Bite of the Best

Pyranna: Zip Through Plastic Clamshells in Seconds - December 11, 2007

Is it me, or do more and more items now come in those plastic clamshells so difficult to open?

As you know, it was a Herculean effort to open those packages. But now forget the scissors, knives or razors — …

Pretzels for Those Who Can’t Have Flour - November 23, 2007

Loving pretzels, I can’t imagine a world without them. But those with celiac disease must do without not only pretzels, but bread, pizza, pasta and all other products made with wheat. Celiac disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that predominately …

KIND bars - November 22, 2007

Diane wrote, “As a celiac, I am always looking for gluten free snacks and items that can be carried aboard a plane while traveling or stored in my desk at work for times when we just can’t get out to …

Locavore: The 2007 Word of the Year - November 13, 2007

locavore, n. a person who endeavors to eat only locally produced foods.

Do you shop at farmers’ markets, grow or pick your own vegetables and fruit and preserve it for the winter? Can you shake the hand that picked your …

Peanut Butter & Co Dark Chocolate Dreams - November 10, 2007

” If you like peanut butter and you like chocolate you will love this product. I used to be able to find it only in gourmet shops and I am embarrased to say that I would travel miles to get …

A new kids’ water drink called Wateroos - November 9, 2007

“I just discovered this new kids’ water drink called Wateroos. Basically, it’s flavored waters in a juice box – so no more sugary juices all day long! It doesn’t have any artificial sweeteners or sugars – which is great! My …

Food Gifts - November 8, 2007

As a small business, I like to send FOOD gifts to all my clients. I’d love your reviews on mail order products like See’s Candy, Harry and David, and unusual products to give for holiday time.

This is important to …

Arts & Ideas’ New Haven Holiday Season Restaurant Tours - November 7, 2007

New Haven Restaurant Tours: Devotees of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas’ popular food tours can indulge themselves in two tours offered during the holiday period.

Vino, Saffron y Sofrito: Flavors of Spain and Latin America will take …

Load Up On Healthful Cranberries for the Holidays - November 4, 2007

From now through December, fresh cranberries are available — usually in the produce section — in 12-ounce plastic bags, which hold about 3 cups of cranberries.

• Select bags of mostly firm, plump, unblemished berries that are dark to light red

…

Turkey Talkline Now Open For Your Questions - November 1, 2007

The Butterball Turkey-Talk Line is marking its 27th year fielding questions about cooking your holiday turkey. In November and December, some 50 home economists and other turkey experts will take calls in English and Spanish.

Call 1.800.BUTTERBALL (1-800-288-8372) from …

Global Dump Soda Campaign: 50 Countries in Discussion - October 30, 2007

If you’re a Supermarket Sampler devotee, you know how much I dislike soda. It’s just artificially flavored and colored carbonated sugar (or artificially sweetened) water. I prefer quenching my thirst with sparkling water (see Soda Club Seltzer Maker). So …

Pity It’s Not Scratch and Sniff! Introducing TasteBook - October 29, 2007

CondéNet (the internet unit of Condé Nast) has invested in TasteBook, a startup that binds recipes culled from its cooking site, Epicurious.com, into a personalized hardcover book. Imagine creating your very own  cookbook to keep or give as a gift …

“Best American Fresh Goat Cheese”: Fresh Crottin - October 28, 2007

Vermont Butter & Cheese’s new yummy Fresh Crottin won first place at the 2007 American Cheese Society and Best of Class at the U.S. Championship Cheese contest. It’s a younger and lighter version of their Bijou that we reviewed earlier …

Atlanta’s Watershed with Scott Peacock - October 24, 2007

Last time I headed to Atlanta, the answer from my food buddies as to where I should eat was Scott Peacock’s Watershed.

First time down West Ponce De Leon, we drove right past the gas-station turned casual-with-personality restaurant. Once finally …

10th Annual World Pasta Day - October 23, 2007

“Life is a combination of magic and pasta.” –Fellini

World Pasta Day—commemorating the first World Pasta Conference held in Rome in 1995—celebrates the nutritional role pasta and the Mediterranean Diet** play in a healthy lifestyle.

Pasta—a global food found on …

Bruce’s Sweet Potato Pancake Mix - October 21, 2007

I would like to suggest a brand of sweet potato pancakes that I have tasted at the Leblang residence. They were the tastiest pancakes I have ever tried. I don’t recall the company who makes them, however. Maybe Bonnie can …

Roasted Thick-Cut Sirloin with an Herbed Salt Crust - October 18, 2007

Meeting with representatives from commodity groups is part of the job of a food editor. A fun part. Those meetings are often over dinner, which makes for good food, interesting conversation and unusual uses for their products.

When Mary Bartz …

Pepperidge Farm Whole Grain Cinnamon with Raisins Swirl Bread - October 17, 2007

Linda Giuca, food editor of the Hartford Courant and I were chatting and — as I now do with all foodies — I asked if she had a product to recommend for Bite of the Best. She recommended Pepperidge Farm® …

Carvel’s Ice Cream Cupcake Cakes - October 16, 2007

Everybody’s rediscovering cupcakes — from fancy New York bakeries to wedding cake bakers. And now Carvel has gotten in on the trend with its ice cream cupcake cakes. Cake-and-ice cream cupcakes ($1.99) can be topped with their hard-shell chocolate coating, …

Gluten Free Oats from Bob’s Red Mill - October 15, 2007

For folks with celiac disease: Bob’s Red Mill sells Gluten Free Steel Cut Oats and Gluten Free Rolled Oats. Oats don’t contain gluten, but commercial brands can be contaminated by contact with grains that do. Bob’s works only with pedigree-seed …

Knudsen’s Sparkling Juices Bubbly Holiday Drink - October 12, 2007

Need a non-alcoholic drink everyone at your party can enjoy? R.W. Knudsen Family® offers sparkling fruit juices in festive, champagne-style bottles. The no-added-sugar sparklers come in blueberry, cranberry, strawberry, cherry, kosher grape, organic apple and pear, and crisp apple …

John & Kira’s Drew Elementary Garden Mint Chocolates - October 11, 2007

When I opened the wooden box and took a bite of one of John & Kira’s Garden Mint Chocolates, I literally stopped what I was doing, as the chocolate melted on my tongue and the flavor of fresh mint engulfed …

Star Gazing: New Michelin Guides - October 9, 2007

Not surprisingly, Per Se, Le Bernardin and Jean Georges each kept their three Michelin stars in the just released New York City guide (October 10, $16.95). New Manhattan star holders include Blue Hill, Anthos, and L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon (in …

Campbell Goes Pink to Fight Breast Cancer - October 7, 2007

If only Andy Warhol was here to see it: Campbell Soup will change the label of its two top-selling condensed soups from red to pink in October, to mark National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Campbell will donate $300,000 to …

Win an at-home Party with Chef Katie Chin - October 6, 2007

Real Thai and Simply Asia are celebrating the debut of their new website with a contest. Chef Katie Chin will visit the grand-prize winner’s home for a “Real Asian Made Simple” cooking party for up to 10 people (Approximate retail …