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Yummy Link: Restaurant Manager Sues Gordon Ramsay

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 06:33:19 -0700

Reason number 417 on why you shouldn't agree to be on a reality show: when a show airs, your good reputation might be destroyed. This is what Martin Hyde, former general manager of New York's Dillons restaurant is claiming in his lawsuit against Gordon Ramsay. - Hollywood Reporter

Baskin Robbins' Pints Don't Add Up

YumSugar — Fri, 18 May 2007 07:59:31 -0700

When you purchase a pint of ice cream, you expect to receive a pint, right? Somehow the folks that pack the "hand packed pints" at Baskin Robbins didn't realize that. In an investigation of 416 pints, approximately 83% of their hand packed pints have been coming up short - with an an average of 4 oz (that's 25%!). Needless to say, savvy customers realized it and started to complain and Baskin Robbins was eventually slapped with a consumer protection lawsuit. The suit has been settled with the San Diego Attorney General and Baskin Robbins has been ordered to pay a total of $491,000 to the state. As of now, they are no longer offering the pint, but will continue to offer 12-ounce pre-packed containers.

Source: Trendhunter and NBC San Diego

Seinfelds Prevail Over Sneaky Chef in Lawsuit

YumSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:00:42 -0700

She may have a famous comedian for a husband, but that's not the only reason Jessica Seinfeld is laughing all the way to the bank. Yesterday, a federal judge tossed out another author's claims that Seinfeld had copied from her cookbook. Seinfeld made a name for herself with Deceptively Delicious, a cookbook that encourages tricking kids into eating healthier food.

Six months before Seinfeld's tome was published, Missy Chase Lapine, author of kiddie tome The Sneaky Chef, warned Seinfeld not to print Deceptively Delicious, citing content similarities. When the book hit the press, Lapine sued the Seinfelds on counts of defamation and plagiarism.The judge ruled that the works are distinct, and that Jessica's book has a "completely different feel." She did leave open claims of defamation against the defendant's husband, Jerry Seinfeld, who made fun of Lapine on Letterman.

While Jerry Seinfeld probably shouldn't cracked a public joke about Lapine, I believe the right decision was made - but maybe that's just because I'm partial to the Seinfelds. Do you think justice was served?

Did Bobby Flay's Restaurants Violate Labor Laws?

YumSugar — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 11:00:36 -0800

Let's hope Bobby Flay is ready for his latest throwdown: a lawsuit from his restaurant employees.

New York-based employees of Bold Food, the celebrity chef's restaurant group, have filed a labor violations lawsuit, alleging that the company cheated its employees out of wages. In the suit, filed late Thursday night in New York federal court, the employees claim the company engaged in improper tip-pooling practices, didn't pay correct overtime wages, and failed to reimburse workers who bought their own uniforms. Although the food personality has yet to comment on the lawsuit, I hope he's able to come clean on the issue.

With multiple Food Network shows, a slew of restaurants, several cookbooks, a brand-new Sirius radio show, and other endorsements, it's clear that the celebrity chef has his hands full. What do you think of the lawsuit?

Source

KFC Being Sued Over Kentucky Grilled Chicken

YumSugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 07:50:37 -0700

KFC's Kentucky Grilled Chicken made quite the headlines when it first hit the market - and the media attention doesn't look like it's about to stop. Yesterday vegetarian advocacy group Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, or PCRM, announced its plans to sue KFC, alleging the chain failed to warn customers that its grilled chicken contains a carcinogen.The cancer-causing compound in question? PhIP, an amino that can be found in grilled meat. PCRM says it submitted samples to an independent lab that confirmed the presence of the carcinogenic compound in all pieces.

The suit follows a similar 2008 PCRM case against McDonald's, Burger King, Chick fil-A, Chili's, Applebee's, Outback Steakhouse, and TGI Friday's. Burger King, the only chain that wound up settling with the advocacy group, now posts signs inside its California locations warning against the possible presence of PhIP.

Do you believe these findings? Are they enough to deter you from eating Kentucky Grilled Chicken?

Source

For Papa John's, Camaro Search Ends on a Sour Note

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:00:45 -0700

This Summer's turned out to be quite the roller coaster ride for Papa John's founder John Schnatter. First, he and the pizza chain held a contest to locate his 1971 Camaro, the car he sold to finance his first pizza joint 25 years ago.

In what seemed like a fairy tale, Schnatter reunited with his long lost Camaro in Flatwoods, KY. But here's where the story turns sour: Papa John's is now suing one Kentucky couple, Phillip and Billie Slone, who believe they deserve the $250,000 search prize.According to the Slones, they first alerted Papa John's to the vehicle's whereabouts. Papa John's has fired back, accusing the Slones of fraud. The chain claims that after it informed Billie Slone that she didn't qualify for the prize without the vehicle's title, she contacted the titleholder, Jeff Robinson, and told him she knew a man who would pay for his Camaro.

Although Papa John's offered the Slones $25,000 for the role they played in linking Robinson to the pizza chain, Billie Slone has accused the company of amending winning guidelines after the contest was under way. I'm saddened to see a monetary prize spoil such a fun competition. Who is at fault: Papa John's or the Slones?

Source

Wolfgang Puck's Newest Venture: Iced Coffee

YumSugar — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:37:08 -0700

Watch out, Frappuccino. There's a new iced coffee in town, and it's been created by world famous chef Wolfgang Puck. Amidst a nasty lawsuit, guest judging on Top Chef, and juggling his nearly 20 restaurants, the celebrity chef is rolling out a new line of ready-to-drink iced coffees.

The bottled beverages, which will compete directly with products like POMx Iced Coffee, will cost $2.39 each or $7.99 for a four pack of Vanilla Fusion, Double Blend Mocha, Creme Caramel, or Café au Lait.

Puck explained how his drinks would be different from those on the market, citing the fact that the coffees are sourced from certified organic farms in Ethiopia, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico and contain certified organic and kosher ingredients.

Whole Foods stores nationwide will stock the coffee by the end of the year. Would you be more inclined to buy iced coffee because it's by Wolfgang Puck?

Michelle Dishes on Gossip Girl Romance, Oprah Sued For $1 Trillion, and a Cookie War Heats Up!

Molly — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 13:24:35 -0700

We got a chance to chat with Michelle Trachtenberg at last night's TCA party - check out the exclusive video below. Also, Wal-Mart takes on the Girl Scouts and Oprah's ridiculous $1 trillion lawsuit! We're also gearing up for Britney's big show on Sunday and have the latest breaking news on Paula's replacements. Watch it now!

Domino's Baked Sandwiches Burn Subway

partysugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 10:15:52 -0800

Advertising campaigns in which one company slams a competitor are nothing new: There's the coffee war between Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts, and the burger battle of McDonald's versus Burger King. The latest companies to publicly duke it out? Domino's Pizza and Subway. According to a taste test conducted and promoted by Domino's, consumers prefer their baked sandwiches over Subway's sandwiches by a two-to-one ratio. Subway quickly responded to the claims by sending Domino's a letter telling the pizza chain to stop airing the commercials. Then last week on national television, Domino's president David Brandon burned the letter. Subway has yet to comment on Domino's aggressive advertisement, and a lawsuit is likely.

After tasting Domino's baked sandwiches, I find it hard to believe they could beat out Subway's sandwiches in a blind taste test. I also think the behavior in the video is childish and immature. Burning a letter? It doesn't necessarily make me want to run to the nearest Domino's for a sandwich. Watch the video below and tell me what you think. Whose sandwiches do you prefer?

The Sneaky Chef Sues the Seinfelds

YumSugar — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 08:27:11 -0800

I don't know if you've been paying attention to the war of the crafty cookbook moms, but things between Jerry Seinfeld's wife Jessica, author of Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Get Your Kids Eating Good Food, and Missy Chase Lapine, author of The Sneaky Chef: Simple Strategies For Hiding Healthy Foods in Kids' Favorite Meals, have really escalated. Yesterday, Lapine formally sued the famous couple for defamation and plagiarism.

For those of you who haven't been paying attention, it pretty much boils down to this: While Lapine was touring her book in May, she learned about Seinfeld's similar book. She warned them of the similarities, but Jessica published anyways. Lapine claimed plagiarism. Jessica denied it. Jerry made fun of Lapine on Letterman, and it's been a cookbook war ever since.

To be honest, I'm not actually sure what to think about the whole thing. I can see how both of these books were made. Tricking kids into eating healthier food is a hot topic at the moment, and I think the cookbook shelf is big enough for two books with similar subjects. After all, if a lawsuit came out every time there was a cookbook that was "too similar" to another cookbook, wouldn't that mean there would only be one baking book? One quick-suppers book? One book on bbq?

So what do you guys think? Does this lawsuit have any merit, or is Lapine trying to drum up publicity for her own book?

Source