Secret of English muffin 'nooks & crannies' is safe for now   Friday July 30, 2010

A former food-industry executive armed with the secret to the "nooks and crannies" in Thomas' English muffins displayed "suspicious conduct" before his planned move to rival Hostess, a U.S. appeals court said in upholding a ban on the move. Chris Botticella of Trabuco Canyon, Calif., remains barred from starting the Hostess job while a trade-secret lawsuit filed by Thomas' parent company, Bimbo Bakeries USA, plays out. Botticella is one of just se... [click here view entire article]

Danny Meyer to Bring Three Restaurants to Battery Park City   Friday July 30, 2010

Another day, another Danny Meyer eatery -- or three. Rumors of Meyer-spotting in Battery Park City have swirled for several weeks, and this morning brings confirmation: A new Shake Shack, a Blue Smoke, and a still-to-be-named fine dining establishment will land on the southerly tip of the island in 2011. Meyer will "anchor the development," the stolid press release trumpets, at 102 North End Avenue. We know what you're thinking: "My God, there's a Chevys Fresh Mex at that address!" Inde... [click here view entire article]

Tully's Coffee attracts hundreds of potential franchisees   Thursday July 29, 2010

Hundreds of people have contacted Tully's Coffee about opening franchise stores since the company announced last month that it's open to single-franchise locations, according to Scott Earle, the Seattle-based chain's vice president of marketing and business development. It had to turn away people for a franchise expo last Tuesday evening at its corporate headquarters near I-5. "We overbooked the room and had 56 people," Earle said. "The vast major... [click here view entire article]

Is Aged Beef Overrated?   Thursday July 29, 2010

In a word: yes. But—and it's a big but—aging is crucial. The only thing more disappointing than an over-aged steak, in fact, is a steak that hasn't been aged at all. Confused? You have every right to be. But be warned: Steakhouses and high-end butcher shops are playing off your confusion to rip you off. So without further ado, here's everything you need to know about aged beef and why good beef just doesn't need to age all that long. When a cow is... [click here view entire article]

Foodservice business lifts Manitowoc earnings    Wednesday July 28, 2010

Manitowoc Co. posted better-than-expected quarterly results Tuesday, although its crane division sales were down 31% from a year ago. For the second quarter, the company had net income of $14.1 million, or 11 cents a share, compared with a loss of $12.3 million, or 9 cents, a year earlier. Sales declined 12% to $876.5 million, but sales in the company's food equipment division climbed 11% to $424.9 million. Foodservice equipmen... [click here view entire article]

US: Pierre Foods set to merge with convenience food firms   Wednesday July 28, 2010

Private equity-owned US food group Pierre Foods is to merge with two other convenience food makers - Advance Food Co. and Advance Brands. The plan, approved by each company's board and unveiled yesterday (28 July), will create Advance Pierre Foods. Funds managed by Oaktree Capital Management, which are currently the majority shareholder in Pierre Foods, will keep a majority stake in the new company. Advance Pierre Foods will se... [click here view entire article]

Restaurant Stock Winners, Losers: Panera   Wednesday July 28, 2010

NEW YORK, N.Y. (TheStreet) -- Panera Bread(PNRA) and Buffalo Wild Wings(BWLD) posted strong quarterly financials after the closing bell Tuesday. Both restaurant chains beat top- and bottom-line expectations -- although a closer look at the all-important same-store sales metric delivered a mixed plate of winners and losers. ... [click here view entire article]

ESPN Examines Unsavory Stadium Food   Tuesday July 27, 2010

old in ice machines at six stands at Miller Park in Milwaukee. A cockroach crawling over a soda dispenser in a private club at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh. Food service workers repeatedly ignoring orders to wash their hands at a stand at Detroit's Ford Field. Sports fans don't always see such health threats when ordering a $5 hot dog and $6 beer at a professional sports stadium or arena. But the violations catch the eyes of inspectors who poke, prod and probe stadium ... [click here view entire article]

Jamba Juice Mocks McDonald's Smoothies   Tuesday July 27, 2010

Thankfully, this smoothie isn't real—it's Jamba Juice's response to some burger chains getting into the smoothie business (coughMcDonald'scough). Head to cheeseburgerchill.com for a $1 off coupon for any smoothie from Jamba Juice ... [click here view entire article]

Vitaminwater Isn't Healthy, Rules Federal Judge   Monday July 26, 2010

A federal judge ruled this week that Vitaminwater will not, as its labels promise, keep you "healthy as a horse." Nor will it bring about a "healthy state of physical or mental being". Instead, Vitaminwater is really just a sugary snack food; non-carbonated fruit coke disguised as a sports drink. Because it's composed mostly of sugar and not vitamin-laden water, judge John Gleeson held that Vitaminwater's absurd marketing claims were likely to mislead consumers. Coke... [click here view entire article]

Restaurants Uncork More Wines by the Glass   Monday July 26, 2010

Ordering wine by the glass used to mean scant choices and bland options. And only your tastebuds would tell you how long the wine had languished in an open bottle. Melissa Perello Chef and owner Melissa Perello pours a glass of the house white wine from a pitcher etched with one... Expand Chef and owner Melissa Perello pours a glass of the house white wine from a pitcher etched with one ounce markings after drawing it from a tap at her Frances restaurant in San F... [click here view entire article]

Roper Industries to buy iTradeNetwork for $525 million in cash Read more: Roper Industries to buy iTradeNetwork for $525 million in cash - Tampa Bay Business Journal   Monday July 26, 2010

Roper Industries Inc. said it will acquire iTradeNetwork Inc. in a $525 million all-cash transaction. iTradeNetwork provides subscription-based hosted software solutions to the food industry to facilitate transactions between retail grocers, restaurant chain operators, foodservice distributors and their customers. Roper (NYSE: ROP) reported second quarter earnings were $71 million, or $0.74 per share, compared with $60 million, or $0.64 per share,... [click here view entire article]

Tom Valenti’s West Branch Closes   Monday July 26, 2010

Tom Valenti has closed the Italian brasserie the West Branch, a restaurant at 77th Street and Broadway that he opened in 2008, citing the economy and an inflexible landlord as the reasons. In a Jan. 14, 2009, review by Frank Bruni, who gave it one star, he described the restaurant as “an offshoot of the beloved Upper West Side restaurant Ouest, the West Branch has a ready-made clientele in all the grateful diners who consider the chef Tom Valenti, who runs both estab... [click here view entire article]

NYC Restaurant Week Becomes Restaurant Season   Friday July 23, 2010

Note from the city: Keep eating. (Though mind the salt, and no trans fats, please.) Restaurant Week, the popular seasonal promotion that offers discounts on dining out, has been extended through Labor Day. A three-course prix fixe lunch runs $24.07 and a three-course dinner is $35. Many restaurants reel in customers with extra freebies, looking at Restaurant Week as a way to extend business after the promotion ends. Chef Daniel... [click here view entire article]

Chipotle 2Q Profit Rises 31% On Higher Sales   Friday July 23, 2010

Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s (CMG) second-quarter profit rose 31%, topping Wall Street's expectations, as an increase in traffic helped lift same-store sales. The restaurant chain also lifted its same-store-sales target for the year, seeing mid- to high-single-digit growth on a percentage basis from its April target of mid-single-digit. Shares rose 4% to $138.54 in after-hours trading. At the close, the stock is up 51% for the year. ... [click here view entire article]