The national restaurant count has slipped for first time in eight years, according to a news release from The NPD Group, a market research firm. Typically, the number of U.S. restaurants grows each year, with increases of 1.8 percent in 2007 and 0.4 percent in 2006, for example. The number of total restaurant locations in 2008 contracted from 2007 by 0.1 percent, driven by closures of independent restaurants, including such prominent names as Emeril’s in Atlanta and San Domenico in New York, and units within large chains such as Starbucks and Bennigan’s. While family-dining and fine-dining segments showed drops, casual-dining and quick-service locations showed small but positive growth in 2008, NPD data shows. The industry is battling a slowdown in consumer spending, especially for dining out, as well as escalating operating costs.
Want to send your sweetie (or Mom and Dad, for that matter) a sweet soufflé Valentine? It’s more creative than a box of chocolate, and in addition to Chocolate and Chocolate Mint, there are Raspberry and Pumpkin soufflés. Go to HeavenlySouffle.com and use coupon code Val2009.
People who like muffins, chocolate, muffin tops and reduced-calorie foods have discovered VitaMuffins (read our review). The 100-calorie chocolate muffin tops are so popular that VitaMuffin expanded the options from the original Deep Chocolate to Chocolate Fig, Dark Chocolate Pomegranate, Double Chocolate Dream (with white chips), Fudgy Peanut Butter Chip, and Triple Chocolate Chunk. There’s also a Sugar-Free/Low Carb Velvety Chocolate.
We recently tasted all seven chocolate varieties in one sitting and found the original Deep Chocolate to have the most satisfying chocolate flavor (it contains chocolate chips). In retrospect, that’s not much of a surprise: the semisweet chocolate flavor of the chips is taken away when white chips, PB chips, pomegranate and fig are substituted in the other flavors.
A box of 12 two-ounce individually-wrapped muffin tops is $16.00 ($18.50 for sugar-free) at VitaMuffin.com. They freeze beautifully. The all-natural VitaTops are also made in Banana Nut, BlueBran (blueberry), Golden Corn, CranBran, MultiBran and AppleBerry. The non-chocolate varieties retail at $14.45 per dozen and most have 80 calories.
Vitalicious, the manufacturer apprises us that you can walk off the 80-100 calorie VitaTops in 13-15 minutes. Share a muffin top, coffee and a stroll with a friend.
How good is your best pie recipe? The First Annual “Great American Pie Show,” featuring weatherman and bon vivant Al Roker from NBC’s Today Show, will take place April 24-25 in the Branson (Missouri) Convention Center. If your recipe is the winner, you can finally get your piece of the pie, which includes a first prize of $2,500 cash plus a 4-day/3-night fun-filled vacation for two in Branson.
Enter your recipe in any of four pie categories—Fruit Pies, Nut Pies, Refrigerator/Freezer Pies and Pudding/Cream/Custard Pies. The contest rules and entry form are at GreatAmericanPieShow.com. Finalists will be invited to Branson on April 24 and 25, where their pies will be presented to the judges
There’s a new egg in town, and he’s wiping out salmonella. Now, you can crack an egg into your steak tartare, Caesar salad or egg nog without fear, and eat all the cookie dough you want.
The newest type of egg is the pasteurized shell egg. A regular hen’s egg is pasteurized in the shell without cooking the egg, eliminating the potential danger of egg-borne illness caused by salmonella bacteria. Dishes that use raw eggs can be enjoyed without risk; those who enjoy licking the spatula full of brownie batter can do so; and people with illnesses who avoid foods with possible contaminants can enjoy eggs to their hearts’ delight. Many hospitals and nursing homes are already using the products, which are just making their way to retailers. If you want them, make your voice heard at your local supermarket. The “P” stamped on the egg signifies that it is pasteurized. Learn more at SafeEggs.com.
Read about the different types of eggs in our Egg Glossary. You won’t believe how many different types there are!
