Archive for September, 2009

The Corner Hot Dog Stand’s On the Move

Twitter has truly changed the way we live. We jot our thoughts–boom, we are writers!

With Twitter, the budding entrepreneur can open up a food stand and roam the city and inform his loyal follows (via twitter) where he’ll set up shop today. Two great vehicles combined@! No high rents; no big set-up costs, except of course, the outfitted vehicle, but that’s far less costly than doing a restaurant!

We are so beyond hot dogs. We’ve come a long way from the simple Vienna hot dog stand. We want more. we want variety; we may even opt for healthy. So many choices. So many locations available.

Adding to the movable cart mystique, the potential excitement, is the uncertainty factor. If you crave a schnitzel, but the truck is in the wrong Borough, you are New York out of luck. In DC the green On the Fly trucks roam and hang out in the Mall area, by day, and hit the hot action spots at night. The Fly trucks are like an opening act for the whacky world of The fojol bros of Merlindia. They have a menu that begs translation: All part of the fun gimmick. Ask the crowds.

They do the cooking act and have a give-back philosophy, a percentage of sales goes to support city youth programs. Another easy-to-like aspect of their circus mentality is their eco-philosophy (compostable trays, napkins,etc) which they share with many other truck/cart vendors: Being Green is an important calling card for this new restaurant cart/truck enterprise.

LA’s popular Green Truck has spawned a sister operation in New York City; both promoting the organic lifestyle and vegan-filled options.

There are even food contests (The 5th annual Vendy Awards took place in New York this weekend) pitting the trucks and carts against each other. The husband and wife operators of the winning taco truck were humble in accepting the honor. That’s a lesson a number of restaurants could learn: Price and humility can draw the crowds!

You name it, we can get it from a vendor, mobile or otherwise. Retail rents have put numerous restaurants out of business. The food truck may be the answer. Can you see it now: Tavern on the Green on the move. OK, maybe not everyone can reinvent himself into a roving business, but the popularity and explosion of food trucks and food enterprises gives us hope.

Whether we’re talking a Kabob war or a Falafel standoff, the options continue to expand.truck-1

The price is right.

Tags: ,

No Comments

How Can I Ignore Coffee Day?

coffee_cupThat’s a silly question: In my world every day is National Coffee Day or at least a day of extreme interest in my brews. One day a year–that’s a joke. Everyday has the potential to honor coffee. Look at what the folks from Filterfresh think: They get it with a contest and a prize for those who have the love of the filter. That should get you on board.

I think the irony is that today, this revered bean day for those looking for a single-day celebration, coincides with Starbucks National Roll-out of Instant Coffee. Almost everywhere, but the market reach is growing. Great name: VIA, but only time will tell if this is a winner. So many months ago, the concept was introduced. It felt odd then and still has that flavor: Instant. Don’t we want just-brewed–what happened to that mantra?

Ok, how funny: A day to honor the Great Bean and an Instant footnote!

Comical, I’d say!

Tags: ,

1 Comment

Today We Fast: No Talk of Food

Now, tomorrow….

Tags:

No Comments

There Are Recalls, And Then…Check Your Bottles

Food recalls are always a problem for me, especially with the year we have had with the abundance of recalls. Yet to escalate the scary news up a notch, there are the health recalls–products that could be suspect. Once again Tylenol is garnering those headlines.

Plenty of people will say there is no such thing as bad press–that all press is good. I am in a different camp. this is especially true when we discuss medicine and dosing. In a voluntary recall–note the word voluntary, the makers of Children’s and Infants’ Liquid Tylenol have recalled some specific lot numbers for possible bacteria.

My problem with such a recall is that the topic is not being discussed enough; that the specific lot numbers could still be on shelves in 1000’s of locations. How does the manufacturer,  the FDA or the whatever plan to notify every little store owner that they may have a product that should be pulled from the shelves? If we need to buy liquid Tylenol for young ones during the flu season, are we supposed to walk around with a lot number printout? Seriously.

In a case of supreme irony, or sick humor, depending on your viewpoint, to the right of the listed recalled items are 5 coupons for future Tylenol purchases! This what we call “thechildrentylenol hand-that-feeds you” marketing approach: We want your love.

Coupons aside: Voluntary recalls have some value. We are supposed to feel all fuzzy about such a positive action. Somehow I’m not there. The public deserves full disclosure and a more widespread, acknowledged approach.

Am I right, FDA? Are you going to move forward on this? Time to notify consumers and retailers is NOW.

How is everyone to know?

Tags:

No Comments

Some Coffee News to Jolt Your Day

Occasionally, I do talk about coffee–this is one of those times. With all the single cup coffee makers vying for shelf space, it’s only been a matter of time before someone figured out how to jolt the market in a new direction. Enter Kahlua, the coffee liqueur people. In a new marketing deal, Kahlua and Timothy’s World Coffee have become partners with the new Kahlua Original K-Cup.

This is the first liqueur branded K-Cup designed specifically for the Keurig Single Cup Brewing System. After significant testing, Timothy’s and Kahlua have come out with an Arabica coffee that they call a smooth roast with accents of vanilla and caramel. My only question is a simple one: Will this product start appearing in office coffee rooms?

If single cup machines start showing up in cubicles, check the single serve paks (the K-cups); keurig2
you may want to stay and indulge. The office may become a more pleasant experience! Or, you’ll decide this may be the perfect accompaniment to a great weekend meal.

Kahlua is like that: A simple coffee taste with a pleasing, sophisticated flavor.

Tags: ,

1 Comment

Grilling Without a Grill

Fall can be a wonderful time to grill: It’s not too hot outside, some of the bugs have found other activities, and the bounty of produce still offers plenty to accompany the proteins. One slight problem for a lot of people: Grills are costly purchases. Even with the end-of-the-season sales, the massive Weber you’ve been seeing yourself in front of carries a price tag that’s not working for you.

Here’s a doable solution: A portable, disposable, green grill. Yes, the portable charcoal grill does not contain chemicals (it uses natural charcoal), and the container itself is made from recyclable aluminum and the packaging from recyclable paperboard. We’re also talking about a product that averages $5 a grill and sold in multi-paks (larger sizes are also available for slightly more money)ezgrill. If you’ve merely been grillin’ dreaming, here’s your chance to fill your yard with the wonderful aromatics that accompany a grilled dinner.

Now you can participate in the all-American pasttime and still hold your budget in check. There’s always room in the future for that special Weber.

This is a handy, quick, (That’s why they call it an EZ Grill), delicious, win-win.

Tags:

2 Comments

Starbucks Connects

app-store-download-20090608This is the kind of Starbucks news I actually enjoy: A positive step into our lives. After so many months of beating up the company (Search “Starbucks” in blog), I’m pleased to see they entered the free world of iPhone Apps. Yes, it is becoming crystal clear that the Apps that grab the greatest headlines, and probably the most loyal customers are also Free. Those that are costly have a more defined, limited audience, and make you think long (and hard) about spending the money.

The first App, Starbucks Card Mobile, lets you do all the in-store/computer card applications with your mobile device: You can check your balance and, of course, reload. The latter option, if done with a Visa card, comes with a $5 bonus–Hurry, that’s true or as they say, “while supplies last.”

The other app is your personalized go-to App “myStarbucks.” You can test with a simple query: I’m at the corner of X and Y, help where is the closest Starbucks? Or you can keep track of your favorite drink configurations–who knew you liked a half-caff, skim latte with a shot of vanilla? Easy-peasy.

As we move further into our mobile universe, these are the types of Apps that make the transition easy.

Tags: ,

1 Comment

Economy Barometer: Restaurant Edition

Each time I imagine light at the proverbial end of the tunnel, I get further insight that all is not as one would hope. Restaurants still struggle. Many big time; some have called it a day. For those that are in the ring putting up a good fight, they have re-imaged themselves as more accessible, more financially reachable. Simple translation: Promotions.

Half-priced wine nights. We all love a good deal; especially when it is a true value. This concept could be even more enticing if it were not limited to a single slow evening. With so many states allowing diners to take home unfinished bottles, this type of promotion could be a further enticement to dining out.

value_added_dining

Pre-theater menus: A good idea. One that borders on great when top-tier restaurants participate, for instance, in New York, there’s Artisanal Bistro. Their pre-theatre menu morphed into “Value-Added Dining,” a prix-fixe menu at all meal times, like Restaurant Week forever!

In DC, there’s Tosca–an expensive restaurant that figured out how to bring in an earlier crowd during a potentially slow, quiet dinner hour. They even donate 10% of the “Dine at Dusk” proceeds to Food & Friends, an organization that helps individuals with life-challenging illnesses receive proper nutrition during difficult times. That alone should make you want to dine early. A smart pairing.

Back up a little: We have seen the proliferation and return of the Happy Hour concept which was exceedingly popular during the 60’s when it involved real food, not just chips. That trend disappeared until the past year when the food and drink combo came back into play. The latest participant: The Palm and its Prime Bites Menu.

The evidence of reality-based economic paranoia is true at all price points. Look at the $5 promotion which began so long ago at Subway and continues to draw in legions of customers. Smart move.

How about the latest family lure: Two Kids Eat Free at Boston Market. All you need to purchase is a single adult entree for at least $6–simple translation–3 can eat for 6. That works.

Promotions that worked earlier in the year are somehow reappearing or being extended, once again. Take T.G.I. Friday’s $5 sandwich deal: It’s back with special $5 off select entrees, too. IHOP wants to be a dinner destination as well as a breakfast spot–they have a new menu to put themselves into contention.

Restaurants are no longer trying to be coy about their strategies. Those that want to survive are willing to fight for the turf.

We’ll help you stay in business if you help OUR bottom line.

Tags: ,

No Comments

Sad Day: Summer No More

We knew it was coming, so there should be no surprises. Today is officially the 1st day of Fall; the end of Summer. In the East, it was a quick, fairly weird summer that began with 4 weeks of rain. mushroom_variety.jpg_1322887158Impenetrable, event-spoiling rain. Activities were shelved, but more importantly summer gardens were sent into turmoil. It’s nice to water new seedlings, but drowning is seldom a positive option. That’s what we had.

Some of the 1st tomatoes were bug-born or less than the big beauties of years past. After the rain; of course, the drought followed. Mother Nature’s watering is far preferable to hand-watering or in-ground sprinklers. Crops were confused, and the bounty of last year’s July was nowhere to be seen this year. August played a fair game, especially at the farm markets where the peaches, nectarines, and plums dominated. So many wonderful cobblers.

Now we are deep into apple season with more varieties than you can spell. Each with a little different taste and crunch; each a veritable treat in itself. Apples and cold-weather crops are fine, but there is something sad about saying goodbye to summer. It feels so final as if we have to hunker in already for winter.

Grab a shovel; there’s still time to do some planting. The Thanksgiving table will appreciate the Fall bounty.

In the meantime, light up the grill and plop down eggplant, peppers, late season squash, and big cloves of garlic: Ratatouille.

Always end with bright news: Mushroom season!

Tags:

No Comments

If You Like It, Plant It Yourself

spinachsaladThere are lots of products that could easily fit under the “grow it yourself” headline, but I think spinach and alfalfa sprouts should qualify for a tie at first place. It seems everytime we turn around there is another recall for one or both of the veggie products. Growing them does not require rocket science, just a little tender loving care and little patience. Then you can take the spinach and alfalfa sprout Salmonella worries off the table. That’s a far better proposition than waiting for the latest recall news: Spinach.

Oh, there’ll be plenty of other contenders who’ll vie for a position, but these two products seem the worst offenders. In prior recalls, spinach has been targeted for possible E.coli concerns, too. If you follow the planting guidelines, you can enjoy homegrown spinach and frequently dine on a healthy, worry-free spinach salad. As for alfalfa sprouts, we’re talking about almost instant gratification: About 6 days and you’ve got a winner.

Be Safe: Trust the Grower.

Tags: ,

No Comments