Media Wars Continue: Bloggers vs Critics


It has begun!

In yet another (dozen or so) instances of the Media Wars between food & wine bloggers and food and wine print critics and reviewers, the kid gloves have come off. Name calling begins, chaos insues, and hope of an early understanding that these two camps are one day going to be filled with the same people has not yet been recognized.

It’s also interesting that many of the allegations being made about each other are not quite factual. Hmmm. Who keeps track of the facts these days, anyway?

That being said, or hypothesized, here’s a list of fascinating skirmishes for you to read:

Esquire Restaurant Critic John Mariani is Having Dinner at Graham Elliot Tonight (MenuPages)
Esquire Editor Defends John Mariani (GrubStreet)
Why Does Everyone Hate John Mariani? (GrubStreet)
Changes at The Wine Advocate? (DrVino.com)
These Wine Bloggers Are… (Domaine547)
Leave Me out of your Tail Wagging, Finger Pointing Ego Contest (GoodGrape.com)

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Chronicle Has the Lock on Top Chef Books

Top Chef continues to dominate the foodie world, and the Chronicle Books is there to share in the glory, so says Publishers Weekly magazine.

Chronicle won Top Chef: The Cookbook in a “competitive auction” and published the book in March 2008. It has 150,000 copies in print, and publishing director Mikyla Bruder says “it has backlisted very nicely.” The main focus of Chronicle’s marketing campaign was advertising on edgy, popular sites like Eater, Eater Los Angeles, Eater San Francisco and Grub Street. Print ads ran inFood & Wine (which is a partner of the show) and the New Yorker’s annual food issue. The publisher organized Q&As and signings for contestants (er, “cheftestants”) at Barnes & Noble stores, and promoted the book and events heavily on Bravotv.com and on air throughout the fourth and fifth seasons. The book was also featured in episodes in both of those seasons, which Peter Perez, Chronicle’s senior marketing manager of food and drink, said “led to major sales spikes.” Chronicle has updated the book twice, each time adding a recipe from the new season

Don’t you love it that people are reading books again?

Simple Luxuries Thrive in Depressed Economy – ie. Chocolate

MSNBC and Entrepreneur.com have identified the truth. People keep eating chocolate during a recession. Even a Great Recession.


Why?


Because they can,

because they need to,

because they can afford at least one bite.


Per writer Amy Reinink:


Simple Luxuries Thrive in Depressed Economy

Beer, chocolate and video games. People find comfort on a tight budget with these recession-proof products.


Chocolate

Davidson Chocolateisnt the only chocolate company to enjoy a recent boom in business. Industry giants like Hersheys and Cadburys have also reported increased profits.


Elliott says Davidsons success stems from keeping the focus on quality, and by creating an atmosphere of luxury at an affordable price point.


If people come to really appreciate the quality of your product, they will see paying $1.35 for a truffle as a good value rather than a splurge, she says.


As soon as customers walk into Davidson Chocolate, they are greeted by a staff member–and by the aroma of the on-site chocolate production.


People just stand there and smell for a few minutes, Elliott says.


Then, whether the customer is buying three pounds of chocolate or three pieces, Elliott says owners and staff strive to create the feeling of, Oh, can we wrap your gift, or get you a gift card, or do anything else to make you feel special?


People have to go grocery shopping, Elliott says. They dont have to come into the store. We want them to feel like theyre being treated.

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TasteTV and TasteTV.com Chocolate News Updates

Chocolatiers for the Los Angeles Luxury Chocolate Salon

Here’s the current lineup for the LA Chocolate Salon on October 11th:

The Third Annual Los Angeles Luxury CHOCOLATE SALON participants include over 30 chocolatiers, confectioners, wineries and other culinary artisans, such as: Choclatique, Happy Chocolates, Rushburn Toffee Co., The Tea Room chocolate, Quady Winery, Chocolatl, Jade Chocolates, San Francisco Toffee Company, CJ’s Bitz and CJ’s Stix, Marti Chocolatt, Alter Eco Fair Trade Chocolate, Artisan Cocoa / Amella Caramels, AF-squared Chocolatiers, Brown Sugar Pastries, Clarine’s Florentines, Helen Grace Chocolates, Mignon Chocolate, TCHO, Amano Artisan Chocolate, Landrin, Sterling Confections, Chocoveda, Republica Del Cacao, Dove Chocolate Discoveries, Valerie Confections, Plush Puff Gourmet Marshmallows, The Chocolate Traveler, Ococoa chocolates, Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa, Le Creuset, Swissmar, Putumayo World Music, Chocolate Television, TasteTV, Yelp, California School of Culinary Arts – Le Cordon Bleu Programs, and many more. All this in over twice the delicious tasting space as 2008

A list of events and speakers to come soon.

SF Chefs. Food. Wine. Highlight Reel – Lick My Spoon

We weren’t there, but the Lick My Spoon has a great highlights reel from the first SF Chefs. Food. Wine. event in August:
To quote Mayor Gavin Newsom, “Aspen, eat your heart out.”

An epic event 2 ½ years in the making, SF Chefs. Food. Wine. was like a food-lover’s Disneyland with approximately 200 of the Bay Area’s finest chefs, 70 wineries, and mixologists aplenty strutting their stuff.


Over the past four days, Union Square was transformed into a playground of tastings, seminars, and demonstrations from a who’s who list of culinary legends, rising stars, artisans, and experts.

Ahh, the good old days…when food events were fun, tasty and a good value.
Great to see everything old is new again. We’ll be there next year, we hope!

Los Angeles Chocolate Salon Poster



























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TasteTV and TasteTV.com Chocolate News Updates