YumSugar

Do You Celebrate Thanksgiving at a Restaurant?

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:15:28 -0800

Nonni's Makes It Rain Meatballs With New World Record

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:05:14 -0800

When I saw the trailer for Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, I wondered: what could be better than living in an alternate universe where it rains meatballs? Well, I think I've found my answer.

It's a 222.5-pound meatball that emerged over the weekend, blowing all other past meatball records out of the water. The gargantuan ground beef spectacle, which was created by Matthew Mitnitsky of Nonni's Italian Eatery in Concord, NH, was confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records to be the (new) record holder of the world's largest meatball, beating out a recent 198.6-pound feat created on Jimmy Kimmel.

The best part? The now-famous meatball was broken down into manageable portions, then packaged and delivered to local shelters. What do you think? Delicious or disgusting?

Source

Are You Willing to Eat at a Communal Table?

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:45:41 -0700

Source: Flickr User bhamsandwich

Coming Soon: Twilight, the Restaurant

partysugar — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:32:15 -0700

Considering that everyone - Sugar included! - is getting caught up in the hype surrounding the Twilight series, it comes as no surprise that one couple, Annette and Tim Root of Forks, WA, have decided to launch a Twilight-themed restaurant in the town where the books are set.

Although the family-style eatery will be named Volterra, after the Italian city where the Volturi law-enforcing vampires live, the cuisine won't be Italian. Instead it will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a focus on steak and seafood. The couple hopes to debut their themed restaurant, complete with bar area, early next Spring.

Since I enjoyed the first two books and found the movie hysterically entertaining, I think the idea of a restaurant sounds fun. How about you? Would you be interested in eating at a Twilight establishment?

Do You Dine Out More During the Week or on Weekends?

YumSugar — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:45:18 -0700

Burger King Gets a Makeover

YumSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:15:47 -0700

While one fast food chain is temporarily closing stores, another has begun remodeling them. Hoping a facelift will invigorate sales, Burger King announced a major effort to redesign its 12,000 worldwide locations.

Burger King is betting that rotating red flame chandeliers, LCD menus, and corrugated metal and brick walls will encourage customers to sit down and enjoy a meal rather than simply passing through.According to Chairman and CEO John Chidsey, who describes the overhaul as "contemporary, edgy, futuristic . . . like an upscale restaurant," the 60 outlets that have already been revamped have generated 12 to 15 percent more sales.

The "20/20" design transformation, as it's called, is a huge risk for Burger King. The overhaul will take several years to complete worldwide, and will cost franchisees a whopping $300,000 to $600,000 per restaurant. Check out new store pictures. Could a redesign coax you into buying more BK?

Multi-Purpose Restaurants: Love It or Hate It?

YumSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 04:00:18 -0700

Recently, I laughed out loud while reading an article about a flu-shot clinic held at a wine bar. The wine-and-flu-shot setup got me thinking about restaurants that serve other functions along with their food. In San Francisco, you can grab a beer while you run your laundry load at Brain Wash Cafe & Laundromat, or fix your motorbike over breakfast at MotoJava. If I ever move to New York, I'll try the Ribs, Oil & Filter Special at Mogridder's in Bronx, NY. What do you think of multifunctional restaurants? Is it brilliant to be able to hit two birds with one stone? Or should restaurants be focused solely on their core competency: food?

Source: Flickr User Stepan Mazurov

Do You Like to Eat at the Bar?

YumSugar — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 14:00:42 -0700

I'm a big fan of bars, and not just for drinking. If I'm dining alone or on a date, I love to eat at a restaurant's bar. It's cozy and intimate, and I enjoy being able to place my entire meal order with the bartender. How about you?

Source: Flickr User Mat Honan

Have You Ever Changed Your Order Based on Price?

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 11:45:35 -0700

Several nights ago, I stopped by an organic restaurant to pick up some takeout for my guy. Although I didn't catch the price, I ordered the fish tacos - but when time came to sign the credit card bill, I recoiled at the amount - $20! I was slightly embarrassed, and hated to trouble the waitstaff who had to run into the kitchen to cancel the order, but the amount was far more than I was expecting to pay for tacos. Have you ever done something similar?

Do You Typically Take Home a Doggy Bag?

partysugar — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:00:22 -0700