Mobile
Friday, April 17, 2009
Food News Charlotte restaurants getting hit by the recession
Posted By Carlton Hargro on Fri, Apr 17, 2009 at 9:15 AM
Charlotte's popular National Public Radio station, WFAE (90.7 FM), ran a story today — featuring CL's own food critic Tricia Childress — about the city's struggling restaurant industry.
Read and/or listen to the piece by right here.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Recipe TESTED RECIPE: Good Morning Muffins
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 3:39 PM
These suckers only took me 30 minutes to make from start to finish. I got the recipe from the web site of one of my fav bloggers, The Pioneer Woman. When I saw that the ingredient list included marmalade, I was prompted to make these muffins because I have had a jar of marmalade in my pantry for months, er, maybe a year, now. (Sorry to my co-workers who might have ate the muffins in the office kitchen, if you find this gross. It's jam though so it doesn't go bad -- it's meant to be preserved.) This recipe served as the perfect way to use up this marmalade and free up some highly-coveted pantry space.
I'd say the muffins are ok, but not mind-blowingly awesome. Since they don't have any berries, chocolate chips, nuts or any other chunks in them, they are slightly blah. The muffins have a true hardy muffin texture and would be probably be excellent with some cranberries tossed in. If you love orange flavor and marmalade, try these out.
* I skipped the buttery topping portion of the recipe and used a sugar/cinnamon/salt mixture on top of the muffins instead.
Good Morning Muffins
Makes 18 muffins
4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons baking powder
1/2 cup shortening (can use 1/4 cup shortening with 1/4 cup butter)
2 cups orange marmalade
1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
Topping:
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon melted butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
wheat germ (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Sift together flour, sugar, and baking powder. Place in a mixing bowl.
Use a pastry cutter to mix in shortening (or butter/shortening if desired).
Mix marmalade, orange juice, and vanilla in a small bowl. Pour into dry ingredients.
Beat eggs and pour into the bowl.
Mix all ingredients together gently, using fewer than 10 large strokes.
In a small bowl, mix topping ingredients.
Fill muffin pans with batter. Sprinkle 1 heaping teaspoon of topping ingredients over each muffin.
Sprinkle wheat germ over the top for extra crunch.
Bake for 20 to 22 minutes until done. Remove from pan and cool on wire rack. Eat warm or at room temperature.
Food News Dominos: We don't serve boogers
Posted By Rhiannon Fionn-Bowman on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 11:46 AM
Kristy Hammonds Thompson and Michael Setzer thought it would be cute to record themselves playing with people's food. Um hum. Real cute. They aren't teenagers; they're grown folks who should know better.
Yep. Guessing these two have a bright future ahead of them ... after the lawsuits, jail time and public humiliation dies down.
Two fired Domino's Pizza employees are free on bond this morning after being charged for their roles in producing a YouTube video that showed two workers breaking numerous sanitation laws while producing food.Authorities in Catawba County say the two people charged in the case -- Kristy Hammonds Thompson, 31, and Michael Setzer, 32 -- were the people who appeared in the video.
Read the rest of this Charlotte Observer article here.
Watch the offending video here:
Watch Dominos' (lame, impersonal, scripted) YouTube response:
Extra credit: check out Kristy Hammonds Thompson's mug in the North Carolina Sex Offender and Public Protection Registry here.
Smorgasbord Grocery auctions: If the price is right, who cares if the food is old?
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 11:30 AM
More signs of the hard times. Grocery auctions: people bidding on old, leftover or damaged goods from supermarkets, distribution centers and restaurant suppliers.
As consumers seek relief from the recession and spiraling food prices, grocery auctions are gaining in popularity as an easy way to cut costs. The sales operate like regular auctions, but with bidders vying for dry goods and frozen foods instead of antiques and collectibles. Some auctioneers even accept food stamps.
I might ... might divulge in some expired canned goods, but steaks past expiration date? I think not. What about you?
Read the rest of this story on MSNBC.com.
Events Taste of the Nation: A food mecca
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 11:15 AM
The Wachoiva Atrium was transformed into a food mecca for the Taste of the Nation event April 15. The benefit which included silent and live auctions (including puppies up for bid), food, and music, helped raise money to end childhood hunger. Charlotte restaurants and universities provided exquisite small plates of crab cakes, lamb kabobs, tuna sashimi salad, cream puffs, handmade chocolates and more.
Walking into the event, we were greeted with a DIY martini bar. The instructor walked us through making our own cucumber martinis at the individual martini making stations set up for us.
After my pre-dinner drink, I headed off to stuff my face with the culinary wonders provided. I started with the mini croissants and chicken salad from the Johnson and Wales students, followed by the homemade chips, cream puffs with lemon and cream, Asian-type spring rolls, crab cakes, prawns from Upstream (which triggered an allergic reaction because they weren't cooked all the way through and were raw. But never mind that, Benedryl to the rescue, and the eating goes on.), kabobs on pita, mac 'n' cheese from Zink, Krispy Kreme bread pudding, lamb bbq and grits, french macaroons from CPCC, sashimi tuna salad, lobster and shrimp cakes from Mez, a berry parfait from Gallery, chocolates made of 71% dark chocolate, prime rib sandwiches, and Shock Top beer.
Unfortunately, I was full before I could hit up all the food stations. It's too bad that Taste of the Nation isn't a two-day event. Check out these pictures from the event.
See your party pics from the event here on QC After Dark.
Smorgasbord Prepackaged hard-boiled eggs at Trader Joe's?
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 11:14 AM
The folks behind Apartment Therapy's The Kitchn spotted prepackaged hard-boiled eggs at a Trader Joe's.
Thoughts? Has society become so lazy that we can't even boil our own eggs?
I'd say, yes. And if I'm in Trader Joe's and see you with this product in your basket, I will look at you funny. (If only in my head because I sure don't want to get beat up.)
Food News Crêpe Cellar opens today
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 9:12 AM
The Crêpe Cellear Kitchen & Pub its doors today at 5pm. The NoDa restaurant will serve crepes as well as sandwiches, appetizers, beer, and more.
Crêpe Cellar Kitchen & Pub
3116 North Davidson Street
Charlotte, NC 28205
crepecellar@me.com
www.twitter.com/crepecellar
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Food News Free food on Tax Day
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Now that you are done with your taxes, go out and forage for free food. Here are some rumored freebies / Tax Day deals (valid today 4/15 only):
Food News Get a free cup of tea
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 10:05 AM
From CharlotteontheCheap.com:
Reportedly, there will also be prize drawings.
Food News BJ's takes food stamps
Posted By Kimberly Lawson on Wed, Apr 15, 2009 at 9:53 AM
BJ's Wholesale Club has become the first U.S. warehouse club to accept government-issued food stamps.
In the Charlotte Observer story, head honchos say, "The move makes business sense because a growing number of families are seeking government assistance because of the recession."
-
Dish on this: Charlotte-based chefs join ACF Culinary Team USA 2016
As fall approaches, local chefs prepare for a culinary battle in Germany.
-
Recipe: Roasted Vegetables with Dijon Béarnaise Sauce
Vegetables. Cheese. Béarnaise. These are things you're going to put in your mouth shortly after reading this.
-
What's hoppening at Unknown?
I had to check out the brewery's inaugural Improper Glassware Night.
