Filed under: Snacks , Dessert , Chocolate , New Products , Comfort Food I haven't seen this at my local supermarket yet (though admittedly I'm not really in "summer mode" yet so I haven't explored the ice cream section as much as I should), but Haagen-Dazs has introduced a new flavor to its line of premium ice creams: Mayan Chocolate . And what makes chocolate ice cream "Mayan?" It's premium chocolate ice cream, with a hint of cinnamon! Sounds rather interesting. I guess it's an old recipe, the way that the Mayans used to make chocolate 2500 years ago. While the advertising has a bit of hyperbole ("We went back to explore history. To pinpoint the genesis. And to discover the true flavor."), I'm going to the store tonight and see if they have it. Has anyone tried it yet? Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Dessert , West Coast , Restaurants , Food Porn , Raves & Reviews In the Pacific Northwest, there's a place called Burgerville . The beef is always free-range and the salads always sport local hazelnuts. But nothing compares to you, seasonal fresh strawberry milkshake. And nothing says summer is coming! like a strawberry milkshake sparkling, dripping in the sunlight as you pull away from the drivethrough. Ahhhh ... life is good here in Portland.

Filed under: Wine , Magazines , Barbecuing Some might say that the best reds to have when barbecuing are red meats. Given that steaks and burgers are some of the top barbecue foods, there are few who might disagree entirely with that, but Food & Wine reminds readers not to forget the other reds: wines. I know that I usually think about drinks like soda, beer, margaritas, iced tea and lemonade as good choices for barbecues, as well as for dining outdoors in general. There's no reason not to add wines to that list, too.

Filed under: Dessert , New Products As summer approaches and I realize I will be the entertainment coordinator for anywhere from four to nine kids on any given day, I am beginning to rack my brain for ideas. What can I do with these urchins that will provide educational fun while filling their bellies at the same time? One activity that can occupy a few days at a stretch is camping. I would rather do most anything than tramp about in a wilderness void of working plumbing and a soft bed, but the children usually love it and it gives them room to run. One accessory that would streamline the camping process significantly is Smorestix . Smorestix were created in 1998 by a mom and dad team who wanted their kids to enjoy the outdoors with a just a bit more ease and convenience. These sticks are an optimal 30" of pre cut wood. The perfect length ensures that children will remain a safe distance from the fire. It will also encourage a proper respect for the environment since the kids will not have to rummage through forests breaking branches and tromping on the undergrowth. This is a clever idea that parents will likely purchase in an attempt to be caring and eco-friendly. What thinks you? A scam or a good buy? Read     Permalink     Email this     Linking Blogs     Comments

Filed under: Food Oddities , Trends , Europe When people are on a holiday, they start to say things like "it's ok, you're on vacation!" and "you should be able to enjoy yourself!" These statements are innocuous in general, but when they're applied to the second piece of chocolate cream pie on your plate during dessert, it can be problematic. People gain weight when they're on vacation and in the weeks leading up to it in a sort of pre-vacation indulgence binge. A hotel in Germany, the Hotel Ostfriesland , has an unusual pricing structure that was motivated by one guest's desire to lose weight. The owner charges by the kilogram .

Filed under: Microwaving , Food Gadgets If you read Jeffrey Steingarten's  It must have been something I ate , you'll not only know that the best way to make a pizza is in a very, very hot wood-burning (or coal-burning) oven, but that it is likely to be nearly impossible to find one to use, let alone one to use on a regular basis. Jeffrey spent months trying to achieve the perfect pizza, getting grills up to temperatures in excess of 650F - at which point he decided that, with the addition of wood chips and extra coals, he could make a reasonably good pizza .

Filed under: Chocolate , Candy , Stores & Shopping For the Mom who's a fashionista as well as a chocoholic, these chocolates from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. could be just the right thing for Mother's Day. Each of the eight truffles in the ribboned box is shaped like a little bonnet . Handmade and adorned with tiny edible flowers, the adorable confections come in four flavors: raspberry frappe, summermint tea, lemon mousse and orange mousse, all of which are fittingly summery. It's $24 for eight candies, but they're so unique that it's a gift Mom will surely appreciate.

Filed under: Wine , Food Gadgets This drink cooler is a neat thing to have for a number of reasons. This giant red wine glass can, of course, act as a cooler for wines, sodas and beer at parties, but it can also serve as a prop for improve comics or be used as an actual glass for those who like their drinks strong. Really, really strong. The cooler is very stable and made of acrylic, so you don't have to worry about it breaking in the event that someone knocks into it. It can fit at least 5 bottles of wine, in addition to ice, and at least a dozen sodas.

Filed under: Dinner , Grilling , Food Gadgets As the season goes on, the days are getting longer and barbecues come out of storage in preparation for the grilling season. No matter how late it stays light, sometimes there just isn't enough time to fix dinner before the sun goes down. This isn't a problem when cooking indoors, but it can be a problem when you're grilling. In the dark, it is hard to see what your meats and veggies look like. Timers and guess-work can help, but nothing is better than being able to take a good look at what you're doing. Enter the Flashlight Grill Tongs from Red Envelope . The tongs are stainless steel and have a battery powered LED flashlight built into them. With the press of a button, you can easily monitor your foods on the darkest night as they cook up on the grill.

Filed under: Dinner , Food Porn , Vegetables , Fish , Recipes , Fruit , Grilling , Cooking Live with Slashfood , Light Food