Archive for news

A Little Footnote or Two: Updates

June 17, 2009 at 1:47 am · Filed under grocer, health, life, news, shopping ·Tagged , , , ,

carrots-vitamina-lgIt seems no one wants to be ignored on the antioxidant bandwagon. Look at this latest product that should add to the confusion: Kraft Foods has decided to up the ante in the sugar-free Jello department. Health writers are all over this, and I appreciate the detail and the absurdity of the concept. Are we all that gullible? Now, carrots…

On the Ciao Bella front, I found the product at Target. Sorry for the omission, but the Mango Sorbet should not be omitted.

On the grocery smart scanner input, not all is as it seems. Yes, it is definitely fun to get a free item when the price comes up incorrect on the scanner. It is just  a little confusing when the scanner offers you savings on products that do not match your profile. Let me say do not even approximate a match. Some of the offers today were so not for me that I hope whomever is typing in my card number is having fun. So kinks still need to be worked out, but as for fun, I’m still loving the scan and bag approach.

One final note on the grocers. It seems that tracking is so powerful that your absence from the aisles is actually a positive. I just received a survey questionnaire and 4 separate $5 off coupons from Harris Teeter. They miss me. That’s sweet. They wonder why I haven’t been there in a while. No problem. For the coupon savings, they have me at least 4 more visits. I love being loved; especially with a $20 savings.

Life goes on.

Leave a Comment

No Shock; Just Comfort

June 15, 2009 at 6:41 am · Filed under Economy, FDA, food, grocer, life, news ·Tagged , ,

Even though there are some signs that indicate we may slowly be emerging from under the dark economic cloud that has reshaped so much of our country, the reality is that consumers have changed their buying habits. We are different, and the hope is we will have learned something that has stickiness.

There is nothing surprising to hear that comfort foods are still the rage. Why not? Well, maybe a little salmonella scare here and there, but peanut butter and  jelly top many lists. There’s protein and multiple beneficial ingredients, and the price is right. It does not mean we deviate from our brand purchasing, but that in some instances we are more careful. Some studies indicate that in cautious times we are less likely to experiment with a new brand, even a much less costly alternative, and stay with an old friend. M&M’s plain chocolate candy was one strong, popular purchasing indicator from this survey of almost 25,000 consumers.

Candy, of course, is about the reward. Why take a chance on something you’re not certain will provide the boost you need? Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Bars all scored high. Wonder what this says for all the new Dark Chocolates which every company seems to be touting?

Across the aisles in the packaged meat case, bologna is a major winner. Some attribute its recent and continual spike in sales to a return to the foods of our childhood. They worked then and seem to be playing a similar comfort role. Definitely will need to talk healthy foods. Don’t even want to know how to make bologna!product_logo_reeses

If Mom served what we considered old-fashioned foods such as peanut butter and jelly or bologna sandwiches, we hear the message. It worked then; it works now.

Grocers clearly recognize the new patterns. We see it everywhere. The Wegman family just discussed how shoppers have changed than they were a year ago. The company’s direct price-cutting actions, which greatly impacted their already slim profit margins, earned them new customers and a different approach to marketing their stores. It seems to be working.

Will we return to the shoppers of yesteryear, as in last year?

I hope not. I hope we are smarter now.

Leave a Comment

The Shelves Are Alive

June 12, 2009 at 4:48 am · Filed under Economy, Environment, grocer, news ·Tagged , ,

51h9OVNv7FL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click-to-search,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_
Yes, it’s true. Grocery stores, convenience marts, and even big box retailers have devoted sizable shelf space to 100-calorie boxes of whatevers. If you can make it fattening, the companies seem to say, we can also make it available in a lower calorie count.

Whether it’s chips, cookies, crackers, or candy, the 100-calorie boxes beckon. You name it, and it is probably available in mini-packs. BTW, they’re perfect for lunch boxes, desk drawer indulgences, and road trips. No one, not even Little Debbie Snacks, wants to be left out of the marketing game.

Not all is sweet news. Maybe we are using more paper and increasing our environmental threshold. Or, just maybe, we are overeating. Can you just have one? Personally, I think the gimmick gave you permission to overindulge. It’s just 100-calories, you convincingly said to yourself, as you grabbed a couple bags of Oreos. Sad news there, they didn’t have the filling that made you covet the product in the first place! Then along came Oreo Minicakesters–got ya! They solved that complaint!

Multiple bags. Hmm. Opposite of the original weight-loss approach; rather a weight-gain strategy that seemed to gain hold! 

Not just overeating, but maybe you’re not just adding to your waist but to your budget, too. They are hardly the economical way to shop in this cash-conscious environment. Phil Lempert, who calls himself the Supermarket Guru, has been questioning their longevity. He is quick to point out that Ziploc makes a snack bag size, a perfect container for your own variation of mini-snacks.

If you like nuts, a few of those, please. Add a few raisins, and a piece or two of your favorite dried fruit and you have a personalized trail mix. A million possible examples.

Smart marketing. For those who remain clueless, there’s even a cookbook!

Seriously.

Leave a Comment

The Numbers Are In

June 10, 2009 at 5:51 am · Filed under coffee, food, life, news, restaurants, Uncategorized ·Tagged ,

Those Zagat people, Nina, Tim, and their army of contributors, are at it again! Instead of an eponymous city guidebook, they asked over 6,000 people to rate their favorite fast food establishments: The Survey ranked 103 chains from surveyors who order fast food at least 11 times a month! Wendy’s was the overall Mega-Chain winner, and the West Coast’s popular In-N-Out Burger took top honors for a food chain with fewer than 5,000 outlets. Trust me, when you grab a burger at one of its locations in 4 states (CA, NV, UT, or AZ), you’ll understand what the fuss is about! They earned top honors for Best Burger, too.

Maybe Starbucks is the real winner of the survey as it grabbed top honors in the Quick Refreshment Category as the most popular spot, and the company earned major bragging rights for Best Coffee even though they have been attacked by every barista and quick coffee shop within its sights.

McDonald’s, which is working hard to earn a coffee title, managed top numbers for Best French Fries, Best breakfast, Best Drive-Thru, and Best Value. The latter category is doubly important this year at all levels of food purchasing–everyone is looking for value.

Were there surprises? Not necessarily, but in the full-service category, I love the fact that the International House of Pancakes, IHOP, top_store_1won Best Breakfast and Chuck E. Cheese still wins the Most Child-Friendly category.

The more things change; the more they stay the same!

Leave a Comment

Kindness Wins

June 8, 2009 at 6:05 am · Filed under cooking, dining out, life, news ·Tagged ,

Maybe the most exciting news I read this week in the food world is that the world’s crabbiest Washington, DC chef has left town and left the two restaurants she was micro-managing. This is not the first flare up for Carole Greenwood, and I suspect it will not be the last!

After all this is a woman who was notorious for storming out of the kitchen and saying to a customer who wanted something altered in the presentation of a menu item, “If I had wanted it that way, I would have made it that way.” Servers were literally afraid of her and knew they could not even meekly slink into the kitchen to ask for a menu alteration. The question would lead to an explosion.

That makes great television or theatre but does not work on my nickel or personal dining dollars. I want more. I want to know someone cares enough to speak civilly and not believe that customers are without opinions or dietary needs. This is a restaurant, not a place to be bullied. Your tantrum does not make my dining out experience Comet_simpledelicious. 

This female DC area chef rivaled the tirades of  the legendary European chef and television star Gordon Ramsay. You know how over the years chefs have become rock stars. Well, her special blend of talent had some obvious flaws. Even with her background and finicky ways, she could cook. That is if she didn’t run out of specials or have so little menu food left to have guests question if was there anything in the house?

She was riding on a reputation she had garnered from her earliest roots as a hard-working female chef/caterer who managed to have a loyal following of customers. Some became friends and some eventually investors. She personified what it meant to be a poor businesswoman who was working hard  but without the finesse necessary to run a restaurant. Ask the investors who learned how risky an investment in a restaurant can be!

Running a restaurant as a chef and part owner has certain inherent demands. Customers, for instance, expect a certain level of attention and some kindness along the way. She lost that part of the business equation a long time ago. No matter how often she reinvented herself, the scenario always had the same ending: A tirade of some sort. 

In this more cautious economic environment, a lot of skills are necessary to keep one’s customers. Having good food at affordable prices is certainly a part of that equation. Her leaving town opens up two neighborhood restaurants to all the people who refused to go back. People who had given up on her a long time ago. 

The first restaurant will be reconfigured to more of a friendly camping environment (Buck’s Summer Camp) while they plan for the future. The more casual, but cleverly designed, next door sister pizza place (Comet Ping Pong) will remain the fun, welcoming place that serves affordable foods.

I wish her no harm, but I do wonder if her style has become permanently unacceptable in this more careful dining universe.

Watch out New York; she’s coming your way.

Leave a Comment

Now We’re Talking Good News

June 5, 2009 at 5:23 am · Filed under coffee, life, news ·Tagged , , , , ,

ciaobella_flash3Seems like the sweets are on the top of my radar. Yesterday it was donuts; today gelato. In my book, not just any gelato but Ciao Bella. The New York treat has made its way across the country and onto restaurant menus and in freezer aisles (Costco, Harris Teeter, Safeway, and Whole Foods). YES.

What makes the gelatos and sorbets so delicious is the process (hand-made) and the intensity of  flavors. If it says espresso (triple), you’re talking about my favorite drink transformed into my favorite flavor. This is the real McCoy. Since a trip to Italy is off most agendas for this summer, we can just follow the Ciao Bella sampling tour where their Discover-Savor-Share 2009 travel mobile plans to hand out one million free samples of their favorite desserts. 
As long as you are on the East or West Coast, you may get a chance for this mouth-exploding taste sample. They started the tour-scoop promotion concept last year on the East Coast and managed to hand out 100,000 free scoops of gelato and sorbet. The cool part about their sample logic is customers get an individual serving in a fitted cup with the spoon tucked right under the lid. Saves time and demonstrates a practical approach to scooping.

Check the website for locations. The month of June has them moving North from North Carolina into southern Virginia. Plan ahead  as the promotion continues through September. If you can’t wait to greet the truck, then try out the pints or gelato bars at grocers or free-standing locations in New York City or California.

Let’s help them reach their one million scoop goal!

Ciao.

Comments (1)

Coffee And…Why Not Doughnuts?

June 4, 2009 at 11:09 am · Filed under coffee, life, news, Pairings ·Tagged

I’m clueless. There’s little wrong with the coffee+doughnut equation (no matter how you spell the treat). On a regular day, especially a rainy one, the combo of hot coffee and a circle sweet bring an instant smile. On sunnier, warmer days, an iced coffee and a doughnut–you get the picture.

Now, regardless of weather, and this is no cruel calendar joke, tomorrow, Friday, the 5th of June is a calendar keeper–it’s National Doughnut Day.  This is no made-up holiday but one that traces its roots back to 1938. If you’re more interested in the food possibilities, plan ahead and do your own personal best taste test. The options are not limited to the national brands, check with your local bakery and entice them to join in on the fun. In the meantime, consider these two specials:

–Dunkin’ Donuts (see the spelling) will let the customer choose any donut with the purchase of any beverage. 

–Krispy Kreme thinks you might want to get a drink, but they are enticing with free doughnuts, no purchase necessary.

Hmm, imagine those will be some impressive lines! 

What a perfect combo: A Friday and a free treat. Sweet.

Walk to the doughnut store; there’s less guilt.

Enjoy.promoSmallDoughnutDay09

Comments (2)

They Keep On Coming

June 2, 2009 at 9:33 am · Filed under dining out, Economy, news, restaurants ·Tagged , , ,

mini_dessert_tnI love the promos that have a short time window. As if they know something no one else knows. Like we are just giving you a 2-week boost because we know things will be better in 3! Ha! Doesn’t work like that.

Yes, there is a little optimism in the air. You can see it with the increased crowds at neighborhood places. You can follow it with people taking an extra day for a long weekend. It is summer after all, and everyone seems to be enjoying the extra hours of daylight by being outside and doing more.

So in the promo world, let me entice you one more time. After all, Two-Buck Chuck may be more popular than expense account meals!

The half-off bottle wine promo for The Palm has been extended until the end of August. No surprise.

Denny’s had an amazingly successful breakfast promo this spring. Now for the month of June, it’s an all-day everyday value slam. Whaddya think–maybe longer?

Happy Hours have returned to their roots–not just lower priced drinks but many with respectable food choices. In Washington DC one of the better buys for an after-work respite is at Vidalia’s. Definitely worth the stop.

Consumer Reports just rated over 100 chain restaurants and listed the good deals and what to look for. There’s even some room for negotiation. Some of the restaurants rated highest for exceptional value include: Black-eyed Pea, Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ, Azteca Mexican Restaurant, Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, and First Watch. Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar, Joe’s Crab Shack, and Friendly’s did not have such positive feedback!

Don’t forget the usual suspects that give out coupons; they’re still actively working for your restaurant dollars.

Opportunities exist. Take some time.

Help yourself and the economy through the bright lights of summer.

Leave a Comment

Elbow Grease Works

May 28, 2009 at 9:33 am · Filed under cooking, Environment, news ·Tagged ,

cascadeSomewhere back in the recesses of your mind you can hear your mother tell you to clean the dishes before you put them in the dishwasher. “The dishwasher can only do so much.”

You’ve lived your life cleaning and then loading and enjoying the sparkle. Along comes a reporter for the New York Times who sets your world upside down. Yes, you know you are probably wasting water and paying 2x the amount for water with rinsing and then dishwashing, but what is wrong with clean dishes and silverware?

Nothing; absolutely nothing. Heard it’s even healthy.

So now you’re told not to wash, just scrape off. Skip the liquids and use the powders. Let the dishwasher do what it is supposed to do.

Remember I’ve already tussled with the low phosphate products, and now this. I’ve got to stop reading. I bet you’re thinking I should buy a new dishwasher. Wrong. Have a great one, but I keep subjecting it to everyone’s whims in order to save the environment.

OK, I’m game. I tried it.

Not so impressed.

Everyone else in my household is quite pleased with the ease of the chore now that’s basically scrape and stack. Me, not so much.

I have a few rejects with every emptying. Yes, I may be saving water, but I’m asking the soap to kick in and do the yeoman’s task.

I have one more ace up my sleeve: I’ll wait and try this logic on a new package of powdered detergent.

Then, the test will be complete.

In the meantime, the plates look pretty disgusting as they await the cycle to begin.

Comments (1)

It’s Not a Bad Word Anymore

May 22, 2009 at 6:53 am · Filed under Administration, dining out, First family, news ·Tagged ,

37605I know the last Administration thought if you said “French’s” mustard, you were somehow supporting the French!

Those days are long gone. It was a tough 8 years, and now we are friends with everyone. Well, almost everyone.

Yet, we do have a little problem: Grey Poupon. Please, President Obama, you know how I elated I am about you as President and continue to glow with your many improvements and changes, but seriously, just ask for mustard and take what you get. No need for name calling, especially what some consider high-end calling.

Remember the beer debacle during the long election process, well, this is its cousin. Those who are not as accustomed as you and Michelle are to dining out, may consider this branding a sign of elitism. I call it “mustard.” You can, too. What you serve in the White House Mess will be what you want and you can ask for whatever–your secret is safe. No one will tell.

When dining out, the world is watching. It’s a good watch to see that you are out and about. Keep on dining out. Forget the state dinners; that’s not where the action is. It’s the restaurant scene: Dining Out by the President and the First Lady shows the country that you are in touch. That you are human and enjoy many of the same activities as your constituents.  

Keep up the good work.

Celebrate life with an all-American favorite.

Comments (1)

Older Posts »
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.