| tiny vegetables are popular on spring menus
Minding mom -- specifically, "Eat your vegetables" -- is a lot more fun when the veggies are micro-, mini- or baby-sized. Pattypan squash and pumpkins that nestle in the palm of your hand, finger-sized sweet corn, and eggplant no bigger than a hen's egg are the rage in American restaurants. Gourmet stores and specialty supermarkets are adding them to produce bins, too. "Baby vegetables are a specialty offering that appeal particularly to true food enthusiasts," says Rob Borella, Giant Eagle director of corporate communications. "As such, we offer a limited assortment of baby vegetables -- including squashes, beets and carrots -- primarily at our two Market District locations all year round." .
Congorama (2 out of 4)
There's such overload of characters and happenings in Philippe Falardeau's Congorama, that the viewer gets lost in contrivances and inconsistencies. The Montreal director has decided to throw everything and the kitchen sink to tell a comic-drama that is neither involving nor original, just messy.
Michel (Olivier Gourmet) lives in Belgium with his Congolese wife Alice (Claudia Tagbo), son Jules (Arnaud Mouithys) and wheelchair-bound novelist father Herve (Jean-Pierre Cassel). Herve confesses to Michel that he's actually adopted and was born in a barn in Quebec, Canada. On a business trip to Montreal, Michel decides to find his roots and ends up in a small Quebec town where he's introduced to Louis (Paul Ahmarani). But something happens, and Falardeau sends the action back to a few days before the accident.
Gordon Ramsay mashes up small businesses for BT
BT has fingered marathon-running potty mouth Gordon "b*llocks, a*se, sh*t" Ramsay as the ideal Michelin-starred gourmet to extol the virtues of social networking to Britain's small business owners. The tediously sweary gastronome will front a TV advertising campaign in which he'll endure a series of gut-busting computer-related scrapes, all aimed at convincing small businesses to stick to what they do best, and pay BT to do their IT. .
Phoenix-Packers steak fry date set
The seventh annual Phoenix-Packers Steak Fry, a benefit for the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's basketball program, will be April 24 at Lambeau Field. UWGB coaches and players will attend the event along with Green Bay Packers players and staff members. A live auction will offer packages including a UWGB basketball road trip for the 2007-08 season, a gourmet dinner at coach Tod Kowalczyk's home, a Door County weekend getaway, a Packers game package, Packers memorabilia and a video iPod. The event begins with a social hour at 5 p.m. followed by an all-you-can-eat steak dinner at 6 p.m. and a program at 7 p.m., all in the club level at the stadium. The steak fry has raised more than $230,000 for UWGB athletics, including $53,000 last year.
Famous bakery rises from the ashes
Five months after a two-alarm fire tore through the famous Montilio's Bakery in West Quincy, destroying everything from the ovens to the counter tops, the city landmark has risen from the ashes. The sweet smell of cupcakes, cookies, and Italian pastries wafts down Adams Street once again. "It's feels good, it looks good, and our customers are happy," said owner George Montilio, 55, who scanned his store, well known for it's gourmet wedding cakes which have been featured nationally in magazines and on television. The family owned shop, established in 1947, also made cakes for the inaugurations of presidents John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush at the bakery's first location in Quincy Center. In October, a fire ripped through its walls and ceilings shutting the store down. Fire officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.
Organic pet foods not always safer
The growing list of pet food recalls has led many pet owners to look for alternatives from mainstream pet-food manufacturers. Allison Woeckener, owner of Happy Dog Bakery, 1608 7th St., Moline, said since pet food recalls started a month or so ago, she has seen increased interest in the all-natural pet food line, Solid Gold, sold at her store. "I've had calls since (the recalls) went public," she said. "I've had five calls a day if not more. They're just concerned about where their food is manufactured." With tainted ingredients imported from China in more than 100 brands of cat and dog food, and a second wave of recalls announced just this past week, Ms. Woeckener said Solid Gold is a great choice because all its products, with the exception of one cat food product, is made in the United States.
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