Dining notes: Wine Fest auction lots listed

From a trip to see the pope in Cuba to a party at the Playboy Mansion and world-renowned wines, the auction lots have been unveiled for the Southwest...

Zagat Releases 2012 Toronto Dining Survey Showing Restaurant Industry Trending Upwards

Dining services article misses ‘real’ food issue

TO THE EDITOR: Upon reading your “More Than You Can Chew” article, I felt a key element of UNC’s important, ongoing food dialogue was missing.

The Gourmet Retailer's 2009 Retail Yearbook

There are more than 700,000 independent retailers across the U.S. The Gourmet Retailer Magazine focuses on specialty food and kitchenware stores, profiling these entreprenuers in its print edition. Here is a collection of those specialty retailers in an easy-to-peruse yearbook.

Increase in fires from unattended cooking: SCDF

SCDF warned that leaving cooking unattended even for a short while could result in fire outbreaks. -SCDF

Distinctive Gourmet crew whips up distinctive appetizers

SIOUX CITY -- The crew at Distinctive Gourmet mixed the best of both worlds during a recent reception at the Sioux City Convention Center.

Braly: Gourmet chocolate for your sweetie

What's your favorite food on Valentine's Day? For many, it's chocolate. Yes, chocolate is a food group all its own -- any chocoholic knows that.

Cooking up a good haircut

Linda Henley likes her junk food.

Even for the Overweight, Exercise Helps the Heart (HealthDay)

HealthDay - TUESDAY, Feb. 7 (HealthDay News) -- Getting and staying physically fit might help fend off heart disease even if you've put on a few pounds, new research suggests.

Wine & chocolate: A perfect pairing for Valentine's Day

DENVER - If you like chocolate and if you like wine, it may seem like a no brainer to share this duo with your sweetie this Valentine's Day.

Wine warehouse arsonist sentenced to 27 years, restitution

The Sausalito businessman convicted of setting fire to an upscale Mare Island wine warehouse in 2005 causing millions in losses, was sentenced Tuesday to 27 years in prison.

Food Bubble Expanding U.S. Waistlines: Vikram Mansharamani

In the housing boom that lasted from 2001 to 2007, highly motivated investment bankers capitalized on historically low interest rates, abundant liquidity, government- sponsored housing finance, political encouragement to make housing accessible to all, and mortgage-interest tax policies to create a securitization party of unrivaled scale and scope.

Cooking Oil Imports by India May Climb as Domestic Supplies Ease

India, the world’s biggest palm oil buyer, probably imported more cooking oils last month after prices had the first monthly decline since September and domestic supplies dropped, according to a Bloomberg News survey.

Wine warehouse arsonist gets 27 years prison

SACRAMENTO — A former California wine keeper convicted of destroying more than 4.5 million bottles in a warehouse fire was sentenced to 27 years in prison.

Wine storage is as important as the vintage

Serious wine collectors (and you know who you are) should stop reading immediately, go to your temperature-controlled storage unit and select a fabulous bottle to drink when we come over.

Dining Calendar: From Feb. 8

Valentine’s Day gifts at New Amsterdam market; Scotch tasting at the Brandy Library; exploring Mexican food in Diego Rivera’s time at the 92Y Tribeca; and other events.

Giovanni Food Company Goes Green With Renewable Energy Certificates From Constellation Energy and Joins Green-e ...

SYRACUSE, N.Y., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Giovanni Food Company of Syracuse, NY has recently partnered with the Green-e Marketplace. The company's purchase of Green-e® certified renewable energy certificates ...

Barley wine’s not just for winter nights

Like the terms jumbo shrimp, working holiday and pretty ugly, barley wine appears to be an oxymoron. The federal government recognizes the potential for confusion, and so requires brewers to slap the cumbersome phrase “barley wine-style ale” on the label of this strongest of ales. Read full article >>

Gulfstream: Travelin Man, Gourmet Dinner try to shake off rust in featured sprint

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Technically speaking, the ninth race, a third-level optional $80,000 claiming a event with a $60,000 purse, is the feature on Thursday’s card at Gulfstream Park. But it will be the third race on the program, a second-level $62,500 optional claimer worth $56,500 that is certain to draw the most attention.

Valentine’s Day wine choice can make a statement

A lonely-hearts columnist, I’m not. But wine is a romantic drink that can help set the mood for a special occasion, especially on Valentine’s Day. So here’s some wine advice for romantics preparing a special dinner for loved ones this week. The actual romance is up to you. Read full article >>

Wine recommendations

★★★Exceptional ★★Excellent ★Very Good Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor. Here are some wines that suggest romance for Valentine’s Day. One or more of these will help set the mood for your special dinner. Your local retailer will probably have some other suggestions. Read full article >>

Behavior programs may cut child obesity risk (Reuters)

Reuters - Programs that teach parenting skills early on may help prevent obesity in poor U.S. kids, a study published Monday suggests.

Test Kitchen tips: Cooking 'en papillote'

Looking for a wonderfully dramatic dinner idea without any dramatic fuss? You might just try cooking en papillote. A traditional French technique, cooking en papillote refers to food that is cooked or baked while tightly sealed in greased parchment paper....

Cooking fires keeping Madison firefighters busy

Cooking fires continue to be the most prevalent type of fire call handled by the Madison Fire Department, with four such fires reported to the department since Thursday.

"Dining with Pullman" Revives the Luxury Train Eating Experience For One Magical Weekend

Ride and dine in style aboard five mid-century train cars. [ more › ]

Gourmet chocolates tempt at farmers market

New vendor on Wednesdays at Veterans Community Park.

Dining out: Banana Leaf serves an eclectic mix of Southeast Asian spices, flavors

Dining out: Banana Leaf serves an eclectic mix of Southeast Asian spices, flavors By Stuart Melling Special to The Tribune Published Feb 7, 2012 04:27PM MDT Provo • The Banana Leaf is a hop, skip and a jump from the Brigham Young University campus. This family-owned and -operated restaurant opened in October, aiming to bring the exotic flavors of Sri Lanka and Singapore to Utah County. If first ...

American kids denied food stamps in Alabama under immigration law

Some U.S.-born children with parents who are illegal immigrants have been denied food stamps under Alabama's new immigration law, Southern Poverty Law Center President Richard Cohen told Yahoo News on Monday. Five people have called into the group's Alabama hotline to say they were denied food stamps because they couldn't prove they were legal residents, [...]

Orange County's Newest Dining & Entertainment Venue Opens

ANAHEIM, Calif., Feb. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Orange County's newest restaurant and live country music venue is now open. The dining and entertainment venue is located on the ground floor within the newly ...

The Perfect Pairing: Wine Enthusiast Uncorks eGift Card Program

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Wine Enthusiast has launched a new eGift Card service. Wine lovers across the United States looking for that perfect pairing can now easily send personalized eGift Cards directly to recipients for redemption at WineEnthusiast.com.

When cooking can be deadly

An estimated 3 billion people -- nearly half the world's population -- still use an open fire as their primary source of energy for cooking and heating.

Cecchetti Wine Company Celebrates Fourth Consecutive Year of Double Digit Growth

Cecchetti Wine Company experienced double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year in 2011. This success is a result of strong consumer demand, impressive sales growth, market expansion, and critical acclaim for the company’s Redtree, Line 39, and Backhouse labels.

Solid 'finger food' may help babies avoid obesity: study

Infants outgrowing a liquid diet who give themselves finger food rather than being spoon-fed puree are likelier to eat healthily and avoid getting fat during weaning, reports a study released Tuesday.

After diabetes diagnosis, US celebrity chef feels heat

US cooking star Paula Deen, self-proclaimed "Queen of Southern Cuisine" famous for her dishes smothered in butter, has met a storm of outrage after revealing she has diabetes and is hawking a drug to treat the disease.

Era of Falling Food Prices Seen at End on Growth in Population

The era of falling food prices has come to an end with the world population set to add another 2 billion people, according to Cargill Inc., the U.S. farm commodities trader.

Walmart to label healthier food as "Great For You"

(Reuters) - After a lengthy debate, Walmart decided that eggs are indeed healthy. Eggs are among the foods getting a new "Great For You" icon from the world's largest retailer as it tries to convince shoppers that they can make healthy, low-cost choices when picking out food at its U.S. stores. The icon comes just over a year after Walmart, the main U.S. arm of Wal-Mart Stores Inc, said that it ...

Study: Family Intervention, Parent Education Reduce Childhood Obesity (ContributorNetwork)

ContributorNetwork - A study published in the February issue of Pediatrics shows family intervention aimed at improving parenting skills reduced behavior problems in kids and obesity and associated health problems. One-third of Americans, including children ages 2 to 17, are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics. Here are details about parent-child interventions.

FOOD SAFETY ON THE GO

The explosion of San Diego’s gourmet food trucks, serving everything from seared ahi and grass-fed sliders to New England lobster rolls, has brought them a level of acclaim once reserved for their brick-and-mortar rivals.

Cooking fires a growing problem in region

Cooking fires have become so common in recent years that a local fire chief plans to distribute a pamphlet about how to prevent them.

Food trucks lack letter grades

The explosion of San Diego’s gourmet food trucks has brought them a level of acclaim once reserved for their brick-and-mortar rivals. Their growing popularity, though, has yet to make them the equal of restaurants in the eyes of county health officials.