http://www.yumsugar.com/ To die for. en http://www.yumsugar.com/2512273 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/47_2008/84765aeaed1fa2c4_Burger-King-Upscale.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline right xxlarge" height="476" width="325"></span>Number two fast food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/burger+king" >Burger King</a> has been testing <a href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=132561" target="_blank">a new line of premium items</a>. This includes ribs and thicker burgers, made with grills, batch broilers, and other costly new kitchen equipment. </p> <p>The fast food chain's decision to move in the direction of higher-price items comes at a time when the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/casual+chains" >casual restaurant industry</a> is struggling. National chains have seen declining sales across the board; Burger King is hoping to capitalize on the industry's market share.</p> <p>CEO John Chidsey said he wouldn't elaborate further "because some things are still under wraps," but the chain's gourmet menu items could be advertised as soon as next Summer. </p> <p>Still, Burger King has no plans to lose its value menu. "We work the value for the money equation on both ends of our menu," said Russ Klein, Burger King's president of global strategy. </p> <p>Does Burger King's new strategy surprise you? Do you think the corporation will manage to draw business away from the casual restaurant business?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2512273#comment advertising Burger King Casual Chains chains cost increases dining out economy fast food news restaurants Tue, 18 Nov 2008 11:15:01 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2512273 http://www.yumsugar.com/2495061 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/46_2008/93f7bce15c07fd4f_Subway_ChickFlatbread.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right outline xlarge" height="145" width="300"></span>Today <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/subway" >Subway</a> has announced that, beginning next Monday, it <a href="http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=360118" target="_blank">will offer flatbread</a> as an option for any of its existing sandwiches, and will also introduce two new sandwiches, Chicken Florentine and a Steak &amp; Bacon Melt, made with flatbread. </p> <p>In a departure from Subway's signature fresh-baked bread philosophy, the flatbread dough will be baked off premises, then supplied to Subway franchises and finished off in on-site ovens. </p> <p>With this launch, Subway is attempting to make headway in a tight market that includes other chains such as <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/dunkin'+donuts" >Dunkin' Donuts</a> and <a href="http://www.quiznos.com/subsandwiches/" target="_blank">Quiznos</a>, which both already carry flatbread sandwiches. Do you think Subway's new product will take off?</p> <p><a href="http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=360118" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2495061#comment fast food flatbread news restaurants sandwiches subway Thu, 13 Nov 2008 05:30:00 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2495061 http://www.yumsugar.com/2486464 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2486464"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2486464',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2486464');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p>Last week, <b>New York Times</b> critic Frank Bruni broached the question of whether it's kosher to <a href="http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/04/the-complaint-department-j-and-his-coffee/" target="_blank">bring outside food or drink into restaurants</a>. I've noticed at some places — most recently at a popular <a href="http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/12252612" target="_blank">neighborhood coffeehouse</a> — that a growing number of establishments have barred customers from bringing items (such as water) inside. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/46_2008/6fa4951df42f6e43_outside_beverages.preview.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="413" width="550"></span>Bruni cited an example of a friend getting turned away from brunch at a New York diner for arriving with a <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/Starbucks" >Starbucks</a> coffee in hand, and argued in favor of the establishment. "It strikes me as a measure of disrespect," he writes. </p> <p>What are your thoughts on the issue? Is Bruni being too extreme when he calls it disrespectful behavior?</p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2486464" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Do or Don&#039;t: Bringing Outside Food/Drink Into a Restaurant</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Do. Everyone does it at the movies, so why not?</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Don't. I'd never bring food into a restaurant that was from some other establishment. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> It depends on where you're going and what you're bringing.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other — see my comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2486464" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2486464#comment dining out Do or Don't Ethics Etiquette Frank Bruni New York Times poll restaurants Tue, 11 Nov 2008 12:30:07 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2486464 http://www.yumsugar.com/2486939 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/46_2008/0dbf9b0e4f6eefc4_Pomegranate-collage.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline center preview" height="271" width="550"></span>Last Thursday, frozen yogurt chain <a href="http://www.redmangousa.com" target="_blank">Red Mango</a> announced that it would be partnering with pomegranate juice pioneer, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/POM+wonderful" >POM Wonderful</a>, to debut its first <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=PEFOD.story&amp;STORY=/www/story/11-06-2008/0004919849&amp;EDATE=THU+Nov+06+2008,+10:00+AM" target="_blank">new flavor</a>, Pomegranate by POM Wonderful. </p> <p>But someone else had the same idea: Red Mango's biggest rival, cult favorite <a href="http://www.pinkberry.com" target="_blank">Pinkberry</a>. <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/11/what_the_fro_pinkberry_and_red.html" target="_blank">New York magazine's food blog</a> first reported that the rival chain's pomegranate flavor is slated to hit stores Nov. 21, one week after Red Mango's, and a Pinkberry rep confirmed with us the release of the new flavor.</p> <p>This pomegranate battle isn't the first time that <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2326446" >Pinkberry and Red Mango have gone head to head</a>, and it certainly won't be the last. While the two chains may not be thrilled with the news, I'll be excited to conduct a <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/taste+off" >taste-off</a>. Will you do the same? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a>, <a href="http://www.pinkberry.com" target="_blank">Source</a>, and <a href="http://www.redmangousa.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2486939#comment chains Frozen Yogurt news Pinkberry POM Wonderful Pomegranates Red Mango restaurants Tue, 11 Nov 2008 11:15:01 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2486939 http://www.yumsugar.com/2486026 <p>A recent UK poll indicates that Gordon Ramsay Holdings is the <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2008/nov/10/restaurants-gordon-ramsay" target="_blank">most admired restaurant brand in Great Britain</a>. The restaurant group of the famed chef and TV personality <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/gordon+ramsay" >Gordon Ramsay</a> topped the list of restaurant chain operators in a survey by consulting firm <a href="http://www.allegra.co.uk/" target="_blank">Allegra Strategies</a>, beating <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/mcdonald's" >McDonald's</a>, which ranked number three, by two spots. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/46_2008/e77bff18108ed36a_ramsay-tops-list.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span></p> <p>Ramsay <a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com/ukrestaurants/" target="_blank">owns 11 restaurants</a> in the UK alone, plus <a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com/pubs/" target="_blank">three pubs</a>, as well dining spots in New York, Los Angeles, Prague, Versailles, Dubai, and Tokyo, among others. </p> <p>I must admit that I wonder how Gordon Ramsay can keep it together with so many ventures on his plate. I also have to question how the upscale dining mogul's company can be put in the same category as a fast-food chain like McDonald's. Given how many dining brands he has to manage, do you think Ramsay's reputation for excellence is well deserved?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a> and <a href="http://www.gordonramsay.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2486026#comment chains Gordon Ramsay McDonald's news restaurants uk Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:00:00 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2486026 http://www.yumsugar.com/2469598 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/45_2008/a22583fa95b45639_Seafood_on_the_Grill.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" height="400" width="297"></span><a href="http://www.darden.com/" target="_blank">Darden Restaurants</a> announced that beginning next week, it <a href="http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=359920" target="_blank">will install wood-fired grills</a> in all 680 <a href="http://www.redlobster.com" target="_blank">Red Lobster</a> restaurants. </p> <p>The company has been testing the wood-grilled menu for over a year, and will train 3,500 employees on the grills. New items will be going on the menu, such as wood-grilled lobster, wood-grilled sirloin and shrimp, and wood-grilled fish. According to the chain's president, Kim Lopdrup:<br /> <blockquote>This is the most comprehensive culinary and menu change in Red Lobster's history. Wood-fired grilling introduces our guests to a whole new way to enjoy seafood.</p></blockquote> <p>Red Lobster's announcement to add these costly new grills comes at a time when the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/casual+chains" >casual restaurant chain industry has stumbled</a>. Chains such as <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/bennigan's" >Bennigan's</a>, Steak &amp; Ale, Ponderosa, and Bonanza have all filed for bankruptcy protection in the past year. Do the wood-grilled menu items sound appetizing to you, and will they be enough to turn Red Lobster around? </p> <p><a href="http://www.redlobster.com/images/press_content/image_library/Seafood%20on%20the%20Grill.jpg" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2469598#comment Casual Chains chains dining out economy grilling grills news Red Lobster restaurants Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:00:35 -0800 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2469598 http://www.yumsugar.com/2445234 <p>Lately, it seems like people are willing to do anything — including serve jail time — over food. Earlier this month, a Florida man was arrested for trying to <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2360527" >pay for his McDonald's meal with pot</a>. This week, two cooks were put behind bars for <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2441827" >intentionally contaminating</a> a police chief's food. Now, a man has been arrested for letting his girlfriend eat off his buffet plate while <a href="http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/atlanta/stories/2008/10/29/texan_stiffs_iron_skillet.html" target="_blank">refusing to pay for two meals</a>.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/44_2008/a8024d3bf8cf0243_buffet.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="346" width="550"></span>On Oct. 21, Dan Linscomb and his girlfriend dined at the Iron Skillet restaurant in Atlanta. While he admitted in a police report that his girlfriend "ate a couple bites from his plate," Linscomb defended his position, saying, "there were no signs in the restaurant that said someone could not have some food off your plate." The restaurant staff called local police, who arrested Linscomb on theft. Two days later, he was released after pleading guilty to a lesser charge of disorderly conduct. </p> <p>In <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/economy" >today's tough times</a>, should restaurants charge both parties regardless of how much they eat, or do establishments need to go easy on customers like Linscomb, who may simply be trying to scrape by? Have you ever eaten "two-for-one" at a buffet before? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2445234#comment atlanta Buffets dining out economy news restaurants weird Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:00:04 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2445234 http://www.yumsugar.com/2441827 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/44_2008/94419fbda3f16f70_contaminate_food2.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" width="320" height="303"></span>Two short order cooks were put behind bars yesterday for <a href="http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/topnews/story.aspx?content_id=8aa71ff6-5ce6-46c3-8bf1-93203b20ec2f" target="_blank">intentionally contaminating food</a>. </p> <p>Jaime Perez and James Ledesma of <a href="http://www.andyslanding.com/" target="_blank">Andy's Landing</a> restaurant in Burnet, TX, were arrested on felony counts of tampering with a consumer product. According to a former co-worker, Perez put bodily secretions into Burnet Police Chief Paul Nelson's food. Allegations include spit, nose blowing, and wiping of hamburger buns on the cook's backside. </p> <p>Apparently, previous run-ins with the law left Perez with ill will toward the police chief. The second cook, Ledesma, was around to witness the food contamination but failed to stop it or report it. If both are convicted, each could face up to 20 years in prison. </p> <p>The police chief's food isn't the only item to be tainted — the restaurant will likely be left with a tarnished reputation as well. I'm revolted by the details, and saddened for the restaurant. The story also leaves me wondering how often "special ingredients" are added to diners' food. Do you worry about the same thing?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2441827#comment dining out food contamination news restaurants texas weird Thu, 30 Oct 2008 03:00:52 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2441827 http://www.yumsugar.com/2437221 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2437221"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2437221',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2437221');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/44_2008/015329e180b0f2c1_AA033584.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image xlarger outline left" height="400" width="400"></span>Yesterday <a href="http://dearsugar.com" >DearSugar</a> and I got into a debate about what you should do with your napkin when finished eating a meal. She said it was tacky and rude to put your napkin on the plate, but I told her I've done it before. What do you think? Is it bad manners to put your napkin on the plate when finished eating? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2437221" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Do or Don&#039;t: Putting Your Napkin on the Plate? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes. DearSugar is right: it's tacky and rude.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No. If everyone is finished with the meal it's perfectly acceptable.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> It depends on the restaurant and the people you're dining with. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other — I'll share my opinions below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2437221" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2437221#comment dining out Do or Don't Etiquette formal dining poll restaurants tablescape Wed, 29 Oct 2008 09:00:00 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2437221 http://www.yumsugar.com/2438894 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/44_2008/8cdd148bf9dcf571_200323922-001.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image xlarge outline right" height="320" width="316"></span>Yesterday on his personal blog, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/Michael+Bauer" >Michael Bauer</a>, the restaurant critic for the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com" target="_blank">San Francisco Chronicle</a>, made a very interesting point. <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=26&amp;entry_id=31991" target="_blank">According to Bauer</a>, salt has gone missing from restaurant tables: "In the last week I've been to three places where I had to ask for salt." When I started to think about restaurants I recently visited, I realized he was right! It's no longer standard for a salt and pepper shaker to be on each table. Chefs may argue that the salt is missing from tables because the dish is properly seasoned, but Bauer begs to differ:<br /> <blockquote>It smacks of arrogance on the part of the chef. This implies that the chef knows what's best, and the customer should accept it. It also subtly implies the chef doesn't care if diners are pleased.</p></blockquote> <p>Although I don't mind if a table lacks salt, the debate is pretty interesting. What do you think of Bauer's claim? Have restaurants in your neck of the woods banished salt? Does a chef's decision to remove salt from the tables make him arrogant? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2438894#comment dining out Michael Bauer news restaurants salt san francisco san francisco chronicle Wed, 29 Oct 2008 07:45:55 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2438894 http://www.yumsugar.com/2428612 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2428612"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2428612',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2428612');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/44_2008/e10f680a134a6477_facebook-pizzahut.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline preview" height="269" width="550"></span>Last week, fast-food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/pizza+hut" >Pizza Hut</a> launched an online ordering system on the social networking site <a href="http://www.facebook.com" target="_blank">Facebook</a>. Now those of you who are addicted to social networking can order dinner without having to exit Facebook! For extra-quick reordering, the application also remembers your favorites. </p> <p><a href="http://foundation.wchob.org/events/index.asp" target="_blank">Source</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2428612" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Would You Order Pizza on Facebook?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, I already have!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Sure. I love Pizza Hut and I love Facebook. How convenient!</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No, it just seems stupid. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other — see my comments below. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2428612" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2428612#comment delivery Facebook fast food news pizza Pizza Hut poll restaurants social networking Tue, 28 Oct 2008 12:31:36 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2428612 http://www.yumsugar.com/2427923 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/44_2008/f6d08ed15eb770c3_El_Bulli_Staff.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="378" width="550"></span>Ever wonder what the staff at the world's most renowned restaurant eats? If you're certain that <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/el+bulli" >El Bulli's</a> family meals are studies in foie gras and osetra caviar, think again.</p> <p>According to <a href="http://www.gourmet.com" target="_blank">Gourmet</a>, molecular gastronomy master <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tag/ferran+adria" >Ferran Adrià</a> prefers to <a href="http://www.gourmet.com/restaurants/2008/10/el-bulli-staff-meals?mbid=sugar" target="_blank">serve his staff classic dishes</a>. These might include anything from chicken mole to <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tag/waldorf+salad" >Waldorf salad</a> with chocolate ice cream for dessert. </p> <p>This doesn't mean that the food futurist takes kitchen meals lightly. “I concern myself with what the staff eats first of all,” he says. In fact, one chef's sole responsibility is to cook the staff meals, and every staff menu through the restaurant's 2009 season has already been planned! </p> <p>“I guarantee that El Bulli feeds its people like no other restaurant,” says Adrià. “How else would we convey to a young chef one of the most important principles of our métier: that he must look out for himself in order to look out for others?”</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2427923#comment el bulli Ferran Adriá gourmet news restaurants Staff Meals Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:00:46 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2427923 http://www.yumsugar.com/2409900 <p>Two months ago, we reported the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1823821" >end of restaurant chains</a> Bennigan's and Steak &amp; Ale. Well, we've just learned that they're <a href="http://washington.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/10/20/daily32.html" target="_blank">coming back to life</a>! Private equity firm Atalaya is buying the two brands and their trademarks. It will partner with the Bennigan's franchises still standing to grow business, as well as try to reopen company-owned Bennigan's locations that closed after the bankruptcy.<br /> <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/43_2008/47450d009e044587_Bennigans_reopening.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="358" width="550"></span>The Steak &amp; Ale brand closed in its entirety during bankruptcy, but Atalaya intends to leave the option open in the future for franchisees to open independently-operated Steak &amp; Ale restaurants. </p> <p>According to Atalaya managing director Joel Holsinger, the key to success this time around will be the <a href="http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa081023_lj_bennigans.13f438e07.html" target="_blank">new menu</a> that's being developed: it will focus on quick pub fare, such as sandwiches, burgers, onion rings, and booze. </p> <p>While I haven't been to a Bennigan's or Steak &amp; Ale in years, some of you must be excited to hear about your Bennigan's potentially reopening. Do you think the menu overhaul will make the chain profitable again?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2409900#comment Bennigan's Bonanza Casual Chains chains dining out economy news Ponderosa restaurants steak & ale Fri, 24 Oct 2008 03:00:40 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2409900 http://www.yumsugar.com/2399890 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/43_2008/feba4e783db91ca4_82048485.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span>Top fast food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/mcdonald's" >McDonald's</a> announced its third-quarter earnings today, and made reassurances that it would continue its efforts to be "recession-resistant." </p> <p>The corporation made sure to squash swirling rumors that its <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1845322" > dollar menu may become a thing of the past</a>. There will, in fact, <a href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=131932" target="_blank">still be a dollar menu</a>. "We advertised it heavily in September," said COO Ralph Alvarez. "We wouldn't have done that if we were going to be walking away from it." </p> <p>McDonald's has, however, been testing the menu's key item, the double cheeseburger, at higher prices and with one piece of cheese rather than two, as a result of the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/cost+increases" >rising commodity costs</a>. "We expect to have a decision [on the double cheeseburger] soon," said CEO Jim Skinner. Will you be watching to see what's on the new dollar menu? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2399890#comment chains cost increases dollar menu economy fast food McDonald's restaurants Thu, 23 Oct 2008 09:00:43 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2399890 http://www.yumsugar.com/2399726 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/43_2008/c38c93bbd72bc457_birthday-dinner.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="412" width="550"></span>Yesterday I came across a hilarious and poignant column in <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2202646/pagenum/all/" target="_blank">Slate</a> discussing the drawbacks of the dreaded birthday dinner. "I hereby propose that the birthday dinner go the way of the $4 cup of coffee, the liar's mortgage, and the midsize banking institution," its author proclaims. </p> <p>The truthful description of his birthday dinner nightmare includes awkward small-talk, excessively-ordered appetizers and drinks, and inequity when it comes to paying the hefty tab. Not to mention that since everyone celebrates once a year, birthday dinners can be frequent and repetitive. For this reason alone, I can't say I attend every birthday dinner I get invited to, and I never hold my own. </p> <p>Still, it can be nice every now and then to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. What about you? Are you a fan of the birthday dinner? Have you been subjected to your (unfair) share of disastrous birthday dinners? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2399726#comment Birthday Dinners dining dining out Etiquette let's dish restaurants slate Thu, 23 Oct 2008 03:00:59 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2399726 http://www.yumsugar.com/2394037 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2394037"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2394037',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2394037');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/43_2008/708688aed0646ba5_writing_tip.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="352" width="550"></span>A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12tipping-t.html" target="_blank">provocative article</a> that appeared in a recent issue of the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/magazine" target="_blank">New York Times Magazine</a> broaches the question of whether America should still require <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/tipping" >tips</a>. </p> <p>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?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2394037" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Would You Care if Tipping Didn&#039;t Exist?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes. It'd be terrible if tipping didn't exist. I'll tell you why below.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No. It'd be better if I never had to leave a tip. See my two cents below. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I don't have a strong opinion on this subject.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2394037" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2394037#comment dining out New York Times New York Times Magazine poll restaurants tipping tips Tue, 21 Oct 2008 12:30:59 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2394037 http://www.yumsugar.com/2389869 <p>As colossal coffee chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/starbucks" >Starbucks</a> struggles to keep up with past profit margins, its competitors continue to move in for the kill. Earlier this month, breakfast chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/dunkin%27+donuts" >Dunkin' Donuts</a> introduced <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2145114" >its version of a recession deal</a>. Now, in its latest ad campaign, the chain is <a href="http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/10/new_ads_claim_d.html" target="_blank">claiming it beat Starbucks in a blind taste test</a>.<span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/43_2008/89671ac39c1be3fe_DunkinbeatStarbucks.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="480" width="538"></span>In the campaign, Dunkin' Donuts, which is currently in the middle of a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB117816196370490587.html?mod=todays_us_marketplace" target="_blank">national expansion effort</a>, airs a new TV spot and launched a website, <a href="http://www.dunkinbeatstarbucks.com/" target="_blank">Dunkin' Beat Starbucks</a>, that will highlight the results of the taste test.</p> <p>The blind taste test, conducted by <a href="http://www.agresearchinc.com/" target="_blank">A&amp;G Research</a>, polled 476 adults in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle. According to a <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&amp;STORY=/www/story/10-20-2008/0004907001&amp;EDATE=" target="_blank">press release from the chain</a>, 54.2 percent of participants surveyed preferred Dunkin' Donuts coffee to the 39.3 percent who preferred Starbucks coffee. Another 6.3 percent had no preference between the two. </p> <p>I'm slightly surprised by the results: I recently had Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and found that I still prefer the coffee from Starbucks. What about you? Are you impressed by the study's results, or are you skeptical of the findings?</p> <p><a href="http://www.dunkinbeatstarbucks.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2389869#comment advertising chains coffee dunkin' donuts news restaurants Starbucks taste test Mon, 20 Oct 2008 12:30:32 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2389869 http://www.yumsugar.com/2370729 <p>Although <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/cost+increases" >prices of almost everything have soared</a>, good deals do exist. The <a href="http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/in-search-of-the-elusive-1-menu-item/" target="_blank">New York Times scoured the boroughs</a> to see what kind of fare could be had for $1, and earlier this year, <a href="http://nymag.com/restaurants/cheapeats/2008/48673/" target="_blank">New York magazine proclaimed</a> that "beggars can be choosers" when it comes to 99-cent finds. Even in my expensive backyard, the Bay Area, <a href="http://cbs5.com/food/dollar.cheap.eats.2.836119.html" target="_blank">there are deals to come by</a>. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/42_2008/6325a61150126846_99_cents.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="319" width="550"></span>My favorite bargain? The 99-cent, foot-long hot dog with all-you-can-eat ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut at Slots-a-Fun in Las Vegas. I also love the <a href="http://www.mccormickandschmicks.com/" target="_blank">McCormick &amp; Schmick's</a> $2 bar menu, which includes mussels and burgers. I have to say that when it comes to these prices, value does in fact have a taste: delicious. </p> <p>What about you? What's the best thing you can find at a rock-bottom price? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2370729#comment cheap cost increases deals dining out discounts economy let's dish restaurants Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:00:08 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2370729 http://www.yumsugar.com/2367002 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2367002"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2367002',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2367002');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/42_2008/Michelin_guides.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline center" height="202" width="550"></span>This past week, the <a href="http://www.michelinguide.com/us/index.html" target="_blank">Michelin Guide</a> announced its 2009 starred restaurants for <a href="http://eater.com/archives/2008/10/breaking_michelin_09_two_and_three_star_picks_here_now.php" target="_blank">New York</a> and <a href="http://sf.eater.com/archives/2008/10/13/michelin_09_released_coi_village_pub_among_big_winners_quince_out.php" target="_blank">San Francisco</a>. The Michelin Guide, Europe's best-known restaurant guide, is released annually in the form of a series of books organized by city. The red books award restaurants zero, one, two, or three stars, and the stars are arguably the most well-regarded rankings in the global restaurant industry, with three being an extraordinary honor. </p> <p>Every year since the Michelin Guide debuted stateside in 2006, there have been shakeups over restaurants that gain stars and others that are stripped of stars. For instance, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/tom+colicchio" >Tom Colicchio's</a> restaurant Craft was stripped of its sole star in a big upset last year; this time, the big surprise was <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/david+chang" >David Chang's</a> new restaurant Momofuku Ko receiving the honor of two stars. Do these designations affect your dining selections in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Las Vegas?</p> <p><a href="http://www.michelinguide.com/us/retail.html" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2367002" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Do You Care About Michelin Stars? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, they definitely determine which restaurants I want to visit. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> It depends — I'll elaborate below.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No, I don't think it has any bearing on what restaurants I want to visit.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> What's a Michelin star?</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2367002" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2367002#comment dining out las vegas Los Angeles michelin guide Michelin stars new york poll Rankings restaurants reviews san francisco Wed, 15 Oct 2008 10:15:19 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2367002 http://www.yumsugar.com/2340074 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2340074"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2340074',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2340074');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/drive_thru.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline center" height="550" width="367"></span></p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2340074" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>When You Eat Fast Food, Do You Hit Up the Drive-Thru?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, always! It's a time and effort saver.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Sometimes — it depends on my mood.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> Never — I prefer to go inside. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Never — I don't eat fast food.</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2340074" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2340074#comment chains Drive-Thru fast food poll restaurants Mon, 13 Oct 2008 10:15:00 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2340074 http://www.yumsugar.com/2330240 <p>Here in San Francisco, there have been some interesting developments on the restaurant front. City officials are just one step away from approving a ban that would <a href="http://sf.eater.com/archives/2008/10/08/drying_of_north_beach_restaurant_ban_official.php" target="_blank">limit new restaurant openings</a> in a prominent neighborhood. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/closedrestaurant.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="322" width="550"></span>The area in question is North Beach, a bustling neighborhood filled with coffee shops, bars, tourists, and Italian restaurants. According to those who proposed the law, North Beach residents are concerned about the number of restaurants and bars opening in the touristy neighborhood, while shops — hardware store, laundromats, and shoe-repairs — have closed. </p> <p>I'm not sure how I feel about this bill, and can't help but think that it sets the precedent for other similar laws around the country. On the one hand, it's important to protect small commerce from being pushed out, especially family-owned shops that provide a service. But on the other hand, I wonder if this is a smart move on the part of the city. Would the bill really help to keep other commerce in business, or would this ban simply make matters worse in a time when the economy is already lagging? What do you think about the bill?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2330240#comment Bans dining out news restaurants san francisco Thu, 09 Oct 2008 09:00:55 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2330240 http://www.yumsugar.com/2326446 <p>Green tea frozen yogurt may be cool, but the war between frozen yogurt chains <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/red+mango" >Red Mango</a> and <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/pinkberry" >Pinkberry</a> is heating up. Only weeks after Pinkberry hired branding firm <a href="http://www.bulldogdrummond.com/" target="_blank">Bulldog Drummond</a>, archrival <a href="http://adage.com/article?article_id=131561" target="_blank">Red Mango has cut a seven-figure deal</a> with the <a href="http://www.richards.com/" target="_blank">Richards Group</a> ad agency.<span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/Pinkberry_RedMango.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="271" width="550"></span>In the past two years, a new kind of <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/frozen+yogurt" >frozen yogurt</a> has exploded in major American cities by way of Asia. The tart, icy treat with fruit, <a href="http://japanesefood.about.com/od/mochi/a/aboutmochi.htm" target="_blank">mochi</a>, and cereal-flake toppings quickly gained a cult following. As a result, copycat chains have sprung up across regions like Southern California and Florida, bearing similar brand names like Blue Mango, Diet Berry, and Peachberry. </p> <p>Red Mango wants to respond by giving its gluten-free, certified kosher, high active-culture count yogurt an extra edge. "There are so many copycats out there. We wanted to educate customers on why Red Mango is different," the company's USA president, Dan Kim, said. He wants Red Mango to be the Starbucks of the frozen yogurt world. </p> <p>Have you tried the "new" style of tart frozen yogurt? What do you think of it? Do you have a preference in brands? With aggressive branding and advertisements, which company do you think will come out ahead?</p> <p><a href="http://www.pinkberry.com" target="_blank">Source</a> and <a href="http://www.redmangousa.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2326446#comment advertising chains Frozen Yogurt news Pinkberry Red Mango restaurants Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:15:13 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2326446 http://www.yumsugar.com/2323311 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/Pantry-items.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xxlarge" height="465" width="330"></span> <ul> <li><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/07/FDBQ139J2D.DTL" target="_blank">Ten multipurpose pantry items</a> that will come in handy for the home cook. — <b>San Francisco Chronicle</b></li> <li>Why we have <a href="http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2008/10/08/cravings/" target="_blank">food cravings</a> and what they mean. — <b>Boston Globe</b></li> <li>This Columbus Day, learn how the historical voyage <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/food/chi-christopher-columbus-food-8oct08,0,630482.story" target="_blank">changed the way the world eats</a>. — <b>Chicago Tribune</b></li> <li>The economic downtown is <a href="http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-economy8-2008oct08,0,2343288.story" target="_blank">changing the dynamics</a> of the fine dining industry. — <b>Los Angeles Times</b></li> <li>What role does <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/dining/08gend.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1&amp;ref=dining" target="_blank">gender</a> play when dining at restaurants? — <b> New York Times</b> </li> <li>Why <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/10/07/ST2008100701969.html" target="_blank">onions make us cry</a>, and the best way to stay dry-eyed. — <b>Washington Post</b></li> <li>A home cook gets <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/living/food/top-story/story/708408.html" target="_blank">put to the test</a> in a restaurant kitchen. — <b>Miami Herald</b></li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?f=/c/a/2008/10/07/FDBQ139J2D.DTL&amp;o=1" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2323311#comment all the news that's fit to eat Columbus Day Cravings economy news newspapers onions pantry restaurants wednesdays wines Wed, 08 Oct 2008 12:30:05 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2323311 http://www.yumsugar.com/2321348 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/41_2008/82573341.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image xlarger outline right" height="400" width="266"></span>While she's hosted multiple television shows and even coined culinary phrases, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/rachael+ray" >Rachael Ray</a> has never owned a restaurant. Until now. The celebrity chef has announced her plans <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/10082008/entertainment/food/choose_your_patty__132573.htm" target="_blank">to open a burger joint</a> in midtown New York sometime next year. The news is not surprising, since Ray's always been big on burgers: On the Food Network website she has <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/search/delegate.do?Nr=Record%20Type:Result&amp;N=4294924696&amp;fnSearchString=burgers" target="_blank">70 different burger recipes</a>. According to Ray the eatery will be:<br /> <blockquote>A '60s back-in-the-day Rat Pack-y kind of hangout, and I want the bar to be really central [and] the burgers to become a very social thing. I want people to come to the bar to see beautiful proper martinis being made and to enjoy some sliders while they're doing business or sit in the dining room and have fine dining in ground form.</p></blockquote> <p>There's no word on what burgers will make the menu, but one thing's for sure: You can bet they'll have interesting names. Some of Ray's burger recipes include the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/blue-rugula-burgers-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">blue-rugula burger</a>, the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/kentucky-burgoo-burgers-and-southern-succotash-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">Kentucky burgoo burger</a>, and the <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/jerky-turkey-burgers-with-papaya-salsa-recipe/index.html" target="_blank">jerky turkey burger</a>. </p> <p>Are you surprised that Rachael Ray is finally opening a restaurant? Would you eat there? Have you ever made one of her burgers? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2321348#comment burgers hamburgers new york news Rachael Ray restaurants Wed, 08 Oct 2008 10:15:00 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2321348 http://www.yumsugar.com/2297002 <p>Starbucks has been keeping itself busy. Not only has it developed a <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/slideshow/2153256" >whole new line of food items</a>, but <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/starbucks" >the company</a> has been working on a bigger product launch: its Clover Small Batch Coffee, a new offering that highlights high-end coffees. <span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/StarbucksClover.preview.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="484" width="550"></span>The new coffee program has two important elements: high-quality beans from varying origins, and specific coffee equipment known as <a href="http://cloverequipment.com/Home/Default2.aspx" target="_blank">Clover</a> machines to brew the beans. The idea is to encourage customers to taste coffee like they would wine. Because like wine, coffee's origins, soil, and climate are reflected in its taste. At $11,000 each, Clover coffee makers aren't cheap, but they employ a vacuum-press process, turning out individually brewed, made-to-order cups that highlight coffee's true flavors.<br /> <p><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-70966 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#66BB50'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 active" href="http://www.yumsugar.com/gallery/view/2298286?page=0,0,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/IMG_3745.mediumsquare.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-78358 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#66BB50'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.yumsugar.com/gallery/view/2298286?page=0,1,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/IMG_3746.mediumsquare.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-1316 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#66BB50'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.yumsugar.com/gallery/view/2298286?page=0,2,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/IMG_3747.mediumsquare.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-86816 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#66BB50'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.yumsugar.com/gallery/view/2298286?page=0,3,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/IMG_3748.mediumsquare.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div><div style="float:left;line-height:8px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:9px"><div id=mask-34846 class=mask style=';width:100px;height:100px;overflow:hidden;background:#FFF;margin:0px 8px 8px 0px;border:0px solid #111;padding:0px;' onmouseover={style.borderColor='#66BB50'} onmouseout={style.borderColor='#111'}><div style='margin-left:0px;margin-top:0px;padding:0px;'><a target="gallery4" class="thumb2 " href="http://www.yumsugar.com/gallery/view/2298286?page=0,4,0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/IMG_3749.mediumsquare.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image mediumsquare" height="100" width="100" /></a></div></div></div></p><br clear="all"></p> <p>This morning, Starbucks launched its Clover Small Batch Coffee Program in San Francisco (it has already been released in Boston, Seattle, and Portland). From a choice of five coffees, I selected the Ethiopia Nardos brew. The coffee was floral, and its notes of sweet brown sugar were enhanced when I took a bite of my croissant. At $2.75 for a tall, it was a treat well worth it. </p> <p>Have you tasted Clover coffee yet? What did you think? To see if there is a Clover program location near you, </p> <p><a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2297002">read more</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2297002#comment Clover coffee coffee maker news restaurants san francisco Starbucks taste test Tue, 07 Oct 2008 11:25:14 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2297002 http://www.yumsugar.com/2271379 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/41_2008/McDonalds_McCafe_Campaign.xlarge.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarge" height="191" width="320"></span>In an effort to further promote its new <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/930225" >McCafé coffee bars</a>, fast-food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/mcdonald's" >McDonald's</a> has released a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-notte/have-a-latte-idiot-the-co_b_131106.html" target="_blank">new set of clips that make fun</a> of the coffeehouse scene popularized by <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/starbucks" >Starbucks</a>, billing it as a stuffy store overrun with brooding intellectuals. </p> <p>This isn't the first of the campaign against Starbucks: Earlier this year, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1551854" >we took notice of the new McDonald's site Unsnobbycoffee.com</a>, which touts McDonald's coffee as simple, easy, and unpretentious when compared to Starbucks. The new commercials take this concept one step further. "Now we don't have to listen to jazz all day long!" one woman proclaims in the segment below. Check out the commercial for yourself and tell me: Do you find it funny, or is McDonald's, with its new segments that mock Starbucks, taking its ad campaign one step too far? </p> <p><center> <div style='width:455px' id="spi_tabs_container"> <div id="spi_tabs_top"> <div id="spi_tabs_topL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_topR"></div> </div> <div class="panel chatter_chatter fbceleb " > <center> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://images.teamsugar.com/static/js/swfobject.js"></script> <p style=margin:0px;padding:0px id="player_2272622"><a href="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer">Get Flash</a> to see this player.</p> <script type="text/javascript"> var so2272622 = new SWFObject('/static/flash/mediaplayer.swf','mpl','400','300','7'); so2272622.addParam('allowfullscreen','true'); so2272622.addVariable("file",'2272622.flv'); so2272622.addVariable('height', 328); so2272622.addVariable('image','/media/cooked/thumbs/2272622.jpg'); so2272622.addVariable('width','400'); so2272622.addVariable('logo','/static/imgs/watermark/yumsugar.png'); so2272622.write('player_2272622'); </script> </center> </div> <div id="spi_tabs_bot"> <div id="spi_tabs_botL"></div> <div id="spi_tabs_botR"></div> </div> </div></center><br /> <a href="http://www.boston.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2271379#comment advertising coffee mccafe McDonald's news restaurant chains restaurants Starbucks Mon, 06 Oct 2008 11:30:50 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2271379 http://www.yumsugar.com/2183041 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/40_2008/_Burger_King_fries.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="395" width="550"></span>Yesterday, <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/burger+king" >Burger King</a> announced that all of its restaurants in the US and Canada have made the switch to <a href="http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081002/burger_king_trans_fat.html?.v=1" target="_blank">cooking with trans fat free oils</a>. The second most popular fast food chain also announced that all of its menu items, including baked goods, will contain zero grams of trans fat by Nov. 1 — earlier than the company anticipated. </p> <p>According to a <a href="http://www.nrn.com/article.aspx?id=359008" target="_blank">statement issued by Burger King</a>, customers who tried the new trans fat free foods were either unable to tell a difference in the taste of menu items or felt that the products tasted even better. The hamburger chain attributes this to its two proprietary blends of three oils. </p> <p>The company has fallen under criticism for taking so long to cut out trans fat oils: Both <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/kfc" >KFC</a> and <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/taco+bell" >Taco Bell</a> switched in 2007, and <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/wendy's" >Wendy's</a> a year before that. Number one fast food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/mcdonald's" >McDonald's</a> is now one of the last to make the complete switch, promising a menu free of trans fats by the end of the year.</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2183041#comment Burger King chains fast food health KFC McDonald's news nutrition oils restaurants Taco Bell trans fat Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:00:16 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2183041 http://www.yumsugar.com/slideshow/2153256 <a href="/slideshow/2153256?page=0"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/40_2008/Starbucks_collage.xlarge.jpg" alt="Taste Test: New Starbucks Items" title="Taste Test: New Starbucks Items" class="image xlarge inline left" height="320" width="320" /></a>In an attempt to boost sales during <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/economy">tough economic times</a>, coffee giant <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/starbucks">Starbucks</a> has just unveiled a line of <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1784832">smoothies</a>, rolled out a <a href="http://www.fitsugar.com/1896346">healthy morning menu</a>, expanded its <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2071663">breakfast sandwich assortment</a>, and revealed a new collection of gourmet hot chocolates. Since we've been deluged with a new range of options, we decided to put the food to the test. To see how Starbucks fared, click start.<div id='pager' style='margin:25px auto;text-align:center;margin:8px; '><a href="/slideshow/2153256?page=0">Start Slideshow</a></div> http://www.yumsugar.com/slideshow/2153256#comment breakfast hot chocolate muffins news oatmeal Piadinis restaurants slideshow smoothies Starbucks taste tests Vivanno Thu, 02 Oct 2008 05:30:28 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2153256 http://www.yumsugar.com/2156575 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/40_2008/thestalls2.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="252" width="550"></span>This week, fast food chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/sonic" >Sonic Drive-In</a> released the first of a <a href="http://www.foodfacts.info/blog/2008/10/new-sonic-tv-ads-mimic-hills.html" target="_blank">new series of ads</a> that mimic MTV's <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/the+hills" >The Hills</a>. "The Stalls," as the advertising miniseries is called, begins by featuring the classic Sonic duo Pete and T.J. in a car at Sonic. After the two rave about banana pudding shakes, Pete announces he's met the girl of his dreams. </p> <p>Lured in to the drama of the to-be-continued commercial series, I visited Sonic's official <a href="http://www.thestalls.tv" target="_blank">"The Stalls" website</a>, where I previewed clips from the rest of the miniseries. Coming soon, I learned, "the drama heats up for T.J. and Pete over a couple of shakes and blasts." This new promotion airs weekly during episodes of <b>The Hills</b>, and actually ties in to other <a href="http://www.mtv.com/asm/sonic/sweeps/" target="_blank">sponsorships</a> between Sonic and MTV.</p> <p>Check out the clip below. I think the series is hilarious and I can't wait to watch the rest of the mini episodes. Will you be trying to catch them as well?<br /> <center><object width="425" height="344"><br /> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/40Z3khvYFdM&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/40Z3khvYFdM&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></center></p> <p><a href="http://www.thestalls.tv" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2156575#comment advertising news restaurant chains restaurants sonic The Hills The Stalls tv Thu, 02 Oct 2008 03:00:00 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2156575 http://www.yumsugar.com/2148254 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/40_2008/menu.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="366" width="550"></span>Will diners consider their health before ordering a super-sized hamburger value meal? California legislators are betting on it: Last night, the state became the first to <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/1277571.html" target="_blank">require restaurant chains to post nutritional information</a> for their menu items. </p> <p>By 2011, roughly 17,000 chain restaurants will be required to post the fat, calories, salt, and carbohydrate values where customers can readily see them. Alternatively, they can hand out brochures with the information. Said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger:<br /> <blockquote>When people go to the grocery store now . . . they can already read the labels and make informed decisions about what they eat. But now they will also have that pleasure when they go to the restaurant.</p></blockquote> <p>While the bill currently only applies to chains with 20 restaurants or more, it sets a precedent for imposing more health regulations on the restaurant industry, and sets the example for other states to follow suit. Do you predict this measure will change the way America eats? Will customers alter their eating habits because of menu labeling — or will people just eat what they want?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2148254#comment california calories dining out health menu news nutrition nutrition info restaurant chains restaurants Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:15:23 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2148254 http://www.yumsugar.com/2145114 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/40_2008/Dunkin_donuts.preview.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview" height="367" width="550"></span>Responding to the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/economy" >economic hardship</a>, breakfast chain <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/dunkin%27+donuts" >Dunkin' Donuts</a> has come out with <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&amp;STORY=/www/story/10-01-2008/0004895791&amp;EDATE=" target="_blank">its version of a recession deal</a>.</p> <p>Beginning today, small hot and iced lattes will cost only 99 cents from 2 to 5 p.m. The new special, dubbed "America's Latte Break," is the doughnut chain's response to the <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1845269" >Starbucks $2 afternoon coffee deal</a> that ended last month. The restaurants will also offer a 99 cent Egg and Cheese Sandwich — all day long — with the purchase of a medium or larger hot coffee. Both specials will run through Nov. 11.</p> <p>What do you think of "America's Latte Break"? Will it edge out the competition? Will you visit Dunkin' Donuts for afternoon coffee over Starbucks? </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2145114#comment coffee dunkin' donuts economy food crisis lattes restaurants Starbucks Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:12:23 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2145114 http://www.yumsugar.com/2087251 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/39_2008/What-would-you-do1_0.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline preview" height="279" width="550"></span>We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's today's scenario:</p> <p>You've just moved into a new neighborhood, and the friendly family next door stops by to say hi. They happen to own a nearby restaurant that you've been curious about and wanting to try. The hang-up? They invite you over, and it turns out their house is disorganized, dirty, and ill kept — which leaves you questioning the restaurant's <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/1860611" >cleanliness and health standards</a>. As you leave, the family encourages you to come to the restaurant sometime for a meal. <i>What would you do?</i></p> <p>To find out what I would do in this scenario — it happened to a friend! — </p> <p><a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2087251">read more</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2087251#comment restaurants what would you do what would you make Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:00:36 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2087251 http://www.yumsugar.com/2071210 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2071210"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2071210',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2071210');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/39_2008/IMG_5386.preview.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline center" height="550" width="413"></span></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2071210" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Do You Eat at American Chains While in a Foreign Country? </label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Yes, I love to check out the country's perspective of American food chains.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No, when I travel I prefer to avoid all things American.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> I try not to, but sometimes I end up at a McDonald's.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other — Fill me in below!</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2071210" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2071210#comment chains fast food McDonald's poll restaurants travel Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:15:15 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2071210 http://www.yumsugar.com/2039416 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-2039416"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/2039416',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-2039416');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/38_2008/knightmares.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline center" height="550" width="486"></span>Last night's <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/kitchen+nightmares" >Kitchen Nightmares</a> was all about one family's struggle to run a restaurant. The overbearing dad has diabetes, the son feels like he's never good enough, and the mom is stuck between the father-son battles. Although <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/gordon+ramsay" >Gordon Ramsay</a> manages to piece the family back together, the emotional episode made me wonder how I would feel if I worked in a family-owned restaurant. How about you?</p> <p>Photo Courtesy of <a href="http://www.fox.com" target="_blank">Fox</a>.</p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/2039416" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Would You Ever Open a Restaurant With Your Family?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> I work in a restaurant owned by my family. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> Yes. I'm very close to my family and think it would be fun to own a restaurant together.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> No. I love my family, but could never run a restaurant with them. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> Other — fill me in below!</label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="2039416" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/2039416#comment Fox Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Nightmares poll reality tv restaurants tv Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:45:23 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2039416 http://www.yumsugar.com/2037612 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/38_2008/obama-waffles-01%282%29.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline right" height="308" width="200"></span> <ul> <li>Bad taste: <a href="http://www.slashfood.com/2008/09/18/bad-taste-obama-waffle-mix/" target="_blank">Obama Waffle mix</a>. — <b>Slashfood</b></li> <li>Make your kitchen <a href="http://www.chow.com/stories/11314" target="_blank">hazard-free</a>. — <b>Chow</b></li> <li>Does food really <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2200202/" target="_blank">travel 1,500 miles from farm to table</a>? — <b>Slate</b> <li>Toast the last days of Summer with <a href="http://www.hostessblog.com/2008/09/drink-of-the-week-sparkling-margarita-floats/" target="_blank">sparkling margarita floats</a>. — <b>Hostess with the Mostess</b></li> <li>How to <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/thekitchn/tips-techniques/how-to-cook-quinoa-063344" target="_blank">cook with quinoa</a>.— <b>The Kitchn</b></li> <li>Can <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/blogs/editor/2008/09/can-service-eve.html" target="_blank">service at a restaurant</a> ever be too good?— <b>The Epi-Log</b></li> <li>The <a href="http://simplystated.realsimple.com/food/2008/09/the-dos-and-don.html" target="_blank">do's and don't's</a> of sandwich bags. — <b>Simply Stated</b></li> <li>The city of Toronto may <a href="http://www.seriouseats.com/2008/09/toronto-proposes-ban-on-coffee-cups.html" target="_blank">ban paper coffee cups</a>. — <b>Serious Eats</b></li> <li><a href="http://casasugar.com/2022538" >Be more energy-efficient</a> when washing dishes.— <b>CasaSugar</b></li> </ul> <p><a href="http://www.slashfood.com/2008/09/18/bad-taste-obama-waffle-mix/" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2037612#comment coffee cups dishwashing kitchen safety margaritas Obama Waffles quinoa restaurants sandwich bags toronto waiters yummy links Fri, 19 Sep 2008 06:45:30 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2037612 http://www.yumsugar.com/2029055 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/38_2008/no-coins.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image outline right preview" height="440" width="350"></span>We've all been in crazy situations, and I want to know how you handle entertaining fiascoes and bad restaurant behavior. I'll present a situation and you tell me what you would do. Here's the latest scenario: </p> <p>You're at a small (but popular) restaurant that sells burgers and sausages to go. When you place your order you're told by the abrasive girl at the counter that your wait will be at least 15 minutes. </p> <p>Ten minutes into your wait, she suddenly cries out to everyone present:<br /> <blockquote>Hey, listen up everybody! The tip jar is right here, and if you could make a generous contribution that would be great . . . dollars only, please!</p></blockquote> <p><i>What would you do?</i></p> <p>To see what I would do in this situation — and it happened to me! — </p> <p><a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/2029055">read more</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/2029055#comment Etiquette restaurants tips what would you do what would you make Wed, 17 Sep 2008 07:45:34 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/2029055 http://www.yumsugar.com/node/1984033 <p><a href="http://popsugar.com/1979994" >Posh Joins Ramsay as a Restaurateur</a> Victoria Beckham has been busy making headlines with her haircut, but when she returns to LA there's another project waiting — opening a restaurant! She's teaming up with her pal Gordon Ramsay to open a new eatery.</p> http://www.yumsugar.com/node/1984033#comment asides Gordon Ramsay Los Angeles popsugar restaurants victoria beckham Fri, 12 Sep 2008 05:25:37 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/1984033 http://www.yumsugar.com/1972163 <!-- no strip poll --><div id="epoll-view-1972163"></div><script type="text/javascript">new Ajax.Request('/epoll/view/1972163',{method:'get',onSuccess:function(transport){var epoll=$('epoll-view-1972163');epoll.update(transport.responseText);}});</script><noscript><p><p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/17470/37_2008/IMG_4997.preview.JPG" alt="" title="" class="image preview outline center" height="413" width="550"></span></p> </p><!-- no strip poll --><form action="/1972163" method="post" id="epoll_view_voting"> <div><div class="poll"> <div class="vote-form"> <div class="choices"><div class="form-item"> <label>Do You Eat at Restaurants With Picture Menus?</label> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="0" class="form-radio" /> Sure! Why not?</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="1" class="form-radio" /> No, something about restaurants with poorly photographed dishes turns me off. </label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="2" class="form-radio" /> If I can, I avoid them. However, sometimes when traveling it can't be avoided.</label> </div> <div class="form-item"> <label class="option"><input type="radio" name="edit[choice]" value="3" class="form-radio" /> I've never been to a restaurant with pictures on the menu. </label> </div> </div> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[nid]" id="edit-nid" value="1972163" /> <input type="submit" name="op" value="Vote" class="form-submit" /> </div><input type="hidden" name="edit[form_id]" id="edit-form_id" value="epoll_view_voting" /> </div> </div></form> <!-- no strip poll --></noscript><!-- no strip poll --> http://www.yumsugar.com/1972163#comment food photography menu picture menus poll restaurants traveling Thu, 11 Sep 2008 06:45:20 -0700 partysugar http://www.yumsugar.com/1972163 http://www.yumsugar.com/1918693 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/36_2008/gordonramsay_0.xlarger.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right xlarger" height="400" width="271"></span>With a handful of hit shows, an international restaurant group, and 12 Michelin stars to uphold, Gordon Ramsay keeps piling more on his plate. The chef announced he will be <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/09032008/entertainment/food/the_slice_is_right_127276.htm?page=0" target="_blank">opening a second venture in Manhattan</a>, his US version of a laid-back, relaxed gastropub. </p> <p>The casual concept, Ramsay defends, isn't due to the failing economy: "It's not because of the credit crunch or holding back. I just love that kind of alternative." </p> <p>Gordon Ramsay at the London, his first stateside spot in midtown Manhattan, opened in 2006 to mixed reviews from critics, but the restaurant has proved resilient, earning two Michelin stars. </p> <p>No word yet on when the café is set to open. Ramsay does have other things going on, after all: The new season of <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/tags/kitchen+nightmares" >Kitchen Nightmares</a> premieres tonight on Fox. </p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/1918693#comment Gordon Ramsay gordon ramsay at the london Kitchen Nightmares new york news restaurants Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:17:44 -0700 YumSugar http://www.yumsugar.com/1918693 http://www.yumsugar.com/1899820 <p><span class="inline left"><img src="http://images.teamsugar.com/files/upl1/1/15259/35_2008/waiterbill.jpg" alt="" title="" class="image right preview" height="401" width="300"></span>The City of Brotherly Love is also the city with the most-tipping love. Based on <a href="http://www.zagat.com" target="_blank">Zagat's</a> newly released Philadelphia survey, the city's residents leave a generous <a href="http://www.zagat.com/About/Index.aspx?menu=PR120" target="_blank">19.6 percent tip</a> 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. </p> <p>Do Philadelphians really possess more love for their fellow citymen? Or is it because of Philadelphia's <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/food/2008/08/zagat_philadelphians_tip_best.html" target="_blank">large number of BYO restaurants</a>? 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 <a href="http://www.yumsugar.com/371943" >you would normally tip</a>, given decent service?</p> <p><a href="http://www.gettyimages.com" target="_blank">Source</a></p> http://www.yumsugar.com/1899820#comment dining eating out Los Angeles new york news philadelphia restaurants