Another magazine bites the dust, this time around, it’s Gourmet Magazine.  I’m a subscriber to the magazine and I’m sad to see it go.  After 68 years of publication, it will cease publishing in November.  Does this mean I’m not going to get my money back?

If you’re Chinese, then chances are you’ve had zongzi at least once in your lifetime.  Zongzi is a traditional Chinese food that’s made of glutinous rice and is usually stuffed with either meat, egg yolk, and preserved meat (savory), or red beans (sweet).  It comes wrapped in bamboo  leaves, giving it the western name of “Chinese Tamales.”

Well, the NYC Cravings Truck is now offering this delicious item, at a premium price of course.  While priced at $4.00, it more than makes up for the hassle of going to Chinatown for one of these.  The Truck’s version of zongzi contains peanuts, pork, Chinese sausage, egg yolk, Sichuan vegetable, Chinese mushroom, and dried shrimp.  There’s a vegetarian option as well.

Check out their website for the schedule and locations.

Question: What do you do when 6 feet wide and 440 pound jellyfish invade Japanese waters?

Answer: You turn them into sweet confectionaries of course!

The giant jellyfish, known as Nomura’s jellyfish or echizen kurage have been invading Japanese waters and are threatening fisheries and even nuclear power plants.

image:  fastcompany.com

In an attempt to make use of the overpopulation of jellyfish, Obama Fisheries High School students have created a caramel space candy that’s infused with a powder made from the jellyfish.

image:  fastcompany.com

While that does seem odd to those outside of Japan, it’s actually the second product from the team of students.  Already on Japanese store shelves in the Fukui prefecture, locals can dig into the jellyfish based Ekura-chan saku-saku cookies.

Did you know that you should get your leftovers in the refrigerator in as little as 2 hours?  I wish I knew that several years ago when I ate the turkey that was sitting on the counter for 3 days.  Needless to say, my digestion system paid dearly for that.  Watch the video at the jump from ‘The Today Show’ on how to manage your leftovers.

Here are the 4 golden rules to follow as noted from the video:

• Get leftovers in the fridge fast
• Refrigerate up to 4 days , freeze for long storage
• Defrost in fridge, not on counter
• Thoroughly heat leftovers

The innovative inventor of artery-clogging fried foods is back, and this time, your arteries might close up from just thinking about it.

Abel Gonzales Jr., inventor of Fried Coke, Fried Cookie Dough, and Fried Peanut butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwiches has managed to one-up himself once again.  He will be unveiling his new Deep Fried Butter this month at the State Fair of Texas in Dallas.  The fair can be seen as the one-stop shop for fried confectionaries and a cardiologist’s worst nightmare.

The taste and texture of Fried Butter has been told to resemble that of a hot roll with butter, or a butter-filled biscuit or croissant.  The recipe involves whipping the butter, freezing it, and then covering it in dough before it hits the deep fryer.  Get this, the Fried Butter also comes in garlic, grape, and cherry flavors.  Of course, for the true butter connoisseurs, there’s always the butter only versions.

Source

DeNegri was grilling in his backyard tiki bar in Ormond Beach, Florida, when he popped open a can of Diet Pepsi, took a big gulp and started gagging, his wife, Amy, said.

He emptied out the can down a sink but something heavy remained inside. His wife took over and shook the can over a paper plate until something resembling “pink linguini” slid out, followed by “dark stuff,” Amy DeNegri said.

“It was disgusting,” said Amy DeNegri, 55. “And now, what started out as a normal afternoon in our tiki bar has blown up into this crazy thing.”

The DeNegris took pictures before calling poison control and the FDA, which showed up the next day to examine the can in question and collect it for lab testing.

The couple received a copy of the completed report last week from the Food and Drug Administration Office of Regulatory Affairs, which concluded the foreign matter appeared to be a frog or a toad.

“The animal was lacking internal organs normally found in the abdominal and thoracic cavity,” the report notes.

A second, closed can from the same 36-pack of Diet Pepsi from Sam’s Club, was also submitted for testing, according to Amy DeNegri. No abnormalities were detected, the report states.

The FDA also conducted an investigation at the local Pepsi bottling plant in Orlando from August 4 to 11 and “did not find any adverse conditions or association to this problem,” spokeswoman Siobhan DeLancey said.

“We have not determined when or how the contamination occurred,” DeLancey said in an e-mail.

Pepsi says the FDA results “affirmed” the company’s confidence “in the quality of our products and the integrity of our manufacturing system,” according to spokesman Jeff Dahncke.

“The speed of our production lines and the rigor of our quality control systems make it virtually impossible for this type of thing to happen in a production environment. In fact, there never has been even a single instance when a claim of this nature has been traced back to a manufacturing issue,” Dahncke said in an e-mail.

“The FDA conducted a thorough inspection of our Orlando facility and found no cause for concern. In this case, the FDA simply was unable to determine when or how the specimen entered the package.”

When asked if Pepsi believed it was not responsible for the animal getting into the can, Dahncke said, “We have addressed the facts of the investigation and stated our position. It’s not appropriate for us to comment beyond that.”

But the DeNegris say they’re hopping mad over Pepsi’s handling of the matter.

Amy DeNegri said she hasn’t heard from Pepsi since the day after the incident occurred, when she spoke with someone over the phone. At first, the woman was apologetic, but DeNegri says her attitude changed after she told her that the FDA had taken the can for testing.

“She asked for my pictures, I sent them and never heard back,” she said.

The retired school staffer says she and her husband are seeking legal advice to examine their options.

“I want to see Pepsi fess up to it and compensate my husband for the negative publicity they have caused,” she said. “I’m easy, but they’re the ones that are making it hard.”

By Adam Lisberg
DAILY NEWS CITY HALL BUREAU CHIEF

Controversial new subway billboards show human fat being poured out of soft drink bottles

A new ad released by the New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene shows human fat being poured into a glass.

The agency that brought you images of missing fingers and blackened lungs has a new health warning on tap – glasses filled with fat.

Billboards going up in the subway today show streams of sugary drinks turning into glistening yellow globs of human fat, mottled with blood vessels and served on ice.

It’s disgusting. And that’s the point, say Health Department officials who conceived the campaign to scare New Yorkers away from soda, sports drinks, bottled teas and other drinks with sugar in them.

“Just trying to be positive and encouraging doesn’t always get people’s attention,” said Associate Commissioner Geoff Cowley.

“If you get in people’s faces a bit, that does get people’s attention.”

The fat campaign aims to reduce obesity and diabetes by showing New Yorkers just how much sugar is in the drinks they grab off bodega and deli shelves.

A 20-ounce bottle of soda can contain 16.5 teaspoons of sugar, a 20-ounce lemon-flavored iced tea can have 14.5 tablespoons of sugar.

Even a 20-ounce bottle of a sports drink can have 7.5 teaspoons, the department says.

Agency officials hope New Yorkers – especially parents of young children and teenagers – will think twice and instead grab lowfat milk, a diet soda or just plain water.

“If you thought you were doing well because you weren’t drinking a sugary soda, but you were drinking a lemon-lime drink and it turns out to have the same amount of sugar, that’s shocking,” said Cathy Nonas, the Health Department’s director of physical activity and nutrition.

“These kinds of things are shocking to people,” Nonas said. “In every age group, you see the increase in portion sizes and the number of servings.”

Health surveys show between 21% and 29% of city teens drink soda daily, slurping down 360 calories that would take a 70-block walk to burn.

A companion video ad, set to be released in a few months, shows an actor pouring pure fat from a soda can into a glass – and then appearing to drink it.

“Are you pouring on the pounds?” the ad says. “Drinking one can of soda a day can make you 10 pounds fatter a year.”

The ads come on the heels of other blunt city efforts to confront New Yorkers with the consequences of not following the department’s health advice.

Its anti-smoking ads featured a man with a robotic voice who lost his real voice to cigarettes, as well as a woman who has lost fingers and toes in more than 20 amputations.

Next up are posters of smoke-scarred lungs that will be required to be displayed near cash registers where cigarettes are sold.

The Health Department spent $277,000 over the last three years to develop the fat campaign, using focus groups to decide that a sharp-edged approach was best.

An anonymous donor gave $90,000 to the department to post 1,500 ads in the subways for three months.
There are three different versions, each in Spanish and English, but all with the same lardy layout.

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Starbucks is looking to expand once again, only this time in a bold new direction.  The company is testing a new concept to lure evening customers.  Starting next week, the new store, 15th Ave. Coffee and Tea inspired by Starbucks, will be launched in Seattle and will be offering customers not only coffee and tea, but also wine and beer.  Two other locations in Seattle have already been planned to outfit the new store, and if all goes well, expansion to other cities.

It looks like its current strategy in battling off the other two coffee behemoths (McD’s and Dunkin) isn’t panning out too well.  It’s a move that I didn’t anticipate from the company, after all, I thought they were trying to focus on what they knew best: coffee.

Source

I’m probably in the minority of the population who does not eat fast food.  But for the most of you, chances are, have been to a fast food restaurant sometime in the last month.  Zagat has released its 2009 Fast Food/Full Service Chain Restaurant survey results.

McDonald’s takes the top rank for fries and breakfast sandwiches, but the title of best burger belongs to In-N-Out Burger.  Read Zagat press release for more rankings.

Zagat press release:

Zagat (Monday) revealed the results of its latest Fast Food Survey, based on 6,107 respondents who weighed in on 103 chains nationwide. With palates refined by the likes of burgers, fries, shakes, burritos and pizza, the typical surveyor, on average eats at a chain restaurant 11 times per month.
The survey divided fast-food venues into four categories: Large Chains (up to 5,000 U.S. outlets), Mega-Chains (over 5,000), Full-Service Chains (with table service), and Quick-Refreshment Chains (focusing on beverages, frozen treats and the like). Surveyors separately rated each chain’s Food, Facilities, and Service, on Zagat’s signature 30-point scale.
“These chains offer a lot of value to diners, and in the current economic times that’s more important than ever,” said Tim Zagat, CEO of Zagat Survey. “Given the large number of such chains, even the most avid fast food aficionado may need help in figuring out what’s best.”
And the Winners Are: Living up to its claim that it is “waaaaaay better than fast food,” Wendy’s remained the reigning champion for its food in the Mega-Chain category, while In-N-Out Burger, the west coast burger chain with locations in just four states (California, Nevada, Utah and Arizona), received the highest food rating among Large Chains with less than 5,000 outlets. In the Quick Refreshment category, Ben & Jerry’s prevailed even if its food is sold cold. As for Full-Service Chains, the Asian-inspired Bistro P.F. Chang’s comes out on top for food.
Most Popular: When asked to name their overall favorites, surveyors responded with Panera Bread – Large Chains; Subway – Mega-Chains; and P.F. Chang’s – Full-Service Chains.
Refreshing Debut: Among the 28 national brands included in the Quick Refreshment category, such as Krispy Kreme, Ben & Jerry’s, and Cold Stone, Starbucks Coffee is surveyors’ favorite, taking home the Most Popular title. This Seattle-based coffee bean behemoth also wins the hotly contested title of “Best Coffee,” edging out Dunkin’ Donuts.
Value: Value-oriented restaurants offering hearty food just like mom’s (maybe even better), offer a chic and cheap alternative to home – especially during trying economic times. Among Full Service Chains, the winners in order are Cheesecake Factory, Olive Garden and Cracker Barrel. Cheesecake Factory also scores for top Salads, Appetizers, and Desserts. Fast Food winners for Best Value are (1) McDonald’s, (2) Wendy’s and (3) In-N-Out Burger.
Better Burger: Regional burger chain In-N-Out Burger takes the cake for Best Burger. Wendy’s ranks no. 2, but still outshines Mega-Chain competitors (and rivals) Burger King and McDonald’s (numbers 3 and 4 respectively).
Talking About McDonald’s: Helping explain its status as the world’s most prolific chain (Over 30,000 total outlets), McDonald’s has once again won the classic battle of Best French Fries, as well as crowns for Best Breakfast Sandwiches, Most Child-Friendly, Best Drive-Thru, and most importantly, these days, Best Value among fast-fooders.
As for Healthy Options: This years’ surveyors award top laurels to Panera Bread (Large Chain), Subway (Mega-Chain), Jamba Juice (Quick Refreshment) and California Pizza Kitchen (Full-Service).
Category Winners:
Fast-Food Chains
Best Fried Chicken: Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)
Best Grilled Chicken: Chick-fil-A
Best Fish: Long John Silver’s
Best Coffee: Starbucks
Best Shakes: Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops
Best Salads: Panera Bread Co.
Full-Service Chains
Best Steak: Outback Steakhouse
Best Pasta: Olive Garden
Best Breakfast: International House of Pancakes (IHOP)
Best Seafood: Red Lobster
Most Child-Friendly: Chuck E. Cheese’s
Outtakes: Zagat surveyors aren’t shy, witness these outtakes not fit for print:
“Good morning heartburn.”
“They might as well fry the drinks too.”
“A wine list straight from 7-Eleven.”
“If mayonnaise were currency, these guys could fund the bailout.”
“Their cheese never met a cow.”
“Slowest fast food anywhere.”
“Eleven herbs and spices, eight of which are salt.”
“A childhood pleasure, an adult nightmare.”
“Had a bad experience with a sandwich and a rubber glove.”
“The story of my last visit had a big dead bug in the punch line.”
“Bad pizza, loud noise, stupid games and every child under 8 wants to go there.”
“Never an extra charge for that strand of hair in your tuna melt.”