Nominations Nominations Open - The Tasty Awards for Food and Wine VideoOpen - The Tasty Awards for Food and Wine Video

We are pleased to announce that nominations are now being accepted for the TASTY AWARDS.

The Tasty Awards' goal is to recognize and acknowledge outstanding excellence in video content focused on food, drink, fashion and design.

Who do you watch? Who do you love? What have you produced? Nominated submissions can include Web Programs, Television Programs, Mobile Content, and Films & Documentaries.

There are also special categories for promotions and campaigns, as well as for casts and personalities.

To submit a nomination, or for more information about the Tasty Awards, go to www.TastyAwards.com

See:
The New Media Tastemakers Summit

TasteTV.com, TasteTV

Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon on October 11th

Things are bustling around here at TasteTV as we prepare for our 3rd Annual Los Angeles Chocolate Salon on October 11th. Here's a roster of who will be there:

Choclatique, Happy Chocolates, Rushburn Toffee Co., The Tea Room chocolate, Quady Winery, Chocolatl, Jade Chocolates, San Francisco Toffee Company, CJ's Bitz and CJ's Stix, Marti Chocolatt, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Artisan Cocoa / Amella Caramels, AF-squared Chocolatiers, Clarine's Florentines, Helen Grace Chocolates, Mignon Chocolate, TCHO, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Landrin, Sterling Confections, Chocoveda, Republica Del Cacao, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Plush Puff Gourmet Marshmallows, The Chocolate Traveler, Ococoa chocolates, Tifa Chocolate, Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa, Xocai Chocolate, Zhena's Gypsy Tea, XT Patisserie, Farm Fresh To You, Original Beans, Swirls Cupcakes, Vermeer Dutch Chocolate Cream, Blue Angel Vodka, Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, TasteTV, Yelp, California School of Culinary Arts - Le Cordon Bleu Programs, Edible Los Angeles Magazine, The Kahala Hotel & Resort

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
• The Tasty Awards
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Dinner Party Tricks: How to do Michael Jackson's Moonwalk

Dinner Party Tricks: How to do Michael Jackson's Moonwalk

The secrets revealed in this great video from Wired:



If you want more tips, try eHow.


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  


• ChocolateSalon.tv
  


• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Media Wars Continue: Bloggers vs Critics

It has begun!

In yet another (dozen or so) instances of the Media Wars between food & wine bloggers and food and wine print critics and reviewers, the kid gloves have come off. Name calling begins, chaos insues, and hope of an early understanding that these two camps are one day going to be filled with the same people has not yet been recognized.

It's also interesting that many of the allegations being made about each other are not quite factual. Hmmm. Who keeps track of the facts these days, anyway?

That being said, or hypothesized, here's a list of fascinating skirmishes for you to read:

Esquire Restaurant Critic John Mariani is Having Dinner at Graham Elliot Tonight (MenuPages)
Esquire Editor Defends John Mariani (GrubStreet)
Why Does Everyone Hate John Mariani? (GrubStreet)
Changes at The Wine Advocate? (DrVino.com)
These Wine Bloggers Are… (Domaine547)
Leave Me out of your Tail Wagging, Finger Pointing Ego Contest (GoodGrape.com)


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Chronicle Has the Lock on Top Chef Books

Top Chef continues to dominate the foodie world, and the Chronicle Books is there to share in the glory, so says Publishers Weekly magazine.

Chronicle won Top Chef: The Cookbook in a “competitive auction” and published the book in March 2008. It has 150,000 copies in print, and publishing director Mikyla Bruder says “it has backlisted very nicely.” The main focus of Chronicle’s marketing campaign was advertising on edgy, popular sites like Eater, Eater Los Angeles, Eater San Francisco and Grub Street. Print ads ran inFood & Wine (which is a partner of the show) and the New Yorker’s annual food issue. The publisher organized Q&As and signings for contestants (er, “cheftestants”) at Barnes & Noble stores, and promoted the book and events heavily on Bravotv.com and on air throughout the fourth and fifth seasons. The book was also featured in episodes in both of those seasons, which Peter Perez, Chronicle’s senior marketing manager of food and drink, said “led to major sales spikes.” Chronicle has updated the book twice, each time adding a recipe from the new season

Don't you love it that people are reading books again?

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  


• ChocolateSalon.tv
  


• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

How Successful Are TV Food Chef Contestants?

Apparently your future success as a television career competition winner really various. Maura Dieringer of USA Today provides an interesting follow-up on the careers of various reality food/fashion/design competition show winners, and it's not all peaches and cream.

Here are three examples out of several that USA Today gave:

HGTV Design Star, Season 2 (2007): Kim Myles

Myles, known for her use of unconventional design on a tight budget, is in her third season of Myles of Style. She was a hairdresser in New York before the show and earned an associate's degree in theater in Bakersfield, Calif., her hometown. She lives in Los Angeles and has been a guest designer on several HGTV shows

Hell's Kitchen, Season 2 (2006): Heather West

With a reality-show victory under her belt, West is working on two books while shooting the pilot of her own show, Eat This. As her prize from the show, West was the senior chef at Terra Rossa in the Red Rock Casino Resort in Las Vegas for a year. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 2003 and is chef Gordon Ramsay's sous chef on this season of Hell's Kitchen

The Next Food Network Star, Season 3 (2007): Amy Finley

Finley completed her six episodes of The Gourmet Next Door for Food Network, but decided not to sign on for a second season. In February 2008 she became the first columnist for Bon Appetit's new column, Family Style, and stayed for about a year. Then she left the magazine, moving to France with her family to write a regional cook book. She remains out of the public eye.

On the other hand, none of them can be called losers. Most in general of the food types are or have started their own restaurants, which many had wanted to do before the shows but couldn't. So for many it has been career building, even if that career isn't on television.

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
• ChocolateSalon.tv
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking,Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Wear more Vegetables

PETA is working on multiple strategies and ad campaigns to get people to treat animals more humanely, stop wearing fur, and possibly.... expand their wardrobes.

Expect to see these items in your local farmers markets. (celebrity models not included)

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  


• ChocolateSalon.tv
  


• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Who Wants to be a Famous Food Critic?

Who Wants to be a Famous Food Critic? Especially if no one knows it's you.

That's the question that's being asked about the new Food Critic for the New York Times, who by design can't let people know who they are in a time when all the money, fame, and power comes from being a recognized brand.

Recounts the New York Observer, here is part of the dilemma, as described by someone from the outside:

Mr. Ozersky is the 41-year-old restaurants editor for Citysearch who blogs at the Feedbag...

Mr. Ozersky now wants to be a food personality. He wants to be a judge on Iron Chef. He wants to host his own television show. He wants fame. He said he’s 55 percent there. And, he said, even though the Times restaurant critic holds an incredibly powerful position, it’s the last thing he would want to do. Not in a million, zillion years, he said.

“The Times critic can’t go on TV!” he said. “What would you do with that power? You can’t go to the restaurants you like, you can’t shmooze with the chefs and writers you like. You can’t go on Top Chef!”

“As far as I’m concerned, you have to be on television,” he continued. “You can win the National Book Award and you can write on the front page of The Times every day, and you’re still not as famous as some busty tramp on Tough Love on VH1.”

Mr. Ozersky is part of an army of writers who don’t profess to be critics, or to do what Mr. Bruni does—he, instead, is trying to do something entirely different, he said.

Too true, too true.


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  


• ChocolateSalon.tv
  


• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Chocolatiers for the Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon

Here's the current lineup for the LA Chocolate Salon on October 11th:

The Third Annual Los Angeles Luxury CHOCOLATE SALON participants include over 30 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans, such as: Choclatique, Happy Chocolates, Rushburn Toffee Co., The Tea Room chocolate, Quady Winery, Chocolatl, Jade Chocolates, San Francisco Toffee Company, CJ's Bitz and CJ's Stix, Marti Chocolatt, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Artisan Cocoa / Amella Caramels, AF-squared Chocolatiers, Brown Sugar Pastries, Clarine's Florentines, Helen Grace Chocolates, Mignon Chocolate, TCHO, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Landrin, Sterling Confections, Chocoveda, Republica Del Cacao, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Valerie Confections, Plush Puff Gourmet Marshmallows, The Chocolate Traveler, Ococoa chocolates, Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa, Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, TasteTV, Yelp, California School of Culinary Arts - Le Cordon Bleu Programs, and many more. All this in over twice the delicious tasting space as 2008

A list of events and speakers to come soon.

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
• ChocolateSalon.tv
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

SF Chefs. Food. Wine. Highlight Reel - Lick My Spoon

We weren't there, but the Lick My Spoon has a great highlights reel from the first SF Chefs. Food. Wine. event in August:

To quote Mayor Gavin Newsom, “Aspen, eat your heart out.”

An epic event 2 ½ years in the making, SF Chefs. Food. Wine. was like a food-lover’s Disneyland with approximately 200 of the Bay Area’s finest chefs, 70 wineries, and mixologists aplenty strutting their stuff.

Over the past four days, Union Square was transformed into a playground of tastings, seminars, and demonstrations from a who’s who list of culinary legends, rising stars, artisans, and experts.

Ahh, the good old days...when food events were fun, tasty and a good value.

Great to see everything old is new again. We'll be there next year, we hope!

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
• ChocolateSalon.tv
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

New Tasteable T-shirt Idea

When we get around to it, maybe TasteTV will get our new line of t-shirts out the door before October 11th. One we like at the moment:

"Life is too short, so why waste precious thyme"

Of course, we think it's sort of original. It's based on a Pat Benatar lyric.

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Michael Jackson's Personal Chef tells tale

PEOPLE Magazine has the scoop from Michael Jackson's personal chef:

Michael Jackson's personal chef says Dr. Conrad Murray was a fixture at the household of Michael Jackson – so much so that when his routine changed the day of Jackson's death, she knew something was wrong.

"I thought maybe Mr. Jackson is sleeping late," Kai Chase, hired by Jackson to cook the family meals, told the Associated Press of the morning of June 25, when she noticed that the singer's doctor had not come down Jackson's bedroom carrying a pair of oxygen tanks, as he did every morning.

The celebrity chef, 37, hired by Jackson in March, says the Jacksons' was a happy home, with a focus on healthy living.

Jackson, preparing for a series of comeback concerts in London, had fruit drinks and granola for breakfast every morning, and ate healthy foods like chicken and spinach salad for lunch with the kids. Dinners might include a seared tuna steak, and Dr. Murray was often a guest at the table. Jackson's daughter, Paris, 11, started each meal by saying grace, Chase says.

As for Chase, who expected to go to London with the family, she plans on publishing a cookbook – an idea that Jackson encouraged. The book will focus on her time with the family.

Not that it promotes her cookbook, right? Hopefully it comes with photos.

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
• The Las Vegas Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

"Twilight" Actors Made in Chocolate

Blockbuster video stores will have the "Twilight" and "New Moon" movie cast in chocolate for fans to buy... and eat.

Per andpop.com,

Necco sub-brand SkyBar is releasing these “New Moon” bars as well as special boxes of “Twilight” Sweethearts. But of course, they had to add a vampire twist to the flavours which include “Secret Strawberry,” “Passion Fruit” and “Tempting Apple.

If we're lucky, we might be able to get samples for the 2009 Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon in October. (bar photo from E! online)

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

The Cafes of San Francisco, 3rd Edition

Final List of Cafes included in Bay Area Cafe Guidebook

We are happy to announce that the new 3rd Edition of our bestseller, THE CAFES OF SAN FRANCISCO has been released!

PUBLICATION DETAILS:

# Total size of book: 6 x 9 inches
# Total pages of book: 166 pages
# Over 50 cafes featured
# Over 200 black and white photographs

Copies of the new edition can be purchased on Amazon.com

FEATURED CAFES AND BRASSERIES, with page number

Absinthe 86, 161
Aroma Cafe 156
Atlas Cafe 68
Balboa Cafe 114, 161
Bistro Vida 146, 147
Bittersweet Chocolate Cafe 109
Blue Bottle Coffee 84, 91
Blue Danube Coffee House 122
BookBeat 154
Brainwash Cafe & Laundromat 62
Butler & The Chef 58
Cafe Abir 90
Cafe Bastille 44
Cafe Borrone 144
Cafe Claude 48
Cafe de la Presse 46
Cafe Flore 70
Cafe La Tartine 142
Cafe Madeleine 36
Cafe Zoetrope 38
Caffe Acri 157
Caffe Centro 56
Caffe Greco 32
Caffe Museo 52
Caffe Puccini 28
Caffe Roma 30
Caffe Trieste 22
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf 108
Curbside Cafe 108
Depot Bookstore & Cafe 150
De Young Museum Cafe 136
Delucchi 37
Dolores Park Cafe 76
Elite Cafe 109
Emporio Rulli 152
Fairfax Coffee Roastery 155
Florio 109
Frjtz 88
The Grove 116
The Grove Fillmore 111
Jackson Place Cafe 40
Java Beach 130
La Boulangerie de Polk 100
La Mediterranee 108
La Terrasse 120
Le Zinc 72
Leaping Lemur Cafe 134
Left Bank 139, 147
Mario's Bohemian Cigar Store 29
Maxelds House of Caffeine 78
May's Coffee Shop 113
Mojo Bicycle Cafe 94
Momi Toby's 91
Nani's Cafe 128
One World Cafe 93
Pamplemousse 146
Peet's Coffee & Tea 140
People's Cafe 92
PlumpJack Cafe 110
Poulet 139
Revolution Cafe 80
Rigolo 126
Ritual Coffee Roasters 74
Sam's Anchor Cafe 158
Samovar Tea Lounge 66
San Francisco Art Institute Cafe 135
South Beach Cafe 54
South Park Cafe 60
Stella Pasticceria e Caffe 28
Steps of Rome 34
Sugar Cafe 102
Sunower Cafe 149
Tartine 82
Tosca 25
Velo Rouge 124
Vesuvio Cafe 26
Vivande 109
Warming Hut Cafe 118


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
• Las Vegas Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

SEXY DISHES Recipe Demo and Tasting

A fun cooking demo and tasting featuring chefs and mixologists featured in the recent TasteTV foodie book, "SEXY DISHES: A Guide to Who's Hot in the Kitchen (Bay Area Edition)"

Meet these sexy chefs, who will demonstrate their sexy recipes and provide sample tastings of their sexy dishes at the Williams-Sonoma flagship store's demonstration kitchen in lovely Union Square, San Francisco.

Featured at this TasteTV event:

* Cindy Chen, Owner and Chef, Shanghai 1930
* Taylor Boudreaux, Executive Chef, California Cafe
* Iris Eisenlohr, Wine Director, Piacere Restaurant
* Miriam Russell-Wadleigh, Executive Chef, Piacere Restaurant

Bring your copy of SEXY DISHES to be signed in person, or just come and meet and eat!

Saturday, July 11, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM Where: Williams-Sonoma 340 Post St San Francisco, CA 94108

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Upcoming Chocolate Salons and Chocolate Salon Awards

TasteTV has just released the design for the TasteTV Chocolate Salon Awards (see right), which are presented at every Chocolate Salon to the best of the best, as judged by our panel of chocolate experts.

Las Vegas is the newest city to host a TasteTV Chocolate Salon (see dates below). The event takes place at the Venetian and Palazzo Resorts.

Upcoming TasteTV Luxury Chocolate Salons:

• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon (July 12th)
  
• The Las Vegas Luxury Chocolate Salon (September 11th)
  
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon (October 11th)
  
• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon (March 2010)
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon (May 2010)
  

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

THE OBAMA MENU : Dining with Barack Obama

New Release Alert - THE OBAMA MENU : Dining with Barack Obama

TasteTV announces the release of its newest culinary book,

"THE OBAMA MENU: Dining with Barack Obama".

About THE OBAMA MENU:

One of the innovations of the Obama campaign of 2008 had a surprising culinary angle that took him from table to table across the nation. The campaign's famous fundraising and "person-to-person" dinners took place in people's homes, in restaurants, and in hotels, and ranged from the humble to the extravagant. The Obama Menu includes not only menus and recipes from these events, but also the stories, first-hand accounts, photographs, speeches and quotes. The result is a unique view of this American candidate for president - from a culinary perspective.

Featuring recipes ranging from the Kahala Resort in Hawaii to the Biltmore Hotel in Florida, from the kind of pie that Obama loves to the Obama Family Chili.

Spoiler alert: Multiple appearances by food guru Alice Waters and the journey to the utlimate organic White House vegetable garden!

"THE OBAMA MENU: Dining with Barack Obama" is available now on Amazon.com, and soon in Borders, Barnes & Noble, Books Inc., and bookstores nationwide.

About TasteTV

TasteTV is a leading New Media food, wine and lifestyle network, covering delicious topics ranging from restaurants, food, and wine to chocolate, cooking, fashion, and style. Its videos can be seen online at http://www.TasteTV.com, ChocolateTelevision.com, BlogCritics.org, on HULU.com, Comcast On Demand, and on over 100 television stations nationwide.

TasteTV books include "The Cafes of San Francisco," "The Chocolate Guide," "Sexy Dishes," "Chocolate French," "The Dog's Guide to Surfing" and the newest, THE OBAMA MENU: Dining with Barack Obama.

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

SEXY DISHES WEEK - Current Lineup of Restaurant Specials

SEXY DISHES WEEK in the Bay Area is from May 4th-8th, and restaurants & bars in the book will be featuring food and drink Specials as well as launch events. Fans can also have copies of their books signed by these local culinary celebrities. A list of the customer specials for SEXY DISHES WEEK will be updated regularly here on Tasteable.com

Current SEXY DISHES Specials include:

• Sam's Chowder House (Half Moon Bay): Half off either of the two dishes featured in the book - The Rock Shrimp-Bay Scallop Ceviche, or the Ahi Tuna Poke (see video on NBC) for customers that bring the book or buy a book from Sam’s Gift Shop (Chef Lewis Rossman will sign it when you come in)..
  
  
• 83 Proof (SF): Half price for the 2 cocktails featured in the book from 8pm til Close - The Cactus Flower, and the Burnt Fig Sazerac (see video on NBC)
  
  
• Piacere Restaurant (San Carlos): Half price for the cocktails featured in the book - The Cucumber Spring Fizz. Book Launch party with cocktails also on May 4th at Piacere.
  
  
• California Cafe (Los Gatos): A 3-course "Bay Area Sexy Dishes" dinner for $21
  
  
• The Beach Chalet and Park Chalet (SF): Half price Beignets at the Beach Chalet and Half Price Cupcakes in the Park Chalet (both recipes are in the book SEXY DISHES). Bring in your copy of Sexy dishes (or buy one) and get a free order.
  
  
• The Market Street Grill (SF): Half Off the Branzini fish dish featured in the book for customers that bring in a copy of the book or buys one from the restaurant (Chef Adam will also sign it if he is in when you come)
  
  
• Shanghai 1930 (SF): $29.95, Prix Fixe
  

Appetizers: Nanking Spring Rolls
Soup: Neptune Hot & Sour Soup
Main Course (Please choose one item):
- Szechwan Chili Prawns with Sautéed Leeks
- Chicken “Lily” with Black Bean Sauce
- Crispy Chewy Szechwan Beef
- Fish Pillows with black and silver tree ears

The above entrees include the following
Pea Shoots sautéed in Rice wine
Vegetable Stirred Rice

Dessert: Crème Brule


• Shoggi Chocolate (SF): SEXY DISHES Chocolate Package has a value of $ 13.25 and is offered to anyone with a copy of Sexy Dishes for only $ 6.50 (1/2 price)
  
  SEXY DISHES Chocolate Package: A Combination of our drinking chocolate (regular size, value $ 3.75), four of our best selling pieces of chocolate and pastries (around $ 7), as well as one of our popular macaroons (value $ 2.50). The customer can choose his favorite pieces from a selection of over 80 different chocolates and pastries, as well as 7 different flavors of macaroons, or just follow our recommendation. This is a great way to get a taste of SCHOGGI.



• More Sexy Dishes Customers Specials to come soon!
  
  
  

Featured chefs, mixologists and chocolatiers in the new Bay Area Edition of SEXY DISHES include Sky Wegman (83 Proof), Adam Jones (Market Street Grill), Jamie Lauren (Absinthe), Lewis Rossman (Sam's Chowder House), Steve Adler (Sacred Chocolate), Jill Ann Cosentino (Dolce Vita Catering), Alex Molitz (Supperclub), Lara Graham Truppelli (Beach Chalet), Amy Heater (Park Chalet), Taylor Boudreaux (California Cafe), Stephanie Marcon (Coco-luxe Confections), Iris Eisenlohr (Piacere Restaurant), Justine Miner (RNM Restaurant), Cynthia Wong-Chen (Shanghai 1930), Mindy Fong (Jade Chocolates), Tony Diiorio (Poggio Trattoria), Devon Boisen (Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto), Dominik Schieweck (Schoggi Chocolate), Ben Paula (Sauce Restaurant), David Lawrence (1300 on Fillmore), Rachel Bassignani (Spruce), Alex Marsh (Levende East), David Borges (Cafe Claude), Dominique Crenn (Luce), and Eric Joppie (Mayacama).





TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

TasteTV DARK DINING on the TRAVEL CHANNEL

TasteTV's DARK DINING events will be featured on the Travel Channel's new program, Extreme Restaurants , which debuts on Wednesday April 29th


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Sexy Dishes Week in the Bay Area, May 4-8th

Sexy Dishes Week will take place in the San Francisco Bay Area, May 4-8th, with drink and food specials at participating restaurants.

More information coming soon.

To view the book, go to Amazon.com



TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Gawker asks why both Gourmet and Bon Appetit coexist

Gawker asks why these two major food magazines are still currently in existence...

at the same time!

"Bon Appetit and Gourmet are both Conde Nast-owned food magazines with similar reader demographics and ad rates. They're both equally popular among Gawker readers. They're both troubled. Why does Conde need both?"

Then they go on to point demographics, money made per ad, and other things that normally lead to a joint venture or buy out. But since no one has any money these days for that type of thing, it's just a nice interesting article.


TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Rachel Ray gets Feisty (uhh ...Feistier)

In People Magazine, Rachel Ray defends some of her recession proof recipes and apparently some photos that some people felt were kind of ... tantalizing.

RRrrr says her whole thing is really perfect for people living in a recession:

Per People Mag:

"The magazine, the daytime show, we've always tried to write affordable, accessible [recipes]," Ray, 40, tells ABC's Nightline for a profile to air Monday. "Those are key words for us, and I do mean us, a huge staff of people at the magazine who love to cook affordable, friendly food that helps families eat better for less. So I think this is really a time for all of our team to shine ... You know, food is such – it's a hug for people."

Ahh, to be worth $18 million....

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• ChocolateSalon.tv
  
• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood

Sexy Dishes is Published!

Hooray! Our book SEXY DISHES: A Guide to Who's Hot in the Kitchen (San Francisco Bay Area Edition) is on its way to bookstores, Amazon.com, and more.

The final list of chefs, chocolatiers and wine experts featured in SEXY DISHES is listed below. (Yes, that is TOP CHEF Jamie Lauren on the cover)

You can see a new sample PDF of the first 21 pages of the FINAL Edition by going here.

FINAL LIST (name, profession, and page number)

Sky Wegman
Mixologist / Bartender 16

Adam Jones
Chef 22

Jamie Lauren
Chef 28

Lewis Rossman
Chef 36

Steve Adler
Chocolatier 42

Jill Ann Cosentino
Caterer 46

Alex Molitz
Chef 50

Lara Graham Truppelli
Restaurateur 54

Amy Heater
Pastry Chef 60

Taylor Boudreaux
Chef 68

Stephanie Marcon
Chocolatier 74

Iris Eisenlohr
Wine Director 78

Justine Miner
Chef / Restaurateur 84

Cynthia Wong-Chen
Chef / Restaurateur 88

Mindy Fong
Chocolatier 94

Tony Diiorio
Mixologist / Bartender 98

Devon Boisen
Chef 102

Dominik Schieweck
Chocolatier 106

Ben Paula
Chef 112

David Lawrence
Chef / Restaurateur 116

Rachel Bassignani
Sommelier 122

Alex Marsh
Chef 126

David Borges
Mixologist / Bartender 130

Dominique Crenn
Chef 134

Eric Joppie
Chef 140

TasteTV Events include:

• The San Francisco International Chocolate Salon
• The Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Chicago Luxury Chocolate Salon
  
• The Seattle Luxury Chocolate Salon
  


• ChocolateSalon.tv
  


• The New Media Tastemakers Summit

This blog from the contributors, producers and correspondents at TasteTV at TasteTV.com. technorati tags:TasteTV, restaurants, video, content, food, Chocolate, wine, recipes, cooking, Restaurant Reviews, Chef, ITV, fashion, seafood