Ruby Tuesday States The Obvious

16 08 2008

If you haven’t seen this yet, you should get a kick out of it…

Awesome.  Not only that, a great marketing ploy.  This was not a mistake. It was the idea of an ingenious marketing guy. 

In fact, the Company made it appear as if they had blown up a competitor’s restaurant right next door, because “all casual dining restaurants have come to look alike, and the demo crew mistook theirs for ours.” It’s all a fun way to make the point that there is a better, fresher Ruby Tuesday, and it’s different from the rest.

Now that’s funny!  Ruby Tuesday finally woke up and realized what foodies have been saying for years.  It doesn’t matter if they call it Ruby Tuesday, TGIFriday’s, Applebees, Bennigans or whatever, they’re all the same restaurant.  So, what are they changing?

Gone are the artifacts and memorabilia, the black-and-white checked tablecloths and the dark-stained woods. Now there is a clean and more contemporary look, with soft, earth-tone colors, upholstered seats that make you want to stay a little longer, specially commissioned artwork and photographs, and colorful, light-hearted lighting fixtures. On the outside, Ruby Tuesdays are now painted a uniform, pleasing color, accented with attractive black awnings.

Good riddance.  I’m not saying this is gonna make a difference, but at least they’re getting rid of cheap, tacky decor that was mocked in Office Space

“You know what, Stan, if you want me to wear 37 pieces of flair, like your pretty boy over there, Brian, why don’t you just make the minimum 37 pieces of flair?“

Ha Ha Ha….I loved that movie.


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Categories : Chains, Food News

City Market Plans Need More Work

15 08 2008

The City held a work session with developer Pat Gillespie yesterday trying to come to a consensus on a new City Market.  The State-Journal  has the recap.

Gillespie hopes ultimately to get the six votes he needs to replace the old market building at Cedar and Shiawassee streets with Market Place, a $24 million to $30 million retail, office and residential development on the downtown riverfront.

“It’s a work in progress,” (Councilman Eric) Hewitt said of the agreement. “I’m very encouraged by the fact that Pat Gillespie has been willing to sit down, listen to our comments and include them in the buy/sell agreement.”

Council members unanimously agreed Thursday to vote on the sale at Monday’s full session. Yet they’ve stated lingering concerns about the agreement’s language regarding incentives, a clean-up loan and Gillespie’s commitment to hiring local labor.

Local labor?  Fine.  If they bid competitively then give them the job, but you can’t just give people work because of where they live.  For example, I live five miles from Spartan Stadium.  I do freelance work for the Big Ten Network.  MSU has a home game on Sept. 6 that will air on BTN.  I’m driving 340 miles one way to Champaign to work for the same network instead of working the MSU game.  In my case, it’s not price because I’m probably cheaper than some guys who work here, but it has more to do with seniority.  I would love to be able to stay here and work instead of going to Illinois, but it’s not going to happen, so I go where the work is.  It happens…it’s part of life and it shouldn’t hold up the City Market.  Something needs to be done to revitalize the property.  As I’ve said many times, I’m a recent transplant to Lansing.  I was really looking forward to the City Market.  When we got here, I’ve been nothing but disappointed.  I would rather go to some of the once a week farmer’s markets and do most of my shopping at Horrocks.  Something needs to be done.  The historic building isn’t enough.  Sometimes, you have to start over to make progress.  Take a lot of pictures and save signs.  That’s what museums are for.


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Categories : Food News, Lansing, Michigan

Michigan Corn Crop Doing Well…..

13 08 2008

..other crops, not so much.

But several freezes during the spring killed off many blossoming tart cherries, apples and grapes.

Production of those fruits this year is expected to be way down.

Corn, however, has had a perfect year and with massive flooding in the corn belt wiping out most of the crop in Iowa and parts of Illinois and Indiana, it should be a good year for anyone who still has something to bring to the elevators. 

…..farmers in the state can expect a record-setting yield of 148 bushels per acre in 2008.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture also says corn production in the state should surpass 307 million bushels this year, shattering a 26-year-old record.

Oh yeah, a sugar beet growers are also likely to see record yields.

 


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Aunt Millie’s Bakeries

13 08 2008

Lately, I’ve been doing a little label reading to see what I can cut out of my diet.  Most of the calories and sugar I get are from Pepsi which is pretty much like crack to me.  I’ve tried cutting down, but I get irritable when I’m craving one.  Since I started dating my girlfriend, she’s been trying to get me to eat healthier bread.  For the most part, I’d grab the store brand generic white bread that was $.99.  It seemed like such a waste to spend $4 on bread.

I gave in a few times and tried some of the “healthier” bread that she wanted me to try and they all tasted like crap.  They weren’t very dense and went stale pretty fast.  It just wasn’t appetizing.  Last week, I was at Kroger and I started reading labels.  My goal was to find a loaf of bread that didn’t have high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) or enriched wheat.  That proved to be a lot harder than I thought.  Even the healthy stuff my girlfriend keeps trying to get me to buy has both.

As I was about to give up and just buy the cheap stuff, I picked up one final loaf.  It was a brand I’ve never heard of, but right on top of the packaging, they were advertising the fact that their bread didn’t have HFCS.  The brand?  Aunt Millie’s. 

Aunt Millie’s is a regional bakery based in Ft. Wayne, IN that serves five states in the Midwest including Michigan with four bakeries in Michigan (two in Coldwater, Jackson, Kalamazoo, and Plymouth).  I picked up a loaf, but it was over $3.  I figured this one time, I’d give it a try.  I didn’t have high expectations because healthy bread usually didn’t taste good.  Aunt Millie’s is an exception to that rule.  I can’t tell any difference between this bread and the cheap bread I usually prefer.  Still, $3.18 is a little high for bread….good thing I found it at Horrock’s for $1.80. 

I’m sold now.  Last time at Horrock’s, I picked up another loaf of wheat bread and a package of wheat buns…both made with out enriched wheat products or HFCS.  I never thought I’d find a healthier bread that I liked, but I did.  Aunt Millie makes just about every bread that I buy.  Horrock’s also had Texas Toast (which I prefer for pulled pork), hot dog buns, and even potato bread.  Not my thing, but it seems that’s the new craze. 

Aunt Millies Multi-Grain Wheat Bread

Aunt Millie's Multi-Grain Wheat Bread

Aunt Millie’s Multi-Grain Wheat Bread

  • Zero Grams of Saturated Fat Per Serving
  • Zero Grams of Trans Fat Per Serving
  • No High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Serving Size = 1 Slice
  • Calories – 60
  • Calories from Fat – 0
  • Sodium – 130mg – 5%

 

 

Aunt Millies Hearth 100% Whole Wheat Buns

Aunt Millie's Hearth 100% Whole Wheat Buns

Aunt Millie’s Hearth 100% Whole Weat Hamburger Buns

  • Zero Grams Trans Fat Per Serving
  • No High Fructose Corn Syrup
  • Made With Whole Grain Flour
  • Serving Size = 1 Bun
  • Calories – 140
  • Calories from Fat – 15
  • Sodium 270mg – 11%

 


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Pepsi in a Bottle

11 08 2008
Pepsi in a glass bottle....remember those days?

Pepsi in a glass bottle....remember those days?

It’s just one of those things from childhood I get all nostalgic for.  I know why they stopped putting pop in glass bottles, but I still miss it.  The last couple years, I’ve had some luck finding glass bottle Pepsi’s like this at Mexican grocery stores.  I’ve never figured out why it would be cost effective to still market glass bottles in Mexico but not the U.S., but I’m not complaining.  Today, I needed some more paprika, so I went to American International Bulk Food (review HERE).  I found the bins with Spanish paprika and filled a bag.  I’ve been doing a lot of barbecuing the last few weeks and gone through a ton of paprika, so I stocked up.  As I was making my way to the check-out, I noticed a cooler with bottles of Coke.  Since I’m not a Coke fan, I didnt’ grab one, but I did notice some Pepsi near the back, so I grabbed one.  By comparsion, the Pepsi in glass bottles is much more expensive than in a plastic bottle, but everytime I see them, I buy a couple anyway.  The only other place in Lansing I’ve seen them is at Tony’s Liquor Store on the corner of Cedar and Miller where they sell them 2 for $3.  It’s just one of those stupid things from my childhood that I can’t seem to shake.  It doesn’t taste any better and it’s harder to drink, but I love it.  This bottle of Pepsi lasted all of 2 minutes.


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Whole Foods Beef Recall…

8 08 2008

from an AP story….

Whole Foods Market is recalling fresh groundbeef sold between June 2 through August 6 because the beef might be contaminated with E. coli bacteria.

The recalled beef might have been sold at Whole Foods stores in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and 20 other states, plus Washington, D.C., and Canada.

The company has received reports that seven people in Massachusetts and two people in Pennsylvania who shopped at Whole Foods Market became ill.

Whole Foods is asking customers who may have bought ground beef from June 2 though August 6 to dispose of the product and return it to the store with the packaging or receipt for a refund.


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City Market Vote Delayed

8 08 2008

This is actually pretty common city politics when it comes to hot button issues.

Council members agreed at Thursday’s Committee of the Whole session – their first opportunity to grill Gillespie since Monday’s public hearing – that Aug. 18 is the earliest they will vote on the change in ownership.

Gillespie requested the extension to be more accessible and accommodating with feedback, city officials said.

It would help if city council members were getting in touch with Gillespie ahead of time, but this is probably the best step in the process. 

Despite the hundreds of jobs and the new year-round, indoor-outdoor market that Market Place promises, council members said Thursday they want more information about several things. That includes a business plan for the market, the construction schedule and the amount of local laborers that would be hired to work on Market Place. Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Lansing

Press Release – A Taste of Louisiana in Old Town

8 08 2008

From a press release….

Old Town Lansing, Michigan – Perspective2 Studio and Gumbo and Jazz restaurant are pleased to announce the “Taste of Louisiana,” to be held Saturday, August 16 from 7 PM – 11 PM at P2, 319 E. Grand River in Lansing’s Old Town.  Taste of Louisiana wil feature an authentic Louisiana feast, live music from the Wess Anderson jazz quartet, dancing, and more.

Desi Anderson, a native of Louisiana and owner of Gumbo & Jazz restaurant, will provide an authentic Louisiana dinner complete with gumbo, cornbread, and traditional Louisiana fixins.  Since opening her doors in the fall of 2007, Desi has been overwhelmed with the positive reviews of her cuisine and the way the community has embraced her.  “I had always wanted my own restaurant.” said Deis.  “Greater Lansing’s response confirmed that I made the right choice and that they were ready for some great Louisiana food.” Read the rest of this entry »


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Categories : Food News, Lansing, Old Town

GLFB Collection at The Flap Jack

7 08 2008

From a press release…..

The Flap Jack Restaurant located at 6927 S Cedar Lansing will be sponsoring
an in-house food drive from August 11th thru the 16th to support the Greater
Lansing Food Bank. All donors of non-perishable food items will receive a free beverage. 

The food collected will be distributed to the Greater Lansing Food Bank
pantries that help feed the hungry.  As the number of those in need of food
continues to rise, this is a timely opportunity for the community to assist
in keeping local pantry shelves well stocked.

Food Drive
Flap Jack Restaurant
6927 S Cedar
Lansing
August 8 through August 16th
6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All donors will receive a free beverage


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Need Suggestions – Breakfast and Karaoke…

7 08 2008

….but not at the same place.  I had to get up early (at least early for us) for a job interview this morning.  Since I was done by a little after 9:00, we decided to go get some breakfast.  Getting up before 11:00 is pretty rare for us since my girlfriend works until almost midnight.  Anyway, we headed downtown to Soup to Nutz Bistro AGAIN since it keeps getting recommended.  Well, they hit strike three.  Stike one was on Saturday.  We waited in line for two hours for Obama tickets, didn’t get them, and needed something to eat.  They’re not open on Saturday.  Today, we get there at about 9:30…they don’t open until 10:00. Strike two.  So, we put more change in the meter and walked around downtown for a half hour to kill time.  We get back about 10:10 and go in…the kitchen.  The sign is above the kitchen/catering entrance, not the dining room entrance and the dining room isn’t even marked.  We go out and into the right door and a server comes out and says they don’t do breakfast during the week.  Then why the hell are you open at 10:00 AM?  Who’s eating lunch that early?  Strike 3.  Their website doesn’t say anything about brunch only being served on Sunday.  Sunday’s a day to relax and sleep in….not get up for breakfast.  We’re most likely done with trying to get here.  I’m not ruling it out totally, but we probably won’t make a special effort anymore.  Sorry, Amy.

So, that brings me to my question.  Where is a good place to go for breakfast in Lansing?  Since it was already 10:15 by the time we found out Soup to Nutz didn’t serve breakfast, we didn’t look for someplace else because neither of us could think of a place off the top of our heads.  Any diners that serve an outstanding omelet? 

My next question is Karaoke bars and if you say Crunchy’s, I will track you down and kick you in the shins.  Everyone keeps saying Crunchy’s.  If they’re the best Karaoke bar in town, I feel sorry for you  all never getting to experience a good one.  Crunchy’s sucks.  The accoustics are bad.  The song selection is terrible.  In our last town, there was a Karaoke theatre outside of town.  If an artist released a single on Tuesday, they had a karaoke version by Thursday.  There were literally thousands of songs and the space was set up with monitor speakers, televisions in the ceiling and a little stage complete with lights.  THAT, was a Karaoke bar.  I realize we probably won’t find anything like that in Lansing, but is there any good places that have a good song selection that includes more than classic rock?

Sorry about the rants this morning….it hasn’t been a good start to the day…..


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