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Taco Bell Promotes World Series With Free Tacos Again

YumSugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:57 -0700

When it comes to the World Series, it seems everyone is rooting for a different team, but there's one thing that all of America can get behind: free tacos.

Mexican fast food chain Taco Bell's "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" campaign is back again this year. The promotion, which the fast food chain first launched last year, gives out free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Tacos to all customers if and when a player from any team during any game captures the first stolen base of the 2008 World Series.

There's only one way to find out if this year's World Series will crown a new Taco Bell hero. Will you be tuning in and rooting for your free taco?

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Taco Bell Hypes World Series With Free Tacos

partysugar — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 13:45:26 -0700

Taco Bell is adding to the annual hype surrounding the World Series by launching its "Steal a Base, Steal a Taco" promotion. After the first base is stolen in the championship series, the company will give a free taco to anyone in the United States who wants one. According to the article from Reuters:

There has been at least one stolen base in every World Series matchup since 1990. When the first base is stolen, the unit of Yum Brands Inc. will announce a Tuesday afternoon when consumers will be able to walk into the chain's participating 5,800 outlets and ask for a free taco.

Technically no one will be stealing any tacos, as the fast food giant will be giving them away. I haven't had a Taco Bell taco in years, but looks like I'll be making an exception in the near future. What do you think? Will you steal a free taco?

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Animated Anthony Bourdain Stars in Cartoon Show

YumSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:15:19 -0700

If you can't get enough of Anthony Bourdain, know that there'll soon be even more to love. The food industry's most opinionated figure is now getting his own cartoon series.

The six-part animated web series, titled Anthony Bourdain's Alternate Universe, will reveal Bourdain's "personal and unique view of the world that lives in his imagination." It's arrived out of thin air, even beating Gordon Ramsay's animated show to the punch. The first line in the trailer below? "If you've ever wondered what really goes on inside his head, you can stop."

Actually, I haven't. I already know the bad-boy chef's tiresome schtick, and it's not nearly as esoteric as everybody thinks it is. In some sort of . . . well, alternate universe, perhaps this cartoon would make more sense. Watch the trailer and share your thoughts after the break.

Next Up For Gordon Ramsay: Cartoons

YumSugar — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 15:00:48 -0700

With 27 restaurants and five television shows, Gordon Ramsay easily has the world's biggest celebrity chef empire. And, it appears, he has no plans to slow its growth.

Coming soon: an animated version of the already over-animated restaurateur, tentatively called Gordon Ramsay, at Your Service. He's set to create the half hour-long, stop-motion animated series with Toronto-based animation studio Cuppa Coffee, the creators behind MTV's Celebrity Deathmatch. According to Cuppa Coffee's Adam Shaheen, the show will capture "the essence of who he is and have a bit of fun with it."

Does this mean the chef has plans to poke fun at himself? Considering his rather serious reaction after being asked if he still cooks, I seriously doubt it. The project will be shopped out next month - who do you think will pick it up? Would you be likely to watch it?

Eva Longoria to Expand Beso Empire

partysugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 15:30:27 -0700

Desperate Housewives star and successful restaurateur Eva Longoria is taking her eatery national. Longoria opened Beso, a Mexican restaurant in Hollywood, with chef Todd English back in 2007. The popular joint quickly became a celebrity hangout. Last Summer she announced her plans to expand and open a second restaurant in Las Vegas.

Now, the establishment finally has an opening date: New Year's Eve 2010. Beso Vegas will diverge from its LA counterpart, with "different specials and drinks." The actress told People that she's "so excited about opening Beso Vegas." She described the city as having "the most energy in the world. It's a great foodie city, which is great for us because of our menu. Everything we offer is pretty unique. Nobody in Vegas has anything similar."

Also in the works? Besitos - a series of airport eateries that will feature a limited menu. The first will debut at an undisclosed Los Angeles airport. Have you eaten at Beso? What did you think? Would you grab some Mexican food from a Besito while traveling?

Ruth Reichl to Star in New Gourmet Travel Show

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:30:53 -0700

Looking forward to Bravo's Top Chef 6, Food Network's The Next Iron Chef, and the rest of Fall's food-focused lineup? Then there's one more show to TiVo. On Oct. 17, Gourmet magazine will debut a series on public television entitled Gourmet's Adventures With Ruth. On the half-hour show, editor Ruth Reichl travels the world visiting cooking schools with the likes of Frances McDormand and Lorraine Bracco. Gourmet's Adventures With Ruth will also air on Gourmet's TiVo channel, as well as the American Airlines in-flight television channel. At least 10 episodes will be backed by the airlines, whose sponsorship includes branding spots, ad pages in the magazine, and a presence on the website.

As Ruth Reichl's number-one fan, I can't wait to see this show - although I'm curious to know how different the point of view will be from its predecessor, Diary of a Foodie. Will you watch Ruth Reichl eat her way around the globe?

Greg Grossman, Child Caterer, Lands Reality TV Show

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 14:30:58 -0700

Precocious child chefs and foodies - a trend to hit the media circuit last year - apparently aren't over yet. Remember Greg Grossman, the 13-year-old rising caterer on the Hamptons circuit? Now 14, the kid caterer is no longer a novice to the world of publicity, and has recently landed a deal to develop his own television show.

At the National Restaurant Association Show last month, the preteen told the Chicago Tribune of his plans to help out in the kitchen at Alinea, shoot a TV series, and pen a book.

Now Grossman has reportedly signed a contract with Picture This Television, the production company behind Kathy Griffin's show, My Life on the D-List. "The moment we met Greg, we knew he was a one-of-a-kind-talent," said Bryan Scott, a partner at Picture This. "It's not every day you encounter a kid who goes to junior high school during the day and cooks with some of the world's leading chefs at night."

While I do believe that kids shouldn't rush to grow up, there's a pretty good chance that I'll tune into this show out of curiosity. Will you watch a celebrity kid chef on reality TV?

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Bravo Posts Top Chef Masters Videos

YumSugar — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:00:20 -0700

To promote Top Chef Masters, which makes its series debut June 10, Bravo has posted videos introducing the show's chefs, an impressive list of industry names that includes Michael Chiarello, Roy Yamaguchi, Art Smith, and Rick Bayless.

The videos provide an amusing glimpse into the worlds of many of these acclaimed chefs. It's reassuring to know that Michael Chiarello has never met a Butterfinger bar he didn't like; that Wylie Dufresne had high hopes to be a professional athlete; and that Roy Yamaguchi got into cooking when he signed up for high school home ec so he could meet girls.

Check out the Michael Chiarello clip below, as well as the rest of the video introductions. Do these clips leave you with high hopes for Top Chef Masters?

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France's Wine and Cheese Recovery Act

YumSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:00:58 -0700

After embittered battles this year over Roquefort, beef, and Coca-Cola, France has decided it needs to show the rest of the world some love. Concerned that outsiders perceive two of France's top exports, wine and cheese, to be unapproachable, the French government, with the help of local producers, has agreed to spend $2.1 million to sponsor cocktail parties in 19 different countries. While many events around the globe will take place in large convention centers, the program in the US will be different. In an effort to capitalize on the American trend of entertaining at home to save money, the stateside program will be a series of parties subsidized in private homes. On June 4, 1,000 Americans will hold wine and cheese parties, complements of the French Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

The American effort is being organized by House Party, a marketing company that arranges sponsored parties. Hopeful hosts simply apply online; if selected, they'll receive 15 percent discounts on select French wines, a free gift when they order online at specialized cheese websites, and a box of French-themed party gear. In return, hosts are required to throw a party, photograph and blog the event, and answer a survey about the products they tasted.

Considering many parties already revolve around wine and cheese, this seems like a solid idea. Do you think this effort will have an impact on French wine and cheese sales in the US? Are you planning to apply?

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Food Network Stirs the Pot With New Lineup

YumSugar — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:00:06 -0700

Belong to the camp that loves watching the Food Network? You'll be happy to know that it's not only bringing back some of its popular shows for more seasons, but it'll also be adding some surprising new developments into the mix.

The Next Food Network Star is back for a fifth season in June - and a sixth is already planned for 2010. Once Top Chef Masters is over, you can tune into season two of The Next Iron Chef, which returns in October. Wondering what happened to season one contestants Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez? Well, they'll be featured in a new program called Chef vs. City.

In the show, which debuts this July, the duo will be "pitted against two local foodies in a winner-takes-all race through a different city each week."

Intrigue is only one word we have for a new cooking show airing in August, starring none other than - you'll never guess - Olympic gold medalist Brian Boitano. In the daytime show - tentatively and humorously titled What Would Brian Boitano Make?, the ice skater will demonstrate how he entertains for friends.

Also coming this year is Sandra Lee's budget-friendly cooking show Sandra's Money Saving Meals and Extreme Cuisine With Jeff Corwin, which sounds like Food Network's answer to Bizarre Foods. In 2010's lineup, Rescue Chef Danny Boome will host a new series that shows diners how to prepare healthier, cheaper versions of their favorite take-out dishes; Alton Brown will host a miniseries on foods that have changed the world; and Anne Burrell tackles a team of hopeless home cooks in Worst Cooks in America.

I can't wait to check out Boitano's show, for the shock factor. I'll also tune into watch Chris Cosentino and Aaron Sanchez, some of my favorites from Next Iron Chef. What shows are you looking forward to watching?

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