Slashfood

KFC Wants Green-Energy Certification

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Apr 28th 2011 3:00PM

KFC green restaurant Photo: KFC

The newest corporation riding the green wave might surprise environmentalists. A new Kentucky Fried Chicken outpost in Indianapolis is gunning for LEED certification (short for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) from the U.S. Green Building Council. Before you give the Colonel a pat on the back, we feel compelled to mention that this is different from green certification from the Green Restaurant Association, which evaluates sustainability efforts in both food and waste control. LEED is purely design-oriented -- think energy-efficient lighting and building materials.

So what's special about this KFC? Well, they're using "reusable containers," meaning plastic instead of styrofoam, plus paper boxes (weren't those infamous buckets already paper?). To this we say, "about time." But on its website, the company touts the reduction of styrofoam by 62 percent -- not 100 -- and plastic by 17 percent. Not exactly groundbreaking stuff.

The building itself is well-designed, however. It's got long-life LED lighting, locally sourced building materials and fixtures that reduce water use -- all of which is estimated to reduce energy waste by 25 percent, according to the company press release.

It might not be earth-shattering change, but we'll take it.

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Starbucks Responds To Video Showing Rat On Store's Counter

COMMENTS 4

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 28th 2011 2:00PM

rat at Starbucks Photo: YouTube

Despite a local resident finding what is believed to be a black rat inside a Starbucks located in Richmond, British Columbia, there is no cause for alarm, reports the Richmond Review. The YouTube video shot on April 21 shows the rodent scuttling around syrup dispensers.

As a result of the video, an environmental health inspector met with Starbucks management and quality assurance employees. Steve Chong, Richmond's chief public health inspector, told the Richmond Review that there is no indication of a rodent infestation. Pest control is now visiting the store daily, instead of weekly.

See the video of the rat below.

Filed under: Coffee Shops, Chain Stores / Restaurants

Tabloid: Paula Deen Hiding Diabetes

COMMENTS 9

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 28th 2011 1:00PM

Paula Deen Photo: Jason Merritt / Getty Images

Is it time for Paula Deen to lay off the fried butter? The Daily Mail has picked up on a National Enquirer report that Paula Deen was diagnosed with diabetes several years ago, yet still "continues to tout exactly the type of butter or sugar rich high-fat recipes that bring on diabetes."

A friend of Deen's told the Enquirer, "Ironically, the very thing that made her rich and famous turned her into a poster child for what could happen if you follow in her footsteps." But source says that Deen has modified her diet and eating habits, which has supposedly resulted in weight loss as well.

Interestingly enough, on PaulaDeen.com, there is a discussion board thread relating to diabetic-friendly Paula Deen recipes. Our guess? They're giving Deen's Donut Bread Pudding a wide berth. (The recipe calls for two cans of sugary fruit cocktail, a can of sweetened condensed milk, an entire stick of butter, a whole pound of powdered sugar and -- ready? -- 24 Krispy Kreme Doughnuts.)

Filed under: Celebrities, Chefs

Taco Bell May Countersue Group That Sued Over Beef

COMMENTS 6

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 28th 2011 12:00PM

taco bell Photo: Like_the_Grand_Canyon, Flickr

Taco Bell is really not letting this whole beef lawsuit controversy go.

Here is the rough sequence of events: Taco Bell was sued for allegedly not using real beef, and Taco Bell fired back claiming that the charges were bogus. It launched an aggressive campaign to de-bunk the claims. The suit was dropped. Taco Bell demanded an apology.

Now, as it awaits said apology, Taco Bell thinks it deserves even more, and is considering countersuing, reports FoxNews.com. Taco Bell CEO Greg Creed tells Fox News that the company started of the year very strong but the consequences of the beef lawsuit resulted in a slower quarter, and that Taco Bell is suffering from the bad publicity.

We get what they're trying to do here, but frankly, it feels a little like beating a dead horse at this point. How about making tastier tacos instead?

Filed under: Chain Stores / Restaurants

David Chang's Top 5 Annoying Things Restaurant Diners Do

COMMENTS 10

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 28th 2011 11:00AM

Chef David Chang Photo: Rachel Been, AOL

New York restaurateur David Chang is notoriously outspoken, which is why we were psyched to read his latest interview over at Details. After he spilled his opinions on everything from anger management to the fallacy of "farm-to-table" dining, he gave the mag his list of the 5 most annoying things diners do. Get ready for some honesty.

5. Bloggers who don't know sh*t. The top one is to say you're a blogger, right off the bat. That always gets a good laugh from the chefs.
4. Being fu**ing drunk. It's just so annoying.
3. Fake allergies.
2. Special food requests.
1. Saying they're right when they're wrong. Like when they ask for a steak to be medium-rare and it's medium-rare and they say it's not medium-rare.

Get the whole David Chang interview at Details.

Filed under: Chefs, Interviews

Chicken Nuggets: Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 0

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 28th 2011 10:00AM

chicken nuggets recipe Photo: Getty Images

Chicken nuggets are such a fast-food staple that it's easy to forget that they're essentially breaded pieces of chicken breast -- and that you can make a tasty, fresh version at home with no fillers or added preservatives. Check out Gino Campagna's recipe for nuggets and dipping sauces -- you may never hit the drive-through again.

Get Gino's recipe for Chicken Nuggets.

Filed under: Recipes

Guy Fieri Joins Lawmakers to Promote Family Dinners

COMMENTS 2

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Apr 27th 2011 4:00PM

Photo: Rich Pedroncelli / AP Photo

Yes, his overbearing manner and spiked blond hair can rub people the wrong way, but at his core, Guy Fieri seems like a pretty decent guy. Recently, the host of Food Network's "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" used his clout to try to convince the California legislature to adopt a resolution urging the families to meet and cook weekly meals together every Sunday, reports the Associated Press.

Fieri, who helped pass a 2008 initiative to make the second Saturday in May "Cook With Your Kids Day" says he thinks cooking at home builds healthy habits.

"Let them stand there and work the saute pan, let them do the plate up, let them deliver it to the family," Fieri told the lawmakers. "Start them off slow. Educate them as you go."

Filed under: Food Politics, Celebrities

Jamie Oliver, L.A. Schools Finally Join Forces on Jimmy Kimmel Live

COMMENTS 2

by Jessie Cacciola, Posted Apr 27th 2011 3:00PM

Jamie Oliver on Jimmy Kimmel Live 4/26 Photo: ABC

Jamie Oliver got a big glimmer of hope last night. Food Revolution may have been bumped on the tube in favor of a two-hour Dancing With The Stars episode, but Oliver appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with big news that more than makes up for the scheduling snafu (and no worries, Revolution returns next Tuesday). The news? The Los Angeles United School District (LAUSD) has hired a new superintendent, and unlike the last guy, he's on Jamie's side.

Superintendent John Deasy joined Oliver on Kimmel to announce that he'll be pushing a ban on flavored milk in LAUSD schools, which is a major goal of Oliver's. Why? Because, as Oliver reiterated to the studio audience: "There's more sugar per ounce in flavored milk than there is in a can of soda." About 80 percent of kids get free or reduced-priced milk, he explains, and 75 percent of the milk is flavored. So most kids end up drinking the sugar-packed beverage twice a day, every day that they're in school. "And then you worry about diabetes?" he asks.

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