Michigan Tomatoes Safe to Eat

13 06 2008

According to the FDA, Michigan tomatoes are NOT the source of the salmonella outbreak.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has determined that the state’s tomatoes aren’t associated with the recent outbreak of salmonella.

Michigan Department of Agriculture Director Don Koivisto said Friday the state has about 500 open-field tomato farms and 15 hydroponic or greenhouse tomato operations that focus on local distribution.

Don’t know where to get Michigan tomatoes?  Yes you do.  Your local farmer’s market.





BWL Chili Cook-Off Tonight

13 06 2008

Looking for a good way to start the weekend?  The Board of Water & Light’s 13th Annual Chili Cook-Off will take place tonight (Friday the 13th) along the Grand River near the Lansing City in Downtown Lansing.

I even read where fellow foodie blogger Amy over at Runs With Spatula will be one of the competitors.

The event starts at five o’clock and a five dollar wristband will get you samples of the competitors chili’s.  There’s also a mechanical bull, “adult beverages,” and a couple bands.  I’m going to MIS this morning for some media things.  I’m hoping to not be too tired when I get home to make it down there. 

For more information, check out the BWL Chili Cook-Off page.





Mid-Michigan Farmers Stuggling After The Storms Too

12 06 2008

Last night, I posted a story from Bloomberg about the recent storms’ effect on this years crops.  Tonight, WLAJ, talked to a farmer in Ingham County about the issue and it’s one that isn’t only affecting Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana.

“We’ll readjust- we usually can handle these sitautions this came so fast,” said Haynes.

Haynes lost five percent of his corn yield which averages out to about a &50,000 loss- a cost which will ultimately be passed on to consumers. Read the rest of this entry »





University of Michigan Grad Wins Top Chef

12 06 2008

I hate reality shows.  Even cooking reality shows, but it is kinda cool a UM grad won this season becoming the first woman to win the reality show.

Stephanie Izard, a 31-year-old, mild-mannered chef from Chicago, beat out 15 other contestants to win the popular reality show designed to test a cook’s mettle.

……………………..

Izard’s winning strategy involved avoiding confrontations with the other cooks. “Top Chef” takes pleasure in airing spats and creating villains. This year was no exception, but Izard remained above the fray.

In a show filled with long knives and short tempers, Izard even came across as affable and humble.

“I try to avoid getting into fights,” she said. “That’s not the way I am in life. I just like to respect others and have others respect me. I wanted go in and keep focused on the food.”

Izard, a University of Michigan graduate, said she plans to open another restaurant in Chicago, one that will emphasize global flavors, seafood and pork.





Bill To Clamp Down on Illegal Bottle Returns

12 06 2008

From a press release.

LANSING – Legislation to better regulate and control bottle returns was introduced today in the Senate, announced Sens. Ron Jelinek and Cameron S. Brown, both border district lawmakers and lead sponsors of the measures.

 

The five-bill package is designed to prevent bottles and cans not purchased in Michigan from being returned in state. The containers are returned, sometimes by the truckload, by individuals and organized smuggling rings that make large profits off Michigan businesses. These illegal operations cost the state $13 million a year.

  Read the rest of this entry »





Smoking Bill Probably Delayed Until Winter

11 06 2008

MIRS is reporting today that the smoking ban bill is probably on hold until winter.

That’s because the Senate Majority Leader said today that the next move on the legislation is up to the House.

Senate Leader Mike Bishop (R-Rochester)said he has other fish to fry before he gets to the ban, adding, “I don’t know if we’re going to do much before the end of the year on this.” Read the rest of this entry »





Storms Hurt Corn Crop

11 06 2008

Surprise!  Another hit to the corn supply means higher prices at the grocery store for us.  Last week’s storms have flooded fields in Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana where a big chunk of the nation’s corn is grown.

“The crop is in serious trouble,” said Jim Stephens, president of Farmers National Commodities Inc. in Omaha, Nebraska, who helps manage more than 3,600 farms across the Midwest. He said corn will top $8 a bushel this year.

The weather is endangering a U.S. crop already expected by the USDA to decline from last year’s record harvest after farmers planted 8.1 percent fewer acres. Global inventories may fall to the lowest levels in 24 years by Aug. 31, the USDA said. Read the rest of this entry »





Big Boy Restaurant – Okemos

11 06 2008
  • 2221 University Park Dr.Big Boy
  • Okemos, MI 48864
  • (517) 349-9570
  • Website
  • Menu

Ah, one day sales.  After being woke up by a lawn mower, my girlfriend and I decided to make a trip to the Meridian Mall in Okemos.  Younkers was having a one day sale and as it turns out, so was Macy’s.  We shopped for about an hour and then started back towards home since my girlfriend still had to go to work.  When we got in the car, she asked about lunch and I said, “What about Big Boy?”  Before moving to Michigan, my only knowledge of Big Boy was gained from watching Austin Powers.  Heck, at first I didn’t even know Big Boy was real.  Funny thing.   Big Boy is real and it’s corporate headquarters are here in Michigan in the town of Warren.  Neither of us had ever eaten at a Big Boy Restaurant so we decided it was time.

I’d seen the sign from the road for Big Boy on the way in, but when we actually went to find the store, it was much harder than it should be.  Big Boy actually sits behind a Sunoco near I-96.  The problem is, if you get to the Sonoco, you’ve gone too far.  So, I made myself a traffic hazard and turned into the Sunoco to turn around and go back to University Park Dr and take a right.  After the turn, we came up on a sign that said “Big Boy” and a very plain looking building.  The trademark cartoon character was nowhere to be found and there was no marking on the outside of the building.  Again, we weren’t sure if this was the right place or not.  If you turn into the first driveway, it actually takes you to the backside of the building, so again, we were confused as to where to enter.  After driving around the building, we found the front and again, no markings until you get to the second set of doors. Read the rest of this entry »





Kosher Meat Plant Raid

10 06 2008

I don’t go out of my way looking for kosher meat products and after reading this story, it’s probably a good thing.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents on May 12 raided Agriprocessors Inc.’s Postville, Iowa plant, arresting nearly 400 workers on immigration, identity theft and other charges. The company produces about half the country’s kosher beef and roughly 40 percent of its kosher chicken; the plant was temporarily shut by the raid, but has since reopened. The arrests were quickly followed by almost 300 plea deals by workers, most of whom were charged with using false identification.

While I somewhat feel sorry for the workers involved, (I said somewhat) I don’t feel sorry for the company.  It seems like we just can’t win this summer with food price.  High prices of feed and transportation and now this.  This line, however, pissed me off. Read the rest of this entry »





Michigander Sickened By Tomato

10 06 2008

Just stop eating tomatoes until this whole thing passes over.  Do they taste that good that you’re willing to chance it?

A Kent County man looks to be the first person in Michigan to be sickened by the salmonella outbreak associated with tomatoes. 

The Kent County Health Department is working with the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Department of Agriculture to find the possible sources of the nationwide outbreak.

The 46-year-old man in Kent County was not hospitalized and has recovered.

The unfortunate thing about this article is it doesn’t tell us where he got the contaminated tomato from.