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Food Section Sampler - May 6, 2009

YumSugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:50:47 -0700

Does snapping asparagus truly yield the most tender results? - New York Times
A behind-the-scenes look at the sustainable farm featured in The Omnivore's Dilemma. - Washington Post
Experts spill their secrets for making the best-ever meatloaf. - Chicago Tribune
Now more than ever, restaurants are taking note of food allergies. - Boston Globe
One Japanese contemporary is bringing the traditional tea ceremony into the 21st century. - Wall Street Journal
Is decanting your wine really all that important? - Los Angeles Times
Taste-tested: store-bought strawberry frozen yogurt. - San Francisco Chronicle

Noteworthy Nibbles - Apr. 14-21, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:15 -0700

Food festival season appears to be in full swing! The weekend's chock full of fancy food productions, from Scottsdale to Pebble Beach to Blue Ridge food and wine festivals. A number of your favorite celebrity chefs, like Top Chef's Fabio and Carla, Paula Deen, and Thomas Keller, will be making appearances across the nation. And what Southerner could miss out on crawfish and grits? If you think of anything we've left off, please feel free to add in below. What events will you be hitting up?

Scottsdale, AZ: Scottsdale Culinary Festival - Apr. 14-19
Charlotte, NC: Taste of the Nation Charlotte - Apr. 15
San Antonio, TX: Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour - Apr. 15
Atlanta, GA: World Barista Championship - Apr. 15-19
Atlanta, GA: Toast of the Town Atlanta - Apr. 16
Austin, TX: Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival - Apr. 16-19
Pebble Beach, CA: Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival - Apr. 16-19
Blowing Rock, NC: Blue Ridge Wine Festival - Apr. 16-19
Biloxi, MS: MS Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival - Apr. 16-19
Springfield, MO: Rock 'n Ribs BBQ Festival - Apr. 17-18

To see the rest, read more.

York, PA: Pennsylvania Herb Festival - Apr. 17-18
St. George, SC: World Grits Festival - Apr. 17-19
Salisbury, MD: Pork in the Park - Apr. 17-19
New York, NY: Coffee & Tea Festival NY - Apr. 18-19
Moulton, AL: Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival - Apr. 18-19
Atlanta, GA: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Apr. 18-19
Norfolk, VA: Virginia Culinary Expo - Apr. 19
Princeton, NJ: Taste of the Nation Princeton - Apr. 20

Happy Hour: The Grey Lady

partysugar — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:00:44 -0700

Last month YumSugar and I attended a cocktail competition hosted by the drinks-based social networking website, Nirvino. We were a little worried about the contest, not because we were competing, but because each of the five cocktails had to use No. 209 Gin. Normally, I'm not a fan of the strong, intensely botanical flavor of gin, however the concoctions created by San Francisco's bartending elite were surprisingly well-balanced and drinkable. The winning drink, The Grey Lady, created by Greg Lindgren, the owner of one of my watering holes, Rye, was particularly memorable. A mixture of gin, fresh lemon juice, and Earl Grey syrup, this drink is innovative (who would think to use breakfast tea in a cocktail?), light, airy, smooth, and delicious. Although one of the ingredients, bergamot, is incredibly hard to find, the tipple can be enjoyed without it. To watch a video of Greg making the concoction at the party and check out the recipe, read more.

Nirvino Presents: The Grey Lady from Nirvino on Vimeo.

The Grey Lady
From Greg Lindgren of Rye

Ingredients

1 3/4 oz gin (recommended: No. 209 Gin)
3/4 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
1 oz Earl Grey tea syrup
1/2 egg white
1 Pinch Bergamot Dust (finely grated zest from one bergamot)

Directions

Add egg white to cocktail shaker with ice.
2. Shake vigorously for 10-20 seconds.
Add the other ingredients. Shake again for 10 seconds.

Strain into a cocktail glass and enjoy.

Makes 1 drink.

Print recipe with images | without images

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Snapple to Debut Redesign and HFCS-Free Formula

partysugar — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 03:30:34 -0800

Last week the New York Times announced that iced tea brand Snapple is redesigning its look and formula. The font is more modern, and the new bottle will be slimmer, so it can fit into cup holders. Real sugar will replace the high fructose corn syrup and lower the calorie count by 40 calories. The label will highlight the type of leaves - green and black tea leaves - used to make the drink and points out that it's "all natural."

With fierce competition in the specialty tea industry, Snapple hopes the more contemporary look will increase sales and popularity. The changes are set to hit supermarket shelves over the next few months. Snapple isn't the first brand to update its look to showcase the wholesomeness of ingredients - Heinz ketchup did it last month.

Do you drink Snapple? What do you think of the changes?

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Yummy Links: From Free Denny's to Disliking Top Chef

partysugar — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 07:45:32 -0800

From 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. today you can get a free Grand Slam breakfast at Denny's . - Fast Food News
Take a trip to the original McDonald's in San Bernardino, CA. - A Hamburger Today
Fifty easy ways to eat and cook green. - Bon Appétit
Empty tea tins make adorable flower vases. - The Kitchn
Use fresh lemon juice to remove tough food stains. - Chow
Why one journalist can't get into this season's Top Chef. - The Epi-Log

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Taste Test: Starbucks Tazo Tea Infusions

YumSugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:00:01 -0800

Despite hard times, coffee chain Starbucks continues to try new tactics. Two weeks ago, I introduced you to the company's tea lattes, its latest beverage to hit counters nationwide. But if lattes aren't your thing, Starbucks is hoping you'll reach for its new Tea Infusions instead, which are available in two flavors: Tazo Berry Chai and Tazo Apple Chai. I had a chance to give these drinks - a nondairy blend of Tazo black chai tea and fruit juice - a try. To find out how they fared, read more.

Tazo Berry Chai: Described as "a blend of aronia berry and blackcurrant juices steamed with black tea and exotic spices," I could taste the cloves and cassis sticks in the chai blended into this beverage. Although the drink had a mellow blackberry taste, each sip had a spicy, peppery ending. It did strike me as very sweet, and I wondered how much sweeter it would taste once lukewarm.

Tazo Apple Chai: Although there were supposedly "sweet spices" steamed into this beverage, PartySugar and I thought it was a dead ringer for spiced apple cider. It was also heavy on the sugar.

If you're in search of a spiced cider with a caffeine kick, or want to enjoy a drink akin to mulled wine without the alcohol, these drinks would be for you. It's hard for me to rationalize forgoing the taste of classic chai tea in exchange for one of these infusions. I found them both to be too sweet. While Starbucks maintains that they can also be served on ice, I wonder whether they would taste even more cloying when enjoyed cold.

Have you tried either of these drinks? What did you think of them?

Relax With Republic of Tea's Decaffeinated Rooibos Line

partysugar — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 11:15:14 -0800

Tea has been an incredibly trendy ingredient for the past two years. Recently, I was bombarded by so many different types of new tea products that I was quite overwhelmed. So much so that I avoided the enormous amount of tea booths at the Fancy Foods Show.

Until one - the Republic of Tea's Be Well Red Tea line - caught my eye. With names like "get happy," "get some zzz's," and "get relaxed" the collection of South African rooibos teas are each specified to change a certain aspect of your life. They're caffeine free and naturally healthful. They come in brightly colored, tin canisters. I enjoy their unpretentious packaging, clean herbal flavor, and soothing qualities.

Do you drink decaffeinated tea? Have you tried Republic of Tea?

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What's Your Top Choice For Tea?

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 11:45:55 -0800

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Yum's December Must Haves

partysugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 15:00:36 -0800

With its festive parties and unlimited opportunities to bake and cook, December is one of my favorite months. Here, I've rounded up my must haves for the holidays. Enjoy!

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YumSugar Gift Guide: The Tea Aficionado Grandma

YumSugar — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 15:00:10 -0800

There are a number of high-end tea gifts that will delight the discerning tea lover in your life. The key is to know what type of drinker she is: If she enjoys hosting afternoon tea, present her with this hand-embellished Fortnum & Mason serving set. For the on-the-go sipper, try a travel tea infuser. Is grandma a stylish trendsetter? Gift her this show-stopping teapot.

For more gift ideas, browse the selection below. Check out all the gift guides on HolidaySugar.