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10 Things food

One of the top pastry chefs in America works at Dunkin’ Donuts? We’ll take a dozen, now!


Pastry Shop Business Plan
Pastry Shop Business Plan

Web Watch is a big fan of pastries, donuts, and other baked goods.

We’ve been known to travel out of our way to eat at RESTAURANTS THAT EMPLOY THE TOP PASTRY CHEFS IN THE COUNTRY.

And now, according to DESSERT PROFESSIONAL MAGAZINE, we just need to head down to our local doughnut shop, no matter where we are in the world.

That’s because one of  the winners of the 17th ANNUAL TOP PASTRY CHEF IN AMERICA competition is Christopher Boos of Dunkin’ Brands.

That’s right.  Dunkin’ Brands.  Parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts.

Christopher Boos, named one of the ten best pastry chef in Amercia, essentially works in a donut shop.   No wonder Homer Simpson is proud of his donut fetish.  Donuts are nothing to be ashamed of.

But donuts are not the only pastry that Boos knows how to make.  For the competition, Boos’ featured dessert was a milk chocolate jasmine tea tart, Baskin-Robbins cranberry sorbet with soaked cherries and a Dunkin’ Dark Roast coffee crème.  Of course – just the type of thing you’d find down at the local coffee shop.   

Not.  

Or at least, if we keep our fingers crossed, not yet.  Web Watch can hope, right?

Who were the other TOP TEN PASTRY CHEFS IN AMERICA?  Here’s who made the list along with Boos:

  • Kimberly Bugler of the 21 Club, New York, NY
  • Steve Evetts of the New York Marriott Marquis, New York, NY
  • Bill Foltz of L’Auberge du Lac Casino in Lake Charles, LA
  • Yannis Janssens of Fontainebleu Miami Beach, Miami, FL
  • Nicholas Lodge of the French Pastry School, Chicago, IL
  • Roy Pell of The Phoenician, Scottsdale, AZ
  • Michelle Tampakis of the Institute of Culinary Education, New York, NY
  • Robert Truitt of Corton Restaurant, New York, NY
  • Frank Vollkommer of The Chocolate Mill Pastry Shop and Café, Glen Falls, NY
  • For those of you interested, Dunkin Brands issued a press release honoring Boos’ achievement.  It’s posted after the break.

    Categories
    food

    Some Fun Facts about Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Eating Contest


    How to be a Competitive Eating Champion
    How to be a Competitive Eating Champion

    Even if you have been living under a rock for the past 10 years, you probably have heard about the ANNUAL NATHAN’S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST held every July 4th out on Coney Island, New York.  This year is the 94th year, for those of you keeping count.

    And thanks to George and Richard Shea, founders of the INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMPETITIVE EATING (IFOCE), you’ve also likely seen the ever-expanding hoopla on ESPN, broadcast live.

    And since Web Watch wants to be sure that our readers are adequately informed about such monumental occasions, we’re going to share with you these HOT DOG TRIVIA FACTS, courtesy of Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs.

    Categories
    food Music News sports

    Hot Dog! Vuvuzelas BANNED from major July 4th sporting event!


    Vuvuzela
    Buy a Vuvuzela

    The VUVUZELA, the loud stadium horn made famous at this year’s World Cup, has found another event that it is not welcome.

    The INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF COMPETITIVE EATING (IFOCE), which runs major eating events around the world, has issued a press release stating that VUVUZELAS ARE BANNED FROM THE ANNUAL NATHAN’S FAMOUS HOT DOG EATING CONTEST on July 4th at Nathan’s on Coney Island, New York. 

    The full press release is after the break:

    Categories
    food How To

    Award-Winning recipe for Cinco de Mayo Guacamole with Blue Cheese and Bacon (inspired by Food Network Best Thing I Ever Ate)

    Friends of Web Watch have a large-scale annual Cinco de Mayo party featuring a salsa competition. We’ve been lucky enough to have walked away a prize every year with various takes on salsa, so when this year’s invitation indicated that there would be a guacamole competition instead (“to shake things up a bit”), we took that on as a challenge.

    Because, let’s face it, guacamole really isn’t all that hard to make. It’s making prize-winning guacamole that people will declare as “the best thing I ever ate” that takes a little bit more effort.

    Categories
    food How To

    Just in time for the Kentucky Derby: The Ultimate Bourbon Ball Recipe

    The Kentucky Derby Museum Cookbook
    The Kentucky Derby Museum Cookbook

    Next week is the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

    And if you’re like Web Watch, you will be tuning in to watch the race with friends – holding a mint julep in one hand, and a racing form in the other… all while trying to see the race through the forest of giant Kentucky Derby hats worn by the ladies in the room.

    But Kentucky isn’t know just for this long-running horse race.

    No, Kentucky is also known for bourbon.

    So if you’re going to host or attend a KENTUCKY DERBY PARTY on race day, you may want to make something bourbon-related.  You know, just because.

    Categories
    food Websites

    Eating a double-cheeseburger at home is less expensive than buying the $1 version at McDonald’s


    Double Cheeseburger
    Double Cheeseburger

    Web Watch has eaten many fast-food cheeseburgers over the years.

    We’ve been to the standards – McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Hardee’s – and have visited the occasional In-n-Out whenever possible.

    But no matter how tasty and convenient for road trips the fast food burger can be, Web Watch will stand by our philosophy that nothing beats a good burger, done right at home.

    Trent at The Simple Dollar agrees:  he has done the analysis and concluded that IT IS CHEAPER TO BUY THE INGREDIENTS TO MAKE DOUBLE-CHEESEBURGERS AT HOME THAN IT IS TO BUY THEM FOR $1 AT McDONALD’S.   

    Categories
    food How To

    Bartenders ignore you on purpose. Here are some tips to make that drink come faster


    Bartender Warning
    Bartender Warning

    Web Watch knows the best way to get a drink at the bar:   Tip noticably well on the first round.

    Even if the drinks are free, such as at an open-bar wedding, you should tip big when you have the opportunity to do so and be noticed.  A $20 bill at the right time early in the evening will do wonders for you later at night.  Perhaps a heavier pour, speedier service, an extra drink made available after the bar is “officially” closed for the evening.

    All for $20.

    Categories
    food

    KFC’s Double-Down Sandwich: it’s like Heaven on a Bun, without the bun


    Guide to Healthy Fast Food Eating
    Guide to Healthy Fast Food Eating

    Web Watch is not one to deny any 0ne of fulfilling their bacon craving.

    This is why we are excited that Kentucky Fried Chicken (or “KFC” for you new-age heathens who refuse to let the words “fried” pass through your lips while you stuff said-named food into your gullets) is officially introducing the KFC DOUBLE-DOWN SANDWICH, to be released nationwide on April 12th. 

    The Double-Down features “two thick and juicy boneless white meat chicken filets (in either Original or Grilled style), two pieces of bacon, two melted slices of Monterey Jack and pepper jack cheese and Colonel’s Sauce”.