Not just coffee

Archive for February, 2010

Here’s A Tip

Feb 18

Posted by admin in dining out, food universe

When travelers from other countries dine in the US, they are often confused by our restaurant system. “Tip not included” is a phrase they frequently see printed on menus and hear staff tell them that piece of info when they get the bill. Most people understand that restaurant workers in this country are underpaid and depend on tips. Since a tip is seldom included in the US, except for large parties, the system sometimes works to a server’s disadvantage.reserved

Many higher-end establishments do not add the customary large-group 18-20% tip in the hopes that the serving staff will excel that expectation and earn what the diner/host believes is an appropriate amount. Those places are often right, and servers benefit from the customer doing the math. After all, good service deserves recognition, which in this case amounts to an appropriate monetary tip. There’s the rub: The definition of appropriate can vary considerably.

Let’s step back a moment. Tipping should be the customer’s decision and not merely an expectation. Slovenly service which often involves favoring one table over another or more simply stated, not working each table uniformly, often leads to an end-of-the-meal debate among the guests. There are those who tip, no matter what. They often tip the same amount in the belief that the wait staff needs and depends on the tip. That’s true.

It’s the guest who takes out his angst on the server for not getting his food to the table expeditiously or even correctly that often makes restaurants rethink the need to include a tip in the bill. Stories abound about angry diners who are harassed by wait staff for not leaving a tip and then they create their own tirade explaining away their reasoning. It often translates loudly in the dining room with words such as I ordered a hot breakfast, not cold eggs…

The tip dilemma will not end here, but diners need to remember that they are being served, waited on, and not all fault rests with the person who brings the food to the table.

Remember the economy and the work force and consider your decision accordingly.

It is about the service.

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Sweet Riesling…Sometimes

Feb 17

Posted by admin in news, Pairings

It’s a funny thing about Riesling: It gets a bad rap from a lot of people who have heard about it but have never tasted it. Someone, somewhere, said, ooh, Riesling’s a super sweet wine.

OK, it can be; it doesn’t have to be super sweet or even sweet as the significant number of dry Rieslings attest. No longer do you need to avoid a great grape. There’s basically a Riesling for every type of white wine drinker. You can trust the Riesling Taste Profile and make a decision based on the graphic on the back label. You will be in for a pleasant wine surprise if the profile matches what you plan to eat or what you like in a wine.riesling

Over a million cases already include the profile graphic and additional wineries are expected to come on board as this particular grape is the fastest selling white grape in the United States. Imagine its numbers if consumers who suffer from Riesling Phobia would look at the graph and be comfortable with the grape!

There are so many foods that favor a Riesling pairing. Or, the other way to think about this versatile grape is that there is a food-friendly Riesling ready for you to try.

I need no convincing: I’ll start with one from the Mosel.

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Tap Water, Please

Feb 16

Posted by admin in beverages, lifestyle

We’ve read and talked about plastic water bottles filling up the recycling bins and having no place to go. That we are stretching the limits of sustainability. Now, there’s a clever, and colorful, solution to the problem.

Welcome to Bobble, the little insert that fits inside a plastic bottle and filters regular tap water. Clever; smart; practical. BPA-free and, of course, reusable. We’re talking about an affordable solution with its activated carbon filter that goes into action and does the work of about 300 water bottles. Do the math: Not just on the wallet but on the environment, too.

You’ll love the design and the choice of 6 bright colors. Credit industrial designer Karim Rashid, a well-known design icon (who helped change the face of many of Target’s aisles), with the look.bobble

With your reusable bottle, you won’t have to look far to fill ‘er up.

It looks good enough to drink!

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The Power of Gluten-Free

Feb 15

Posted by admin in gluten-free

We know that gluten-free products are literally increasing exponentially. Grocers are devoting more shelf space to this important category, and chefs are becoming more knowledgeable how to help the customer who needs a gluten-free menu. Nor are all baked goods stuck in the freezer section as more bakeries are making inroads into this important space and supplying grocers with breads with a longer shelf life.

Of course, if your needs are most strict as with celiac disease, then your requirements are quite different from those who just have a preference.  Dining out can pose a greater challenge, but there’s major improvement without the hassles of just a few years ago.

On the corporate scale, look at companies such as General Mills which have heavily advertised, front of label, their gluten-free line. Rice Chex and Corn Chex, two of the company’s long-standing cereals, now boast their special G-F properties. That’s great news as these products are readily available, and it means you can continue to make the popular Chex Mix as long as you add G-F pretzels such as those by Glutino.

If you follow strict guidelines, then ask stores you regularly shop for their G-F list. Many, such as Trader Joe’s, have quite an extensive product line, and having a printout makes shopping much easier when you know in advance what they carry. Some stores do a fabulous job having label tags that draw your eye to a product that qualifies.

If you are better off without gluten, so-called gluten intolerant, you’ll notice an increase in the number of familiar, everyday products that now list the fact that they are G-F. Study the two labels in the accompanying image and note that the one on the right touts the fact it is Gluten-Free: An important marketing tool. With “Gluten-Free” on the ingredient list, they have expanded their marketing base. Whether they have always been free of gluten or not, there’s a true advantage, a potential new customer base, in spelling out that your product is G-F.

If you look at the ingredient breakdown, you’ll notice they now also identify themselves a having 0 mg of Cholesterol. (Even though they have always been listed as a zero fat product, they want the zero cholesterol specific spelled out, too). Another marketing wave?

The breadth of product choices makes shopping in this category significantly easier than it did even a year ago as G-F product launches continue to increase.

Welcome aboard.

lea & Perrins

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Happy Valentine’s Day: Love News

Feb 14

Posted by admin in food universe, news

I’ve warned, OK, alerted ( a kinder, more in the mood word) you several times that this special day was coming. Hello. Good morning: It’s here.

Of course, you could sneak out of the house and buy something and say you always planned the day this way or you could just sit back and relax and soak in all the good vibes that this day brings.

First some newsy foods to consider:

–In honor of the sweetness of the day, consider some of the newest PEEPS such as the Marshmallow “I Luv U” or Mike and Ike’s Valentine Medley, a blend of colorful fruit flavors. Both good last minute choices to create a cheerful sweet bowl of love.peeps

–Bring a new melon home. Have you tried the wonderfully ripe yellow honey dew? Most packages are marked “ready to eat,” and they are absolutely right. A little squirt of fresh lime, and you have sweet ecstasy in the bowl.

–Tomatoes. Yes, I know tomatoes in the dead or dread of winter are seldom worth buying, but their health benefits are not deniable. A good one has a true red, love color. If you want to take advantage of their healthy pluses such as their cardiovascular properties or lessening the likelihood of prostate cancer or several other cancers,  now is the time to think tomato products such as tomato or tortilla soup as an easy canned solution until summer. Even a wonderful pizza topped with a great tomato sauce will do the trick. Or, think about your vegetable garden and the bounty of tomato bliss you can plant.

–Tea. So much has been written about the benefits of tea, especially green tea, and here’s one to ponder: weight management. Yes, the studies are still in the early stages but there seems to be a pattern to the research on compounds from tea and their benefits for weight control. You can tap off the great day with a cup of tea and hope you are on the right beverage track for weight management.

When in doubt, grab a sparkler and dark chocolate, and you have a match made for perfection.

Have a sweet, wonderful day.

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Take Out the Party Hats

Feb 13

Posted by admin in lifestyle

Talk about a place ready for a party, and you’re probably thinking New Orleans. Didn’t they just have a party after winning the Super Bowl? Sure, but the big, annual (I didn’t say the Super Bowl win couldn’t happen again) fun fest is Mardi Gras. The religious day, Fat Tuesday,  before Ash Wednesday is a time of major celebration, after all deprivation is just around the corner. So this Tuesday, February 16 is the time to party. Religious notes aside, it’s a food feast.

If you’re not in the Big Easy, you can easily plan a Mardi Gras party and serve yourself some Cajun or Creole treats. Think Gumbo, Jambalaya, or even Etouffee.  If you prefer to go out and really whoop it up, plenty of restaurants are willing to show their true spirit by turning a single day event into two days of traditional foods and drinks. Bakeries stand ready for exhibiting their prowess with the traditional King Cake which you can make if you’re too late to place an order. Plenty of recipes, like the Emeril Lagasse Food Network version, make the colorful, ringed sweet a not so difficult spin for the mixer.FNmag_King_Cake-image_s4x3_sm

Those in the East who are still digging out from the record book snowfall are definitely looking for an excuse to celebrate something. Here’s an easy way to let the good times roll and partee.

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Support your Local Restaurant

Feb 12

Posted by admin in lifestyle, news

OK, East Coasters, it’s time: Get outta the house.

Restaurants are struggling after 3, count ‘em, 3 weekend snow storms and then the final touch, a monster 2-day blizzard.

Eat OUT–plenty of people ready to welcome you inside. It doesn’t matter where you go, just go.

Support your local restaurant and keep them in business.pizza

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Small Plate Action

Feb 11

Posted by admin in dining out, food universe

As we hold on to the big dining out bucks, more restaurants are feeling the pinch and fixing the leak by meeting us halfway. The popular food-laden drink game, affectionately called the happy hour, is back. Back in a big way as many places have extended it to daily happiness instead of just Mon-Fri. Also a number of spots are saying, be a night owl, have we got a deal for you!

We’ve noticed an increase in Mediterranean-type dishes whether you call them tapas, mezzes, or street food, the small plate revolution is thriving. Look at how many Indian restaurants, which have thrived well with lunch hour buffets, are now changing their menu to include common, Indian snacks, street food. The concept clearly has legs and crosses all dining borders.smallplates

California Pizza Kitchen has even figured out how to join the trend. They just introduced the Small Cravings menu with affordable ($4-7) pricing and a full range of menu options including dips, and the trend I see taking over menus: The Wedge. The company wants to fill the (small) plate and create a little buzz so they also have a new wine craving menu of half glasses for $5 and less.

Small plates and happy hours: Two trends that seem to have large, happy followings throughout the country.

Let’s just put a little squeeze on that to match the other time-starved notion: One-handed food on the go.

If it’s just a splash of a condiment, Heinz believes they have the solution: The new Dip & Squeeze Ketchup container. This should help them win over restaurants that do brand wavering! You can peel back the lid to dip or tear it off to squeeze: Double usage possibilities without excess packaging. A green approach to eat-and-go! BTW, the company is increasing its available sizes for the sugar, non high fructose corn syrup bottles.

Keep your eye on the prize: You’ll enjoy dining out more at this more affordable and fun price point!

All good news.

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How Do You Want Your Coupon?

Feb 10

Posted by admin in dining out, grocer, news

officescissorsIt does not take rocket science to analyze what food establishments whether they be cafes, full-service restaurants, quick shops, or grocers are doing to capture our attention and our food dollars. We have to eat, and it seems we continue to figure out ways to economize the approach.

Restaurants have special dining out nights and chains, even those with just a few locations in a city, have frequent diner cards. Sometimes those benefits get extended into doubling or tripling their value on certain slow nights, that used to be translated as Mondays but midweek is starting to look a lot like a Monday! All this in an attempt to reward the faithful and expand the inner circle of loyalists.

These are just like frequent shopper cards which offer a reduced price on set items to the loyalists. Just scan and save is their mantra.

Does it work? Does it fill the tables? Depends who you ask and the price point of activity. The dollar:value equation becomes the heart of the analysis. Most people like a deal.

As for newspaper inserts, some weeks the number of coupon books weighing down the delivery is astounding, as in 4-5 different coupon catalogs. So it should come as no surprise that we ended the decade with increased coupon usage. The question always remains: Will the consumer trade up to a brand with a cents-off incentive and a doubling-off strategy from the market or stay with the new shopper’s friend, the house brand?

Then there’s the whole social media approach to couponing regardless if it’s for a restaurant or a grocer. If you become a Facebook fan, give over your email, or join their special mobile coupon connection, you will be inundated with money-saving offers. You name the service or the business, they want your fan loyalty and in turn, you will be rewarded, or turned off. You decide.

Clipping still has its friends, but new strategies are making more immediate inroads.

Smart eating has an infinite fan base.

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Coffee, Coffee, Coffee

Feb 9

Posted by admin in beverages, Michelle Obama, news

It’s a bad day to be a can of soda: Talk about getting kicked around.

That’s what’s happened today. Actually some of the news started yesterday when a link between sweetened drinks and pancreatic cancer grabbed headlines all day. Interesting that the study only took into account those who consumed multiple sugar-sweetened sodas daily. They did not study diet sodas or even sugar-sweetened fruit juices. The report (which covered a 14-year period with a sizable sample) found an 87% increase in the possibility of getting pancreatic cancer in individuals who consumed as few as two cans of soda a week. It’s the spike in insulin which occurs from the highly sweet beverage. Juice was not considered a culprit because quantities are often less than with soda consumption.

Soda has been linked to any number of medical issues before, but today it truly grabbed the limelight when First Lady Michelle Obama tackled childhood obesity and pointed a finger at a number of culprits, including soda. The message translates quite simply: We can control what we put in our bodies and what we offer our children. The obesity figures are staggering ( 1 in 3 children ages 6-19 are overweight and 1 in 5 are considered obese) and label us as an overweight society.

The School Lunch Program will receive greater scrutiny, and all facets of the food industry will be asked to consider how they can join the Partnership for a Healthier America. By creating a Task Force on Childhood Obesity, the nation will be able to work in lock step with all aspects of the food industry in bringing down the dangerous obesity numbers.

The First Lady has had a great first year focusing us on how we can all be healthier. The White House Garden was an important first step. Now the attention is on the whole child and the society that we have become. The worry is that with the current obesity figures, young people will have a shortened life span. The time to get off the couch and get moving logo_letsmoveis now.

The non-alcoholic Beverage Industry was ready with its response: Front and center labeling will spell out the calorie count in a visible fashion for packages, vending and fountain machines. In addition to smart labeling, the industry will continue its efforts to lessen sugar counts and reduce package sizes. Recall that Coke introduced a smaller can, with fewer calories, a while ago and has been aggressively marketing its properties.

Beer has had a much better week. It is not the first study that links the properties from a beer especially one with a high count of hops and barley to improved bone strength or a way to ward off osteoporosis. The new darlings, the wheat beers, would not qualify as being strong contenders in this space so ask for a light ale with a high malt content. This study has another added component: Women who seem to have more staggering numbers when it comes to instances of osteopenia or osteoporosis may think twice when they shrug off the beer choices. Raise the stein for bone density.

I know, I know, everything in moderation. Fill your refrig with a variety of foods and eliminate the sugar-laden ones that weigh us down. Water’s good, but my espresso lifestyle is not that bad!

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