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The Daily Dish Archive
November 30, 2006
Travel Plans: Thinking of traveling this holiday season? Check out and save big with the 225 BookingWiz Top Travel Deals in the US and Abroad , which are updated every 10 minutes, 24 hours a day. Specials include airplane travel, hotels, car rentals and cruises.
November 29, 2006
New Travel Article: Touring with a BMW in the Shadow of Stirling Castle in Scotland. The chosen car is a BMW 530d M Sport Touring car and the tour is of the Stirling Castle, one of the oldest in Scotland. Travel writers and photographers Keith Allan & Lynne Gray report.
November 28, 2006
New Wine Article: Might Charbono be the New Cult Grape? by "It's Time for Wine" columnists Sara & Monty Preiser. This is a relatively little known grape variety grown and produced in very limited qualities in California.
November 27, 2006
Updated Napa Valley, California Article: Meadowood--Napa Valley A place which reflects the grace and beauty of California's extraordinary wine country. This Relais & Chateaux property includes an annual calendar of classical music performances, a wine center, two professional croquet lawns, seven tennis courts, a nine-hole, walking golf course, a twenty-five-yard lap pool, a family swimming pool and a complete health spa providing fitness services and equipment as well as a wide array of luxury treatments.
November 26, 2006
Junk-Food Ads: Ten of the nation's biggest food and drink makers, including McDonald's and Coca-Cola, recently unveiled self-imposing guidelines to cut back on junk-food ads to children. The companies said they's reduce the use of licensed characters to pitch unhealthy foods to kids. They said they would not advertise in elementary schools. And half their ads will focus on foods that qualify as healthy, or on issues such as exercise or nutrition. But Susan Linn, co-founder of the consumer group Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, called the guidelines "window dressing, at best." (USA TODAY)
November 25, 2006
New Article: Dinner on the Diner-The Trans-Siberian Express Sharon Hudgins returned to the United States after working as the Resident Expert for National Geographic Expeditions on an 18-day tour across Russia and Mongolia—6,000 miles on the Trans-Siberian Railroad, from Vladivostok to Ulaan Bataar to Moscow. The tour visited many of the places she described in her award-winning book, The Other Side of Russia: A Slice of Life in Siberia and the Russian Far East.
November 24, 2006
New Food Film: If you have a strong stomach and want to see a scathing look at corporate America making big bucks off burger chains while cutting corners at meat-packing plants and exploiting a work force of illegal immigrants, check out Fast Food Nation, a fictionalized expose of the fast-food industry. Starring Greg Kinnear and based on Eric Schlosser, upon whose nonfiction book the film is based.
November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving! More Thanksgiving Facts: What many regard as the nation’s first Thanksgiving took place in December, 1621 as the religious separatist Pilgrims held a three-day feast to celebrate a bountiful harvest. It eventually became a national holiday in 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday of November as a national day of thanksgiving. Later, President Franklin Roosevelt clarified that Thanksgiving should always be celebrated on the fourth Thursday of the month to encourage earlier holiday shopping, never on the occasional fifth Thursday.
November 22, 2006
Thanksgiving Facts: It has been estimated that 95% of Americans eat turkey at Thanksgiving. According to the National Turkey Federation, about 24% of Americans purchase fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving and 69% purchase frozen turkeys.
November 21, 2006
Thanksgiving Facts: 265 million is the preliminary estimate of turkeys raised in the United States in 2006. That’s up 3 percent from 2005. The turkeys produced in 2005 together weighed 7.2 billion pounds and were valued at $3.2 billion.
November 20, 2006
Thanksgiving Facts: 664 million pounds is the forecast for U.S. cranberry production in 2006, up 6 percent from 2005. Wisconsin is expected to lead all states in the production of cranberries, with 375 million pounds, followed by Massachusetts (175 million). New Jersey, Oregon and Washington are also expected to have substantial production, ranging from 16 million to 49 million pounds.
November 19, 2006
Thanksgiving Facts: 1.6 billion pounds is the total weight of sweet potatoes produced in the United States in 2005. North Carolina (595 million pounds) produced more sweet potatoes than any other state. It was followed by California (351 million pounds). Mississippi and Louisiana also produced large amounts: at least 200 million pounds each. (http://www.nass.usda.gov/)
November 18, 2006
Tenth Annual Rhone Rangers San Francisco, California Wine Tasting Event: Expect everything from Green Barbecue to Viognier at the 10th Annual Rhone Rangers San Francisco wine tasting at the Fort Mason Festival Pavilion in San Francisco on March 17 and 18, 2007. Tickets are available after December 1 on-line at www.rhonerangers.org, or by calling the Fort Mason Box Office at (415) 345-7575. For more information call (707) 462-5943.
November 17, 2006
Thanksgiving Recipes: Sally’s Place suggestions are Fried Turkey, Green Bean Casserole, Hot Fruit Casserole, Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits, Pumpkin Walnut Cheesecake and for a change, add Bananas Foster this year—always a favorite any time of year!
November 16, 2006
Wine Celebration: The first shipment of this year's Beaujolais Nouveau wine from France arrived at Narita Airport in Japan on Friday morning, as wine lovers eagerly await the commencement of sales. The official release date is fixed as the third Thursday of November, and this year that day falls on November 16th. The wine is popular in Japan, which is close to the international date line, enabling connoisseurs to get an early taste. The wine is shipped all over the world. At one minute past midnight this Thursday, the Langham Hotel Auckland, New Zealand, will battle to become the first in the world to serve the new harvest of Beaujolais Nouveau. Admittedly one of the most frivolous rituals in the wine world, Langham’s sommelier Josselin de Gesincourt believes his chances at being the first to serve the new harvest wine are good: “We are the first to see the new day so that has to help at winning the race,” he says, referring to the Langham Hotel’s position on the world map.
November 15, 2006
The Holidays in Los Angeles, California: You don't have to spend the holidays bundled up and worrying about having to scrape ice off your windshield. That's only one way to do it. Then there's the LA way -- in a T-shirt. Downtown on Ice provides cold-weather fun in a warm-weather environment. A 4,500-square-foot rink is open to the public in Pershing Square from November to January. Seeing the huge Christmas tree at The Grove is LA's latest holiday tradition and the nightly snow-blown flurries through January can turn a warm LA evening into a winter paradise. The tree is larger than the tree in Rockefeller Center and the lighting party in November has drawn more than 20,000 people in recent years. Bringing family and friends together is just what the holiday season calls for and on Dec. 3, The Fairmont Miramar Hotel hosts an annual community gathering under the magnificent Moreton Bay Fig Tree. The public is invited to enjoy holiday treats free of charge.
November 14, 2006
New Chocolate Article: Contributor Stephanie Zonis shares a recipe for Hot Cocoa Mix and her Chocolate Find of the Month is 7:3 Chocolates in Cocoa: The Source of Chocolate Flavor.
November 13, 2006
New Article: Mexico Susana Trilling: Seasons of My Heart Cooking Class by Arlene Krasner highlights this popular PBS cooking show host and teacher. Recipes for Marinated Chicken Wrapped in Banana Leaves, Saffron Rice with Caramelized Pineapple and Layered Mango Pudding are included.
November 12, 2006
New Cookbook: Esalen Cookbook by Charlie Cascio brings us foods from the world-renowned Esalen Institute, located on the sacred cliffs above the ocean in Big Sur, California. Esalen is a place of peace and beauty, a place where people can contemplate, think, and discover. At the heart of Esalen is its kitchen, where food is made daily from the organic farm on its grounds. In these pages, you'll find such as favorites as Artichoke, Yam and Blue Cheese Scones, Moroccan Lamb Stew, Pecan-Encrusted Chicken, Orange Essence Raisin Bread, Sponges of Love Pancakes, Esalen Granola, and Grandma's German Goulash.
November 11, 2006
New Cookbook: Dave's Dinners: A Fresh Approach to Home-Cooked Meals by Dave Lieberman of the Food Network's Good Deal and author of Young & Hungry: More Than 100 Recipes for Cooking Fresh and Affordable Food for Everyone. Lieberman’s boy-next-door charm and impressive kitchen chops have made him a favorite with Food Network fans. Now, in his second cookbook, he offers recipes that will satisfy even the busiest of families. Here is the perfect easy-to-follow guide for anyone interested in cooking affordable and delicious dinners.
November 10, 2006
New Jamie Oliver Cookbook: Jamie's Italy by Jamie Oliver, television's Naked Chef, turns out to have an Italian soul in this collection of recipes from all over the boot. As an outsider, Oliver has great reverence for the traditions of Italy, and he offers some surprisingly deep insight about how a lack of choice and a massive working-class population have kept those traditions alive.
November 9, 2006
New Traveling with Kids Article: Contributor Elaine Sosa Labalme shares Kid-Friendly Zones: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. And our travel companion Steven is turning five years old!
November 8, 2006
New Television Series Cookbook: The Desperate Housewives Cookbook: Juicy Dishes and Saucy Bits by Christopher Styler and Scott S. Tobis delights the shows millions of fans who will find recipes for all the foods made famous by the show, as well as many others inspired by each housewife. For example: Brees elegant, impressive dinners feature dishes like Basil Pure Soup, Braised Duck, and Chicken Cutlets Saltimbocca. Lynettes time-challenged lifestyle leads to quick, healthy, everyday fare like French Toast for Breakfast (or Dinner) with Blueberry Syrup; Warm Turkey, Muenster, and Coleslaw Wraps; and Potato Casserole. Susans lack of kitchen skills means that her dishes are of the couldnt-be-simpler (but still mouthwatering) variety, like a Salad of Roasted Peppers, Fresh Mozzarella, and Arugula; Foolproof Macaroni and Cheese; Chocolate Butterscotch Bars; and Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Gabrielle enjoys the finest things in life -- and food is no exception. Her meals are gourmet, and most definitely prepared by a personal chef. Her faves include Shrimp with Chorizo and Red Pepper, Guacamole with Warm Chips, and Pineapple-Peach Smoothies. Edie uses food for seduction as much as for sustenance. Her sensual favorites include Oysters Poached in Champagne and Cream, Sausage Puttanesca, and Ambrosia.
November 7, 2006
New Beer Book: Ambitious Brew : The Story of American Beer by Maureen Ogle tells the first-ever history of American beer. It is an epic story, from the immigrants who invented it to the upstart microbrewers who revived it. Ogle tells of the exciting and adventurous history of the names that have become the corporate giants of suds.
November 6, 2006
New Wine Making Paperback Book: The Way to Make Wine: How to Craft Superb Table Wines at Home by Sheridan Warrick, a vintner and science editor with twenty-five years experience, is the most readable and reliable handbook among the many wine making guides. In engaging conversational prose, Warrick shows that making your own wine is not only easy, but also fun. Geared to everyday wine lovers who want to drink well, save money, and impress their friends, this book reveals everything needed to make delicious wines--both reds and whites--from start to finish.
November 5, 2006
New San Francisco Bakery Cookbook: In Tartine acclaimed pastry chef Elisabeth Prueitt and master baker Chad Robertson share not only their fabulous recipes, but also the secrets and expertise that transform a delicious homemade treat into a great one. It's no wonder there are lines out the door of Elisabeth and Chad's acclaimed Tartine Bakery in San Francisco.
November 4, 2006
New Cookbook: Three Guys from Miami Celebrate Cuban: 100 Great Recipes for Cuban Entertaining by Glenn M. Lindgren, Jorge Castillo, and Raul Musibay is their second effort after Three Guys from Miami Cook Cuban. Actually, it's two guys from Miami and a Minnesotan who just winters there (Lindgren). The second book features 100 new party-friendly creations.
November 3, 2006
New Hotel Cookbook: The Waldorf-Astoria Cookbook by John Doherty and John Harrisson opens the doors to this New York hotel's kitchens, where a team of seven chefs de cuisine, 10 sous-chefs, and 110 cooks, all led by Executive Chef John Doherty, serve the finest meals to a demanding public 24 hours a day, seven days a week at three restaurants, four bars and a grand ballroom, and, of course around-the-clock room service for 1,250 rooms. The book features more than 120 recipes by chef Doherty and his staff, from breakfast (Irish Oatmeal Brulee with Strawberry Coulis) to lunch (Oscar's Spicy Asian Chicken Salad) to dinner (Filet Mignon with Blue Cheese Crust, Port Wine Sauce, and Béarnaise). With beautiful food photography, atmospheric and archival images of the hotel, as well as new takes on historical recipes such as the Waldorf Salad and fascinating sidebars that tell the rich history of the hotel, this gorgeous volume is a must-have for cookbook collectors.
November 2, 2006
California Food & Wine Event: The Art of Food and Wine Palm Desert will be held in Palm Desert in Southern California November 9-12, 2006. The weekend features: Cooking & Tasting; Golf & Grilling; Concert & Cocktails and Art & Outdoors. Tickets are available at the Palm Desert Visitor Center or by calling 760-568-5240 or 800-873-2428.
November 1, 2006
Fast Food News: KFC plans to switch to a new soybean oil from a partially hydrogenated oil by April, 2007 and eliminate the artery-clogging trans fats in it fried chicken sold in the United States. KFC has 5,500 units in the US. It will still have trans fats in biscuits, desserts and pot pies but is working on those trans fats too. (USA TODAY)
Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.
