YumSugar

Yummy Links: From Frozen Daniel Craig to Tony and Mario

partysugar — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 07:50:23 -0700

Would you eat this Daniel Craig Popsicle? - Eat Me Daily
Are you buying less organic milk? - Serious Eats
Tipping rules for takeout and delivery. - Bon Appétit
Flank steak salad with arugula is hearty and delicious. - Chow
Top Chef season six has wrapped filming in Las Vegas. - Eater SF
Anthony Bourdain and Mario Batali talk everything from cupcakes to Food Network. - Grubstreet

San Francisco Restaurant Eliminates Taxes and Tips

YumSugar — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:00:07 -0700

Earlier this year, we broached the question of whether it was fair for establishments to impose a built-in surcharge for large dinner parties - and many of you were strongly opposed. But how would you feel if taxes and gratuities were eliminated altogether?

Frank Klein, owner of San Francisco's Fish & Farm, thinks the idea has potential to succeed in times like these. According to San Francisco Chronicle restaurant critic Michael Bauer, Klein will remodel Fish & Farm, reopening with a new menu that has all-inclusive prices.

The restaurant's new tabs will have "no surcharges, no extras, no nothing above what it says on the menu. We are going to become the anti-surcharge restaurant." The waitstaff will still be adequately compensated because the computer will automatically deduct sales tax and 18.5 percent gratuity for every check.

Although this isn't a new concept - it's standard in many countries like France - it's uncommon to see in America. At a time when many Americans feel nickel-and-dimed, does this strategy have the potential to succeed - and catch on in other restaurants?

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Has the Economy Affected Your Tipping Habits?

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 11:45:27 -0800

In a recent article in the New York Times, restaurant critic Frank Bruni discusses yet another quandary facing restaurants during the recession. Not only are people dining out less frequently and reducing spending, but they're also tipping less. This puts servers in a particularly vulnerable position. The trend doesn't surprise me at all; however, the recession has actually inversely affected my tipping habits. Even though I eat out less, I tip more than I used to, knowing that my favorite places may be on the verge of collapse.

Tell me: Have you been less generous with the bill lately?

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Built-In Tips: Fair or Not?

YumSugar — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 12:37:33 -0800

Of all cities in America, New York is certainly one that's suffered severe economic blows - yet it has the highest cost of living in the country. To protect its diners from sky-high gratuities, the city's Department of Consumer Affairs has instituted a policy preventing parties under eight from being charged automatically for tip.

Big Apple blog Newyorkology set the record straight: New York restaurants may impose gratuities only for parties of eight or more. Even in those cases, the fee must be 15 percent or less, and diners must be forewarned with a listing on the establishment's menu in font that is 10 point or larger. Despite these strict guidelines, the New York Post uncovered a dozen restaurants that were breaking the local law; those violators are hit with fines ranging from $50 to $500.

In a city where a good percentage of the denizens make a living waiting tables, I can understand the pressure for higher gratuity. But I also feel that diners need to be protected against rising costs - if not, there won't be anyone dining out at all. What do you think about the predicament? When dining out with friends, do you mind getting a built-in service charge?

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Would You Care if Tipping Didn't Exist?

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:30:59 -0700

A provocative article that appeared in a recent issue of the New York Times Magazine broaches the question of whether America should still require tips.

The idea behind tipping is that it improves service by rewarding good waiters and punishing bad ones. But advocates for eliminating tipping say this logic is false, and they believe working for tips discourages teamwork. What's your two cents?

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Philadelphians Are the Highest Tippers

YumSugar — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 15:00:55 -0700

The City of Brotherly Love is also the city with the most-tipping love. Based on Zagat's newly released Philadelphia survey, the city's residents leave a generous 19.6 percent tip on average, compared to the countrywide average of 19 percent. Diners in New York - long considered the most expensive place to live in the US - only tip equal to the countrywide average, while those in Los Angeles tip below average at 18.4 percent.

Do Philadelphians really possess more love for their fellow citymen? Or is it because of Philadelphia's large number of BYO restaurants? I'm most surprised by the fact that New Yorkers tip such a meager amount. When I lived in Manhattan more than five years ago, it was considered standard to tip 20 percent due to the high cost of living there, and the fact that so many New Yorkers make a living in the service industry. Do these numbers surprise you? Are they in line with what you would normally tip, given decent service?

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How Much Do You Usually Tip?

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 08:37:10 -0700

Thanksgiving Tip: Freeze the Butter Before Making Pie

partysugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:00:32 -0800

When making pie dough, it's very important to use really cold butter. This will ensure that the crust is rich, flaky, and buttery. Most recipes remind you that the butter should be cold, but whenever I'm baking a pie, the first thing I do, before measuring anything, is cut the butter into 1/4-inch cubes. I put the cubes in a small dish and place it in the freezer. Then, I start making the dough. The butter is in the freezer for only a few minutes and doesn't really freeze; instead it gets really cold. Do you have a tip for great Thanksgiving pie?

Thanksgiving Tip: Refill Your Ice Trays

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 07:50:35 -0800

Before a party or a big feast like Thanksgiving, there are a couple of minor - yet impactful - things I always make sure to do. One is to empty the dishwasher; another is to refill my ice trays completely with fresh water. There's nothing more annoying than reaching for ice to go with water, punch, or cocktails, only to find that there's one cube left.

Add a note to your Thanksgiving planner: The morning of the big dinner, fill your trays with distilled water, which will prevent ice from appearing cloudy in the center. When guests arrive, you'll be able to serve them drinks with a just-made batch of ice. What little tasks help you stay on top of all the Thanksgiving mania?

Thanksgiving Tip: Use Food as Serveware

YumSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:50:49 -0800

When planning a dinner as momentous as Thanksgiving, there are lots of elements to consider on top of cooking, like selecting the right menu (and bird!), detailing an oven plan, and considering your budget. But one thing I firmly believe you shouldn't have to stress about is doing the dishes.

Spare yourself - and the environment! - by using food as a serving vehicle whenever possible. Start off cocktail hour with cider poured in apple cups and homemade dip in a bread bowl. Or, if soup is part of your meal, offer it in festive roasted acorn squash. Not only is this serving method a fun surprise for guests, but it's also delicious, filling, compostable, and easy on the cleanup.

What serving tips do you have to cut down on the dishes at Thanksgiving?

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