Chili's, The Cheesecake Factory, Outback Steakhouse: they're as considered bland, middlebrow, as totally, tackily suburban as comb-overs and high-waisted mom jeans. Their menu items are ridiculed for their cheesy names (Bloomin' Onion, anyone?) and absurd calorie content (1,700 calories for a Chinese Chicken Salad!). For a certain stripe of self-considered sophisticate, a date suggesting dinner at Olive Garden would be a bigger deal breaker than a heroin habit.
But is the food at the mid-range franchise restaurants of America really bad?
The New York Times sent testers out into the suburban wilds (intrepid!) to find out, with very mixed results. T.G.I. Friday's goopy ribs disgusted even to a 12-year-old; Chili's buffalo wings were cloyingly sweet. The Cajun lime tilapia at Applebee's was nicely grilled and flavorful. Bertucci's had a surprisingly good list of microbrews.
I, for one, have always been a big fan of the fried mac n' cheese balls at the Cheesecake Factory (what's not to like?) and the "Shanghai street dumplings" at P.F. Chang's - hefty, golden buns filled with savory pork and scallions and topped with sesame seeds. I was sad when they took them off the menu in my neck of the woods. What about you? Think mid-range chains are unfairly maligned? Have a favorite Chili's dish we should all go try?
Effective immediately, a federal appeals court says that all New York restaurants must post their food's caloric information on menu boards, and should begin no later than tonight at midnight.
The bill will apply only to restaurants with 15 establishments or more, and demands that the calorie counts be printed in the same font and size as normal menu information (even if this means making the rest of the menu's text teeny-tiny).
Fines will be instated beginning July 18 if restaurant owners do not comply with the new law.
Restaurant owners will fight out the case again in court on June 9, when the showdown will likely begin again.
At Cornell University, The Center for Hospitality Research has released a study on communicating complaints, showing that the severity of complaints at restaurants often corresponds with the way in which people give the complaints. The study confirms what you probably guessed -- that the harshest complaints are frequently given face-to-face, though some people offer such complaints via written letters as well.
Additionally, study respondents reported that issues relating to food and food service were the "worst failures" that a restaurant could have. Researchers therefore found it "puzzling" that respondents also said that complaints about factors that unrelated related to food or service (such as atmosphere) were the main factors in determining whether a customer would choose to never return to a certain establishment. Though I might not speak up about it, I think a hair in my food or something is the number one thing that would prevent me from returning somewhere, you?
There's controversy in Philadelphia over whether a restaurant can withhold tips from its wait staff, thanks to a review of Arbol Cafe published in the Philadelphia City Paper. An alleged former employee posted a comment following the review, asserting that "tips from customers are kept by the owners," and urging customers to never tip. Arbol Cafe responded in a second comment, stating that "all money generated goes towards financing the rennovations as well as aiding us in being able to pay the workers well above minimum wage," which essentially confirms that waiters in fact do not see their tips. Arbol Cafe further justifies their position by informing that they do not hire waiters and waitresses, but rather persons interested in working and growing as a team.
The response generated a slew of reader comments, with harsh words on both sides of the argument. The controversy has since been written up in this post on MenuPages blog Philadelphia. Of course, Arbol Cafe isn't the first business to come under heat for it's tipping policies lately. Remember the Starbucks tipping story, as well. So, what do you guys think? Is Arbol Cafe right to do this?
With a recession in the US looming, restaurants are likely going to see some drop-off in their business, since people will be less inclined to treat themselves to lunches and dinners out. Still, that doesn't seem to stop restaurants from investing in new technology.
The new technology, which is being tested inin Europe, the United States, and Japan, allows customers to order their food directly from a screen at their table rather than a real, live waiter. Sounds like it would be expensive for these restaurants to install, but apparently, the technology is improving restaurant business by appealing to younger markets and cutting the cost of human resources. Later this Spring, Microsoft will roll out a technology that will transform an entire table so that diners can not only order their food, but play music and video games as well. At the table?
Gee, and here I thought we were making progress in The Delicious family by turning the TV off during dinner.
Finalists for the James Beard Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in the food industry, were announced on Monday. Awards are given in a number of categories, including Outstanding Restaurateur, Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, and Rising Star Chef of the Year, Cookbook of the Year, and Outstanding Service Award.
Here are a few highlights:
Nominees for Outstanding Restaurant: Boulevard and The Slanted Door in San Francisco, Campanile in Los Angeles, and Gramercy Tavern and Jean Georges in New York.
Nominees for Outstanding Chef: Grant Achatz of Alinea in Chicago, Jose Andres of Minibar in Washington, DC, Dan Barber of Blue Hill in New York, Suzanne Goin of Lucques in Los Angeles, and Frank Stitt of Highlands Bar & Grill in Birmingham, Alabama.
Maryland state legislators have stepped away from a bill that could have banned foie gras in the state. Key legislators withdrew support after the bill's hearing March 4th, despite a legion of animal rights activists pushing for the bill. Apparently, the legislators decided that it was not their place to intervene.
Maryland isn't the first state to toy with the idea of banning foie gras -- similar battles have been staged in Philadelphia, Chicago (which successfully banned it) and California (where selling or raising it will be illegal by 2012). Anyone care to weigh in -- should governments step in to ban foie gras?
Chefs in some smaller upscale bistros double as waiters, creating an intimate, dinner party-like ambiance. Only the host never sits down to eat.
Animal rights activists are using hidden cameras to document slaughterhouse abuses, like sick cows being dragged with forklifts. Still hungry for that sloppy Joe?
An ode to pasties and other savory portable pies. Yum.
Frank Bruni continues his coast-to-coast tour of his favorite new restaurants: Fearing's in Dallas, Michael's Genuine Food & Drink in Miami, and Cochon in New Orleans.
Lots of cities have a stretch of road in a particular neighborhood that has amazingly good, inexpensive food. It's almost like the restaurateurs got together and planned to all gather in the same vicinity in order to pull in the the clientele. Here in Philly, Washington Avenue around the Italian Market is home to some of the best and cheapest food in town.
• West Coast frozen yogurt stores, led by Pinkberry, descend on Manhattan. Godzilla-style madness ensues.
• The Minimalist cooks with canned tomatoes, with a video on roasted tomato soup.
• Alex Witchel writes about bigos, Polish sauerkraut soup; Elaine Louie discusses a one pot recipe for homemade meatball sausage cooked with tomato sauce.
Don't you hate it when you're sitting down in a Jack In the Box with a Sourdough Jack, large bacon cheese potato wedges and a Diet Coke and suddenly you get this urge to, oh, I don't know? -- check out who's left messages on your wall on Facebook -- and you can't get online?
Don't you hate that?
Not to worry anymore, as is it is seems that Jack in the Box actually offers free wi fi in their restaurants. All you have to do is look for a giant TV screen, snatch the five-digit code off the screen, and get online. It's not a rumor, because the wi-fi is actually available according to Knowzy, but Jack In the Box has not officially confirmed.
When you go to a restaurant and get a drink - whether it's a cocktail or iced tea or just water - do you usually get a slice of lemon with it? Well, after watching this news report from HealthInspections.com...ahem
Chances are, if you didn't make reservations last year for Valentine's Day this year, you might be out of luck, unless of course, you don't mind sitting across a table covered with a white tablecloth, candles, roses and...tiny square hamburgers?
White Castle is having their annual Valentine's Day celebration on Thursday February 14, 2008 at their restaurants around the country. But you can't just saunter in during the event, which lasts from 5 - 9 PM. Reservations are required. Check the White Castle website for locations and to make reservations.
Have you ever stashed a Coke in the freezer, hoping to chill it quickly, then forgotten all about it, only to have it explode all over your frozen peas?
At Cornell University, 
There's controversy in Philadelphia over whether a restaurant can withhold tips from its wait staff, thanks to a 
With a recession in the US looming, restaurants are likely going to see some drop-off in their business, since people will be less inclined to treat themselves to lunches and dinners out. Still, that doesn't seem to stop restaurants from investing in new technology.
Finalists for the James Beard Award, one of the most prestigious prizes in the food industry, were announced on Monday. Awards are given in a number of categories, including Outstanding Restaurateur, Outstanding Chef, Outstanding Restaurant, Best New Restaurant, and Rising Star Chef of the Year, Cookbook of the Year, and Outstanding Service Award. 
Maryland state legislators have 
• Frank Bruni ranks his 
Don't you hate it when you're sitting down in a Jack In the Box with a Sourdough Jack, large bacon cheese potato wedges and a Diet Coke and suddenly you get this urge to, oh, I don't know? -- check out who's left messages on your wall on Facebook -- and you can't get online?
A fraking amazing Battlestar Galactica cake
Iced Tea 101
Pierogies + cheese + onions + kraut = Parmageddon!
