The winning latte—and why shouldn’t it
taste good, at 400 calories?
The August 2009 issue of Consumer Reports magazine sent tasters to the front of the coffee wars. Carefully navigating the war zone, they visited four McDonald’s, four Starbucks and four Dunkin’ Donuts stores in New York and New Jersey to compare new espresso-based McCafé hot and iced plain lattes with Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts lattes. They also compared the new Starbucks instant coffee, Via Ready Brew, with Starbucks brewed ground and whole-bean coffees (Colombian medium versions). News from the front:
The Starbucks instant and brewed Columbian coffees are similar in quality; that quality is good, but not great. The brewed coffees have the bitterness and darker roast found in previous tests of Starbucks Colombian. Instant Via has more subdued flavors, is not as bitter, and has a slight cereal taste. Those who love the signature bitterness and darker-roast character of brewed Starbucks might wish to stay with the brewed.
McCafé hot latte has more coffee flavor than the latte competition from Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks, and tends to be slightly bitter, though the taste varied from store to store. McDonald’s iced coffee was deemed bitter and sour, with burnt or smoky notes (but it must appeal to someone—they sell it!). The regular hot coffee does not stand out.
Consumer Reports notes: A large hot whole-milk McCafé Mocha topped with whipped cream and drizzled with chocolate has 400 calories and 14 grams of fat—about one-fifth of most people’s suggested daily caloric intake. THE NIBBLE investigated: All three stores offer sugar-free and nonfat options; McDonald’s large Nonfat Latte with Sugar Free Vanilla Syrup has 110 calories. Big difference!
See the full article and other highlights from Consumer Reports August 2009 issue.
Think of making your salad course a daily “special.” Instead of a simple, dressed green salad, look for something different to add to it each day: strips of chicken or beef from a prior day’s roast, marinated grilled vegetables, gherkins or pickled vegetables, a slice of duck prosciutto, chopped dried fruit, fresh fruit (apples, pears, citrus segments), cubed or shredded cheese, cubed leftover potatoes. Consider international themes; for example, bean sprouts and/or water chestnuts in a sesame vinaigrette. You don’t need to look far for inspiration: It’s probably already in your refrigerator and cabinets. Keep your family guessing as to what the next day’s “salad surprise” will be.
Mad Mac macaroons: A reason to
celebrate Bastille Day. Photo by
Claire Freierman | THE NIBBLE.
July 14th (“le quatorze juillet”) is Bastille Day in France, officially called the Fête Nationale (“National Celebration”).
If you missed that day in European History class, it commemorates the storming of the Bastille prison in Paris on July 14, 1789. It was a rallying point and symbolic act of rebellion in the French Revolution, which toppled the French monarchy (then ruled by Louis XVI, married to Marie Antoinette) and established the French Republic.
The festivities are the equivalent of America’s July 4th/Independence Day celebration. Several cities in the U.S. celebrate Bastille Day, too. (Is it the fraternité or another great reason to party?)
You can celebrate by treating yourself to some of our favorite French products:
Wonderful French macaroons from Mad Mac, in either the standard collection or new summer flavors (Apricot, Dark Chocolate/Coconut, Mango, Passion Fruit, Strawberry and White Chocolate). Baked by two charming (and talented!) Frenchmen.
Drink Me magazine, a lifestyle publication about drinking and bar culture, celebrates alcohol (beer, wine, spirits) and the drinking establishments in which they’re enjoyed. The first issue was April 2009, followed by a second in May/June. Hopefully, July/August is just around the corner.
The first issue was a bit thin, but for free, there are nuggets worth perusing. Issue 2 provides a sampling of historic drinking locations in San Francisco, where the publication is based; and three articles that philosophize. Attractive graphics are interspersed with quotes from famous people on alcohol.
You can download the issues (or read them online) at http://drinkmemag.com.
If you’re looking for an opportunity to share your deep knowledge of cocktails, spirits and/or drinking establishments, or take photos or create related artwork, this may be your opportunity. Contact contribute@drinkmemag.com.
Love the cocktail culture? Download the first two issues of Drink Me free.
The magazine’s title comes from Chapter I of Alice in Wonderland. Alice, who “had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it…burning with curiosity…ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again.” Down the rabbit hole, Alice finds that she’s too big to get through the doorway into the garden, until she spots the bottle with the label that says “DRINK ME,” which shrinks her down to ten inches tall.
For those who remember the tale, this turns out not to a simple solution, but is the beginning of a series of adventures—not all particularly pleasant, if you remember a Queen of Spades commanding her minions to lop off Alice’s head (sounds like someone is having the DTs!). Hopefully, Drink Me magazine will provide happier adventures for its readers. Whether or not it’s appropriate for an alcohol magazine to use a prepubescent girl as its logo…well, we just won’t go there.
