snack

hotsnack: stay fresh frock

“Every 2.4 seconds there’s a Tupperware party starting somewhere in the world,” declared Rick Goings, Chairman and CEO of Tupperware, last night. (Party starting…now) The occasion was the unveiling of the winners of the Translations in Tupperware Global Design Contest, (Party starting…now) in which artistic types were invited to created designs inspired by or using the iconic plastic containers. Seems the idea came from a group of crazy Auzzie Tupperware employees down under, after they made hats for a derby that garnered at bit of media buzz.

The four categories (fashion, accessories, house wares and artistic creation) yielded hundreds of entries from 26 countries. The pieces (Party starting…now) by the global winners and finalists are on display now through Sunday (December 11th) at the MILK Gallery (and now and forever on snackshot). If you’re in the meatpacking district this weekend (say, stalking a sneak peak at Del Posto) it’s worth a look. (Party starting...now)

MILK Gallery,450 west 15th Street between 9th/10th Avenues. Hours:11AM – 6PM

Pictured global winner: Everybody’s Tupper Tumblers Wedding Dress by Mrs. Masniah of Indonesia.

hotsnack: michelin musings

For some reason, I just can’t seem to let the Michelin story go. As I posted two weeks ago, the latest news comes to my inbox this morning from Michelin’s pr machine. The press release below (in entirety) leaves me wondering. See my internal musings in Michelin rouge.

SECOND PRINTING OF MICHELIN GUIDE NEW YORK CITY 2006 NOW UNDER WAY (I know...and?)

Premier edition of the Michelin Guide for New York City breaks all sales projections

NEW YORK-- Michelin announced today that within two weeks of the release of the Michelin Guide New York City 2006 (Party was on November 2^nd n’est-ce pas?) – its first restaurant and hotel guide in North America– the company has begun a second printing (Of how many books?) to meet exceptional sales demands. With sales keeping pace with the competition (Zagat? Mobil?) and consumer demand continuing to top all projections, retailers are reordering the new Guide much earlier than anticipated.

“It’s incredibly exciting for us to be so well received in New York and across the U.S.,” said Jean-Luc Naret, director of Michelin Guides. “We set a very aggressive benchmark figure for success (Which was…?) and we are very pleased to see sales well past that mark in just two weeks. (November 4^th to December 7^th is 1, 2, 3…33 days.) We hope the Guide inspires readers (ie, English speakers from the States – because it’s not slated to print in any other language, including French or Japanese. Too bad, because they’re the biggest-spending Michelin loyalists) to experience the best (502 restaurants) that New York has to offer.”

Michelin is the worldwide leader in the tire industry (What’s the benchmark here?). The Michelin Group manufactures, sells and promotes products and services dedicated to mobility, such as tires for airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles, the space shuttle (There are tires in space?!!), maps, travel guides, atlases and digital services (ViaMichelin.com). Headquartered in France (Clermont-Ferrand), Michelin is present in 170 countries, employs 127,000 and operates 74 production sites in 19 different countries (www.michelin.com).

(Why won’t they just tell us about California already?)

snackology: the study of the snack

Today I introduce a new category: snackology. What the…is snackology, you ask? It’s the catch-all for snack announcements on new features (yes I’ve got a little somethin’ somethin’ planned for later), newsy things and opinions on the blog. I’ll also answer all your queries*, like…why don’t you review restaurants on snack?

Excellent question. Bien sûr I dine in restaurants frequently and am fairly opinionated. Seemingly, meal + opinion = review. But it’s not simple math, there are exponential factors. To be specific, (meal + opinion) ÷ (the comp + VIP) = a great free meal the average person will never have.  Lest we forget the John Mariani Esquire brouhaha, readers would surely sackcloth and ash me for putting forth ‘reviews’ under such conditions.

Example: Barça18. I had two dinners at the Hanson/Ripert big-room tribute to tapas on Park Avenue South. I have been to Barcelona and found many of the same flavors and certainly the lively spirit of the city present all through the meal. I sampled close to every dish on the menu, Spanish wines, Sangria, cocktails - all from a big red banquette in the back of the room. Service: Excellent. Food: Delicious. Overall: Fabulous. I will go back to partake and enjoy.

That’s almost a review…yes? But that niggling voice of ethics will not be quieted until I say I have no idea if it’s a good value for the money because I never saw a menu and I never paid. The chef simple sent food, the sommelier poured and our happy band ate. So you see…I cannot review. But I don’t need to review either. Restaurant criticism has indeed reached critical mass. The good places will be found and lauded. The bad places will self-sabotage and take care of themselves.

So what do I do with all my dinning experiences? All the elements go into the hopper and turn out as trends and news on concepts, ingredients, whatever. And when asked, I have no problem recommending* restaurants. But don’t ask what my favorite is because that’s far too general. Be specific with a cuisine and a price point, please.

*I direct your attention to the email me link up there on the right.

hotsnack: was a contender

The final nominations for the URBS have been posted! It seems 2005 will not be the year of the snacksweep. Will have my Sally Field moment another day.

Bonne chance to all the blogs.

hotsnack: almost a contender

Without being too egoïste I bring your attention to The Urbs. Gridskipper's 2005 Urban Blogging Awards Nominations. 13 categories of the world’s best – including food. Happily I report Snack is a nominee alongside some very tasty spots - competition fierce indeed. Merci beaucoup to the snackers who made that happen. Nominations ([email protected]) close tonight at midnight. The list of final contenders posts on Monday.

Bonne chance á vous. Et moi aussi.