I learned early on as a restaurant consultant that food sanitation is key. Working for Sysco, the largest food distributor in the United States, I strolled through many kitchens in the Bay Area to find filthy conditions that would ruin my appetite in a heart beat.
Key lesson: How clean the bathroom is, […]

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Last week, I went Martin Yan’s (“Yan Can Cook”) office. My job was to consult his staff about innovation for his new culinary school in China. As a food addict in middle school, I still remember opt not watching cartoons and tune to PBS. I still remember watching Yan magically perform his […]

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Time magazine wrote a good article on menu design titled I’ll Have That Typeface on the Menu by Caplan.
Some restaurants are describing dishes with sophisticated words to achieve two goals.
1) Paint the dish as an upscale dish
2) Charge more since the description of the dish appear to take more time
In reality, simplicity is […]

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(In-N-Out Burger and fries)
Quality food control is paramount to any quick service restaurant. McDonald’s announced that it stopped serving sliced tomatoes in restaurants in the United States over concerns about salmonella food poisoning linked to some uncooked varieties. When I was in college, I studied Environmental Economics and Policy and learned about […]

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Over Memorial day weekend, my virgin experience of Beijing BBQ was very memorable. After weeks of watching Anthony Bourdain’s adventure through China, I yearn to experience authentic food from this region in China. Arriving at my Sam’s house, I followed my keen sense of smell toward the grill. Expecting hamburger patties and […]

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(Jalapeno Chicken Burger video)

(Paris Hilton Carl’s Jr. Commercial)
Carl’s Jr., the fourth largest quick service food chain restaurant behind McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s is launching a new viral campaign for their Jalapeño Chicken Burger. After watching the video filled with sexy cheerleaders, the viral ad accomplished its goal, gaining my attention. Carl’s Jr. […]

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Taking a page from Paula Dean, Food Network’s super chef known for her Southern home cooking, McDonald’s is offering free Southern Style Chicken Biscuit with a purchase of a large drink. Today only. Dubbed the a.m. style biscuit, two home made biscuits between a chicken patty. The p.m. version is a sandwich. […]

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(Jack in the Box: BBQ Sirloin Burger commercial)

(Diners, Drive-ins and Dives on Food Network)
Jack in the Box, the King of fast food advertisements, sits on a throne far apart from the McDonald’s and Burger King. Using humor as a tool, the commercials command attention and portray a blunt silliness. After all, Jack is […]

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(Bordain in educational foie gras video)

(Bordain at El Bulli. Top notch fine dining restaurant)

(Bordain eating fetal duck egg: I ate it before in high school. My braces caught a few feathers)
It’s late past midnight. But I will sleep well tonight, thanks to Bordain. In the past few years, guilt lingered through my soul […]

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(video source: Youtube,photos: click on thumnail to enlarge)
As a published food writer and blogger, I often am asked “can you cook?” In my British accent I answer, “but of course.” “But of course” has been a line made famous from the marketing genius of Grey Poupon. Walk through the condiment section of your […]

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