http://www.foodservice.com/news/ Foodservice.com Daily Buzz en-us Copyright 2009 Foodservice.com. http://www.foodservice.com.com/rss/ Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:00:00 EST http://www.foodservice.com/images/foodservice_home.jpg http://www.foodservice.com As Cristeta Comerford, the White House executive chef, prepares for the Obamas’ first state dinner on Nov. 24, perhaps no one can empathize more fully than René Verdon, who wore the top toque in the Kennedy White House. Mr. Verdon, who has lived in San Francisco for nearly four decades, reflected recently on the heroic dimensions a state dinner can assume in the first kitchen. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8123 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:15:08 EST After seventeen years, Jean-Georges Vongerichten will close Vong on Saturday, Eater reports. Early on, New York critic Hal Rubenstein praised the Thai-French pioneer, writing that “no musical fantasy could convince you that dining can be something more wonderful than this.” But in 2006, Frank Bruni stripped Vong of two stars, saying that it wasn’t as appealing now that its formula is so familiar. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8122 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:13:55 EST Since spring of 2007 restaurant analyst Nicole Miller of Piper Jaffray has been asking high school students (54 percent male, 44 percent female) to list their favorite chain restaurants in order of preference. Some 1,200 students, age 16 on average, are told to write in responses on blank lines, rather than choose them from a list, she says. About a third of the students work part-time jobs. Their weighted household income is $75,000. The following percentages reflect the results from tallying each student's top choice. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8121 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:11:58 EST A Michelin-starred chef has been forced to temporarily close his restaurant after more than 80 customers were taken ill after eating there. The Health Protection Agency (HPA) was called in to investigate at The Star Inn at Harome, North Yorkshire, after an outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8120 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:10:23 EST Boston-based ABP Corporation—which operates the Au Bon Pain restaurant chain—announced its new cage-free egg policy for its Massachusetts locations. Beginning this week, its restaurants throughout the state will only use shell (whole) eggs from hens not confined in cages. The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) worked with ABP to help the company improve animal welfare in its supply chain. The HSUS applauded the company for adopting a forward-looking policy. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8119 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:08:38 EST The seasons bring change and this fall Burgerville, with 39 locations in Oregon and Washington state, changed how it sources the central ingredient for its pumpkin smoothies and milkshakes. The pumpkins come from a farm less than two hours from Burgerville’s Vancouver, Washington, headquarters. They are processed, seasoned, and packaged about an hour away in Salem, Oregon. Both the farm and processing plant have Food Alliance certification. A nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon, Food Alliance certifies every link of the restaurant supply chain—farms, ranches, food processors, distributors—for sustainable agriculture and production practices. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8118 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:07:43 EST Raibin Raof Osman, 20, called 9-1-1 just before Memorial Day weekend to complain that a McDonald's in Aloha had left out a box of orange juice from his drive-through order. Osman was ordered to pay a $300 fine. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8117 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 02:06:35 EST I always like getting trend reports from international restaurant consultants, first because, as you know, I'm a sucker for trends and second, these are the things that may get foisted on us in the future because restaurateurs are paying these consultants big bucks to tell them what to do next. Anyway, here's the provocative list I got in an e-mail from Joseph Baum & Michael Whiteman Co. Inc. of the 12 top restaurant and hotel food-and-beverage trends for 2010. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8116 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:26:43 EST Peet’s Coffee & Tea Co. plans to buy Diedrich Coffee Inc. for $213 million in cash and stock. Emeryville-based Peet’s (NASDAQ: PEET) will pay $26 per share for Irvine-based Diedrich, which has about 150 workers. Diedrich’s brands include Gloria Jean’s, Black Tiger and Flor de Apanas. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8115 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:25:13 EST The International Brotherhood of Teamsters launched a new website, U.S. Foodservice Workers United (www.usfoodserviceworkers.org) today. The interactive website features company information, discusses worker issues and provides tools and resources to workers interested in raising standards at U.S. Foodservice. The website will enable workers to share their own stories and connect with others from across the country. http://www.foodservice.com/news/news_detail.cfm?news_id=8114 Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:23:38 EST