The following restaurants are confirmed for Restaurant Week but a full list can be found on the official Orange County Restaurant Week. Diners may go to there to find a full list of participants, menus, location and reservation information:

o      118 Degrees – Costa Mesa

o      230 Forest Avenue – Laguna Beach

o      25 Degrees – Huntington Beach

o      320 Main – Seal Beach

o      50 Forks – Santa Ana

o      6ix Park Grill – Irvine

o      7 Seas Fish House – Garden Grove

o      Ambrosia – Santa Ana

o      Anaheim White House – Anaheim

o      Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine – Irvine

o      Anqi – Costa Mesa

o      Antonello Ristorante – Santa Ana

o      Auld Dubliner – Tustin

o      Auld Irisher – Orange

o      Bayside – Newport Beach

o      Belacan Grill – Tustin

o      Bistango – Irvine

o      Bluewater Grill – Tustin / Newport Beach

o      Brasserie Pascal – Newport Beach

o      Cafe Jardin – Corona Del Mar

o      Catal – Anaheim

o      Cedar Creek – Brea

o      Cedar Creek – Laguna Niguel

o      Cedar Creek – San Juan Capistrano

o      Cha Cha’s - Brea

o      Chaparosa – Laguna Niguel / Tustin

o      Chart House – Dana Point / Newport Beach

o      Commonwealth Lounge & Grill – Fullerton

o      Crystal Jade – Irvine

o      Daily Grill - Irvine

o      Don the Beachcomber – Huntington Beach

o      Duke’s – Huntington Beach

o      French 75 – Laguna Beach

o      Geisha House – Santa Ana

o      Harborside Restaurant – Newport Beach

o      Haven Gastropub -  Orange

o      Hush – Laguna Beach

o      JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery – Anaheim / Tustin

o      Kimera’s – Irvine

o      King’s Fish House – Laguna Hills/Huntington Beach/Orange

o      K’ya Bistro Bar – Laguna Beach

o      K’ya Street Fare – Anaheim

o      Leatherby’s Café Rouge – Costa Mesa

o      LUCCA – Irvine

o      Lulu’s Crêperie Café – Laguna Hills

o      Lumberyard – Laguna Beach

o      Manhattan Steak & Seafood – Orange

o      Marios by the Sea – Dana Point

o      Marmalade Cafe – Tustin

o      Marrakesh – Costa Mesa

o      Matador Cantina -  Fullerton

o      McCormick & Schmick’s Grille – Anaheim

o      McCormick & Schmick’s – Irvine

o      McCormick & Schmick’s – Santa Ana

o      Medieval Times – Buena Park

o      Mozambique – Laguna Beach

o      Mr. Stox – Anaheim

o      Naples Ristorante – Anaheim

o      Nello Cucina – Costa Mesa

o      Newport Landing – Newport Beach

o      Newport Rib Company – Ladera/Costa Mesa

o      Nirvana Grille – Laguna Beach

o      Nirvana Grille - Mission Viejo

o      O’Neill’s at Arroyo Trabuco Golf Club – Mission Viejo

o      Opah – Aliso Viejo / Irvine

o      Orange Hill Restaurant – Orange

o      Orange County Mining Co. – Orange

o      Palm Terrace Restaurant – Newport Beach

o      Phan 55 - Irvine/Fullerton

o      Pinot Provence – Costa Mesa

o      Pizzeria Ortica – Costa Mesa

o      Port – Corona Del Mar

o      Prego Ristorante – Irvine

o      Primecut Cafe – Orange

o      Quattro Caffe – Costa Mesa

o      Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen – Anaheim

o      RA Sushi Bar Restaurant – Huntington Beach / Tustin

o      Restaurant 162′ – Dana Point

o      Ritz Restaurant and Garden, The – Newport Beach

o      Riviera at Fireside – Westminister

o      Royal Hawaiian – Laguna Beach

o      Royal Khyber – Santa Ana

o      Rusty Pelican – Newport Beach

o      Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Anaheim

o      Ruth’s Chris Steak House – Irvine

o      Sage – Newport Beach

o      Sage on the Coast – Newport Beach

o      Salerno Italian Restaurant – Laguna Beach

o      Savannah Chop House – Laguna Niguel

o      Scott’s Seafood – Costa Mesa

o      Signature Kitchen – Costa Mesa

o      SOL Cocina - Newport Beach

o      Sorrento Grille – Laguna Beach

o      Spark Woodfire Grill – Huntington Beach

o      SteerCrazy International BBQ – Capistrano Beach

o      Stonehill Tavern - St. Regis Resort – Monarch Beach

o      Summit House – Fullerton

o      Sundried Tomato – Laguna Beach / San Juan Capistrano / San Clemente

o      Tabu Grill – Laguna Beach

o      Tangata – Santa Ana

o      TAPS Fish House and Brewery – Brea

o      The Californian – Huntington Beach

o      The Cellar – Fullerton

o      The Crow Bar and Kitchen – Corona Del Mar

o      The Loft – Laguna Beach

o      The Melting Pot – Brea / Irvine / San Clemente

o      The Rooftop Lounge – Laguna Beach

o      The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar - Tustin

o      Tommy Bahama’s Island Grille – Newport Beach

o      Tortilla Jo’s – Anaheim

o      Tradition by Pascal – Newport Beach

o      Watermarc – Laguna Beach

o      Wildfish Seafood Grille – Newport Beach

o      Wolfgang Puck Bistro – Costa Mesa

o      Zimzala – Huntington Beach

o      Zov’s Bistro – Tustin

o      Zov’s Cafe & Bar – Irvine & Newport Coast

That’s right. Burger King is getting ready to setup a Whopper Bar in South Beach, Florida. Patrons will be able to grab a Whopper and American beer 24 hours a day in this new concept for the burger chain.

This isn’t their first venture however. They have been testing the idea in Venezuela, Singapore and Munich. In 2008 they opened a Whopper Bar at the Universal Orlando Resort, but I’m not sure if they served beer or not.

The bar will offer delivery for local patrons, a walk-up window and there will be on-site outdoor seating.

This was a concept drawing for a Whopper Bar that was released last year related to the opening of the Universal Orlando Resort location.

Orange County Restaurant Week – February 28 to March 6

Newport Beach Restaurant Week – January 22 to January 28

Los Angeles Restaurant Week(s) – January 24 to January 29; January 31 to February 5

San Diego Restaurant Week – January 17 to January 22

Take advantage of special lunch &  dinner menus and pricing during each event. The San Diego event has a contest this year to win a year’s worth of free dining (eat out every weekend). Los Angeles is offering a chance to win several $100 gift cards good at participating restaurants up there.

Shannon has been affiliated with the Back Bay Rugby Team in Newport Beach since 1997. They are having their annual Fundraiser and will be hosting a Silent Auction and Wine Tasting event. The event will be held at the South Coast Winery savoring the delights of the vineyard and enjoying some hors d’oeuvres.

Ten wines will be featured with 5 tastings and hors d’oeuvres.

When: Saturday, February 6th, 2010
Location: South Coast Winery, 3608 South Bristol Street in Santa Ana

Cost: $40 per Person
Time: 7 until 10 pm
Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

RSVP: Before January 23rd, 2010.
For tickets please contact Gina Bonnett, gbonnettbbrfc@yahoo.com

“I always tell my employees to do the right thing for the right reason,” said Jack H. Brown, Chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets. “Helping families in need this Holiday Season is definitely the right thing to do.”

Throughout the months of November and December, Stater Bros. Charities will be presenting over $350,000 in total donations to various Southern California food banks and self-help organizations. Over 100 organizations will receive donation checks to assist with the larger needs they are already facing this Holiday Season. From bottles and blankets to food and program support, each of these cash donations will go towards the fight against hunger.

In addition to cash donations, all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets will have food barrels in the front of the store to collect non-perishable food items for families in need in the local communities. Some of the products in greatest demand include canned fruits and vegetables, whole grains (such as oatmeal, crackers, cereal and pasta), canned meats, canned or dry beans, and shelf-stable dairy products. This food will be shared with regional food banks and charities to assist those families who are struggling to make ends meet.

All Stater Bros. check stands will offer yet another opportunity for Stater Bros. customers and employees to make cash donations to the “Harvesting Hope in our Community” campaign. “Harvesting Hope” Donation Canisters will be located at the end of every check stand for loose change. Every check stand will also have $10 “Harvesting Hope” Scannable Donation Cards, and each $10 donation will provide 30 full meals. Then at the conclusion of this campaign, Stater Bros. Charities will be making further monetary donations to fight hunger.

“It’s our hope that every person living in our community will be cared for this Holiday Season,” said Brown. “Because of this, Stater Bros. Charities and Stater Bros. Markets are honored to help in a larger way this year by making substantial contributions to the organizations that serve on the frontlines.”

Stater Bros. believes in being a good neighbor, and the “Harvesting Hope in our Community” campaign winds up Stater Bros. year-long efforts to support nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves. Each year, Stater Bros. contributes over $15 million to assist those in need, with an emphasis on worthy programs that benefit hunger relief, health and nutrition, and education. Stater Bros. also donates over 3 million pounds annually of food and products to the local food banks.

Stater Bros. was founded in 1936 in Yucaipa, California, and has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarket Chain in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County, with annual sales in 2008 of $3.74 billion. During the past ten years, Stater Bros. has contributed $100 million in support of nonprofit organizations in the communities it serves. The Company operates 167 Supermarkets, and there are over 19,000 members of the Stater Bros. “Family” of Employees.

Utz was started in 1921 by William and Salie Utz making their potato chips in their Hanover, PA home. Working hard and establishing a distribution in Hanover and Baltimore, they quickly grew across the entire East Coast. In addition to a full line of potato chips, they also made a successful line of Kettle, Homestyle as well as Baked and Organic lines.

“We’ll be playing on the strengths of both companies as we move forward,” said Mike Rice, Utz Quality Foods Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Our two companies have a lot of similarities: we are both privately held, family owned and operated businesses, and we have tremendous community involvement and support local initiatives for the betterment of our community. The Rice family is excited to be an important part of the new merged entity and to partner with the Snyder’s team to create an innovative company focused on growth.”

At this point, there are no anticipated job loss projections as a result of the merger. With the diversity of both brands, they should be able to continue expanding into a larger marketplace. I, for one, would LUV to see UTZ out here in California!

Dylan Lissette, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Utz Quality Foods, Inc. commented that “The Utz management team will continue after the acquisition and we are looking forward to working with Snyder’s of Hanover, in combining our strengths in product lines, brands, and in our now stronger national distribution systems. We’ll be able to expand our product reach and we’re confident that new consumers, both domestic and international, will embrace the Utz brands.”

Synders of Hanover was founded in 1909. They are best known for their line of Pretzels and well as the owner of the “Jay’s” potato chip line.

The merger is pending FTC approval.

According to a press release, 180 employees are affected by this. THey have also stated that Conde Nast remains committed to the Gourmet brand and will continue efforts in its book and tv offerings. Gourmet’s Diary of a Foodie will continue on PBS and as a podcast on iTunes.

There are no plans for any changes at Bon Appetit Magazine also published by Conde Nast.

I will be sad to see Gourmet magazine leave the magazine racks. It has been one of my first cooking magazines I read as a child and to this day leaf thru every page searching for that next new recipe to try out.

“Chefs Lose For Good is a perfect example of how participating Festival talent is taking their commitment to the Festival’s beneficiaries to the next level,” says Schrager. “We are grateful for their dedication and participation in this initiative, and thank Weight Watchers for providing us with an additional opportunity to work with Share Our Strength(R) to end childhood hunger in America.”

Festival chefs who have confirmed their participation in the “Chefs Lose For Good” initiative include among others: Michael Lomonaco (Porter House New York), Philippe Massoud (ilili), Anita Lo (Annisa), Elizabeth Karmel (Hill Country), Jacques Torres (Jacques Torres Chocolate), and the Festival’s own Lee Schrager. Beginning the first week in September and ending on October 8th, 2009, the start of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, these chefs have committed to dropping the pounds to help Weight Watchers inspire people to get healthy and give back to their communities. The chef’s weight-loss will help Weight Watchers support hunger relief organizations like Share Our Strength(R).

The national Lose For Good(TM) campaign from Weight Watchers recently kicked off its second year. As Members and online subscribers lose weight from August 30th to October 17th, 2009, Weight Watchers will donate up to $1 million to two hunger fighting organizations — Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger. Members can also participate in local food drives at Weight Watchers meeting locations. Jenny McCarthy, a passionate activist and actress, has also joined the campaign to generate awareness about this important cause.

As a campaign ambassador, McCarthy will participate in media appearances and appear in a public service announcement encouraging Americans to get healthier while also helping to end hunger. Last year’s campaign participants donated 1.5 million pounds of food and lost 4 millions pounds to help fight childhood hunger. More information on the campaign can be found at www.weightwatchers.com/loseforgood.

The 2009 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival takes place October 8-11th, 2009! Ticket information and the full line-up of new and returning events can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com, or by calling 866.969.2933. For more Festival updates follow founder and director Lee Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.

For more information on Weight Watchers Lose For Good campaign, click here…

Photo credits: Torres/Ben Muessig; Schrager/Miami Art Zine; Lomonaco/Reuters; Moussad/NYTimes; Lo/Jaimie Trueblood

I was logging into the Surfas website this morning and saw a notice on the webpage that Surfas, one of the greatest restaurant suppliers in the Southland, is ceasing its web presence and directing customers to CulinaryDistrict.com.

According to the site, all of Surfas’ current offerings will be available thru Culinary District as well as an expanded offering. I visited the Culinary District website and at the top it says it is part of the Surfas Group. I’m not sure if some kind of buyout took place or if the Culinary District is a Surfas funded project. On the Surfas website there is a banner alerting their customers that a Culinary District is opening in Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas.

So I took a stroll in CulinaryDistrict.com and everything Surfas carried is available for sale, including all the Surfas branded materials. The site is a bit more interactive it feels fast today, but lets see if it keeps up with demand. So the first thing I did was to compare pricing. Most of the items I checked were priced cheaper at CulinaryDistrict.com than on Surfasonline.com.

Interesting.

Even shipping is cheaper. I did an experiment and purchased the same Global 8″ Chef Knife from each store. I chose the same shipping method and the cost to ship from Culinary District was cheaper as well as the cost of the knife.

One thing I won’t be able to enjoy is the UPS Ground shipping meant overnight shipping for me since I lived in Southern California. I hope their retail operations in Culver City is continues to stay strong. Surfas has been a staple in the business in California since 1937 and has been in Culver City since 1947.

UPDATE: The Culinary District is the idea of Les Surfas (Owner of Surfas) and his wife Diana, an Arkansas native. They had been formulating a plan for a smaller gourmet grocery and restaurant supply store in Arkansas for many years. “It was something in the back of our minds while we developed our new store in California,” he said. “We wanted to scale it down.”

Both Les and Diana share a love for old buildings and historic districts – so opening the Culinary District was clear for both of them.

The new store will be located in Hot Springs’ Hamp Williams building, in downtown Hot Springs. The Surfas Group is managing the renovation of the 50,000-SF building to restore it to its original 1920s grandeur.

The newest Sur La Table in Southern California opens on Friday, August 28th at South Coast Plaza.

The store is over 5,000 square feet of kitchen playground. Not only will you find a wide selection of cookware, tableware and kitchen tools, but you find knowledgeable employees who share you passion for food. Sur La Table prides themselves as the trusted authority.

Sur La Table will be located in the West Wing (formerly the Crystal Court) on the first floor across from the Apple Store and near the rotunda where the Mini-Carousel is. They have the perfect location in the mall and they can’t wait to open the doors for you on Friday (August 28) morning at mall opening.

While their official Grand Opening is on Tuesday, September 1st, they are opening the doors to the store a few days early to celebrate!

Today I met with Clientele Specialist, Will Kornfeld, who is with Sur La Table. They are right in the middle of building the store and putting product on the shelves so I didn’t want to take up too much of his time today, but we talked about how he came to Sur La Table. Will comes from the Sur La Table in Newport Beach and officially transferred to South coast Plaza this week.

As some of you know, I am a former employee of SLT and I have helped open a couple of Sur La Table’s. The “advance” team is making sure that everything is perfect for you on opening day. With less than a week to go, they literally have thousands of items to put out, as well as prepare the many displays that will be in the store. New employees are being trained and other employees from other SLT locations are getting the bearings in their new store. They can’t wait to greet you on opening morning.

So Will’s position of Clientele Specialist is somewhat new for Sur La Table. In addition to providing knowledgeable information on the sales floor, he will be reaching out to the culinary professionals. He will be responsible for reaching out to restaurants, caterers and other food professionals and assist them with the same detail and care he gives to all the new and seasoned home cooks that will be visiting the store. If you are a culinary or food professional, reach out to Will for special professional discounts.

If you live in Southern California, FoodieInDisguise.com is hosting a contest where you can win a $50.00 Gift Card good at the South Coast Plaza store. or more details, click HERE.

I hope to see many of you in line on Friday as we anxiously await the opening of the store!

Special guests Jamie Lauren and Richard Sweeney from Bravo Television’s Top Chef, as well as incredible food from Los Angeles area restaurants will be on hand. They are also hosting a silent auction as well as hosted cocktails. Special Emcee for the event with be Paul McCollough who was a contestant on Food Network’s The Next Food Network Star.

DJ Joe Gathreaux, Bailey featuring Boom Kitty and Dangerous Muse are scheduled entertainment for the event.

Our judges for this Top Chef challenge are actors Robert Gant, Elizabeth Keener and Wilson Cruz along with Event Chair, Edison Briones.

The event is to celebrate GLAAD’s work and accomplishments. For more information on this event, visit http://www.glaad.org/hancockpark

You can purchase tickets for this event at: http://www.glaad.org

GLAAD does some of the most important work in the entertainment and media industries in regards to representation of the GLBTQ community in the media whether it be on TV, Radio, Film or the Internet.

GLAAD is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.

We just saw the opening of the OC’s newest cupcake boutique last week and looks like there is yet another bakery opening up.

Divine Desserts, Etc, owned and run by Leslie Lewis will be hosting a grand opening ceremony next week. The shop is located in Laguna Niguel at Park Pacific and La Paz. They will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, July 15 at 12 Noon.

Their website lists that in addition to over 20 cupcake flavors, they offer frosting shots, cookies and muffin tops.

It looks like they may be open already and I’ll try and swing by there this weekend. Their website didn’t offer any photos of the bakery or their goods.

Divine Desserts, etc.
27261 La Paz Road, Suite G
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677
(949) 305-3355

Oscar G. Mayer, retired chairman of the Wisconsin-based meat processing company that bears his name, has died at the age of 95.

Mayer’s wife, Geraldine, said he died of old age Monday at a Hospice Care in Fitchburg.

He was the third “Oscar” in the Mayer family and founded Oscar Mayer Foods, which was once the largest private employer in Madison. His grandfather, Oscar F. Mayer, died in 1955 and his father, Oscar G. Mayer Sr., died in 1965.

Mayer retired as chairman of the board in 1977 at age 62 soon after the company recorded its first $1 billion year. The company was later sold to General Foods and is now a business unit of Kraft.

Mayer’s first wife, Rosalie, died in 1998. He married Geraldine Fitzpatrick in 1999.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

For $25.95 per person you can enjoy 20 different types of Sushi, Miso Salmon, Chirashi, Yakisoba, Gyoza, Karaage, Termpura and more! In addition they will be serving a special Tokyo Table hand-carved Prime Rib Roast. But it doesn’t stop there. The buffet will also feature Steamed Crab Legs, Poke Salad, Shrimp Cocktail and Lobster Dynamite. But wait, there is one more, you get a free Champagne Mimosa upon arrival!

Bringing the kids? No problem! Kids 4.5 feet or shorter eat for $9.95 and if under 3 feet, they eat FREE!!!

Reservations are recommended!

Toyko Table

2710 Alton Pkwy.
Irvine, CA 92606
949.263.0000

Dr. Suzann de la Monte of the Rhode Island Hospital, along with her colleagues, followed the trends in mortality rates associated with aging, such as diabetes, Alzheimer, Parkinsons, HIV and cerebrovascular disease.

“We have become a ‘nitrosamine generation.’ In essence, we have moved to a diet that is rich in amines and nitrates, which lead to increased nitrosamine production,” de la Monte said in a statement. “We receive increased exposure through the abundant use of nitrate-containing fertilizers for agriculture.”

THeir study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Nitrates can be found in alot of different food products, fertilizers, cured meats, bacon, cheese and even beer and water.

I have been stopping by the space every few days or so to see if there is any progress and they have had the paper on the windows since June. There was one night, however, where one of the papers fell off and I got a glimpse inside and it is has clean lines, dark wood with a nice contemporary feel. Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me. There is plenty of room inside so there won’t be an overcrowding issues at the counter.

Frostings will officially open on July 4th with a soft opening on July 2nd. The owners have a special treat in store for their customers. In addition to 24 different gourmet cupcakes they will also have a line of signature cookies. The shop will also feature a tea, espresso and beverage bar.

More to come on this developing story!

Here is an except from a section of that article called Paperless Future:

If media diversification and proliferation continue apace, marketers can expect feature ads as we know them to disappear over the next five years. Coupons will go paperless and coupon delivery will occur in-store and in-aisle—literally at the point of purchase. Shoppers will deploy mobile devices to seek out and “pull down” messages ranging from recipes to promotions as they shop the store.

Consumers hungry for recipe ideas or product recommendations can text or “tweet” friends, and visit “foodie” social media sites and blogs for inspiration as they walk store aisles. Traditional ad formats will yield to the immediacy and brevity of vehicles like Twitter tweets, which enjoy the boost of enhanced credibility from peer group product champions.

Do you Twitter while you shop? Have you ever Twittered or IM’d a friend for a recipe idea while walking down the aisles of Ralph’s? Me personally, I think I have twittered that I was in the store, but the most I have ever said is that I saw a cute guy in line or something! I usually have a good idea of what I’m buying once I’m at the market. I have also used CellFire, a digital coupon application on the iPhone.

By the way, the cute iPhone cupcakes are from an entry at last year’s Ignite NYC II event.  Nick and Danielle Bilton won The Cupcake Decorating Championship at that event.

Photo Credit: woohome.com

Broadcast & Cable

A town has already been selected and shooting will begin in August. The town’s name has not been released.

Jamie Oliver had a series in the UK called  Jamie’s School Dinners, that followed Jamie and his fight to get unhealthy food removed from school cafeterias. In the ABC program, Oliver will work in tandem with town officials to offer its residents better food options.

While the focus of the ABC show won’t solely be on lunch programs, Jamie want’s to help those in the town figure out where local produce can be found and what resources the town has for better, healthy living.

Photo Credit: JamieOliver.com

Well I was at Ralph’s in Lake Forest and decided to see if there were any changes at the new Frostings location that is opening up.

As I last reported, a new store, Frostings, is opening in the old space that Thai Spice used to take up in the Orchard Shopping Center at El Toro Road and Rockfield. As of today, there is new signage both on the overhead and on the hanging wooden sign. The windows are still papered up, but you can see that there is still some drywall work being done on the ceiling. With new signage up, one can hope that it is opening soon.

One new clue I found on the door is that Frostings is indeed a cupcake store. There is some legal paperwork on the door that has to be displayed during construction and the vendor is listed as Frostings Cupcakes.

More to come as more news is available!

Kellogg’s purchased the original recipes and the brand and have re-introduced them in West Coast stores starting this week. This comes on the heels of the 95th Anniversary of both Mother’s Day and the Mother’s brand.

I grew up with these cookies and glad they are back. Foodbuzz a food website of which my blog is part of, was able to arrange for Foodbuzz Featured Publishers to get a first glimpse of the re-release of Mother’s. The packaging looks exactly the same, no Kellogg branding on the bag except at the bottom that says Distributed by Kellogg Sales.

Several of my coworkers have sampled them. Amy in my accounting department said “Mmmmmm mmmmm…” while Heather gave them a 2-thumbs up! Another co-worker, Lisa said that when she found out that Mother’s went out of business she was very sad. She came up to sample a cookie or two and walked away with a smile on her face!

Question, have the Circus Animal cookies always had zero Trans Fat and Cholesterol free? With this in mind, 0ne employee, who asked to remain anonymous, said “They taste a bit different…”

I’m heading to my grocery market this evening (after celebrating Cinco de Mayo) and checking out if my store has put them out.

You can learn more about Mother’s cookies and their comeback, visit their website, http://www.motherscookies.com

May has been designated as Celiac Awareness Month and restaurants across the U.S. and Canada are hoping to help you make better choices while dining out.

Chef to Plate: Celebrating Restaurants Serving Up Gluten-Free Awareness is an international awareness campaign initiated by the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America and endorsed by organizations and companies in the US and Canada. The campaign celebrates restaurants that currently offer gluten free menu options. Many restaurants held a special recognition event on Sunday, May 3. Others will display posters and table tents throughout the month of May.

“We are thrilled by the level of participation. It shows a commitment from restaurants to serve the gluten intolerant community,” says Cynthia Kupper, Executive Director of the Gluten Intolerance Group of North America (GIG).

To find restaurants are participating visit: www.glutenfreerestaurants.org/cheftoplate.pdf.

From looks of the poster in the window, a new cupcake place is coming to the OC. The sign says FROSTINGS. It could very well a bakery, not just cupcakes.

No other information was available, no opening dates. A search on the internet also produced nothing. The employees next door at Lee’s Sandwiches didn’t have any information as well.

Frostings
23624 El Toro Road
Suite #D
Lake Forest, CA 92630

Well Scripps Networks, owner of the Food Network, HGTV and Fine Living, launch Food2. Food2 is targeting a demographic of those in the 21-34 set. I guess this foodie is a bit too old, but I enjoy the content nonetheless! :)

The company wanted to further expand their reach with a highly interactive, video-centric website that talks cooking, eating, drinking and living their target audience (not me – just kidding).

“Scripps Networks is home to the largest online food audience and best known food talent through our current websites including FoodNetwork.com and Recipezaar.com. We’re pleased to be adding Food2.com to the family. Food2 goes beyond recipes creating a conversation that takes a fresh look at all things food in a new and interactive way,” explains Deanna Brown, president of Scripps Networks Digital. “With full Facebook and Twitter integration, Food2 is designed to be a social experience – just like food itself. It’s the intersection of food, drink and pop culture.”

Food2 features bloggers and some culinary notables such as Spike Mendelsohn (Top Chef) and Kelsey Nixon (The Next Food Network Star). They both give their unique spin as they both recreate a classic dish. Adam Roberts, former host of FNDish and current author and blogger of The Amateur Gourmet, has a video series on Food2. He’s pretty hilarious. I’m sorry that he got replaced by straight-laced Noah Starr on FNDish – Adam did it better! :)

Other Food2 contributors include Jon Eick a stand-up comedian and food lover via SoGoodBlog; Brandon Johnson founder of Eat Life from the French Culinary Institute’s student newsletter and blog; and Grace Yang a foodie and the creator of GraceNotesNYC who shares her approach to the unique, the topical and the delicious!

There are over a thousand videos available on Food2 – ready for you to share with friends or embed on your own site to share with the world! Don’t forget the main reason to come to Food2, Recipes and Tips for cooks and amateur cooks alike!

Zov’s Neighborhood Cafés

Both Café locations will also offer an extended Happy Hour for the entire week from 4 p.m. to close with drink specials, including $7 specialty martinis, $5 draft beers and $6 well drinks.  In addition, each location will offer a specialty menu with appetizers priced at $5.

Zov’s Bistro in Tustin will also feature an extended Happy Hour for the week in its bar/lounge area from 4 p.m. to close with drink specials, including $7 specialty martinis, $5 draft beers and $6 well drinks.  The Bistro will premiere a new seasonal lounge menu and offer guests a choice of two appetizers for $12.

In addition to the many specials offered during the week, ALL Zov’s locations will introduce a company-wide no corkage policy and enhanced bar menu of specialty martinis and signature cocktails, along with a selection of wine and beer. Executive Chef/Owner Zov Karamardian will introduce seasonal prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus, offered at $12 and $19, respectively.

“We are always looking for ways in which we can serve our clients better and we’ve found that listening to their needs and working to give them what they want, is a sure-fire way to achieve success and gain loyalty,” explained Armen Karmardian, president of Zov’s, “Zov’s Neighborhood Café locations have undergone a recent makeovers and we wanted to share our new look and offerings with a week of truly spectacular offers at each location.”

For additional information and complete Zov’s Kids Club, Healthy Kids Menu, Happy Hour specials, lounge menu and prix-fixe menus, please visit www.zovs.com.

IAC announced today the acquisition of Seattle-based Urbanspoon. Urbanspoon is a leading online local restaurant guide that aggregates restaurant reviews from across the web, from newspapers and professional food critics to bloggers and diners. In addition, Urbanspoon is one of the iPhone’s leading apps with its shake-and-find-a-restaurant interface.

This blog, foodieindisguise.com, has been an active participant on Urbanspoon since we started last October.

IAC manages more than 35 leading and diversified Internet businesses across 40 countries. IAC owns brands such as Ask.com, Citysearch, Evite, iWon, Zwinky, Match.com, Chemisry.com, ShoeBuy.com and gifts.com.

Urbanspoon will remain in Seattle and will report to Jay Herratti who manages IAC brands like Citysearch, Evite and InsiderPages.

“With a dedicated and comprehensive focus on restaurants, Urbanspoon is a pioneer in the online and mobile space with a truly unique, innovative and consumer-friendly product,” said Jay Herratti, CEO of Citysearch. “Aggregating content from across the web and blending it with distinctive features including a polling system to rank restaurants, Urbanspoon is expanding the realm of what’s possible for consumers when it comes to finding local content on the web.”

This aquisition will expand Urbanspoon’s reach and will help develop new products while retaining their brand. Ethan Lowry, co-founder of Urbansoon said “IAC is a leader in the local space and we are excited to be a part of its family.”