| British food store opens in Meridian
The British aren't known for their cuisine. Boiled beef, bangers and mash and kidney pie don't often find their way onto five-star menus.But Treasure Valley residents yearning for fare of the Isles are flocking to a new store in downtown Meridian.It's a British Thing, open since Feb. 6, stocks the staples of any English pantry — foods like crumpets, clotted cream and chocolate confections that by all accounts have no American equal. It's the answer to the culinary cravings of the Valley's hundreds of British ex-pats and Anglo-philes who insist the bacon is meatier, the chocolate richer and the sausages simply incomparable to their American counterparts."The English people are coming out of the woodwork," said shop owner Corinne Magee, a new Idahoan who moved from northern England in April.Magee opened It's a British Thing because she missed her native food — and she figured other local Brits did, too.
Allergy Alert - Undeclared Milk Protein in Great Value Brand White ...
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Wal-Mart Canada Corp. are warning people with allergies to milk protein not to consume certain Great Value brand cake and brownie mixes described below. These mixes may contain milk protein which is not declared on the label. The following Great Value brand cake and brownie mixes are affected by this alert. Chocolate Cake Mix, 524 g, UPC 6 81131 81149 1. Devils Food Cake Mix, 524 g, UPC 6 81131 81152 1. Fudge Brownie Mix, 454 g, UPC 6 81131 81153 8. Yellow Cake Mix, 524 g, UPC 6 81131 81150 7. All codes of these products are affected by this alert. These products made in U.S.A. were distributed nationally. There has been no reported illness associated with the consumption of these products. Consumption of these products may cause a serious or life-threatening reaction in persons with allergies to milk protein.
Dining out around West Michigan
Bentham's Riverfront Restaurant -- This Amway Grand Plaza Hotel restaurant offers basic food with a fabulous view of the Grand River and its bridges; popular for before or after downtown events; parking free for two hours if you self-park in the Amway ramp. Open daily. 187 Monroe Ave. NW, 774-2000. $$ Bistro Bella Vita --Downtown eatery in a redone warehouse next to Van Andel Arena serves upscale and gourmet meals. 44 Grandville Ave. SW, 222-4600. $$, $$$ Black Rose Irish Pub -- Urban pub atmosphere picks up even more with live music on weekends; a full menu with traditional Irish meals and hearty sandwiches, draft beers, ales and lagers. Open daily. 100 Ionia Ave. SW, 456-7673. $, $$ Bull's Head Tavern -- This restaurant is in a convenient spot for dinner before a show downtown or as a watering hole after work; wide assortment of entrees, dinner-sized salads and sandwiches.
Jimmy's Food Store debuts wine room
DALLAS The day started with a persistent gust of wind from the south. El Niño was pushing the cold weather back north. This was going to be a "Big Night" for East Dallas. Jimmy's was inaugurating their back room, their circolo, with Tuscan vintner Andrea Cecchi and a group of Italian food- and wine-loving insiders. Mercedes, Volvos, and exotics lined the parking spaces in this urban-fusion neighborhood. It's a part of Dallas that has some of the best Asian food, along with an encampment of several Italians, herb-brujo Tom Spicer, a community garden frequented by Cambodian and Vietnamese farmers, and Latino and hip-hop locals who call this place home. Everyone gets along well, no one has major turf problems, and Dallas is a richer place because of it. The foodies started piling in early, Smart Cars and Dodge trucks alike, filling in the spaces.
Local briefs
Buena High is seeking a boys' varsity water polo coach and possibly an English teacher for the 2007-08 school year. Information: Nichole Lipman at 289-1826, ext. 1023 or e-mail nlipman@vtusd.k12.ca.us. Ventura Coast: Mike and Mary Giles have stepped down as club coaches, but will continue to coach their programs at Thousand Oaks High, Ventura College and Gold Coast. Mark and Natalie Garrett, along with Hank Toring and Matt Frazier will parlay Ventura Coast into the Ventura County Premier Water Polo Club. Ventura Coast hosted the Girls' Junior Olympics Tournament last summer in Ventura County. SURFING Arden Taylor benefit returns March 24-25 The Arden Taylor VIII Surf Benefit, hosted by the Ventura Surf Club, is slated to be held March 24-25 at Surfers Point (C Street) in Ventura.
Jimmy's Food Store debuts wine room
DALLAS The day started with a persistent gust of wind from the south. El Niño was pushing the cold weather back north. This was going to be a "Big Night" for East Dallas. Jimmy's was inaugurating their back room, their circolo, with Tuscan vintner Andrea Cecchi and a group of Italian food- and wine-loving insiders. Mercedes, Volvos, and exotics lined the parking spaces in this urban-fusion neighborhood. It's a part of Dallas that has some of the best Asian food, along with an encampment of several Italians, herb-brujo Tom Spicer, a community garden frequented by Cambodian and Vietnamese farmers, and Latino and hip-hop locals who call this place home. Everyone gets along well, no one has major turf problems, and Dallas is a richer place because of it. The foodies started piling in early, Smart Cars and Dodge trucks alike, filling in the spaces.
Weekend's top things to do in Fort Collins
Astronomy - The Fort Colllins Museum holds its first Friday After Hours Series event with a free program entitled Journey to Native American Skies. Showtimes are 5:10 p.m., 5:50 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at 200 Mathew St. Info: 221-6738 or www.fcgov.com/museum.
Environment - Three bands and two films are part of a Save the Poudre benefit show starting at 7:30 p.m. at Hodi's Half Note, 167 N. College Ave. The bands are Pee Pee, The Tanukis and Harvey Knuckles; the films are Light in Liquid: A Kayak College and Drop by Drop. Info: 227-9383.
Film - Three movies open at Cinemark 16, 4723 S. Timberline Road, and/or Carmike 10, 3636 Manhattan Ave. The films are Black Snake Moan, an R-rated move starring Samuel L. Jackson and Christina Ricci; Wild Hogs, a PG-13 film starring Tim Allen, John Travolta, William Macy and Martin Lawrence as four middle-aged men take a cross-country trip on Harley-Davidson motorcycles; and Zodiac, an R-rated film featuring Jake Gyllenhaal and based on one of the top unsolved crimes in our country's history.
My dirty little secret: an hour of daytime TV
If my children ever read this, I'll deny it, but the truth is, I recently did something really naughty. I watched daytime TV.
I never watch daytime TV. I know all about Oprah, in theory, but I could count on one hand the number of times I've actually seen her show. I don't watch soap operas, either. I also don't watch "The View" (though the Rosie/Donald Trump thing made it tempting).
I don't even watch morning news shows while getting dressed.
However, one day about a week ago, while making lunch for myself, I decided to take my sandwich into the den and see if I could find a creative idea for dinner by watching a few minutes of the Food Network. When your regular menu includes several dishes prepared with Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup, you need inspiration every now and again.
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