"hot sauce" news and stories

• After the tremendous success of his Italian New York eateries Alto, Marea and Convivio, chef Michael White "plots dominion through pasta" at his new restaurant Osteria Morini, slated to open in Soho this fall.
• While milk is no longer a staple in school cafeterias due to lactose intolerance or simple dairy dislike by students, chocolate milk is a hot topic for the milk industry, school officials and parents, as certain states are beginning to ban it for its added sugar and high fructose corn syrup.
• As coffee shops become increasingly assumed to be cyber cafés, certain coffee-centric bars are creating seating situations that encourage customers to pop in for a drink without setting up shop with a laptop spread.
• Inspired by the "scarlet, gold and neon-orange chili peppers hitting the farmers' market," a New York Times writer seeks to preserve summer heat by making her own hot sauce.

• You may think of maple syrup when you think of Vermont, but it turns out there's also a lot of hot sauce. Gotta keep warm up there!
• Perhaps some of that Vermont hot sauce will come in handy for your next Bloody Mary.
• Vermont chefs ward off winter by recalling the hottest things they've ever eaten.
• For another spicy snack, here are ways to use the chutney idling in the back of your fridge.
• Once you've finally warmed up, head for some refreshing wines.

Each Thursday, we round up a selection of scrumptious links from our friends over at YumSugar. Here's what they've got cooking this week:

• Hot sauce is as Super Bowl as a platter of wings.
• Coach Brown's Buffalo wings are hotter than the big game's commercials.
• Coca-Cola is going for the gold in Olympic carbon neutrality.
• Cellaring wine and beer is common, but do you cellar salt?
• Save some of the nacho cheese and beer for this game-day dish.
• Can affordable Stonemill Kitchens spreads and dips score a touchdown?
• We recommend playing mini-football with your saved corks.

Photo: www.houstonhotsauce.com

September might be halfway over and autumn imminent, but that doesn't mean the fall food fun has to end. Here's a selection of September food fests across the country.

Nappanee Apple Festival, Nappanee, Ind., Sept. 17-20: Apple season is upon us. Many are headed to pick-your-own orchards. This festival includes an apple-peeling contest, apple bake-off, pie-eating contest and the world's largest baked apple pie, weighing in at 600 pounds and a whopping 7 feet across. There's a daily lumberjack show, too.

The Houston Hot Sauce Festival, Houston, Sept. 19-20: Hot sauce festivals are on fire! Nationwide, they're popular, chilehead blow-outs. Attendees can sample and purchase a plethora of sauces, chiles and dry rubs. Don't forget to vote in the People's Choice for the Hottest Hot Sauce at this ninth annual festival.

Grapefruit. Photo: Zanastardust, Flickr

• A new University of Western Ontario study suggests that eating grapefruit can help fend off fast-food fat.
• Toronto-based chef Susur Lee has his own vacation package up and running.
• As the "Julie & Julia" release date moves closer, a chat with author Julie Powell and Judith Jones, Child's Knopf editor.
• Visit a specialty hot sauce store or make your own tongue-zingers.
• Carrots can be orange, yellow or purple!
  
• From farm to fork: A look at duck farming at King Cole Ducks.
• Weekly wine picks: Strewn 2008 Cabernet Rosé, Ravenswood Vintners Blend 2007 Chardonnay, Torri Riserva Chianti Colli Senesi 2005, Quinta Da Carregosa Tinto 2007, Lan Reserva 2004.
• Recipe: Eggplant Börek.