More Adventures In The Dollar Record Bin

I'm always amazed at the food-themed records that people throw out - see our post from last week on the Fat Boys, or Porter Wagoner's The Farmer record. While this one is probably not one you want to listen to every day, I'll admit that 'German Drinking Songs' does make you thirsty for a beer.

Boccalone - San Francisco, CA

What visit to San Francisco's Ferry Market is complete without a trip to Boccalone? Our haul from the shop this week included Brown Sugar & Fennel, Soppressata, and Orange & Wild Fennel salamis. You can also order 'em online.

Cotogna - San Francisco, CA

Here's one of the better pizzas we've had lately. San Francisco's Cotogna was unfortunately out of their sea urchin pizza, but the brussels sprout, pork jowl and egg pie nearly made up for it.

Congrats to Clients Nominated for 2011 James Beard Semifinalist Awards

Us and Them...The Company We Keep

(Our company provides design and communications consulting to food & beverage businesses. The list of nominees below have engaged our team for these services which have included a various combinations of naming, logo design, menu design, website design, social media, and public relations.) Click Here for Client List.

Outstanding Pastry Chef

Aaron Russell, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta

Cynthia Wong, Cakes & Ale, Decatur, Georgia

Outstanding Restauranteur

Mike Klank and Eddie Hernandez, Taqueria del Sol, Atlanta / Athens / Soon...The World

Nick Pihakis, Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q, Birmingham (and 27 lucky cities)

Best Chef: Southeast

Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten

Billy Allin, Cakes & Ale

Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene / Holeman & Finch / H & F Bread Co. / H & F Bottle Shop

Hector Santiago, Pura Vida / Super Pan

Food & Hip Hop

Our pal Francis Lam wrote a nice piece for Salon a while back on Biggie Smalls' culinary rhymes. A great read, but after finding this gem in the dollar record bin last week, I think we need to pay respect to the original hip-hop foodies:

Burger Up - Nashville, TN

Just a quick shout-out to the pimento cheese burger at Nashville's Burger Up:

Red Velvet Doughnut

It's always exciting when a box from Sublime Doughnuts shows up at our office...today's haul includes a red velvet:

Minetta Tavern - New York, NY

Minetta Tavern has had my absolute favorite burger in the country ever since they re-opened a couple of years back - we just checked in to make sure it's still on top...it is. Here's an in-depth look at the burger from our friends at A Hamburger Today.

The Most Fun Place In NYC Right Now - Standard Hotel

The Standard Hotel in New York's Meatpacking District is hard to beat these days. They've set up a temporary ice rink in front of the hotel, along with a rinkside bar serving strong ciders and hot toddys for us non-skaters. After a drink from the 'Kaffeeklatsch,' you can head inside to the beer garden, where you buy carnival-style tickets good for food, then make your way to the sausage and/or seafood carts to choose your dinner. And don't forget the ping pong.