of well-regarded international judges consisting of 806 chefs, restaurateurs, food critics, and journalists.

For the fourth year in a row, Ferran Adriá's experimental Spanish restaurant, El Bulli, has been named the best eatery in the world. Coming in at sixth, Thomas Keller's Per Se is the highest-ranking US restaurant.

The most shocking news, however, is that Gordon Ramsay's flagship London establishment, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, which was number 13 on last year's list, is totally absent from this year's. To check out the complete list, read more.

El Bulli, Spain
The Fat Duck, UK
Noma, Denmark
Mugaritz, Spain
El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
Per Se, US
Bras, France
Arzak, Spain
Pierre Gagnaire, France
Alinea, US
L’Astrance, France
The French Laundry US
Osteria Francescana, Italy
St. John, UK
Le Bernardin, US
Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville, Switzerland
Tetsuya’s, Australia
L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, France
Jean Georges, US
Les Creations de Narisawa, Japan
Chez Dominique, Finland
Ristorante Cracco, Italy
Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany
D.O.M., Brazil
Vendome, Germany
Hof van Cleve, Belgium
Masa, US
Gambero Rosso, Italy
Oud Sluis, Netherlands
Steirereck, Austria
Momofuku Ssam Bar, US
Oaxen Skaergaardskrog, Sweden
Martin Berasategui, Spain
Nobu UK
Mirazur, France
Hakkasan, UK
Le Quartier Francais, South Africa
La Colombe, South Africa
Asador Etxebarri, Spain
Le Chateaubriand, France
Daniel, US
Combal Zero, Italy
Le Louis XV, France
Tantris, Germany
Iggy’s, Singapore
Quay, Australia
Les Ambassadeurs, France
Dal Pescatore, Italy
Le Calandre, Italy
Mathias Dahlgren, Sweden

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Discover the 2008 List of 50 Best Restaurants in the World

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 08:11:11 -0700

Every year San Pellegrino and Restaurant magazine releases a list of the 50 best restaurants in the world. The list is put together by The Nespresso World's 50 Best Academy, a group that consists of over 650 chefs, restauranteurs, food writers and critics. There is no list of nominees, each member of the voting panel votes for their favorite five restaurants. They can't vote for their own restaurant, and they have to have eaten at their nominees within the past 18 months. So after 3,410 votes, who came out on top?

The top three are unchanged from last year, with Ferran Adria's El Bulli ranking number one. There are also four re-entries and two new entries. To discover the whole list, read more.

1. El Bulli, Spain
2. The Fat Duck, UK
3. Pierre Gagnaire, France
4. Mugaritz, Spain
5. The French Laundry, US
6. Per Se, US
7. Bras, France
8. Arzak, Spain
9. Tetsuya's, Australia
10. Noma, Denmark
11. L'Astrance, France
12. Gambero Rosso, Italy
13. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, UK
14. L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon, France
15. Le Louis XV, Monaco
16. St John, UK Highest Climber, up 18 places from last year
17. Jean Georges, US
18. Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athénée, France
19. Hakkasan, UK
20. Le Bernardin, US
21. Alinea, US
22. Le Gavroche, UK
23. Dal Pescatore, Italy
24. Le Cinq, France
25. Troisgros, France
26. El Celler de Can Roca, Spain
27. Restaurant de l'Hotel de Ville, Switzerland Highest Re-Entry
28. Hof van Cleve, Belgium
29. Martin Berasategui, Spain
30. Nobu London, UK
31. Can Fabes, Spain
32. Enoteca Pinchiorri, Italy
33. Le Meurice, France
34. Vendome, Germany Highest New Entry
35. Die Schwarzwaldstube, Germany
36. Le Calandre, Italy
37. Chez Panisse, US
38. Charlie Trotter's, US
39. Chez Dominique, Finland
40. DOM, Brazil
41. Daniel, US
42. Oud Sluis, The Netherlands
43. Cracco Peck, Italy
44. Asador Etxebarri, Spain
45. Les Ambassadeurs, France
46. L'Arpege, France
47. Tantris, Germany
48. Oaxen Skaergaardskrog, Sweden
49. Rockpool, Australia
50. Le Quartier Francais, South Africa

While I find this list completely fascinating - and I definitely want to eat at more than one of them - I'm a little dismayed by the fact that there isn't a single restaurant in Asia on this list. Not to mention the overall lack of diversity. What do you guys think about it?

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Yummy Links: From Mentos Explosions to Kara's Cupcakes

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:23:31 -0700

About 1,500 students attempted to break the world record for number of Mentos being put into Coke bottles. - Telegraph (UK)
Learn how to turn leftovers into a tasty meal. - iVillage
Have we really come to this? Do we really need french fry holders for our car? - Serious Eats
What you eat may determine the sex of your baby. - lilsugar
Is Ferran Adria planning on making reservations at El Bulli even more difficult to do? - Eater
Find out the results of the microwave burrito taste test. - Chow
Does your garden have problems? Learn how to make your own aphid spray. - CasaSugar
Add the Pretty in Pink Pomegranate Cocktail to your bartending repertoire. - GlamDish
Discover what Kara - one of my favorite cupcake-atiers - of Kara's cupcakes has to say. She even mentions cupcake weddings. - Wedding Paper Divas

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