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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mouthful Reviewed: Dunkin' Donuts new cocoa donuts
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 10:49 AM
Dunkin' Donuts has recently rolled out a line of yeast-raised cocoa donuts just in time for Valentine's Day. The three new donuts are: Cocoa Confetti, Cocoa Kreme Puff, and the Cocoa Reverse Boston Kreme.
I stopped by the Dunkin' Donuts store on Graham Street and took one for the team by sampling all three donuts for you, so you don't have to.
First up: Cocoa Confetti
This chocolate donut has a dry, bread-like texture, no fillings, and some glaze on top. The flavor is slightly chocolate-y, but not enough to be satisfying. It has that bitterness of chocolate, but much else. The glaze on top tastes like buttercream chocolate frosting. The sprinkles weren't evenly applied.
Cocoa Kreme Puff
This one might be the best out of the bunch. The Cocoa Kreme Puff has the same bready dough as the previous donut, but doesn't taste as dry, with a better bite and chew due to the center containing a good poof of frosting-like vanilla cream. The donut is coated in superfine sugar, which isn't as cloying as the other frostings, but overall, it was still too sugary for me.
Cocoa Reverse Boston Kreme
This one was my least favorite. The Reverse Boston Kreme donut is a chocolate donut filled with a gelatinous chocolate filling and frosted with a sugary glaze that overloads the donut with sugar. The slightly translucent chocolate filling was very unappetizing the way it jiggled slightly. The filling was in no way creamy. One bite was enough for me to put it down and not touch it again.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend any of these donuts. Stick with the original chocolate glazed cake donut or any of their other original donuts. These new cocoa donuts have minimal chocolate flavor, unappetizing fillings, and way too much sugar.
Check out the carnage:
Monday, February 7, 2011
Eating Healthy Food Q&A: Healthy lifestyle blogger Tara DiPetrillo
Posted By Tiffany Hill on Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 2:09 PM
Tara DiPetrillo was bedridden for about a year with a severe case of sciatica (which is severe pain that stems from the back to the legs) before getting back into a more health-conscious lifestyle.
The healthy lifestyle blogger and multimedia/make-up artist started a vegetarian diet when she was 14 years old. “I stayed on the vegetarian path for about six or seven years, not eating seafood for 10. After being in a relationship with a meat eater, I somehow started to eat animals again,” she says.
Since her re-dedication to the raw/vegan lifestyle — along with a hot yoga practice — she says her back feels much better. “My skin looks healthy, young and has that glow. I'm often mistaken for being 10 years younger. I have more energy. Dark circles faded under my eyes. Cellulite, that I started to get while bedridden, began to diminish. My nails are stronger. The list can go on,” she advises.
With that, she also emphasizes that it's not only about the food you eat. Daily exercise and meditation strongly contribute to your overall wellbeing.
Creative Loafing: What does your diet consist of?
Tara DiPetrillo: I consume a mostly raw, organic, vegan diet. I eat a lot of fresh, organic fruits and vegetables as well as grains and nuts. I'm fond of “superfoods” and eat them daily. I also drink a ton of water (preferably alkaline water when possible), fresh-made juices and smoothies.
What is your favorite dish to prepare?
Fruit smoothies are probably my favorite. They are quick, easy, full of nutrition and tasty! I have also been hooked on making a quick bean and veggie salad.
What are the ingredients for the bean and veggie salad?
I gather organic garbanzo beans, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, broccoli (cut up real small, as it is hard to digest raw), spinach, celery and red onions. I season it with Traders Joe's Everything Seasoning. That has become my new salad dressing. If you let it sit for a while the tomato juice starts to settle to the bottom [it acts] like a dressing.
Where do you buy your food?
I buy my food at Trader Joe's, Healthy Home Market and Earthfare.
What are a few things a person who is trying to eat for optimal health should buy at the grocery store?
Superfoods! They are high in phytonutrient content and are packed with vitality.
What are five things you have to have in your kitchen and/or refrigerator?
Juicer, blender, superfood powders, lots of greens, and fruit are essential.
What is your favorite local restaurant? And, what do you normally order from the menu?
Hands down, Luna's Living Kitchen is my favorite local restaurant. I love everyone in there, and they offer the most delicious living, vegan food. My favorite things to order are the "El Luchador" smoothie, the "Lunasagna" dish and for dessert the chocolate pudding! They also sell alkaline water by the jug.
Are there any great blogs or websites you frequent for advice, information and recipes?
There is an abundance of amazing sites out there:
For more information about Tara visit www.beautyfromlove.com/blog and www.taradipetrillo.com/blog.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Mouthful Boardwalk Billy's now open in Dilworth
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Fri, Feb 4, 2011 at 2:56 PM
The Deck on East Boulevard has closed and is now reopen as Boardwalk Billy's.
There's good news and bad news.
The good news is that if you liked the food and drinks at The Deck, you can still get the exact same fare at Boardwalk Billy's. The bad news is if you were hoping for a change, the restaurant is pretty much the same.
The new restaurant looks exactly the same as The Deck, including the same decor, furniture, and menu. The only things they seem to have changed are the logo and the items on the menu that once said The Deck's special seasoning or what not, now say Boardwalk Billy's special seasoning.
What is new though are the plastic baskets of complimentary peanuts on each table. The cocktail menu still features the same tasty mojitos they had at The Deck. The Low Country Boil I ordered was underwhelming. It consisted of 3 pieces of over cooked corn, thin slices of sausage, and a good helping of shrimp, which wasn't all that bad.
A few observations from sampling fellow diners' meals: Fries were good and super thin cut, the coconut shrimp was decent and came with an orange sauce, the Buffalo chicken salad left a lot to be desired, and the B.F.F. burger, fries, and chicken fingers combo was the typical tasty, yet greasy affair.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Recipe / Priscilla Tsai / Dessert Chocolate Armagnac Cake
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Thu, Feb 3, 2011 at 8:10 AM
Ar-men-yak.
... In case you were wondering how to pronounce "Armagnac," like I was. Think along the lines of cognac. According to Wikipedia, Armagnac is the oldest brandy distilled in France.
This rich, sophisticated Chocolate Armagnac Cake comes from my favorite baker Dorie Greenspan. The cake contains 10 ounces of bittersweet chocolate, cognac, and surprisingly, prunes. It is so good – perhaps the best chocolate cake I've ever made.
The texture of the cake is like a hybrid of a flourless chocolate cake and a fudgy brownie. The chocolate and dried fruit flavor combination reminds me of those Cadbury Fruit & Nut chocolate bars that come wrapped in purple packaging. Tart fruit enrobed in creamy bittersweet chocolate. Ground pecans aren't a prominently featured ingredient in the cake, but its presence adds to the complex flavors of the cake.
At one point in the recipe, you'll need to set the cognac-soaked prunes aflame. Don't be scared. It's really easy, so don't let that stop you from making this cake. Since chocolate is the star ingredient, make sure you use high-quality bittersweet chocolate (I used Scharffen Berger).
I can't wait to serve this cake at my next dinner party.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Food News / Events / free food BOGO froyo at Yoforia this Valentine's Day
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Wed, Feb 2, 2011 at 12:17 PM
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Smorgasbord New items at Dunkin' Donuts
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 3:32 PM
Seems like Dunkin' Donuts is rolling out new food items all the time, doesn't it?
I'm not a fan of their pancake sausage bites, but perhaps these new donut creations might win me over. Just maybe...
Dunkin' is introducing a few new "Cocoa Donuts" to their donut roster: Reverse Boston Kreme, Cocoa Kreme Puff and Cocoa Confetti.
Curious? I'm willing to take one for the team and try these out. Stay tuned...
Smorgasbord / Events Tonight: Beer•Ed at Growlers Pourhouse
Posted By Priscilla Tsai on Tue, Feb 1, 2011 at 3:18 PM
Growlers Pourhouse in NoDa is offering Beer•Ed every first Tuesday of the month (that's today!). These events will host distributors/brewers to share beer with and talk to guests.
This month they welcome Catawba Valley Brewing. Stop by at 7 pm today to taste and learn all about CVB's beers.
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Food news: March 13
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Oil and Vinegar Potato Salad 1
You'll only need 6 ingredients for this clean and flavorful dish.
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Wine for pizza night: Melini 2006 Chianti Classico Isassi
The perfect pairing for tomato-based grub
