When the Detroit Red Wings failed to score hat tricks (three goals by one player in a single game) for parts of two seasons, they weren't only failing to score points. They were disappointing fans who were promised a free box of curly fries from Arby's.
The fast-food chain has kept Detroit-area sports fans satiated with free grub by tying giveaways to sports feats. For Tigers baseball fans, it's a free roast beef sandwich for three or more home-game home runs, says Tina Hering, marketing manager for Arby's in Michigan.
The baseball team was able to achieve that goal 18 times this season. But it's been a waiting game for hockey fans who've dubbed the lack of hat tricks as "the Arby's Curse." The curse was finally lifted last week.
Five men from Papua New Guinea survived more than two months at sea by eating driftwood and coconut shells.
Their horrendous ordeal began when the family of eight's 22-foot boat ran out of fuel on a trip to a nearby island.
Ocean Encounter, a U.S. fishing ship, ended up rescuing the men two months later near the South Pacific island, Nauru. Two of the seven men that were rescued unfortunately passed away from severe malnutrition before the rescue vessel could reach proper medical assistance. The eighth passenger, a 15-year-old boy, drowned before the rescue boat arrived after jumping into the water to recover a shirt that had blown away.
During a discussion at the Food Network's recent New York City Wine and Food Festival, author, "No Reservations" host and professional leather jacket wearer Anthony Bourdain asked his fellow panelist, culinary wunderkind Chef David Chang, "Who chaps your ass?" Chang was quick to rake Guy Fieri over the coals, citing his "douche glasses," and "stupid f***ing armband," and went on to ask a gleefully obliging Bourdain to "catch me and kick me in the ass" should he ever find him similarly adorned. Chang went on to add, "I'm sure he's a swell fella." The crowd went wild.
Not 24 hours later, a "Saturday Night Live" skit portrayed the "Next Food Network Star" winner being pecked to death by birds.
So why are the cool kids picking on Guy?
I want to go to a party at Food TV superstar Guy Fieri's house. I imagine pyramids of glistening pork ribs and snow shovels full of hush puppies. I dream of patiently standing in line by the pool waiting for margaritas to be blasted into my open mouth by a fire hose while AC/DC blares over the loudspeaker.
You know what you're going to get with this dude. He's fun, entertaining and totally lacking in subtlety -- a one-man tailgate upon which nary a Michelin star shines. His contribution to the tired fusion trend was to awkwardly pair barbecue with sushi. He is who he is; now buy a book.
Wahoo's Fish Taco, the West Coast fast-food joint known both for its tacos and California surfer sensibility, celebrated its 20th anniversary in February with a party at its original Costa Mesa, Calif., restaurant. At the party they served 20-cent tacos and the first 200 guests won raffle prizes and an autograph session with professional skater Ryan Sheckler.
But the party isn't over yet. On Saturday, the company's beloved fish tacos will have their own 21st birthday shindig at all 38 California Wahoo's locations.
It's unclear what it means for a fish taco to turn 21, but customers who get free food and prizes, probably won't be complaining. (At 21, can fish tacos now finally be cooked with alcohol?)
The first 21 customers at each restaurant will get a swag box of prizes, including gifts from Tony Hawk Inc., the pro skateboarder's action-sports company. Everyone who eats at a California Wahoo's on Saturday will be rewarded with a free meal or gift card.
One of the last surviving chains from the golden age of Southern cafeterias is abandoning the classic cafeteria model for buffet-style service.
"It's a completely different experience from what folks have been accustomed to," Furr's Jill Gouge Laird says of the restaurant's new Fresh Buffet concept. "Now they really control the experience."
As recently reported by the Dallas Morning News, the Texas-based chain has opened nine Fresh Buffets over the last five years, and plans to open as many as a dozen additional stores by 2012. Existing restaurants will continue to operate as cafeterias, but Laird confirms all future outlets will be structured as "scattered buffets."
'The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook'
Recipes by Allysa Torey and Jennifer Appel
Photographs by Rita Maas and Zeva Oelbaum Simon & Schuster -- 2009 Buy it on Amazon
While we can admit that we're not the biggest fans of the extremely popular sugary concoctions (cupcakes) that Magnolia Bakery puts out, we are on the other hand, fans of their bars and squares. Yes, the cupcake movement has taken over New York City, but there's no doubt that this establishment still holds the market share with the longest lines.
"The Complete Magnolia Bakery Cookbook" consists of recipes for muffins, quick breads, coffee and Bundt cakes, cookies, brownies and bars, cupcakes and layer cakes, icings, cheesecakes, pies, tarts and ice creams. Whew. Chances are if you've ever seen it in the front window of the bakery, the secret to that recipe lies in this book, along with some new recipes from Allysa Torey's home kitchen.
See what we tested and find out whether the book's worth buying after the jump.
Chocolate contains a variety of substances, which definitely have an effect on the mind or body chemistry. These include compounds like theobromine, the primary alkaloid in cocoa and chocolate also stimulates the heart and has many therapeutic uses.
People associate the "chocolate high" with the theobromine content, which oddly enough has a stronger biochemical effect for horses and is normally banned in horse racing since it's considered to give them a competitive edge.
Tryptophane, an essential amino acid and precursor to serotonin, that most people associate with turkey, can also be found in chocolate. Tryptophane can help to calm and relax the body, but I like chocolate simply for the fact that it's an easy way to spoil yourself! Get my recipe for Mexican hot chocolate after the jump.
So much for a menu of blood oranges and garlic: The owners of a planned "Twilight"-themed eatery in Forks, Wash., say they're studiously avoiding vampire cuisine.
The logging town of Forks, as depicted in Stephenie Meyer's hugely popular series of teenage romances, is overrun with vampires. But, according to Annette Root, the real Forks has a bigger problem.
"It's very difficult to find something to eat in Forks after 8 o'clock," sighs Root, a "Twilight" gift shop owner who's opening the Lodge in Forks.
Whether you make it from scratch, from a can or you buy it from a store, no Thanksgiving dinner is complete without a pumpkin pie.
This one, from Flickr user maggiejane, is a little bit store bought, a little bit from a can and a little bit homemade. On her blog, Pithy and Cleaver, she writes that while she uses a premade frozen pie crust, the filling is canned pumpkin mixed with eggs, sugar, molasses and spices like cinnamon, ginger and clove.
Sounds to us like a little bit of work for a whole lot of Thanksgiving flavor.
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While last year's national turkeys pardoned on Thanksgiving by President Bush found homes in Disneyland, this year a farm animal rescue group is petitioning President Obama to send the turkeys to them instead.
Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, N.Y., started an online petition, asking the president to let the national turkeys find homes in their turkey shelter instead of in the Magic Kingdom, Mother Nature Network reports.
"Historically these turkeys have been actually sent to farms where they're supposed to live out their lives, but they don't live very long lives," Farm Sanctuary president and co-founder Gene Baur told Slashfood.
"At Disneyland they don't' know how to properly care for them, and they feed them in such a way that they become overweight, which is what typically happens to these birds," he said. "We're hoping the president will send them to Farm Sanctuary where they will get the best care possible."
Alabama-born LeNell Smothers defines herself first and foremost as a bartender, but she's been called many things -- most recently, the proprietress of LeNell's liquor store. She's owned her own whiskey label, called Red Hook Rye, and has been recognized by her home state as an honorary Colonel. Other interests include gin, sin and men.
My first truck load of household goods has arrived at Casa Cóctel, my new home in Baja, Mexico. As I am unpacking my vintage Playboy collection and eagerly awaiting the arrival of my bourbon collection, I am reminded of one of my favorite drinks of all time.
Several years ago for my birthday, Miss Flighty Alberta Straub combined both her jamaica and her famous "Spa Mix" with other delicious ingredients in what she calls her Playboy Bourbon Cooler.
When she first sent me the instructions to prepare this drink for my birthday party, I was so nervous about getting every detail perfect. I was a bit intimidated about finally meeting this famous bar personality who had made plans to come to my former shop LeNell's in Brooklyn to host not only my birthday, but the store's anniversary.
As we assembled all the ingredients in some of my beautiful antique punch bowls and got to know each other better, I realized there was no need for the fear of not getting it all "perfect." It's not always about having an exact recipe, but understanding flavor and pleasing guests. Important lesson, indeed.
One of the biggest secrets of the baking world is that some of the most impressive treats are often quite easy to make -- especially when marzipan is involved. That thick and nutty almond paste offers a flavor perfect for Thanksgiving treats, and can easily be molded into any number of holiday-specific nibbles, whether you're an old sculpture pro or feel that you have two left hands.
This hip-looking restaurant doesn't take reservations.
A redesigned McDonald's featuring free wireless Internet access, an art deco concept, flat-screen televisions and all-black-clad employees has opened in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood.
The restaurant is the first of its kind to open in the United States, following the success of similarly designed locations in Paris and London, officials say.
A weekly look at the draft selection in beer-friendly bars across the country.
Turning beer-fueled trips through Belgium and Amsterdam into the inspiration behind owning a bar may sound like a lot of guys' dreams. But for Aaron Porter and Chuck Stilphen, the dream came true in December of 2007 when they opened the Trappist in Oakland, Calif., attempting to bring that Belgian feel and Belgian brews to the Bay Area.
"We went to Belgium and Amsterdam for beer festivals," says co-owner Chuck Stilphen, recalling those trips he took with Porter. Upon their return, they would lament that there was "no good place to drink beer around here where we lived."
The Trappist combats that problem. The idea was "modeled around beers we like," so it's no surprise that their primary focus is on Belgian beers. But realizing that California is no small player in the world of making great beer either, they also stock plenty of brews from their home state as well.
Origins aside, one thing is always consistent: "Small brewers stuff," Stilphen says. "No InBev or even giant Belgian brewers."
See the Trappist's draft selection as of Tuesday after the jump. ...
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