YumSugar

Noteworthy Nibbles - Nov. 17-24, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:00:07 -0800

Aside from gearing up for Thanksgiving, what's keeping you busy this week? Nothing? Then consider making the most of your time. Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the (nonham) daiquiri, join in on the world's first bacon-themed endurance event, chow down on all of Nola's best po-boys or check out some amazingly designed dining-room tables.

If you're looking to retreat before the big food and family extravaganza next week, then take part in an exclusive offering at the Fairmont's Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, where you'll enjoy a special winery visit with bubbly blending sessions, expertly crafted cocktails, and exquisite local cuisine.

What food events are you attending? Let us know in the comments below.

Piedmont Triad, NC: Triad Restaurant Week - Nov. 13-22
San Diego, CA: San Diego Bay Wine & Food Festival - Nov. 18-22
San Francisco, CA: Dining by Design - Nov. 18-19
Seattle, WA: J&D's Bacathalon - Nov. 19
New Orleans, LA: Happy Birthday, Mr. Daiquiri - Nov. 19
New York, NY: Food, Inc. Screening and Discussion - Nov. 19
Denver, CO: Celebrity Chef Tour fete. Lachlan Patterson - Nov. 19
Sonoma, CA: Girl's Bubbly Getaway Weekend at the Fairmont Sonoma - Nov. 20-22
New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Po-Boy Preservation Festival - Nov. 22
San Francisco, CA: Malvira Winery Piemonte Harvest Dinner - Nov. 22

In the know about a fabulous event? Spread the word in our Noteworthy Nibbles group in the YumSugar Community!

Noteworthy Nibbles - Nov. 10-17, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:00:58 -0800

As if on cue to celebrate the upcoming holiday season, this weekend is packed with loads of wine and spirits soirées. Whether you're in San Antonio or Chicago, Pittsburgh or Portland, there's a glass for you that's waiting to be raised. Homebrewers and beerpub regulars alike will appreciate America's largest international beer fest in Providence, RI. Looking to find the ideal sparkler to go with your holiday feast? If you're a New Yorker, then you're in luck.

Where will you find yourself celebrating this weekend? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Kona, HI: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival - Nov. 6-15
San Antonio, TX: New World Wine & Food Festival - Nov. 8-15
San Francisco, CA: Food For Thought: Eat Out For Education - Nov. 11
New York, NY: Tour de Champagne - Nov. 12
Denver, CO: Denver International Wine Festival - Nov. 12-13
Milwaukee, WI: Lombardi Food & Wine Experience - Nov. 12-14
Pittsburgh, PA: Pittsburgh Whiskey and Fine Spirits Festival - Nov. 13
Chicago, IL: Pinot Days Chicago - Nov. 13-14
Providence, RI: Great International Beer Festival - Nov. 14
Portland, OR: Northwest Food & Wine Festival - Nov. 14
Orlando, FL: Orlando Food & Wine Fest - Nov. 14-15

A Glimpse Into a Gourmet Bug Tasting

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:50:09 -0800

It's one thing to say you'll try any sort of food, but another entirely to truly follow through on your promise. That's why, right before an eight-course gourmet bug tasting this week, I started bugging out over it. If I screamed when I saw insects in my apartment, how was I going to bring myself to eat them?

The one-of-a-kind dinner was organized by the Stanford Club of San Francisco, and featured everything from grasshoppers to dung beetles. Read on to find out how I fared throughout the meal.

View Slideshow ›

Noteworthy Nibbles - Nov. 3-10, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:07 -0800

Kick-start the new month with a number of celebratory fêtes that are happening this week. Learn all about the art of butchering (and enjoy fire-cooked meats) in Napa Valley; sample food from Boston's best new chefs; or watch Paula Deen's antics in the nation's capital.

Where will your stomach lead you this week? Let us know below.

Boston, MA: StarChefs Boston Rising Stars Revue - Nov. 3
Washington DC: Tour de Champagne - Nov. 6
Houston, TX: Chocolate Festival of Texas - Nov. 6-7
Big Sur, CA: Big Sur Food & Wine Festival - Nov. 6-7
New York, NY: Cook. Eat. Drink. Live. - Nov. 6-8
St. Helena, CA: PRIMAL Napa - Nov. 7
Abbeville, LA: Giant Omelette Celebration - Nov. 7-8
Washington DC: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Nov. 7-8
Los Angeles, CA: Great Chefs Go Organic - Nov. 8
San Antonio, TX: New World Wine & Food Festival - Nov. 8-15

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

Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 20-27, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:30:55 -0700

This weekend, the T-minus one week countdown to Halloween begins. If you aren't too busy planning your fright night agenda and costume, take the time to hit up some of this month's biggest events, like Chicago's Champagne fête or the annual Kohler Food & Wine Experience. As the weather gets rainier, I'd personally love to spend a sun-spilled weekend eating my way through Scottsdale.

Know of any events we haven't included on the list? Feel free to pipe up about them below.

San Francisco, CA: Root Division's Annual Art/Food Auction - Oct. 22
Scottsdale, AZ: Crave Arizona - Oct. 22-24
Portland, ME: Harvest on the Harbor - Oct. 22-24
Kohler, WI: Kohler Food & Wine Experience - Oct. 22-25
Chicago, IL: Tour de Champagne Chicago - Oct. 23
Chicago, IL: Beef: From Plains to Plate - Oct. 23-25
Fredericksburg, TX: Fredericksburg Food & Wine Fest - Oct. 24
Lexington, NC: Barbecue Festival - Oct. 24
Detroit, MI: Harvest Beer Festival - Oct. 24
Orlando, FL: Central Florida Veg Fest - Oct. 24
Lynchburg, TN: Jack Daniel's World Championship Invitation Barbecue - Oct. 24

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 13-20, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:00:31 -0700

As food festival season dwindles down, you might find yourself searching harder for events that will entertain you as much as your tastebuds. But look no further than our list below. Where else can you touch a 1,658-pound pumpkin but the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival? Imagine the jack-o'-lantern possibilities with that one. Find out what Top Cheffer Stefan Richter's been up to in Martha's Vineyard, or watch fellow contestant Fabio Viviani cook in the City of Brotherly Love.

Know of anything we've left off the list this week? Then please feel free to drop a line below!

New York, NY: Global Kitchen: The Magic of Pickling - Oct. 13
Boston, MA: Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit Dinner - Oct. 13
San Francisco, CA: Whiskeyfest - Oct. 16
Philadelphia, PA: Philadelphia Food & Wine Festival - Oct. 16-18
Edgartown, MA: Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine Festival - Oct. 16-18
Baltimore, MD: Russian Festival - Oct. 16-18
Fort Collins, CO: Fall Harvest Brewfest - Oct. 17
Llano, TX: Llano River Chuck Wagon Cookoff - Oct. 17
Half Moon Bay, CA: Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival - Oct. 17-18
Wellfleet, MA: Wellfleet Oysterfest - Oct. 17-18
Chicago, IL: Friends of James Beard Benefit Chicago - Oct. 18

Noteworthy Nibbles - Oct. 6-13, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:10 -0700

This week kicks off one of the biggest culinary events of the year: the NYC Wine and Food Festival, featuring headliners like Rachael, Bobby, and new favorite celeb chef, Ming.

Not in New York? No worries - there's still something to raise your glass to. Even though Oktoberfest technically ended last weekend, the party rages on from the East Coast to the West Coast.

Where will this week take you? Let us know below!

New York, NY: Rum Fest - Oct. 8
New York, NY: NYC Wine & Food Festival - Oct. 8-11
Gulf Shores, AL: National Shrimp Festival - Oct. 8-11
Panama City, FL: Panama City Beach Seafood, Wine & Music Festival - Oct. 9-11
Puyallup, WA: Oktoberfest NW - Oct. 9-11
Timonium, MD: Maryland Brewer's Oktoberfest - Oct. 10
Atlanta, GA: Taste of Atlanta - Oct. 10-11
Port Angeles, WA: Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival - Oct. 10-11
Alexandria, VA: Old Town Food & Wine Festival - Oct. 10-11
Boston, MA: Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit Dinner - Oct. 13
San Francisco, CA: Wine and Spirits Magazine Top 100 Tasting - Oct. 14

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Sept. 29-Oct. 6, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Wine lovers, unite! From St. Louis, MO, to Orlando, FL, and everywhere up and down the California coast, this week is full of celebrations that pay homage to the year's bounty of grapes.

As a West Coaster, I have my pick of places to swirl my glass, but, since sandwiches are my true love, I'm green with envy for those who can attend Philly's Sandwich Smash. Where will you be tasting tipples this week? Drop us a line in the comments below!

Monterey, CA: Monterey Wine Festival - Oct. 1-2
Orlando, FL: Latin Food & Wine Festival - Oct. 1-3
Los Angeles, CA: American Wine & Food Festival - Oct. 2-4
Carpinteria, CA: California Avocado Festival - Oct. 2-4
Denver, CO: Denver Chili Fest - Oct. 3
Chicago, IL: Eli's Cheesecake Festival - Oct. 3-4
New York, NY: New York Culinary Experience - Oct. 3-4
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Wine Festival - Oct. 3-4
Shelton, WA: OysterFest - Oct. 3-4
Philadelphia, PA: Sandwich Smash - Oct. 4

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Sept. 22-29, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 14:00:50 -0700

When it comes to food festivals, I've decided that the peak of the season isn't the three-month span between Memorial Day and Labor Day, Instead, it's right this minute, when the last of the season's seafood festivals converge with harvest celebrations and the beginning of chili cookoffs. We can't wait to check out the bites at the Taste of Petaluma.

Where will this week be leading you? Let us know in the comments below!

New York, NY: StarChefs New York Rising Stars Revue - Sept. 22
London, KY: World Chicken Festival - Sept. 24-27
Columbus, OH: Columbus Food & Wine Affair - Sept. 25
Redondo Beach, CA: Redondo Beach Lobster Festival - Sept. 25-27
Sonoma, CA: Valley of the Moon Vintage Festival - Sept. 25-27
Los Angeles, CA: Feast of San Gennaro - Sept. 25-27
Orlando, FL: Epcot International Food & Wine Festival - Sept. 25-Nov. 8
Petaluma, CA: Taste of Petaluma - Sept. 26
Pittsburgh, PA: Blue Ribbon Bacon Festival - Sept. 26
Stone Mountain, GA: The Great Miller Lite Chili Cook-Off - Sept. 26

Source