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Buitoni Whole Wheat Linguine

Bonnie: By now, I’m sure you know that health professionals recommend that you eat three servings of whole grains a day. Luckily for all of us, finding grains is getting easier. Much easier.

For one, there’s the Whole Grain Stamp on many food packages indicating that the food contains at least a half serving of whole grains — an initiative spearheaded by Oldways Preservation Trust, a nonprofit food advocacy group in Boston. In addition, many food companies — Lean Cuisine, Healthy Choice and....

Bryan: What’s not to love about fresh pasta? Americans have become so used to the dry variety, seeing fresh, soft pasta now seems like a delicacy, a treat, something reserved for a special occasion. Thankfully, in our ever-expanding food universe, there are companies like Buitoni that are trying to make us all remember that pasta can be a fresh component of our meals and not just an aging box of arts and crafts fodder, more reminiscent of a...

Eric: Fresh is the word to keep in mind when debating whether to purchase the Buitoni whole-wheat pasta the next time you’re at the supermarket. When you really think about it, unless you’re an Italian-American, how often do you really eat pasta? And when you do, would you prefer your meal to be fresh or dehydrated?

On average, I probably consume pasta three times a month, but when I do, I make sure...

By |2017-09-04T16:57:09-04:00May 20th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|0 Comments

FlameDisk

Bonnie: Who doesn’t love the taste of food cooked on a grill? Because of that, I use my outside gas one all year round — except when the snowdrifts don’t allow me to open the screen door.

I’ve lugged charcoal, a chimney starter, newspaper, boxes of wooden matches and sometimes even a minigrill to tailgates, picnics and other outdoor gatherings. Sure it was a hassle, but there was no other option if we wanted grilled food. Until now.

Note: A chimney starter is a tall metal cylinder used...

Bryan: Cooking over an open flame imparts a different taste, texture and essence to foods that can simply not be duplicated. The love affair with the “open flame” has turned grilling into a staple of American cultural cuisine, with tailgating traditions and backyard BBQs woven through the fabric of our country’s culinary offerings.

If you grill (I do), you likely grill in two places — at home and “on the move.” Many, myself included, have...

Eric: One of my biggest problems is my inability to express what I’m thinking. Although the thoughts are clear to me in my head, when it comes time to verbally express them, I begin to trip over my words. The unfortunate part is that this affliction translates into my writing. Particular in this blog, I tend to put myself in the consumer’s shoes, and write what I would want to read if I were debating over purchasing a product. Here is my reasoning for...

Wolfgang Puck’s Chicken Pot Stickers

Bonnie: I looked forward to taste-testing Wolfgang Puck’s new line of all-natural appetizers. Wearing my food editor hat, I’ve met Wolf many times and had the privilege of him cooking especially for our editors’ group. I’ve never had a bad meal when Wolf was in the kitchen.

(Sshh… I think I’d loose my foodie status to admit that I’ve never been....

Bryan: Who’s better than Wolfgang Puck? Forget the over saturation of an Emeril or a Rachel Ray (no offense), this man is absolutely iconic! With commercial enterprises ranging from Home Shopping Network lines of cookware to his famous Beverly Hills dining establishment Spago, Wolfgang is a true foodie presence.

Though we have seen bits and pieces of it in home offerings before, Chef Puck is now introducing a line of all-natural gourmet appetizers, integrating...

Eric: Who doesn’t love finger-food? I imagine that for most people, the best part of any social event (aside from the gossip) is the anticipation of what there will be to eat, and finger foods (i.e. food that requires no manners to eat) are usually the highlight.

As a banquet manager and assistant food and beverage manager, I’ve coordinated, and have been guest at, more events than I can count. One of my favorite games to play at any event is “find...

You can now follow Bonnie on Twitter: BonnieBOTB

By |2017-09-04T16:58:17-04:00May 6th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|6 Comments

Amy’s Teriyaki Wrap

Bonnie: Last month I had sent out an all-points bulletin to food companies as well as their public relations firms looking for some brand new low-calorie items for a shopping column in Better Homes & Gardens’ 2010 Diet issue.

I was inundated with suggestions, with many of the companies missing the point that I needed products to be new — not now, but in late fall 2009. But the good part of this exercise was...

Bryan: Snacking is a reality, people; everyone does it and there’s nothing wrong with it. Even those trying to lose weight should note that eating small “meals” throughout your day is a far better way to consume food than eating big meals in one or two sittings. Considering our grazing ways, what more can you ask for but a really healthy snack (or small...

Eric: Every time I tell someone about what I do for Bite of the Best (i.e. testing and reviewing food-related consumer products) I’m always asked, “How are you still skinny?” My standard reply is, “I eat healthy!”

I’m a foodie, and after testing and reviewing products for the majority of my life, I’ve gained complete respect for the...

You can now follow Bonnie on Twitter: BonnieBOTB

By |2017-09-04T16:58:46-04:00April 29th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|5 Comments

Häagen-Dazs Five: Mint

Bonnie: I’ve always been a Häagen-Dazs ice cream fan, with chocolate chocolate chip and mint chip my two favorite flavors. But with 300 calories and about 20 grams of total fat (of which 12 is saturated) in a 1/2-cup serving, I just don’t indulge very often. READ: less than once a year.

Seriously, that’s what happens as you age. You can’t afford to savor a bowl of premium ice cream as often as you’d like since your activity often lessens because of bad...

Bryan: Bonnie called a little while back to let me know about a new line from Häagen-Dazs called “Five.” It is a strange occurrence that I would come across a new food product first, but I let her know that I had actually seen the line and had even tried one of the flavors to great reception. The fact is, I’m an ice cream lover, and there is rarely a trip to the grocery store that does not involve at least a stroll...

Eric: It’s amazing to me to think that all ice cream isn’t made with just five ingredients – after tasting all the varieties in the new line of Häagen-Dazs Five, I started to wonder why it is that ice cream manufacturers consult their lab technicians for ingredients rather than their local farmers. It later dawned on me—profit margins.

Like most people with a sweet tooth, I’m also an ice cream junkie and, unlike my brother, I do...

By |2017-09-04T16:59:28-04:00April 22nd, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|1 Comment

Sunkist Naturals: 100 Percent Tangerine

Bonnie: With one taste of this sweet nectar I was hooked on 100 percent pure tangerine juice. It’s not from concentrate; in fact it takes 2.5 pounds of fresh tangerines to make the juice for one 15.2-ounce bottle. The delicious result is rich in vitamins A and C and potassium. And like the rest of the Sunkist Naturals line, it contains no preservatives, no artificial anything. I like that. It’s my favorite of the Sunkist Naturals line, but — I’m sorry to share — the one that’s the least available. I’ve been told it will be on shelves again in May, when tangerines are in season in Florida. So keep [...]

By |2017-09-04T16:59:56-04:00April 8th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|5 Comments

Baker’s Edge Brownie Pan

Bonnie: Most everyone loves brownies as they are easy to make — just combine a couple of ingredients and pour into a pan — and irresistibly decadent. Seriously, who can resist a warm brownie and a cold glass of milk?

Some, like my friend Jan and I, prefer the gooey insides of baked brownies. Others look for the crusty edges, wishing for more. These brownie-edge lovers will take delight in this heavy-gauge, aluminum maze-shaped pan. The Baker’s Edge Brownie Pan holds 11 cups of batter, about one recipe or (heaven-forbid) a box mix of brownies, resulting in chewy edges on each and every brownie.

One of my favorite recipes...

Bryan: Call me crazy, but I like the crust. I didn’t know that this was odd until I got into meals outside of my immediate family (all crust-lovers). I’m not saying I was that kid not peeling the sides off of a PB&J sandwich, but I was surely the kid that was picking up all my friends pizza crusts and unclaimed bread ends. There is something about the doughy end of a baked item, where all the goodness, crispness and chewiness seem to congregate. My aunt is the queen of crust-lovers and has actually given her husband...

Eric: Although I am the baker of the family, I probably eat the least amount of baked goods. One of the main reasons behind their non-appeal, aside from knowing what goes into the butter-laden concoctions, is that most brownies, cookies, etc. are “chewy” and soft, lacking a welcome “crunch.” Just like my brother and my mother who’d probably fight you with the bread knife for the ends of the bread, I also enjoy the part of a baked item where the so-called “crispness and chewiness” congregate. My longing for...

Donsuemor — Dipped Chocolate and Other — Madeleines

Bonnie: It’s funny how we trip over products that become our Bites.

Earlier this year, when in San Francisco to conduct a newbie networking seminar for the Fancy Food Show, I was standing in the New Product Showcase area, hoping to discover a product to consider for a Bite. I was looking into the glass cases displaying the new items when I almost fell over Michele Lanstra, assistant marketing manager for Donsuemor, who was about to put some of her company’s madeleines into the case.

“What do you...

Bryan: A day that will live in infamy. The arrival of the Donsuemor Madeleines was the worst offensive on my attempts at dietary restraint since the assault of the Sugabettens brownies of ‘08. Please don’t think I protest too much. I truly love the cavalcade of new and outrageous food products constantly gracing my doorstep. It’s just that sometimes the price I pay to bring our...

Eric: The day I received the package of the Donsuemor Madeleines, two thoughts went through my head: “How many can I eat before I realize I shouldn’t?” and, more importantly, “How do I hide them from my girlfriend?” The first question was answered rather quickly by the disappearance of nearly five of these delicious cakes, favoring the traditional versions over the...

By |2017-08-25T13:28:07-04:00March 25th, 2009|Food & Drinks|14 Comments

Q Tonic

Bonnie: One summer night when founder Jordan Silbert and his friends were enjoying both the summer breeze and gin and tonics, he happened to look at the ingredient list of both the tonic and his friend’s can of soda. (Something I habitually do!)

“Do you know that tonic water has as much high fructose corn syrup as Sprite?” he asked the group. “I thought it had no calories, like club soda.”

Wrong. Tonic water is mostly...

Bryan: It’s funny to think how some of our most revered beverages got their starts. Coca Cola, the world’s most iconic drink, was initially sold as medicine for five cents a glass; mixed with carbonated water, it was claimed Coca-Cola cured many diseases, including morphine addiction, headache and impotence. If that’s what I’m drinking with my cheeseburger, why should it be so odd to find that tonic water traces its roots back to British officers stationed in India? The soldiers went about...

Eric: Tonic water is an acquired drink taste, and just like certain foods in this world, it is one that I can gladly live without. It’s bitter, it’s tasteless and it doesn’t mix well with my favorite spirit, Bourbon. That aside, I can understand why some people live by it, either straight up, on the rocks or as a mixer with their favorite spirit. I know this because during the last two years I was in college, I started and successfully operated (with the help of a few friends) a cocktail bar named “The Alchemists.”

Part of the appeal of standing behind the bar...

By |2017-08-31T16:18:06-04:00March 18th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|13 Comments

Bodum Chambord Double Wall Coffee Press

Bonnie: My first real memory of French-press made coffee was at the home of my coffee-loving friends Frank and Mary Ellen, as they always served coffee from a French press. A large French press. The coffee they poured after pressing was always full bodied, rich, deliciously satisfying and hot. But my second cup (which I accepted only once) was always lukewarm. I drink my coffee steaming hot. I immediately thought of them as I heard about the double-walled (AKA insulated) French press coffee makers.

Our Bite of the Best team tried two...

Bryan: There are few beverages that are truly revered like coffee; an aroma so intoxicating, a flavor so memorable, a warmth so comforting, a rush so powerful, a relaxation so tangible…. All this and more can be said about this ancient beverage turned modern elixir. And with billions of followers world wide, coffee just might be the world’s biggest religion. What’s not to love about coffee? Well… maybe, making it…. (C’mon, it is annoying sometimes… ahem, success of...

Eric: While I was studying in the Netherlands I would always start my morning (usually around 6 am due to the hospitality curriculum), with a large cup of French-press coffee. I never needed more than one American-sized cup, so I always opted for the simplicity of the Bodum 12-oz Chambord press, a compact unit that allowed for the perfect amount of brew.

I’d wake up early in the morning and start the therapeutic process of boiling water, grinding fresh coffee beans and plunging grinds. The aroma, not...

Planters Harvest Natural Nuts & Trail Mixes

Bonnie: I like everything about Planters Harvest line of 100% Natural Nuts and Trail Mixes with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. I also like that these have minimum sodium with the varieties ranging from a modest 40- to 100-milligrams of sodium per quarter cup of nuts.

As I’m sure you know, our government allows the following health claim on packages of many types of nuts: “Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

You won’t, though, find...

Bryan: When testing new food products here at Bite of the Best, we often receive the entire line…all varieties, all flavors, all options. We have generally found that we all inevitably gravitate towards one (or maybe two) types of a new product, selecting the truly best to write about here on the site. Today is different, though. Today we are letting you know about an entire new line of products: Planters Harvest 100% Natural. When a product is this good, you don’t split hairs about which ...

Eric: You’ve by now read about the nutritional value of the new line of Planters Harvest nuts, and are probably already drooling over the five varieties that the new line offers — but what about the value? Usually such “natural” products are overpriced and under portioned, leaving you with a empty feeling in both your stomach and your wallet. But the new line of Planters Harvest nuts contain a plentiful 9- to 11-ounces, with a price ($5.99) that competes favorably with the smaller ...

By |2017-08-31T16:18:06-04:00March 4th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|18 Comments

Land O’Lakes Half-Sticks of Butter

Just sharing that you'll soon be able to find Land O’Lakes one-pound packages of salted butter containing half-sticks. Each pound package will contain eight half-sticks of butter, each measuring out to two ounces or one-fourth of a cup. This makes measuring half a stick more convenient, since you no longer need to rewrap the other half to keep it fresh. The best part  — these half sticks will cost what the same as the regular 4-ounce sticks. Being an unsalted butter user, I asked whether the half-sticks will soon also be available for their unsalted butter. Their response was since 83% of all the stick butter sold is salted — [...]

By |2017-09-01T15:19:28-04:00February 23rd, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|1 Comment

SLAP YA MAMA

Bonnie: Last month, while in San Francisco to speak at The National Association of Specialty Food Trade Show (AKA the Fancy Food Show), I walked through the exhibits as they were being set up. That’s where I met Joe Walker.

With a smile from ear to ear, Joe shared the story of SLAP YA MAMA seasonings (see Bryan’s writings) and explained how his whole family worked together in the business. Also being part of a family business, I liked that.

I also liked how...

Bryan: There are very few savory dishes that I would ever prepare without adding salt, pepper and garlic...and if it’s anything for which I want a bit of heat, here comes the red pepper. I might as well go ahead and share a “secret recipe,” noting that this combination, plus a dash of ginger powder and smoked paprika, is actually my basic tuna seasoning.

As a rule of thumb, you should salt and pepper everything, especially meat, before...

Eric: I never thought I’d endorse a product with a name like “SLAP YA MAMA.” In fact, the first time I heard the name, it reminded me of past euphemistically challenged products such as “Chile Today, Hot Tamale,” and “Jamaican Me Crazy.” Both of these products had me remembering their names, but failed to leave a lasting impression on my palette. Many companies use the tactic of attaching a catchy name to a less-than-average product (i.e. “Helluva Good Dip,” “Phish...

By |2017-08-31T16:18:07-04:00February 18th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|8 Comments

FAGE Total Yogurt 0%

Bonnie: My romance with the way of life in Greece began the first of the many times I’ve been there. Same with my first taste of tzaziki, a Greek garlicky cucumber yogurt dip, spread or sauce for roasted lamb.

I played with recipes, not getting the results I wanted until I thickened my yogurt to be more like that found in Greece.

To thicken yogurt, dump plain...

Bryan: Though we’re currently reviewing the 0% plain Greek yogurt, I did want to point out that the FAGE line does offer a wider selection of flavors, with fruits such as cherry, peach and strawberry. Greek yogurt (basically a “strained yogurt” to reduce liquid content) is quite rich, and while I find the fruit combinations enjoyable, they truly are far too overwhelming for even the most decadent of my morning routines (when maybe a donut sneaks...

Eric: All yogurt is not created equal – so for all of you Yoplait and Dannon junkies, there is something more to consider the next time you’re walking towards the dairy case.

In my opinion, a good tasting yogurt should consist of two essential components: fat and flavor. If it’s missing either of those, then you’re probably not going to find a product worth eating. For these reasons, I have always...

By |2017-08-31T16:18:07-04:00February 11th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|85 Comments

Foodie Fight: A Trivia Game for Serious Food Lovers

Bonnie: As a reader of our Bites, you know that each week we’ve promised to provide “outstanding products we’ve tried and recommend.” This week’s no different, although our selected FeaturedBite is neither food nor something found on your kitchen counter nor in its drawers. Instead it’s a game, one that came to my attention as part of a holiday gift from my friend (and client) Robin Miller (Food Network’s Quick Fix Meals).

Foodie Fight is a fun trivia...

Bryan: This may be the first non-food item (kitchen gadgets aside) I can remember on Bite of the Best, and it’s a particularly exciting product for our family. I can’t say I’m much of a game player. Beyond cards (poker especially), my taste for board games is generally rather bland, the only major exception being Trivial Pursuit. And I must say, if there is one thing in our immediate, and extended, family that will get the passions inflamed and blood boiling, it’s Trivial Pursuit. We have a very competitive...

Eric: If Johnny challenged the devil with a fiddle, my weapon of choice would be “Foodie Fight.”

Whenever I play the board game Trivial Pursuit, I am always anticipating that my next question will be food-related. Food and beverage is not my only area of expertise, but it is the one area in which my knowledge far surpasses that of the omniscient trivia player (or for that matter, any one of......

By |2017-08-20T13:27:46-04:00February 4th, 2009|Kitchen Counter, Drawer and More|3 Comments

KIND Almond & Apricot Bar

Bonnie: As a business traveler, I always stash a granola, cereal or fruit-and-nut bar or two in my computer case for those moments when my plane sits on a runway for hours, or when I run between my connecting flights with no time to buy something to eat. In other words, for when I’m starved.

And, being a food-product reviewer, I always have a variety of bars to sample in my testing closet — a three-shelved, two-foot-deep, always-full-of-samples cabinet. From this group of samples, I hadn’t found many that I would actually purchase. That is, until I ...

Bryan: We generally keep to the topic of food here at Bite of the Best (and why wouldn’t we with all the amazing products out there?). Our readers would likely not know this, but I studied politics and diplomacy in school; I found it particularly interesting that we would be reviewing KIND bars this week in light of the recent (and ongoing) conflict in the Middle East. A quick note before I really confuse you.

KIND Snacks is part of the PeaceWorks group, a self-described ...

Eric: Nuts and seeds and fruits, oh my! As you probably read already, unless you peruse down below-the-fold first, KIND bars are all-natural snacks made from ingredients that don’t involve a chemist, and whose parent company donates a certain percentage of its profits to its foundation that support “moral globalization.” Usually, the unfortunate side affect of such a morally uplifting and tasty product is the price, but at roughly $2 per bar, you’re not going to pay...

By |2017-09-04T18:48:24-04:00January 21st, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|5 Comments

da Rosario Organic White Truffle Acacia Honey

Bonnie: Skip this review if you — like Eric — are not a truffle lover. I’m referring to the underground strong-smelling fungus that grows near the roots of trees, not the chocolate confection.

But for those who love this extravagant fungus, I have a delicious item for you — one that’s an affordable luxury in these economic times. It’s da Rosario Organic White Truffle Acacia Honey. This blend of honey and white truffle oil is heavenly. Orgasmic, actually. And a little goes a long way.

My favorite use is simply drizzled...

Bryan: My God, what can you say about this product that doesn’t involve exclamations like “I wanna slap somebody?” Da Rosario truffle honey is sooo good that I literally snuck it home through security at the airport (ssshhh… don’t tell TSA). There was absolutely no way that I was going to forgo the divine pleasure that is truffle honey just because it happens to be sold in a 4.25-ounce container. I can just see the headlines now, “Man stopped trying to sneak honey onto plane… no tea was found on the scene.”

This is already one of my picks for...

Eric: As mentioned many times before in my writing, I view myself as the black sheep “gourmand” of the family. I am by no means a wine connoisseur. I would choose a rack of ribs over a piece of foie gras. And I detest the taste (and more specifically the smell) of truffles – not the chocolates, but the mushroom-size tubers that are almost more expensive, per ounce, than gold.

There are certain foods that I believe shouldn’t be trifled with. Chocolate should be milk or dark, not...

By |2017-09-04T18:50:12-04:00January 14th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|5 Comments

Kahiki EasyCrisp Vegetable Egg Rolls

Bonnie: I usually avoid foods that purportedly crisp in the microwave, as they usually have that telltale off odor and odd taste — and they’re not really crisp.

That is, until I tried these Kahiki EasyCrisp Vegetable Egg Rolls. These are low in fat and calories, have a clean label and taste good. One microwaved 3.25-ounce, 4-inch egg roll contains a modest 70 calories, 2 grams fat and 530 milligrams sodium. What I like even more is that these egg rolls contain no unpronounceable ingredients, no trans fats and no preservatives.

Each box contains three egg rolls, individually wrapped in its own cooking pouch. To prepare...

Bryan: This product is my surprise of the year! At first glance, there was nothing about a microwave egg roll that enticed me, nothing at all, though I am a huge fan of egg rolls, especially dripping in sweet duck sauce…. It was too hard to imagine this historically fried, crispy treat emerging from the sogginess-inducing microwave; something was severely wrong with this picture.

Everything changed in an instant when I tore open the package and got into the instructions. Each Kahiki EasyCrisp Vegetable Egg Roll comes wrapped in special paper; a microwave-safe foil that acts as a...

Eric: Two of my favorite things about eating: Asian cuisine and snacking. I am a strong advocate of “the snack,” and believe that small snacks throughout the day, along with proper meals, are the base for a healthy diet. Snacks are the cornerstone of my daily routine — and I’m not talking about a bag of chips or some cookies. A snack should satisfy your hunger and be nutritious. I always will opt for a handful of nuts, some chopped red pepper and hummus and recently, my new favorite, the...

By |2017-09-04T18:51:26-04:00January 7th, 2009|Food & Drinks, xyz misc|19 Comments

Holiday Food Lovers’ Gifts – 2009

Bonnie: And now we present our second half-dozen or so holiday goodies to give your foodie friends. This week highlights food lovers’ gifts that can be used for cooking, eating or entertaining.

Bryan: Not all foodie gifts need to be edible. Any good kitchen should be stocked with a plethora of gadgets, goodies and gizmos to bring your next Epicurean adventure to new heights. Here are a few Bites of the Best.

Eric: Some of the favorite things that I have in my kitchen aren’t food. The gadgets, gizmos and “widgets” that adorn my cabinets and counter space all have a special place in my heart. This holiday season, we’re highlighting the innovative, the practical and the decorative in food lovers’ gifts to fit a variety of budgets....

Holiday Food Gifts – 2009

Bonnie: We’re veering from our traditional format for the next two weeks to provide you with a listing of a small number of outstanding products that we feel would make great holiday gifts. This week’s edibles include the following…

Bryan: Though, generally, our goal each week is to provide you with one great-product recommendation, we’re doing things a “bite” differently over the next two weeks. Bite of the Best will be chock-filled with a variety of great foodie gift ideas…. Hey, someone’s got to get the economy moving :-)

Eric: Holiday shopping can be difficult; overbearing sales personnel, ridiculously long checkout lines and, unfortunately for this year, an economy with prices going down but credit rates going up. Luckily, the holiday gifts we’re reviewing won’t break your bank account, and are mostly available for order online. So grab a drink or snack and browse through a collection of holiday gifts aimed to please the “foodie” in all of us.

By |2017-09-04T19:31:48-04:00December 10th, 2008|Food & Drinks, Food & Drinks, xyz misc|3 Comments
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