Rouge Tomate Restaurant and Rob Valencia Score Big in New York

TasteTV's chocolate salon judge and adviser, Rob Valencia, and his gig at Rouge Tomate in New York have just gotten a fantastic writeup in the New York Daily News. 

According to the Daily News's writer Restaurant Girl, "..less is more!"

Other tasty observations: 

"Rouge Tomate may be a prototype for a restaurant of the future - a new way of thinking, a new way of eating, a new way of dining out.
...There's also dessert, which is where you would really mourn the missing calories. Except you don't here. The chocolate and banana tasting is 272 calories - a chocolate and caramelized banana napoleon, roasted baby banana split and a teacup of rich hot cocoa"

Four out of Five stars...Kudos Rob!

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

Photos from the Mini Chocolate Salon @ Williams Sonoma (SF, Union Square),

Photos from the Mini Chocolate Salon @ Williams Sonoma (SF, Union Square), featuring Saratoga Chocolates and Sacred Chocolate can be seen here.

More information at the SF Chocolate Meetup. Other TasteTV Chocolate Meetups are in Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles.

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

When in San Francisco, Don't Order Cabernet Sauvignon

Here's some friendly advice: when visiting San Francisco, don't ask for "Cabernet Sauvignon."

For that matter, don't order a "Pinot Noir," a "Zinfandel," and absolutely do not even think of uttering the dreaded phrase "White Zinfandel."

Why? Because the labels "pretentious," "rube" and "non-wine drinker" will be stuck to your forehead and nothing else you say will be taken seriously, at least pertaining to food. Let's face it, being so close to Wine Country, even SF biker bars serve a decent vintage or two.

Here's a TasteTV tip: When in San Francisco, the "proper" way to order the above mentioned wines is the following:

• A "Cab" = Cabernet Sauvignon.
• A "Zin" = Zinfandel (red, mais bien sur)
• A "Pinot" = Pinot Noir (if you want a Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio, then say the full name)
• A "White Zinfandel" = This beast does not exist within the boundaries of the city, but you can ask for a nice "blush" wine and get something close
  

Voila, you are now charming, cultured, and good-looking. Plus, you now have the keys to any bartender, waiter or sommelier's ear and respect in San Francisco.

TasteTV Events include:

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

Tasting fair trade chocolate - is it just your opinion?

Another great one from the New York Times. In this instance they do a taste test of all the fair-trade/organic type chocolates they can gather, and give them to a local chef for his thoughts. As you can guess, he hates most of them.

Reader and chocolatier comments ensue! Hilarity for all (not)

TasteTV Events include:

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

A Magazine Pilgrimage

The New York Times has an interesting article about a magazine store in Berlin called "Do You Read Me?"

Considering the amount we spend on magazines almost rivals the amount we spend on gas, this looks like the kind of place a magazine junkie has to go when you're in Germany.

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 Food Network Magazine is actually not too bad

Okay, so we have to admit that we were very, very suprised by the first issue of Food Network Magazine. The cover is not really to our liking, and of course it's filled with their celebrity chefs, of course Paula Deen has some recipes in it that look good but might make your heart stop beating, of course there's some elements of Ladies Home Journal (sic) in it, but frankly.... it's actually pretty good.

They've added just enough 'news' and 'finds' and 'tips' and behind the scenes content that it actually makes interesting reading for some who probably doesn't watch too much of the Food Network any more. And that says a lot. It means that the Food Network understands they've got some new opportunities that if handled well, can really pay off in the end.

That being said, we'll wait and see if Issue #2 is as good as #1.

Rachel Ray, look out, there's a new foodie magazine in town

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

Cachaca Watch: Cabana Cachaca

We've seen ads for Cabana Cachaca all over the place, in magazines, online, and in newspapers, and they definitely are eye-catching. But is this latest entry in the Cachaca Wars up to the task? We'd like to hear from you.

...and not about the tastefulness of their ad campaign, which is an ongoing subject of debate. The Huffington Post reported that one racy buildboard had been removed from in Chicago. And when we say 'removed,' we mean blacklisted and blacked out.

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