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Celebrity Chef Art Smith Scores New TLC Show

YumSugar — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:30:21 -0800

NBC and Fox aren't the only channels trying to nab a piece of the cooking show pie. So is cable channel TLC. Not only does the lifestyle network boast new programming like Cake Boss and the soon-to-air BBQ Pitmasters, but the channel has just ordered eight episodes of a new 30-minute series, Craving Comfort, starring celebrity chef Art Smith.

Rather than demoing dishes in the traditional cooking show sense, Smith will travel the country in search of America's most satisfying eats. Each show will focus on one particular comfort food, such as fried chicken or apple pie. Craving Comfort will debut in late 2010.

Smith, who owns Table Fifty-Two and was Oprah Winfrey's personal chef for a decade, recently starred in the Bravo series Top Chef Masters. I think David Chang is right in saying that comfort foods will be big in 2010, and that this show will take off. Are you a big enough fan of Art Smith to tune in?

How to Prevent Overeating at Barbecues

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 04:30:43 -0700

If you're headed to a barbecue this weekend, arm yourself with these tips from fellow FitSugar readers on how to prevent overindulging on all the good eats.

Hottpink says, "I make sure I eat a little something healthy before I go. If I arrive at the BBQ starving then I have a harder time controlling myself!!"
"I bring something that is healthy that I know I like and try to fill up more on that. Then either eat the other stuff in moderation that's not so good or bring substitutes like turkey dogs or slaw with a vinegar dressing as opposed to mayo, etc." - kclulu
"I let myself have a hamburger and a few chips so I don't feel deprived, and fill up the rest of my plate with fruits and vegetables." - a million suns
"I stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and that helps keep my hunger in check. I also let myself have one to two bites of something that is not so good for me, and fill the rest of my plate with things that are nutritious." - telane

Read a few more tips

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 16-23, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:47 -0700

This weekend doesn't just mark Juneteenth and Father's Day. It's also packed with events that honor all of the pleasures of Summer, from peaches, blueberries, and watermelon to ribs, RC cola, and moon pies. But that's not all: this Friday marks the acclaimed Aspen Food & Wine Classic, which we're so excited to be returning to this year. Stay tuned!

Know of any important food events we've left out this week? Feel free to chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 16-30
Clarksville, AR: Johnson County Arkansas Peach Festival - June 16-21
St. Helena, CA: StarChefs Rising Stars Napa & Sonoma - June 17
Emmett, ID: Emmett Cherry Festival - June 17-20
Portland, ME: Taste of the Nation Portland - June 18
Oakland, CA: National Homebrewers Conference - June 18-20
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest 2009 - June 18-21
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 18-28
Dallas, TX: Food For Thought Dallas - June 19
Crewe, VA: Virginia Chicken Festival - June 19
Owego, NY: Owego Strawberry Festival - June 19-20
Rotan, TX: Juneteenth Enrichment Festival - June 19-20
Boston, MA: American Craft Beer Festival - June 19-20
Aspen, CO: Aspen Food & Wine Classic - June 19-21

To see the rest, read more.

Stowe, VT: Stowe Wine & Food Classic - June 19-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days Festival - June 19-21
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign Urbana - June 19-21
Clayton, NY: The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival - June 19-21
Flagstaff, AZ: Made in the Shade Beer Tasting - June 20
Brewton, AL: Alabama Blueberry Festival - June 20
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20
Bell Buckle, TN: RC & Moon Pie Festival - June 20
Martinez, CA: King of the County BBQ Challenge - June 20-21
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 20-28
Boise, ID: Savor Idaho - June 21

Source

Speak Up: How Do You Avoid Overeating at Barbecues?

FitSugar — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:03:34 -0700

Hot dogs and hamburgers are comfort foods of Summer, and I'm sure by now you've eaten your fair share at all the barbecues you've been frequenting. Aside from those staples, grilled corn smothered in butter, potato salad, chips and dip, and cold beer are also favorites. With all this irresistible food, I'm wondering, what are some tips you can suggest to fellow FitSugar readers to help avoid overeating at the next BBQ?

Is Mayonnaise a Magnet for Salmonella?

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 03:00:00 -0700

There are bound to be barbecues a plenty this Fourth of July weekend. With this tainted tomato scare, I for one definitely have salmonella on my mind. I typically associate mayo with food poisoning, since people tend to leave this condiment, and the food it's added to, out for long periods of time.

I was relieved to read in the NY Times recently that mayo doesn't really deserve this bad rap. Since most commercialized mayo is made with vinegar or other ingredients that make it acidic, it's actually less likely to spoil. Phew! According to a study published in the Journal of Food Protection, mayo added to foods may even help to prevent food poisoning. The reason mayo may become contaminated is if it's not properly stored, if it's mixed with low-acid foods like seafood or chicken, or if the mayo is homemade.

Fit's Tips: If you plan on hitting a BBQ this weekend (or any other weekend for that matter), be sure the mayo hasn't been left out. Also, check the ingredients. Hellmann's, Best Foods, Miracle Whip, and Kraft all contain vinegar, so they're a better choice than homemade mayo when it comes to spoilage. Steer clear of pasta and potato salads containing mayonnaise that have been left out for more than two hours. If it's above 90° F, then one hour is the limit.

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Sept. 30-Oct.6

YumSugar — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:00:04 -0700

Across the country this month Oktoberfest celebrations are in full force. There's something for you, whether you want to savor the last of the Summer with a seafood festival or switch your mindset to Fall by enjoying one of the many harvest celebrations. Have a tip for another event? Leave it in the comments below!

Santa Clarita, CA: Loose Goose Wine Festival - Oct. 1-5
Corinth, MS: Kansas City Hog Wild BBQ Festival - Oct. 2-4
San Francisco, CA: Oktoberfest by the Bay - Oct. 2-5
Kansas City, MO: American Royal Barbecue - Oct. 2-5
Napa, CA: Domaine Chandon Pink Party - Oc. 2
New York, NY: Plate by Plate New York - Oct. 3
Carpinteria, CA: California Avocado Festival - Oct. 3-5

To see the rest, read more.

Lincoln, AR: Arkansas Apple Festival - Oct. 3-5
Fredericksburg, TX: Oktoberfest - Oct. 3-5
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Apple Festival -Oct. 3-5
Puyallup, WA: Oktoberfest NW - Oct. 3-5
Destin, FL: Destin Seafood Festival - Oct. 3-5
Bayfield, WI: Bayfield Apple Festival - Oct. 3-5
Doylestown, PA: Oktoberfest - Oct. 3-5
Fort Bragg, CA: Abalone Cook-off & Festival - Oct. 4
Germantown, MD: Germantown Oktoberfest - Oct. 4
Charlotte, NC: Great Grapes! Wine, Arts & Food Festival - Oct. 4
Napa, CA: Wine Country Cajun Food and Music Festival - Oct. 4
Springfield, MO: Taste of Springfield - Oct. 4
Atlanta, GA : Harvest Midtown Festival - Oct. 4
Phoenix, AZ: Arizona Irish Festival - Oct. 4
Chattanooga, TN: Wine Over Water - Oct. 4
Montrose, CA: Montrose Oktoberfest - Oct. 4
Beach Haven, NJ: Chowder Cook-Off Classic - Oct. 5
Shelton, WA: Oysterfest - Oct. 4-5
Allardt, TN: Great Pumpkin Festival - Oct. 4-5
Redwood City, CA: Arts & Olive Festival - Oct. 5
Rochester, NY: Rochester Food Fight - Oct. 6

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 23-30, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:00:13 -0700

It's almost July, and the palatable parties just keep coming. If you're a wine enthusiast, head over to Pinot Days or the Telluride Wine Festival. Beer more your thing? Throw back some sake bombs at the Beer & Sake Festival, or hit up the Colorado Brewfest. Here in Fog City, the Best of the Bay looks to be one heck of a soirée. What happenings are you hitting up?

If you know of anything that's been left off the list, please go ahead and chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 23-30
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 23-28
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 23-28
Portsmouth, NH: Taste of the Nation Portsmouth - June 24
London, OH: London Strawberry Festival - June 24-27
San Francisco, CA: Pinot Days - June 24-28
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 24-28
San Diego, CA: Beer & Sake Festival - June 25
Milwaukee, WI: The 2009 Big Taste - June 25
San Francisco, CA: Best of the Bay - June 25
Ft. Lauderdale, FL: Taste of the Nation South Florida - June 25

To see the rest, read more.

Cedar Rapids, IA: Cedar Rapids BBQ Roundup _ June 25-28
Telluride, CO: Telluride Wine Festival - June 25-28
Luling, TX: Luling Watermelon Thump - June 25-28
Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Wine Festival - June 26-27
Emerson, AR: Purple Hull Pea Festival - June 26-27
Chipley, FL: Panhandle Watermelon Festival - June 26-27
Tacoma, WA: Taste of Tacoma - June 26-28
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 26-28
Burlington, VT: Green Mountain Chew Chew Food & Music Fest - June 26-28
Chicago, IL: Taste of Chicago - June 26-July 5
Honolulu, HI: Slow Food's Honolulu Fish Auction Tour - June 27
Washington DC: National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 27-28
Fort Collins, CO: Colorado Brewfest - June 27-28
Pennington, NJ: East Coast Food & Wine Festival - June 27-28
New York, NY: Summer Rosé Celebration With Ariane Duarte - June 29

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - May 5-12, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 05 May 2009 14:00:11 -0700

Many of you are gearing up for Mother's Day, but if you've got some time to spare, there are plenty of enjoyable events worth checking out. There are two national events to note: You can celebrate American Craft Beer Week (find out what is happening in your neck of the woods) and on Saturday, help fight hunger at the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Here at Yum, we're all over the specials going on during Sexy Dishes Week and the new cocktails being showcased at SF Cocktail Week. Where will you be?

Humboldt, TN: West Tennessee Strawberry Festival - May 3-9
Bay Area, CA: Sexy Dishes Week - May 4-8
Atlanta, GA: Taste of the Nation Atlanta - May 6
Manchester, NH: Taste of the Nation Manchester - May 6
Hartford, CT: Taste of the Nation Hartford - May 7
Las Vegas, NV: Vegas Uncork'd - May 7-10
New Orleans, LA: World Cocktail Week in the Big Easy - May 8

To see the rest, read more.

Charlotte, NC: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival - May 9
Brooklyn, NY: James Beard Dumpling & Noodle Tour - May 9
Anhalt, TX: Cajun Music & Gumbo Cook-Off - May 9
Santa Monica, CA: Los Angeles BBQ Festival - May 9-10
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Cocktail Week - May 11-18

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - Apr. 14-21, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:00:15 -0700

Food festival season appears to be in full swing! The weekend's chock full of fancy food productions, from Scottsdale to Pebble Beach to Blue Ridge food and wine festivals. A number of your favorite celebrity chefs, like Top Chef's Fabio and Carla, Paula Deen, and Thomas Keller, will be making appearances across the nation. And what Southerner could miss out on crawfish and grits? If you think of anything we've left off, please feel free to add in below. What events will you be hitting up?

Scottsdale, AZ: Scottsdale Culinary Festival - Apr. 14-19
Charlotte, NC: Taste of the Nation Charlotte - Apr. 15
San Antonio, TX: Paso Robles Grand Tasting Tour - Apr. 15
Atlanta, GA: World Barista Championship - Apr. 15-19
Atlanta, GA: Toast of the Town Atlanta - Apr. 16
Austin, TX: Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival - Apr. 16-19
Pebble Beach, CA: Pebble Beach Food & Wine Festival - Apr. 16-19
Blowing Rock, NC: Blue Ridge Wine Festival - Apr. 16-19
Biloxi, MS: MS Coast Coliseum Crawfish Festival - Apr. 16-19
Springfield, MO: Rock 'n Ribs BBQ Festival - Apr. 17-18

To see the rest, read more.

York, PA: Pennsylvania Herb Festival - Apr. 17-18
St. George, SC: World Grits Festival - Apr. 17-19
Salisbury, MD: Pork in the Park - Apr. 17-19
New York, NY: Coffee & Tea Festival NY - Apr. 18-19
Moulton, AL: Alabama Chicken & Egg Festival - Apr. 18-19
Atlanta, GA: Metropolitan Cooking & Entertaining Show - Apr. 18-19
Norfolk, VA: Virginia Culinary Expo - Apr. 19
Princeton, NJ: Taste of the Nation Princeton - Apr. 20

Noteworthy Nibbles - Feb. 24-Mar. 2, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 14:00:30 -0800

With Mardi Gras parades and festivals going on today across the country and a handful of restaurant weeks still going strong, this week's a great time to pay a visit to your favorite food events: If you live anywhere nearby, celebrate dungeness crab season in Northern California, as well as the beginning of Florida's strawberry season. And if you're attending the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, perhaps I'll see you there!

Got any fine food events that you see left off this list? If so, chime in below. Will you be going to any of this week's events?

New Orleans, LA: New Orleans Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
St. Louis, MO: St. Louis Mardi Gras - Feb. 24
New York, NY: NYC Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Chicago, IL: Chicago Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-27
Orange County, CA: Orange County Restaurant Week - Feb. 24-28
San Francisco, CA: Dungeness Crab Week - Feb. 24-Mar. 1
Houston, TX: Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Championship Bar-B-Que Contest - Feb. 26-28
Minneapolis, MN: Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience - Feb. 26-Mar. 1

To see the rest, read more.

Plant City, FL: Florida Strawberry Festival - Feb. 26-Mar. 8
Albuquerque, NM: Fiery Foods & BBQ Show - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
New York, NY: New York Wine Expo - Feb. 27-28
Boca Raton, FL: Boca Bacchanal - Feb. 27-Mar. 1
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Feb. 28
San Francisco, CA: 7th Annual Celebrity Crab Fest - Feb. 28
Comstock Park, MI: Winter Beer Festival - Feb. 28
Grant, FL: Grant Seafood Festival - Feb. 28-Mar. 1
New Orleans, LA: Culinary Inspired Seasonal Mixology - Mar. 2