"christmas" news and stories

In Japan, 'Tis the Season for Fried Chicken

by Jason Best, Posted Dec 20th 2010 @ 3:00PM

KFC and Colonel Sanders in Japan Photo: Khaled Kassem / Alamy

Nothing says Christmas like a monster bucket of KFC -- if you're in Tokyo, that is.

In what may be one of the most bizarre cases of lost in translation, it turns out that the Japanese love the Colonel's secret recipe come yuletide. They love it so much, in fact, that they line up for blocks in order to nab one of KFC's Christmas Party Barrels or reserve their finger-lickin' good favorites two months in advance.

"Japan is well known for taking foreign products and ideas and adapting them to suit domestic taste, and Christmas is no exception. A highly commercialized and non-religious affair, lots of money is spent annually on decorations, dinners and gifts," writes the Financial Times, which credits an ad campaign in the 1970s for placing KFC at the center of the Japanese holiday table.

The Christmas Party Barrel includes eight pieces of chicken (either all fried or half seasoned with garlic and soy), a Caesar salad and a chocolate-mousse cake on a decorative plate, all for the equivalent of about $46.

Filed under: Fast Food, Chain Stores / Restaurants

What Nigella Lawson Gives -12 Days of Christmas

COMMENTS 3

by Nicki Gostin, Posted Dec 20th 2010 @ 11:00AM

Photos: Phillip Massey / WireImage.com; Amazon.com

Last Monday we kicked off our 12 days of chef-inspired gift giving. Stay tuned every morning through December 24th for ideas from the pros on the best gifts for cooks. And see the links at the bottom of the post to catch up on days you've missed.

On the eighth day of Christmas, a domestic goddess gave to me...

The Chef: Nigella Lawson

Book/shows: Author of many best-selling cookbooks, among them Nigella Christmas, Nigella Fresh, and the recently published Nigella Kitchen: Recipes from the Heart of the Home (from her Food Network show of the same name).

The Gift: The one gift I always like to give is an electric rice cooker. My Zojirushi rice cooker saved my life when my children were little. It keeps rice hot -- safely -- for a whole day, which means you can pop the rice cooker on in the morning, spend a day out with the kids and then be only a few minutes away from a wholesome meal when you get back. Stir through leftover chicken and sweet corn and you've got supper; but even plain rice with a little low-sodium soy sauce keeps a hungry child from becoming fractious. I still use mine regularly even though the kids are grown. Rice goes with everything to make a meal, and electric rice cookers can deal with any kind of rice, and indeed cook other cereals such as barley. If you need to cook - whether for family or when entertaining - at the end of a busy day at work, this is a go-to gadget, which makes it my big-time, go-to gift.

Where to Get Them: Available at department stores (such as Macy's), and online.

Find out the other chefs' suggestions:
The First Day of Christmas: Carla Hall, The Second Day of Christmas: José Andrés, The Third Day of Christmas: Wolfgang Puck, The Fourth Day of Christmas: Lidia Bastianich, The Fifth Day of Christmas: Gail Simmons, The Sixth Day of Christmas: Alex Guarnaschell; The Seventh Day of Christmas: Candace Nelson

Filed under: Holidays, Celebrities, Chefs

What Candace Nelson Gives - 12 Days of Christmas

COMMENTS 1

by Nicki Gostin, Posted Dec 19th 2010 @ 11:00AM

Photos: John Lamparski / WireImage.com; Frog Hollow Farm

On Monday we kicked off our 12 days of chef-inspired gift giving. Stay tuned every morning from now through December 24th for ideas from the pros on the best gifts for cooks. And see the links at the bottom of the post to catch up on days you've missed.

On the seventh day of Christmas, a cupcake connoisseur gave to me...

The Chef: Candace Nelson, judge on Food Network's "Cupcake Wars"

Restaurant: Sprinkles Cupcakes (Beverly Hills, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Newport Beach, Phoenix-Scottsdale, San Francisco-Palo Alto)

The Gift: Every year I send Frog Hollow Cal-Red peaches. They are the best peaches in the world. I like to send them to friends and colleagues as gifts in August instead of waiting until the holidays when everyone is overwhelmed by food. They come beautifully packaged and in perfect condition.

Where to Get Them: available by mail order from Frog Hollow.

Find out the other chefs' suggestions:
The First Day of Christmas: Carla Hall, The Second Day of Christmas: José Andrés, The Third Day of Christmas: Wolfgang Puck, The Fourth Day of Christmas: Lidia Bastianich, The Fifth Day of Christmas: Gail Simmons, The Sixth Day of Christmas: Alex Guarnaschelli

Filed under: Holidays, Chefs

Edible Gifts: Holiday Gift Guide 2010

COMMENTS 0

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 17th 2010 @ 11:00AM

For as many people who love to cook, there are probably five times as many people who don't -- but they do love eating. Edible gifts are therefore almost always appreciated -- especially if you know your recipient's favorite treats. But who said fruit baskets, popcorn and chocolate-covered-everything are the only gifts worth giving? We've compiled some of the best giftable foods we could get our hands on (and sink our teeth into) -- nary a stale mail-order item in sight. Flip through our gallery of gifts to whet your appetite.

Want gifts that don't come with an expiration date? Check out our gift guide for foodies and cooks. Also, check out all of our Christmas menus, recipes and entertaining tips. If you're all about cookies (who isn't?), we've got 25 days of Christmas cookies. If you want other sorts of sweets, check out Gail Simmons' Christmas desserts.

Filed under: New Products, Tastings, Frozen Food

O Christmas Tree Cake: Recipe of the Day

COMMENTS 1

by Slashfood Editor, Posted Dec 17th 2010 @ 10:00AM

Photo: Lauren Jepsen Mace

Gather round this fluffy yellow Christmas Tree Cake swathed in frosting pine needles, fruit-tape garland and M&M lights for a rousing chorus of "O, Tannenbaum." This cake is so much easier to make than you think, and it's a fun way to get the whole gang involved. Of course, after you're done, and then admire it for a few hours, you can make short work of it with dessert forks. Click the link below, and you're halfway there.

O Christmas Tree Cake Recipe and How-To

Filed under: Recipes