College Cuisine

by: Steve Wilcott Going to college is a grand experience. It's the first time many young adults get the chance to begin taking care of themselves, no matter what the consequences. One of the main things that worries parents when their child heads out into the world of college is, of course, their diet. What are they going to eat if the cafeteria closes too early? What if they don't like the cafeteria food? What if they didn't even sign up for cafeteria meals? Parents needn't worry. College students today have developed their own underworld of cuisine, involving quite the array of foods, time-tested by students in the past, and catered specifically to college needs by clever manufacturers. The main staple of dorm life these days is, of course, the microwave. College students take microwave food to a whole new level. The smell of microwave popcorn is right at home in a dorm, even at 3 am. I had a roommate at college who ate microwave popcorn for breakfast. Quick, easy, cheap and filling- what more could you ask for?

Online Reviews? Keep This in Mind

By KIM SEVERSON 

APRIL 1, 2014


The size and racial makeup of a city, the price of a meal and even the weather can skew the quality and quantity of online restaurant reviews, according to the first large-scale academic study to analyze how outside factors affect crowd-sourced review sites.

The study, which will be released Wednesday, used computer models to examine nearly 1.1 million reviews of 840,000 restaurants over nearly a decade.

Online reviewers posted most often in July and August, researchers said, but those reviews were more likely to be negative. And regardless of season, if the weather was uncomfortable, all the worse for the chef. The most negative reviews were written when it was colder than 40 degrees or warmer than 100 degrees, or if it was raining or snowing.

The researchers, Saeideh Bakhshi, a doctoral student at the Georgia Institute of Technology; her husband, Partha Kanuparthy, who works for Yahoo Labs; and Eric Gilbert, an assistant professor at the university, said the weather’s seeming sway over reviews surprised them the most.

They also found that some regions of the country were more prolific in their online reviewing habits than others. Restaurants in the Northeast and on the West Coast were reviewed more than those in the South or the Midwest.

Predictably, urban areas with a higher level of education and income tended to participate in online review sites more often.

Among the other findings: People who waited a long time for a table in busy cities were more forgiving than those who waited in smaller communities. And sushi restaurants were consistently rated higher than hamburger places, the researchers said, showing that ambience and a higher meal cost could produce better reviews.

“That speaks to the perception of price,” Ms. Bakhshi said. “Places that have nice ambience and are listed as romantic or trendy or more expensive, the rating is higher.”


The couple came up with the idea for the study when they were in Seattle. They noticed that Seattle reviewers seemed to give fewer stars to similar restaurants than reviewers in Atlanta.

Certainly, the respective palates of each city could be a factor, but the couple thought there might be a way to measure other differences. So they created analytic computer models based on data from several sites, including TripAdvisor, Foursquare and Citysearch.

Healthy Eating Tips For Work at Homers and Telecommuters

Healthy Eating Tips For Work at Homers and Telecommuters
By Cathy A Lindsay
It can be hard to eat healthy foods when there is a McDonald's or an Arby's on every street corner. It can be even more difficult for those who work from home. Telecommuters have flexible hours, unpredictable work schedules, and do not always have the time to make the best food. So it is understandable why so many work-at-homers are interested in fast, easy ways to make delicious, nutritious, and healthy foods. There are a few different strategies that the work at homer and the telecommuter can employ to make sure that he/she has lots of easy, healthy foods on hand.
The first step to getting healthy is purging your environment of all things unhealthy. This includes just about anything that is fried, dunked, dipped, or battered, everything that uses high-fructose corn syrup, and the Itos food group (Fritos, Doritos, Cheetos, etc.). It is easy to leave these foods stashed in convenient places around the house, especially in and around the work area. It has all got to go. Everything. It might hurt a little at first, but nothing kills junk food cravings like giving up junk food.

Now that all of the unhealthy food has been trashed, it is time to restock the pantry. Fresh foods are the staple of any healthy diet. Normally, fresh foods line the perimeter of a grocery store, with offerings such as fruits and veggies, fresh meat, cheese, milk, eggs, and the like. This is where the majority of shopping time and resources should be spent. Fresh food has more vitamins, nutrients, and flavor, and is also digested and processed much more easily than processed or packaged foods. Journeys to the center aisles of the store should be limited, and items should be listed to avoid being lured by the bright packaging and empty promises of the happiness characteristic of today's food marketing. The best foods found in the center aisles include brown rice and flour, beans and nuts, and certain canned foods (ones not too high in sodium). (A word on brown Vs. white foods: Any time a food like rice or flour is offered in brown and white, it is because one has been "enriched" or "processed". "Enriched" and white together mean bleached. If you would never drink laundry supplies, please avoid white flour and rice.)
Okay, so now that the pantry is chock full of delicious, healthy foods, it is time to eat! But who has time to cook a full meal, three times a day?! Not somebody who has a flexible or unpredictable schedule. A good way to provide some structure to a new eating routine is to cook in bulk. One day a week, make three oversized entrees. That way all the leftovers can be individually frozen, reheated, and eaten on the spur of the moment. Replacing the old snack foods for something natural, with lots of complex carbs like carrots or beans is a fast track for healthy success. These new strategies should help reduce the desire to default back to the -Itos food group, and help maintain a new happy and healthy lifestyle.
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"Create A Romantic Evening At Home"

by: Marguerite Bonneville

You've decided to invite someone you're dating to your home for a romantic evening and you want everything to go well. Here are a few tips to help you achieve that result. There are a number of factors you need to consider when planning your romantic evening: 1. Your Physical Surroundings It's a good idea to make sure your house or apartment is clean and tidy. It may not be anyone's primary focus but it will make an impression on your guest, even if it's subliminal. Spend a few hours doing the cleaning yourself, hire someone to do it for you, or, at the very least, shove all that clutter into your closets or under the bed. Wipe down surfaces to get rid of dust and stains. Apart from the living and dining areas, there are two other rooms that need your attention: a. The bathroom Wipe down the sink/washbasin, tub and shower stall. Put a fresh cake of soap on the sink and hang fresh towels. At the very least your guest will use the bathroom to wash his or her hands so make sure it's a pleasant experience. b. The bedroom Get rid of any extraneous clutter like clothes strewn around the room or on the floor. Change the sheets, make the bed and wipe down any surfaces. If your guest ends up spending the night, you don't want him or her racing off for a tetanus shot in the morning. To create a romantic atmosphere in your bedroom, have some scented candles on hand and an easy-to-reach sound system. You might also consider buying a quilt cover in a rich, romantic color and a set of sheets to match. 2. Your Choice Of Menu While food can be an excellent means of seduction, it's a mistake to choose too complicated a menu unless you're an experienced cook and you don't get easily flustered. Simple dishes like spaghetti or ratatouille make a tasty and satisfying meal without spiking your anxiety levels. The point is to enjoy the evening along with your guest, not treat the event like it's a university-entrance exam. How To Avoid Psycho-Chef Syndrome One trick is to prepare as much of the meal as possible beforehand so you're not rushing around like a pinball once your guest arrives. Have all the ingredients chopped, diced and ready for cooking. Do this the night before or earlier that day, whatever works best for you. Salad ingredients can be prepared earlier and stored in separate containers, then added to the salad bowl and dressed before serving. You can even cheat by purchasing your meal from a favorite restaurant and having it delivered (or picking it up) before your guest arrives. Definitely buy desert from your favorite bakery or supermarket, unless you're a wiz at whipping up a Pavlova or meringue. Another option is to prepare dessert the night before and reheat it if necessary when you're ready to serve it. 3. Your Cooking Area Make sure your kitchen is clean before you begin cooking. Yes, you'll no doubt make a mess once you start but you don't want yesterday's dishes in the way. Your guest may offer to help so the kitchen needs to meet minimum health standards. It's up to you whether you accept this help or not, but we recommend that you do, even if it's only a token effort like tossing the salad. Sharing cooking tasks can be a wonderfully romantic interaction as it creates a special kind of intimacy. Have you ever noticed how much more easily conversation flows when two people are doing a task, as opposed to sitting face to face? 4. Setting The Table   Set the table beforehand. Use a good tablecloth, your best silverware and a nice set of plates. Use your best glasses and an attractive salt and pepper set, milk jug and sugar bowl. Show your guest that you went to some trouble to make the meal a special occasion. This is not the time for melamine dishes or chipped or mismatched crockery. You're aiming for a touch of class.  Use candlesticks on the table for a romantic ambience, or place candles on other surfaces around the room. Background music is a must but make sure it's romantic and subtle. Limit blaring rock and roll or rap to the period when you're preparing dinner, but please, no high-octane music while you're eating. Set the sound at a low volume so it doesn't interfere with your conversation. And remember, if you don't play music during the meal you run the risk of filling any silences with the sound of people masticating. 5. Cleaning Up Later Don't let your guest anywhere near the kitchen after the meal is over. Hopefully you'll have better things to do with your time together. But all is not lost if they do insist on helping with the chores. Many a couple has fallen in love while doing the dishes, for two main reasons: 1. As mentioned earlier, there's the ease of conversation that takes place when you're doing a task rather than concentrating on talking. 2. Doing dishes together is like playing house. It can actually feel very romantic, especially when one or both people realize, "This is what I want with this person." You won't get the same effect if you use a dishwasher, so set aside at least a couple of pots, which will you allow to suggest, "I'll wash and you dry." With a little forethought, anyone can create a romantic evening at home. The old cliché, "the way to a person's heart is through their stomach", has more than a little truth to it. Test it yourself with someone you care about. The least you'll get is a great home-cooked meal. About the author: Marguerite Bonneville is a Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) whose passion is publishing information online. She is a contributing writer at http://www.favorite-recipes-online.com,a resource site dedicated to helping visitors access the best online recipes.

Food For Thought: Health Benefits of Lamb Meat -Baaaa

Why Lamb?
In today's ever-increasing health conscious society, consumers are looking for new, exciting, and healthier alternatives to the traditional American diet. Lamb meat may be just the answer they are looking for.

Availability
With the rise in popularity of grass fed meat, the number of markets where advocates can buy lamb meat has increased. One of the best places is a meat market where the lambs are farmed locally and organically. Talking to the farmers if possible will allow the consumer to have the best idea of how the lambs were raised. 100% grass fed, organically raised meat with no added hormones or antibiotics is best.

Nutritional Advantage


The benefits of grass fed meat have been documented for some time, but the American trend has been mainly towards beef, and more recently, bison. While the grass fed versions of these meats are considerably healthier than the grain fed options, grass fed lamb may be the healthiest of the red meats. Lamb is unique among the red meats due to it being a complete protein, containing all 8 essential amino acids and many vitamins and minerals. Lamb also contains the highest amount of CLA,(conjugated linoleic acid) a naturally occurring compound found in the stomachs of sheep and cows that is believed to encourage antioxidant activity and may also have anti-cancer properties.

Heart Healthy
Lamb meat is typically leaner than beef, and half the fat in the lamb is monounsaturated fat. Mediterranean diets are generally high in lamb, which may contribute to the lower incidence of heart disease in that region. Lamb also contains laudable levels of the antioxidants zinc and selenium, as well as many B-complex vitamins that help regulate many metabolic processes.

Versatile
Lamb is a very versatile meat. It can be portioned into a variety of cuts, the main five being the shoulder, rack, loin, shank and leg. It can also be ground for delicious burgers and meatloaf. Preparing lamb is as easy as preparing any other meat; grilling, braising, roasting and frying. Lamb is a mainstay in Indian and Mediterranean recipes, where lamb meat is soft, buttery texture carries the varied spices well.

Environmentally Friendly
The environmental impact of cows is considerable, with many acres of land required for the larger, heavier animals. Erosion, overgrazing and water contamination can result from inadequately managed cattle farming. Sheep require less space, and can often graze on terrain deemed too rugged for cows. Sheep also eat a wider variety of plants and grasses, helping to keep balance in the natural flora. Sheep manure produces much less methane, a large contributor to pollution issues. For an overall healthier human population and planet, one of the best things we can do is to buy lamb meat!


The author has written this article keeping various uses of lamb meat for sale. The author has made its presence felt by researching on the health benefits delivered lamb beat. Lamb meat is a complete package of protein, containing all the essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals.

Japanese and Chinese Food: Different, But Ripe for Fusion

Japanese and Chinese foods are too often mistaken as the same cuisine. They are starkly different styles, especially in terms of ingredients and attitude. However, through Japanese fusion techniques, the two cuisines can be combined to make some truly powerful dishes.

Japanese and Chinese Food: Different, But Ripe for Fusion
By Kevin Prague
Quite often the uninformed patron can mistake Japanese and Chinese food, dismissing their differences through ignorance or apathy and just labeling them as Asian cuisine. After all, if it has rice, meat, and some sauce it's pretty much the same thing right? This really couldn't be further from the truth as Japanese and Chinese foods have many differences in their respective cuisines through treatment of the meal, ingredients, and tastes.

Meat The protein of the dish is probably the most glaring difference between the two cuisines. Japanese food is known for having seafood as a traditional part of the meal, with livestock only really being a dish on special occasions. Japan is a fairly mountainous island; while they had a bustling fishing economy, they really didn't have much land for livestock to graze. Conversely, China has a lot more land space than Japan does, with much of its land smack in the middle of the continent of Asia. This means room for herding and raising livestock making meats like pork the mainstay of Chinese food, with smaller seafood salads being a course for holidays like the Lunar New Year.

Technique and Flavor Once again, this is an aspect that Japanese and Chinese food couldn't be more different in. Japanese food typically has much milder flavors, usually involving things like soy, fish stock, and salt. Japanese cuisine tends to try and bring out the natural flavor of the ingredient, sometimes serving it raw so as to not overdo the natural flavor. The popularity of sashimi and sushi restaurants is evident of this minimalist attitude. Chinese food is once again the polarity. Chinese food emphasizes powerful tastes like oyster sauces, and bean curd pastes. If anything is ever served raw, it must be heavily spiced. Also, as far as method goes Chinese food favors the traditional wok to fry the meal together, usually keeping the grease as part of the taste. It is for this reason that Chinese food is generally considered less healthy than Japanese, as Japanese cuisine is grilled on a flat, grill-like table called teppans.

Fusion Despite their differences, the two cuisines have a high compatibility for fusion cuisine. Fusion cuisine is the blending of characteristics between different regional or likewise cooking styles to form a new cuisine. While Chinese food has rarely experimented with fusion techniques until more modern times, Japanese restaurants have been practicing fusion for hundreds of years due to Japan's place as a trade powerhouse in the Pacific and more contact with Western influences. Japanese fusion is famous for bringing beef to Japan from the west, a fascination that has led to modern Japan producing some of the finest beef in the world. Japanese and Chinese cuisines are ripe for fusion, especially through their shared ingredients such as rice, though their attitudes on rice differ greatly. A typical Japanese and Chinese fusion can feature the cooking and attention to detail of Japanese cuisine with the powerful tastes and heartiness of Chinese food, making for a powerful new cuisine to try at a downtown restaurant.

This article is in reference to Fu Ji Restaurant in Stamford CT. Visit their Japanese Restaurant Website for a full menu and directions.
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Dine-In Delivery Comes to Sacramento, CA Offering Food Delivery Service

Offering Time and Convenience In Good Taste Is Just What Sac Dine-In Delivery Brings To Its Customers. 

Date: February 19, 2014

PRESS RELEASE: Sacramento, CA, 19-FEBRUARY -2014- Dine-In Delivery is happy to announce that its food delivery is now open for service in Sacramento, California and the surrounding areas.  The company offers a restaurant meal delivery service which entails delivering a variety of cuisines from local restaurants, right to the local customers front door or wherever the location of choice may be.

Originally started in Denver since 1993, since then, the company has been expanding its brand name and services nationwide.  Major food chains such as Quizno's, Bennigans and hotels such as the Courtyard by Marriott’s, just to name a few have at one point utilized the benefits of Dine-In Delivery food delivery services. 

Sac Dine-In Delivery (www. SACDID.com)  will be of its first within the Dine-In Delivery dynasty to start up in  Sacramento, CA.  Owners and Area Developer, Rudolph and Roberta Parker are no strangers to delivery. While going to college, raising a family and working from home for major companies, in addition to their own business endeavors quickly realized a major need for quality time and convenience by utilizing delivery services to help system their day.  Bootstrapped with a helping financial partner have now successfully launched Sac Dine-In Delivery. “It's all about offering that little bit of time combined with a great meal” said Mr. Parker.  “We're also excited about being a part of this great community and how we can be of service.”

In addition to having a hard copy menu guide to order from (coming soon to your local mail box), customers can also order via the website or on their mobile phone.  Food diners can pick from a variety of restaurants, select a tasty meal and submit their order.  Menu's include food from Beach Hut Deli, Back Forty Texas BBQ, Baagan (Vegan Cafe) and other variety of cuisines.  As when the opportunity presents itself, Sac Dine-In Delivery will be adding more local restaurants and other special food delivery services soon.

Once your order is paid and submitted, SACDID.com places the order to the restaurant, the restaurant prepares the meal, a mobile waiter/waitress picks up the order at the right time and delivers it to the customer's place of choice within the estimated food delivery time.  The service is fast and customer friendly. In addition, the meals are delivered hot or cold and fresh. Just like if a customer were to dine in at the restaurant.  Although, only open for dinner during the weekdays, weekends are open for lunch and dinner. Advanced orders, drop off catering and business orders can be delivered weekdays for lunch and dinner from participating restaurants.

Delivery costs start at an affordable  $4.75 with no extra service charges, gas charges or automatic gratuity. Average food delivery time takes anywhere from 45 – 60 minutes or less (Delivery time and cost is dependent upon the distance from the restaurant to the location).

As more and more new forms of communication technology develops,  food delivery services has quickly evolved into becoming the convenience friend. These days people are very busy, don’t have time to cook on a regular basis, too tired or sick to pick up something to eat. The market is in demand for time and convenience and that is just what Dine-In Delivery offers.

For more information and media contact: Chewy Ine; chewy.ine@gmail.com

About Sac Dine-In Delivery

Sac Dine-In Delivery offers restaurant meal delivery services to the Sacramento and various local areas of Northern California. Services are offered to residents at home, schools, businesses and hotels.

Website: http://www.SACDID.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DineSac

Facebook: http://facebook.com/sacdineindelivery

                               

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