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Recipes of the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon

December 31st, 2009 No comments

Recipes from the 2009 Inaugural Luncheon

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Seafood Stew
Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney

Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing

Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes

Winter Vegetables

Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake

First Course:

Seafood Stew
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients
6 (1 Lb) Maine lobsters
20 medium size Sea scallops
36 Large shrimp, peel, cleaned and tail removed, aprox. 2 lbs.
10 (1 oz) pieces of black cod
½ cup small dice carrots
½ cup small dice celery
½ cup small dice leek
½ cup small dice Idaho potato
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon ground white pepper or black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 quart heavy cream
1 cup dry vermouth (can be made without)
10 (5 inch) puff pastry rounds

Equipment
10 (3 ½ inch) terrines/ramekins or serving dish of your choice

Directions
1. Bring 1 gallon of water to a boil; poach lobsters, then shrimp, then black cod and last scallops. After seafood is cooked, remove from water; reserve water and bring to boil.

2. Cook all vegetables in liquid that was used for the seafood, remove vegetables when tender. Allow the liquid to continue to boil until only 1qt of liquid remains. This will be the base for the sauce.

3. Bring seafood liquid back to a boil and add the vermouth and heavy cream and reduce by half, season with salt, white pepper and nutmeg to taste. You have reached your desired thickness when the sauce will cover the back of a wooden spoon. Set aside to cool.

4. Cut Maine lobster, shrimp and scallops into bite size pieces.

5. Pre-heat oven at 400 degrees.

6. Fold seafood and vegetables into cool sauce, being careful not to mix too much as this will break up the seafood. Scoop mixture into terrines or oven proof baking dish of your choice.

7. Cover terrines with puff pastry rounds, brush them with egg wash and bake them until golden brown about 8-10 minutes, allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving. You can cook this 2-3 hours ahead of time and keep warm at 150 F degrees.

*All seafood can be substituted with other favorite options of your choice and availability.

Second Course:

Duck Breast with Cherry Chutney
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
½ cup chopped onion (1 small)
3 garlic cloves, crushed
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallot
½ teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
Scant ¼ teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes
¾ teaspoon salt
½ cup coarsely chopped red bell pepper (½ medium)

1 plum tomato, coarsely chopped
¼ cup dry red wine
1 ½ to 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 can (3 cups) Bing cherries, quartered *Oregon brand
½ cup Golden Raisins
10 (6 oz.) boneless duck breasts with skin
2 tablespoons water
1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon or chives

Method for chutney and glaze:
Heat oil in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook onion, garlic, and shallot, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 7 minutes. Add tomato paste, black pepper, cumin, hot pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Reduce heat to medium and add bell pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine, vinegar (to taste), and sugar and simmer approx 5 minutes. Stir in mustard, 1 1/2 cups cherries, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and simmer 1 minute. Allow to cool slightly and reserve all but ¼ cup of the mix to the side. Place1/4 cup mix in a blender and puree until very smooth, about 1 minute (use caution when blending hot liquids). Reserve for glazing duck. To finish the chutney, add the remaining 1 ½ cups of cherries, tarragon, chives and all the golden raisins. Can be prepared one day ahead.

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 450°F. Score duck skin in a crosshatch pattern with a small sharp knife and season duck all over with salt and pepper.

Heat water in an ovenproof 12-inch heavy skillet over low heat until hot, then add duck, skin side down. Cook duck, uncovered, over low heat, without turning, until most of fat is rendered(melted) and skin is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Transfer duck to a plate and discard all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet. Brush duck all over with cherry glaze and return to skillet, skin side up.

Roast duck in oven until thermometer registers 135°F, about 8 minutes for medium-rare. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes.

Holding a sharp knife at a 45-degree angle, cut duck into slices. Serve with cherry chutney and molasses whipped sweet potato.

Herb Roasted Pheasant with Wild Rice Stuffing
Yield: 10 portions

Ingredients
10 Pheasant breast, boneless, remove tenders and reserve for stuffing, cut small pocket in side of breast for stuffing
½ cup Olive oil with chopped rosemary, thyme and sage
1 lb. Wild rice, long grain
2 quarts Chicken stock or canned chicken broth
2 Carrots, diced
½ Onion, diced
½ cup Dried apricot, small diced
1 Tablespoon Salt and pepper mix
2 Tablespoons Garlic, roasted

Directions
1. Boil the rice with the chicken stock, cook until soft and most of the liquid is gone.

2. Add the onion, carrot, garlic and apricot. Cook until the vegetables are soft and all liquid has been absorbed. Refrigerate rice mixture until cold.

3. In a food processor, puree pheasant tenders to a paste consistency to use as a binder for rice mix.

4. When rice is cool, add the pheasant puree to the rice until well mixed. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper and return to refrigerator until ready to stuff.

5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

6. Make 10 small football shaped patties of the rice mix, stuff inside the pheasant, being careful not to overstuff the pheasant. Rub herb/oil mixture on top and bottom of the pheasant, season with salt and pepper. Place the pheasant on a heavy gauge roasting pan and then in a preheated oven for approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove from oven and cover with lid or foil and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Serve over sauté of spinach.

*Pheasant can be substituted with chicken.

Molasses Whipped Sweet Potatoes
Yield: 2 quarts

Ingredients
3 large sweet potatoes, about 3 pounds
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ cup orange juice
½ tablespoon of brown sugar
1 tablespoon of molasses
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
2 tablespoons maple syrup

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Place sweet potatoes on a baking sheet and roast until easily pierced with a fork, about 1 hour.

3. Peel the skin off of the sweet potatoes while still hot.By hand or mixer, smash potatoes until all large chunks are gone. Combine the potatoes, butter, salt, orange juice, brown sugar, ground cumin, molasses and maple syrup in a large bowl. Continue to mix all together until all lumps are gone. Adjust any of the seasonings to your specific tastes. Can be made the day before.

Winter Vegetables
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients
2 bunches Asparagus, green, bottom 1/3 of stem removed
2 lbs. Carrots, peeled, cut oblong or large dice
1 lb. Baby Brussels Sprouts, fresh, cleaned or frozen can be used
1 lb. Wax Beans, ends snipped
2 oz Butter
1 each Zest from orange
4 oz. Olive
Salt and Pepper to taste.

Directions
Asparagus: preheat grill or large heavy bottom sauté pan. Rub 2 oz of olive oil on asparagus and season with pinch of salt and pepper. Lay flat on grill or sauté pan until lightly browned. Using long fork or tongs, rotate the asparagus to brown other sides. Usually 2 or 3 minutes per side. The asparagus is done when you can use a fork to cut through. Do not overcook, this will cause asparagus to become stringy. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Carrots: bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, add carrots to water and cook until fork tender, meaning a fork will easily pass through the carrot. Drain the water from the pot and toss 1 oz butter and zest of orange and mix until carrots are coated. Season with pinch of salt and enjoy. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Brussels Sprouts: For Fresh: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil, cut into the stem of the sprout with a pairing knife to create an X on the bottom, this will allow the stem to cook more evenly. Place sprout in boiling water and allow to cook until bottom of sprout is tender and easily cut with a knife. Preheat a heavy bottom sauté while the sprouts are cooking. Remove sprouts from water and allow all water to drain completely. Add 2 oz oil to sauté pan and add the sprouts, season with salt and pepper while tossing the sprouts around to evenly brown in the pan. If sprouts are too big, you can cut them in half, keep warm until ready to serve.

For Frozen: Bring 3 qt salted water to a boil and drop frozen brussel sprouts into water, these are precooked so you are only thawing them out. Remove from water and sauté as above.

Yellow Wax beans: bring 3 qt salted water to boil, add snipped wax beans to water and allow to cook until fork tender or to your liking of doneness. Remove from water and toss with 1 oz butter and season with salt and pepper.

Third Course

Cinnamon Apple Sponge Cake
Yield: 10 servings

Ingredients

Apple Filling:
4 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup water
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup apple sauce
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
Grated zest from 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bread Crust:
14 tablespoons unsalted butter, melt 10 of tablespoons
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
34 slices brioche bread (or white bread)

Equipment:
10 Ceramic baking ramekins or metal molds (3” diameter)

Sauce:
2 cups caramel sauce(store bought)
2 cups granny smith apples, peeled, cored, diced small
Pinch sugar
Pinch cinnamon
1 tablespoon butter
Ice Cream
1 quart vanilla ice cream

Preparation:

Filling
1. Melt butter in 6-quart saucepan over medium-low heat. Add apples and caramelize, add water, cook, stirring occasionally for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are completely soft. Remove cover and add sugar, nutmeg and salt. Increase heat to medium-high and continue to cook, stirring apples frequently, until liquid has completely evaporated, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in lemon zest, apple sauce and vanilla. Set aside to cool while making crust. The filling can be made one day ahead

Making crust and assembly
1. Position oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat to 425°F. Grease 8 ceramic dishes with 1 tablespoon butter. Sprinkle sugar in dish and tilt to coat bottom and sides. Tap out excess sugar and set aside.

2. Using a bread knife, remove crusts from bread. Center the bottom of mold over one of the bread squares. Cut around mold to form circle to use as the top. Make a total of 20 of these round pieces. Ten will be for the bottom and 10 will be used for the top. Dip each one in melted butter and place at the bottom of mold.

3. Cut each of the 15 remaining slices of bread into four rectangular pieces. Dip one side of each strip in the melted butter and arrange strips, upright, around the inside of molds, buttered-sides against mold and overlapping by about 1/2” to completely line mold. Use 6 rectangles to line the mold.

4. Spoon the apple filling into bread-lined molds, mounding it slightly in center.

5. Take the remaining ten rounds of bread and dip pieces of bread into the melted butter and place on top of filling, buttered-sides up. Press down lightly.

6. Bake for 30 minutes, then cover top loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for an additional 15-20 minutes, until top is deep golden brown and side slices are golden brown (slide a thin-bladed knife between bread and pan to check). Remove from oven, uncover, and let rest for 15 minutes on wire rack. Run thin-bladed knife around edges of molds to be able to flip the mold out onto serving plates.

7. For the apple cinnamon caramel sauce, sauté 1 cup of peeled and diced Granny Smith apples in butter, add a pinch of sugar and cinnamon. Allow to cook until apples are lightly browned and all sugars have dissolved. Remove from heat and add 2 cups caramel sauce to the apples and stir to coat apples.

To Assemble
Pour caramel apple sauce over warmed apple cakes and serve with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

Source: Buffalo News, Jan 13th, 2009


Gourmet Food Gifts & Corporate Gift Options

July 27th, 2009 2 comments

Gourmet food gifts are the perfect corporate gifts and offer personalized gift options which are appreciated by everyone . They can communicate your heartfelt thanks and fondness in a package that will be remembered long after its contents have been enjoyed. Whether you’re buying them for a friend, relative, or for a corporate gift, mail order food gifts can fit any occasion perfectly. If you have never considered ordering gourmet foods online, you may discover that you’ve been neglecting one of the hidden gems of culinary delight.

Gourmet Gifts Ideas For Every Occasion

One of the key advantages of buying mail order food gifts is that they fit any occasion. They make ideal housewarming gifts, anniversary and birthday presents, and Father’s Day gifts. You can give a food basket to congratulate someone for a job promotion, graduation, or to celebrate the launch of a new business. Mail order food gifts can be used to express thanks to an office colleague or to congratulate a business partner for securing a new account.

Everybody loves gourmet foods. While many people search relentlessly for the “perfect gift,” a custom-designed wine and cheese basket might convey the right message. Regardless of the event or occasion, food basket gifts are always enjoyed and remembered.

Food Basket Gifts Can Meet Any Culinary Taste

Have you ever experienced the frustration of searching for a unique gift for a person who has everything? Mail order food gifts eliminate that frustration. The sheer variety of items and food combinations can match any person’s unique culinary taste. For example, a Robiola Bosina cheese paired with a light chardonnay might suit a loved one’s specific pairing preference. On the other hand, a box of carefully selected butter caramels or pecan turtles may be more appropriate. You can buy mail order food gifts to match any circumstance and palate.

Some people enjoy Italian food while others prefer healthy meals. Some enjoy wine while others prefer chocolate. Millions of people have cultivated a strong fondness for seafood, pizza, fruit, and gourmet meats. There are several companies online that specialize in customized mail order food gifts for every taste imaginable.

Elegance And Style With Wine And Cheese Baskets

While mail order food gifts can suit any occasion, few can match the grace and sophistication of wine and cheese baskets. Some baskets are focused on particular combinations with Merlots or Zinfandels paired with a sharp Jack cheese. Others showcase several wines with a variety of French cheeses forming the backdrop. From budget-friendly combos to premium selections, mail order food gifts that pair wines and cheeses are always appreciated. Plus, the pairings convey a uniqueness that makes the gift stand apart from others.

The Convenience Of Mail Order Food Gifts

Shopping online has dramatically changed the retail landscape. Rather than spending hours visiting malls and specialty food shops, millions of people are ordering mail order food gifts on the internet. In many cases, it is the only way they can order specific items, such as caviar, lean meat cuts, and certain chocolates and confections. In other cases, it’s a matter of convenience; they can peruse gourmet gift ideas online at a time that suits their schedule, not the business hours of local shops. The companies which sell mail order food gifts will gladly send them to your home or directly to the person to whom you intend to give them.

Mail Order Food Gifts Offer More Flexibility

The flexibility you’ll enjoy when choosing mail order food gifts for your friends and family allows you to customize your gifts for each person. For example, your parents might be delighted with mocha truffles while an office colleague might enjoy a premium fruit and wine basket. One friend may be grateful to receive an Italian cheese plate while another prefers smoked and cured meats. There is a staggering assortment of mail order food gifts that you can order online.

Whether you need to find the “perfect gift” for a loved one or want to avoid the holiday tumult at your local mall, a basket of culinary delights is an ideal solution. Unique, convenient, and always enjoyed, mail order food gifts are a fantastic way to celebrate any occasion.

Healthy Restaurant Choices: Eating Nutritious Meals While Dining Out

July 25th, 2009 1 comment

Healthy restaurant dining has become an explosively popular trend over the past few years. As health care costs continue to spiral out of control, a growing number of people are looking for ways to trim a few pounds and shed their excess weight. The Fast Food Nation is aggressively searching for an alternative to the grease-laden and calorie-filled entrees to which they’ve grown accustomed. As a result, there are more opportunities than ever for eating smart at a healthy restaurant.

Below, you’ll discover how to find a healthy restaurant in your city that matches your style and culinary tastes, including gourmet foods and fine dining restaurants. We’ll explain how to make the most of your experience dining there as well as the virtues of enjoying healthy takeout foods.

How to Find a Healthy Restaurant
Dining out is a challenge if you’d like to stay fit and healthy. Restaurant dishes that seem wholesome on the surface sometimes hide hundreds of calories. For example, wraps were once considered light and nourishing, but often contain over 1,000 calories and more than their share of fat grams. It’s far more effective to dine at a healthy restaurant that specializes in dishes that are good for your heart and figure. The challenge is finding them.
If you have friends or family members who are actively pursuing a healthful lifestyle, ask them for recommendations. Chances are, they’ll have a small list of favorite places they can share with you. Otherwise, look for reviews online. There are websites that review healthy restaurants that are located throughout the country. These sites will not only direct you to restaurants with free wireless and healthy takeout in your city, but they’ll also provide a personal review of the foods offered there.

The Virtues of Healthy Takeout
A lot of people would prefer to avoid dining in and instead, take their meals home with them. Unfortunately, many of them cut corners and opt for fast food, rationalizing that the sacrifice to their health is temporary. You can enjoy a better alternative. There are a growing number of restaurants that offer delicious healthy takeout for their customers. They realize that a dining experience isn’t always desired, but also understand that their customers still crave wholesome meals. To fulfill that need, they go to great lengths to provide healthy takeout that is both tasty and nutritious.

Choosing a Healthy Restaurant Begins At Home
There is likely at least one healthy restaurant in your area. Whether you’re looking for a fine dining experience or healthy takeout choices to enjoy at home, look in your town. If you live in a larger city, search online for high-quality reviews that provide insight about the experience you can expect to enjoy. Reading personal reviews is one of the best ways to find a local healthy restaurant that suits your preferences. They can detail certain meals, their nutritional value, and even which dishes to avoid. What’s more, you can search for these reviews from the comfort of your home.

Tips for Eating At a Healthy Restaurant
It’s important to be aware of the factors that add unnecessarily to the calorie and fat count of your meals, even when dining at a healthy restaurant. Don’t be afraid to special-order dishes without mayonnaise or heavy salad dressings. Consider drinking water rather than sodas and other sugared beverages. Limit the salt content and watch your portions; even a “light” meal can contain 500 calories. You’ll find some healthy restaurants that will even offer deep-friend or battered foods, often to attract new diners who are wary of the unknown. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast or looking for an alternative to the fast food lifestyle, search for healthy restaurant reviews online.

Wireless Hotspot: 5 Reasons Restaurants Should Offer Free Wireless

July 16th, 2009 No comments

The wireless hotspot resides in restaurants and the trend is rapidly spreading throughout the country. Coffee shops, delis, cafes, and restaurants have begun to invest in the infrastructure required to offer their customers free wireless access. Many restaurant owners have made the decision to transform to an Internet cafe,  because their customers have requested the service. Others look at their competition and realize that not providing free Wi-Fi might make them vulnerable within their market.

Most consumers, including those who visit your restaurant or cafe, are relying upon the internet for larger segments of their lives. Some are starting businesses. Others depend on online access to communicate with their friends and family. Still others consume most of their entertainment online. Wireless hotspots draw these people in and encourage them to become loyal customers. Here are five reasons restaurants, cafes, and other eateries should integrate wireless hotspots into their facilities.

#1 – Entrepreneurs Follow Wireless Hotspots

Millions of people have created online businesses over the past decade. At the same time, a growing number of consumers are retiring their desktop computers and replacing them with laptops. This gives them instant portability. You’ll notice these entrepreneurs hunched in front of their laptops, operating their businesses. They follow wireless hotspots. It’s not uncommon to see them in places that offer cafe Wi-Fi. Or, you might see them using the computers in an internet cafe. Restaurants that offer wireless hotspots quickly become favorite places for these entrepreneurs.

#2 – Wireless Hotspots Increase Sales

When cafe Wi-Fi and wireless hotspots first became popular draws, restaurants owners were concerned their sales would slump if they offered the service. They were understandably worried that people would visit their establishments, buy a low-priced item, and stay for the entire day. Many business owners discovered something entirely different occurred.

Sales increased as customers camped out and returned to the register to buy over and over. Traffic swelled as people noticed large crowds within certain facilities; restaurants owners have known for decades that popularity builds upon itself. Many who were once concerned about using wireless hotspots turned to them as a powerful marketing strategy and competitive advantage.

#3 – Improved Customer Loyalty With Wireless Hotspots

Banking institutions offer multiple products to encourage deeper customer loyalty. In effect, the more reasons a customer has to stay, the less likely a customer will migrate to a competitor. In the same manner, restaurant owners who integrate wireless hotspots into their establishments provide their customers with an additional reason to visit. Keep in mind, most people stick to their favorite places to eat and relax. By offering them multiple reasons to come, you’ll strengthen their loyalty to your business.

#4 – Free Wireless Hotspots Boost Competitiveness

Cafe Wi-Fi and wireless hotspots are gradually becoming a necessity for many coffee shops and restaurants. Without it, they are finding it more difficult to compete against the behemoths within their market. For example, in early 2008, Starbucks began offering free Wi-Fi to their customers, essentially becoming an internet cafe. McDonalds did the same. Other restaurants and coffee shops are following suit in order to remain competitive.

#5 – Wireless Hotspots Cater To the “New” Employee

Long ago, employees would arrive at the office in the early morning and remain there until evening. Many of them even took lunches at their desks. Times have changed. An increasing number of people are enjoying the convenience of telecommuting. Armed only with a laptop, they can perform their jobs from any facility that provides free Wi-Fi access. Their first choice is often coffee shops and restaurants that offer wireless hotspots. They can fulfill their job-related responsibilities while enjoying time outside the office and home.

As the economic climate grows darker, more people will likely lose their jobs. Many of them will start their own businesses which they’ll manage online. Others will simply look for places to sit and enjoy a bite or a cup of coffee. These people are likely to gravitate toward establishments that offer free Wi-Fi service. Restaurant owners who provide this benefit within their facilities may discover their traffic and sales increase as a result.

There are many reasons which should motivate restaurants to consider integrating wireless hotspots. People are spending a greater number of hours online than ever. Coax them to spend those hours within your restaurant.

Posted By RestaurantWired

Your Wireless Hotspot, Restaurant Wired is a resource for Restaurant Wireless Access and Free Café Wifi offers.  Find restaurants with free wireless access, free café wifi, wireless hotspots, healthy restaurants, restaurant gift certificates, food gifts, and gourmet foods online at www.RestaurantWired.com .

The Wine Messenger

Secret Restaurant Recipe Tastes Like Olive Garden™ Chicken Marsala

July 10th, 2009 No comments
This restaurant recipe tastes just like the Chicken Marsala at Olive Garden.  Try it and let us know what you think.  Your restaurant recipes reviews can be found within comments on this site.

Description: Lightly coated chicken breasts skillet fried with sauteed mushrooms in a Marsala sauce.

Ingredients

1/4 cup cake flour (Wondra)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/2 teaspoon oregano

4 tablespoons oil

4 tablespoons butter

4 chicken half breasts –

boneless, skinless

1 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced

1/2 cup Marsala wine

Directions

1. In shallow dish, combine flour, salt, pepper and oregano; stir to blend.

2. In heavy skillet, heat oil and butter until butter melts and mixture bubbles lightly.

3. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour; shake off excess; saute in pan 2 minutes for the first side or until lightly browned; as you turn chicken, add mushrooms around the chicken pieces. Cook about 2 more minutes, until lightly browned on the second side; stir mushrooms. Once the second side is lightly browned, add wine around the pieces; cover and simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Transfer to plates and serve.

Serves 4

Find the collection of secret restaurant recipes and get

“America’s Secret Recipes” cookbook collection here.

This offer is for instant access to the digital version (.PDF format) of these cookbooks.  Once you place your order, the physical version of America’s Secret Recipes Volume 1 & 2 can be sent to you for a small additional shipping charge.

Please note that RecipeSecrets is not sponsored, endorsed, or affiliated with any recipe source. RecipeSecrets disclaims using any copyright or trademark.  The recipes we publish were created to taste the same as the food served at restaurants, but they may not be the exact recipes used by the restaurants in all instances.  All restaurant names are trademarks of their respective owners.

Free Wireless and Gourmet Shakes Found at Shake Oasis

July 10th, 2009 No comments

Free Wireless and healthy takeout are found in this healthy restaurant choice.

More than just a shake, you find healthy meals on the go at Shake Oasis. At Shake Oasis you can find a healthy takeout meal that will make you feel great and won’t sabotage your healthy eating efforts. Look at the menu and it only gets better. All Shakes on average contain 15g Sugar, 15 – 20g of high quality Protein, 220 Calories and less than 4g Fat. Pina Colada, Snicker Doodle, Rocky Road, and Vanilla Cinnamon flavors that sound sinful aren’t off limits at Shake Oasis. You can enjoy tastes of cake and pie at this healthy restaurant with shakes that taste like Wedding Cake, German Chocolate Cake, and Pumpkin Pie, Key Lime Pie, Banana Cream Pie and Coconut Cream Pie.

Free wireless offered at Shake oasis? You bet! As you walk into Shake Oasis , the cool calming colors give you a feel of relaxation you may want to stick around and access the free wireless. Bring your laptop and enjoy cafe wifi while you drink a cup of green tea and indulge in one of the cafe latte shakes, like German Chocolate Latte, Cafe Caramel Latte, with only 155 calories, 1 gram of fat, 13 carbs, 9 grams of sugar and 15 grams of protien! If you are watching Weight Watchers Points, these shakes average 4 Weight Watchers Points.

Healthy takeout isn’t easy to find, especially with teens in the house. Our family is constantly on the go and we have found Shake Oasis to be a healthy food restaurant choice for us. My teens love the shakes and have shared their favorite shakes with their friends. We’ve made several trips to Shake Oasis with friends to share our secret to healthy takeout.

Healthy food choices and free wifi both can be found at Shake Oasis. Come by for healthy breakfast, lunch or snack! You won’t find a better tasting and healthier shake anywhere!

– Brandi LeBlanc

A long time gourmet foods, restaurant recipes, and cooking enthusiast, Brandi LeBlanc is a Marketing Consultant for Rostin Reagor Smith.

Restaurant Recipes & Gourmet Foods Online Are Served At Home

July 9th, 2009 No comments

Gourmet food is good for the soul. Whether the economy is up or down, everybody is going to eat. The difference is that more people are eating at home- good for grocery stores, cookbooks, food magazines and cooking utensil sales… bad for restaurants. Gourmet foods online and restaurant recipes are now being served at home.

According to Reuters, just a few years ago, about half of the $1 trillion American food budget went to the tills of restaurants and fast food outlets. According to BIGResearch, a consumer research firm, about 45% of Americans are eating out less this year to save money.

“What we see now, over the last year and a half, is a very, very significant change in the direction of that trend,” said Ken Powell, Chairman and CEO of General Mills. “Basically, consumers in North America are rediscovering the grocery store and cooking at home again, clearly to the benefit of some and the detriment of others as many restaurants really struggle in the U.S. right now.”

The Wall Street Journal reported that in the first half of 2008 overall newsstand sales for consumer magazines fell 6.3%. However, cooking magazines proved to be the exception to the rule. In that time period, Everyday Food’s newsstand sales rose 8.9%. Everyday with Rachael Ray gained 6.2%, and Gourmet was up 3.5%. The biggest increase was with Bon Appetit, a magazine that serves up recipes for everything from gourmet meals to fast and easy dinners. Its newsstand sales in May 2008 were up 39 percent from a year ago.

Cookbooks sales have also increased. Borders Group Inc. reported that their sales in the second quarter of 2008 were up over the first quarter. Double digit growth in book sales in the food, and cooking category were reported by Amazon.com.

An interesting, and probably unexpected, boost in cookware sales is a direct result of consumers eating out less and going to the grocery store more. After years of eating out, many Americans realize that they don’t have the necessary utensils to cook at home. Although cookware sales overall have declined recently, those with a price tag of less than $100 are doing “remarkably well,” said Florence Sheffer, a spokeswoman for the cookware distributor Meyer Corp. in Vallejo, Calif. The most popular sets are those with celebrity chef name tags.

The trend to eat at home seems destined to increase over the next few years. As families worry about the state of the economy, maybe cooking at home will have a positive impact by bringing families closer together, providing more nutritious food and helping us to save money. Who knows? Maybe the next generation will produce a plethora of amazing chefs because they learned to cook at home from an early age.

Your Restaurant Reviews Welcomes Your Reviews

June 28th, 2009 1 comment

Your restaurant reviews on restaurants for healthy dining,  healthy takeout, and casual dining restaurants can be found here.  Restaurant reviews fine dining restaurants or restaurants with free wireless access are reviewed by you here.  You can also review your experience in ordering gourmet foods online, restaurant gift cards or restaurant gift certificates.

Welcome to Your Restaurant Reviews on Restaurant Wired!   Review your favorite restaurants here, tell others about your experiences or post on a new restaurant wireless hotspot.   Post your own reviews or just comment on restaurant reviews of others.

Taste Divulge and Enjoy Your Restaurant Reviews on Restaurantwired.com!

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