Articles about FTC Rules Approved Post

Shortage of Speculoos Cookie Butter at Trader Joe’s

posted by Nancy Nichols | May 24th, 2013 10:32am | filed under Breakfast, Breaking News, condiments, Cubicle Cuisine, Diets are stupid, Dog Friendly, Food Writing, FTC Rules Approved Post, Groceries, hostess gifts, Hot Links!, My Happy Pills Are Working, Skinny bitches | 1 Comment »

Oh. My. God. Teresa “Gubbshoe” Gubbins has uncovered the startling news. I will not steal her thunder because her story is deliciously funny. I supposed hoarders are selling on eBay.

 

 

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The Funny Emails We Get at D Magazine Headquarters

posted by Carol Shih | May 15th, 2013 12:05pm | filed under FTC Rules Approved Post, Good Deeds, Good Service, Into Shelley's Belly | 1 Comment »

Blah, blah, blah. I’ve already talked about Matthew Shelley once today, so I’m pretty sure I’ve hit my quota, but this email is too good not to share. You guys already (or should already) know that Matt writes the “Into Shelley’s Belly” column once a week. He’s also our I.T. tech guy. This morning, some of us at D were getting spam. Tim shares Matt’s email to the whole company on Frontburner. Amusing, right?

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We Wish You a Merry Christmas, and Have a Happy New Year

posted by Carol Shih | December 24th, 2012 6:00am | filed under Christmas, FTC Rules Approved Post, Good Deeds, Good Morning, Holidays |

We’d sing the whole song for you, but I don’t think you’d want to hear us warble. Instead, we’ll just demand that you bring us some figgy pudding. Thanks in advance.

P.S. Posting will be slow on SideDish until January 2. Nancy and I are lollygagging elsewhere. But don’t worry, we won’t leave you entirely. We’ve got some fun posts scheduled.

What To Drink Now: Willamette Valley

posted by Hayley Hamilton | October 11th, 2012 9:38am | filed under FTC Rules Approved Post, Travel, Wine & Spirits | 1 Comment »

I can never get enough of Willamette Valley.  Each time I travel there, I return home refreshed and excited about the wonderful wines that are created in Willamette. The valley continues to be the gem of Oregon, creating stellar wines from vineyards resting in volcanic dirt planted some 40+ years ago when vineyard owners like David Adelsheim, Dick Erath, Dick Ponzi, and David Lett of Eyrie decided that Oregon was ideally suited for grapes to grow in the Dundee Hills, Chehalem Mountains and Newberg slopes.

Though much has changed since the first Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris vines were planted in the area in the 1960′s – with new, innovative and decidedly green wineries popping up throughout the valley – the casual yet elegant and welcoming atmosphere continues to define Willamette the most.

Continue reading "What To Drink Now: Willamette Valley"

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My Five Cents: Restaurants, Beware of Food Writers Who Expect Freebies

posted by Nancy Nichols | September 25th, 2012 1:40pm | filed under Amy Severson, As the Restaurant Turns, Buzz Killer!, Food Writing, FTC Rules Approved Post, PR People, Really? | 55 Comments »

Full disclosure: Last night I took my good friend Don Waddington to dinner. Don, who recently lost his wife, Polly, wanted to attend Sevy’s 100th wine dinner celebration. Sevy’s has been Don and Polly’s favorite restaurant since it opened. The Waddingtons traveled on both D Magazine chef cruises, which also included Jim Severson and his wife, Amy. I know Jim and Amy and consider them good friends. Amy contributes to SideDish. I do not review Sevy’s, and it is one of the few restaurants I go to on my own nickel.

Back to last night. Sevy’s private dining room was filled with loyal customers. It was not a media event. I wasn’t working. However, I noticed a woman with a camera and a tape recorder in her hand working the room as if she was the hostess. She snapped pictures, took down names, and chatted with everyone in the room. When a course was served, she would sit down, but once she was finished, she was up again and working the room. At one point, I overheard her say, “Well, I can’t write about it if I don’t taste it.”

I turned to Amy Severson and asked if she knew the name of the woman. “She came in the restaurant the other day and introduced herself as a food writer, asked for a copy of our logo, and made a reservation for the wine dinner,” Amy said. “There was never any discussion of any quid pro quo, nor was there any discussion of her covering the wine and food dinner for us as a PR move.”

However, it was obvious to all at our table that this woman was all about PR, but not for the restaurant. She was there to promote herself.

Oh, let’s get to the bottom of this.

Continue reading "My Five Cents: Restaurants, Beware of Food Writers Who Expect Freebies"

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Bolsa Mercado’s Open House to Showcase Deep Ellum Brewery Beer. Oh, and Sharon Hage Will Create “Take Home Dinner For Two”

posted by Nancy Nichols | February 6th, 2012 10:24am | filed under Best Gay Hangout Restaurant Evah!, Brews News, Celebrity Chefs, Celebrity Diners, Chick Chefs Rule!, Chocolate, Cooking, Cult Cuisine, FTC Rules Approved Post, Groceries, Hippie revolutions, hostess gifts, Local/Slow Food, oak cliff, Restaurant News, SideDish Bump!, Things To Do, Yu Darvish Loves Food | 10 Comments »

Bolsa Mercado is officially a talent hog. It’s great if you happen to be cool (rich?) enough to live in The “fabulous” OC. However, it sucks for those of us who have to walk half a mile through a huge chain grocery store to buy a carton of milk. Or beer.

Deep Ellum Brewery has just released their first (only?) production of “Love Runs Deep” Cherry Chocolate Double Brown Stout (deets below). Think you’ll find it at Tom Thumb? Nope. Bolsa Mercado bought the entire batch. Each 22-ounce bottle is individually numbered and made with red tart and dark sweet cherries and Organic/Fair Trade cocoa nibs. Expect to find all 300 of them on the shelves of Bolsa Mercado during their next Open House on February 11.

If you can’t wait until the 11th to get a food fix from The ‘Cado, head over on February 8. If you are lucky, you may be able to look past talented chef chefs Jeff Harris and Matt Balke and spot the rare, elusive chef Sharon Hage in the kitchen. She will be creating a “Take Home Dinner For Two.” Who knows, by then Bolsa Mercado may have Alan McClure creating Fudgesicles or Grant Achatz doing dishes. Could happen. Pigs fly in Oak Cliff.

Continue reading "Bolsa Mercado’s Open House to Showcase Deep Ellum Brewery Beer. Oh, and Sharon Hage Will Create “Take Home Dinner For Two”"

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Latest Releases of Major California Cabernets Tasted in Dallas

posted by Andrew Chalk | November 9th, 2011 8:59am | filed under Andrew Chalk, FTC Rules Approved Post, Wine & Spirits, Wine Pairing |

Each fall the major California wineries producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet blends release their new wines. For most wineries, these  vintages are three years old. Some wineries are exceptions as they age their wines for more or less than the most popular length of time. As a result, this year most new releases are from 2008, but some 2007s, 2009s and other years can be found in the mix.

Sigel’s gathered 38 of the best and invited Dallas buyers to The Park City Club this week to sample them. I was fortunate to be invited as a guest. Attendees could also dine on the excellent heavy hors d’oeuvres of tenderloin of beef, cheeses, chicken quesadillas, and fruit.

The overall quality of the wines was exemplary. Something that prompted The Wine Spectator to  comment “2008 Cabernet Sauvignons approach 2007′s stellar quality. The 2008 vintage so far ranks among the best of the decade. Perhaps the only hurdle it faces in reaching the apex is that it stands in the shadow of the monumental 2007 vintage.”

Interestingly, although these wines are designed to age, almost all are drinkable now, especially with some fatty red meat such as rib-eye or T-Bone steak to soften the tannins. Salt on the meat also moderates the texture of tannins in the mouthfeel.

Jump for tasting notes. Continue reading "Latest Releases of Major California Cabernets Tasted in Dallas"