Sunday, April 28, 2013

Review: Taqueria Los Hermanos Restaurant, Lilburn, GA

For the first time in my life I stiffed a waiter. Not just a waiter, a pretty darn good waiter (up to a point).

For the first time in my life I will not be going back to a restaurant that had some great food that made me want to return.

Why? Read on...

My sisters and I took my daughter-in-law out for her birthday. One of the stops on the weekend treat was dinner on Saturday at Taqueria Los Hermanos on Lawrenceville Hwy in Lilburn.

We all ordered something different. My dish, a shrimp dish, was excellent. My other sister's dish and my daughter-in-laws food were also good  to excellent. The Cesina Steak Salad was a colossal fail. The way the staff reacted to problems was worse.

We noticed that my steak-ordering sister was mostly moving her food around. I'd noted when the dish arrived that it was a rather sparse plate, especially when compared to the large, heaped plates the rest of us received. However, I "assumed" that she ordered light.

I heard her say that the dish was swimming in grease. She pushed the lettuce aside and wow, the entire bottom of the curved dish was grease. She tried a bite of the steak and said it was so tough she couldn't chew it.

Not wanting to ruin the fun time we were having she didn't say anything -- not that the waiter came over to ask if everything was OK (something we didn't think about until later when discussing the experience in the vehicle). When we asked why she wasn't eating & she told us we told her to tell the waiter. She said no, she didn't want to put a damper on our day.

Didn't work! My daughter-in-law said something when the waiter came over to bring our bill. He told us "that's just the way the dish was fixed". He said it was the dressing on the bottom. Shrugged it off, ignored the fact that she'd told him the meat was leather.

My daughter-in-law had the same sauce on her chicken salad dish, but she'd asked for it in a bowl on the side. She wouldn't eat it, said it was disgusting. I stuck my finger in it and tried it. Yep, disgusting. The oil was rancid in my opinion. My other sister tried it. She said maybe not rancid that to her it just tasted like oil that had gotten hot and sat around for a long time, was old. Horrible either way.

When we asked to speak to the manager, the waiter said he wasn't there and walked off.

He also told my sister it looked like she'd eaten enough of the dish. She had not.

Now we're all about as honest as the best of the best. We're not ones to complain. I've never stiffed a waiter. His attitude really ticked us off. We'd have been happy with an apology and maybe giving us the cheese dip free ($3.75) or an offer of a free dish the next time we came in.

We didn't tip the waiter. The tip amount worked out to be about the cost of the bad dish. I HATE the idea of not giving a hard-working waiter a tip. I NEVER take out my problems with a dish on the wait staff. It's not their fault when the cook screws up or there's a problem with the food.

In this case, the waiter got a big fail. His attitude means that four separate families and their friends will not be coming back. The three of us that enjoyed our food had all talking about bringing our respective spouses and family back, making Taquiria Los Hermanos a regular haunt.

I seriously doubt our opinions will hurt the restaurant hugely. They've been there for a long time, the place was hopping while we were there. I would guess that little $10.50 dish will probably cost them hundreds and hundreds of dollars from us though.

If you do go there stay away from the steak dishes (Cesina Steak Salad in particular) and definitely do NOT get anything with their "extra virgin olive oil" and lemon juice dressing. If you insist on trying the dressing be sure to get it on the side.

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Kroger and Something Delightful Win Fayette Chamber Platinum Plate Competition

Something Delightful Bakery & Café Owner Mary Jane Hollister
with Chamber President & CEO Virginia Gibbs


As a precursor to the upcoming Community Expo, the Fayette Chamber hosted the Platinum Plate competition at their monthly Business After Hours event held at Delta Community Credit Union, the Expo’s presenting sponsor. Kroger supermarket was the winner of the Platinum Plate Award (small bites category) while Something Delightful Bakery Café of Peachtree City won the Platinum Plate Award (dessert category).

Kroger’s Chef Brian Boldt says he improvises when he cooks. “There’s no such thing as an original recipe,” says Boldt. His glazed quail with pomegranate, honey and lavender took the prize in the small bites category.

Kroger Chef Brian Boldt with Chamber President
& CEO Virginia Gibbs
Meanwhile, on the dessert side, Something Delightful’s carrot cake cheesecake proved to be the winning sweet. “I look for unusual combinations,” said Something Delightful’s owner Mary Jane Hollister. “Carrot cake and cheesecake are two things everybody loves.”

Other competitors were Cookie Express, Ultimate Café (Fayette Senior Services), Contemporary Catering, Panera Bread and A Taste of the South Catering (Wendell Coffee). Shane’s Rib Shack, A Better Way Café and Rita’s Ice were not able to participate in the competition, but will be serving up tasty treats at the Expo.

The panel of judges included State Rep. Matt Ramsey of Peachtree City, Nancy Jaworski of My Chef Nancy and Melanie Myer, Delta Community Credit Union branch manager and chamber board chair.

The community is cordially invited to attend the Expo on Sept. 13th at New Hope Church, 551 New Hope Road, Fayetteville, to sample delicacies from all participating food service vendors. Admission is free.

More than 2,000 patrons attended last year’s Expo, which had over 100 exhibitors. This year, all exhibitor space has again been filled, so patrons can see new and familiar offerings available from businesses, non-profit and public agencies in Fayette County.

There will be lots of giveaways and drawing prizes, including a netbook and a Serenbe gift package, as well as health screenings, product demos and much more. Don’t miss the fun…mark your calendars for Sept. 13th and join us at the Expo!

About the Chamber: The Fayette Chamber is a strong, vibrant network of businesses and organizations working together to promote economic prosperity and strengthen our community. Through the chamber, important connections are made that provide the framework for our community to grow and prosper. With the goal of maintaining and enhancing our excellent quality of life, the chamber provides strong leadership, networking, education and programs that encourage partnerships between businesses and the community.

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Arby's® Offers Nationwide Invitation to Its Anniversary Bash

64-Cent Classic Roast Beef Sandwiches on Saturday, July 23

PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 50 years ago, two brothers from Ohio – Forrest and Leroy Raffel – set out to shake-up the fast food industry. Their vision: a quick service restaurant that served something other than the standard burgers and fries. Thus, on July 23, 1964, Arby's was born. In celebration of its anniversary, this Saturday, July 23, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is offering customers nationwide its signature sandwich, the Classic Roast Beef, for just 64 cents all day long, with purchase of a 22 oz. drink (coupon required).* To receive a coupon, people must "like" Arby's at www.facebook.com/arbys.

The Classic Roast Beef sandwich is the hallmark of the Arby's experience, featuring mouthwatering roast beef that is slow roasted for three hours in-store daily, then freshly sliced and piled high on a toasted sesame seed bun. For the signature Arby's experience, smother the Classic Roast Beef with tangy Arby's Sauce® or zesty Horsey Sauce®.

"For nearly 50 years, Arby's has offered a variety of sandwiches, signature sides and shakes that put people in a good mood," said Bob Kraut, Senior Vice President, Advertising & Marketing Communications, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. "We're excited to celebrate our anniversary by giving people a chance to try the sandwich that started it all at this special price."

Some Arby's anniversary fun facts:
  • The first Arby's, in Boardman Ohio, had just 10 seats and was shaped like a Conestoga wagon
  • In addition to the Classic Roast Beef sandwich, potato cakes and Jamocha shakes are two other original menu items that remain among the most popular today
  • The Raffel Brothers originally wanted to name the restaurant "Big Tex," but settled on Arby's, which stands for R.B. (Raffel Brothers); to this day, many people still believe it stands for roast beef
  • The neon cowboy hat has been an Arby's icon since the chain launched in 1964
For more information, or to download the coupon, please visit www.facebook.com/arbys.

*Arby's Classic Roast Beef sandwiches are available at 64 cents with purchase of a 22 oz. beverage. The offer is valid on July 23, 2011 with Facebook coupon during regular business hours at participating locations. Limit one coupon per transaction. Not valid with any other coupon or offer.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

The J. M. Smucker Company Announces Coffee Price Increases

/PRNewswire/ -- The J. M. Smucker Company (NYSE: SJM) announced today that it increased the list price for the majority of its coffee products sold in the United States, primarily consisting of items sold under the Folgers®, Dunkin' Donuts®, Millstone®, and Folgers® Gourmet Selections® brand names. Prices will increase an average of 11 percent on impacted items.

The increase in price is driven by sustained increases in green coffee costs. The Company is currently in its quarter-end quiet period and, therefore, will answer investor related follow up questions during its June 9, 2011, fiscal fourth quarter earnings conference call.

Dunkin' Donuts® brand is licensed to The J. M. Smucker Company for packaged coffee products sold in retail channels such as grocery stores, mass merchandisers, club stores, and drug stores. This press release does not pertain to Dunkin' Donuts® coffee or other products for sale in Dunkin' Donuts® restaurants.

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Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Consumers Warned to Avoid Eating Oysters From Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Florida

/PRNewswire-/ -- The following is being released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration:

Fast Facts

* The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers, restaurant operators, commercial shippers and processors of shellfish not to eat, serve, purchase, sell or ship oysters from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla. because the oysters may be contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae serogroup O75.
* Nine persons have been reported with illness. For eight, the illness was confirmed as caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75; laboratory confirmation is pending in the other person. No one was hospitalized or died.
* All ill persons reported consumption of raw or lightly steamed oysters.
* Traceback indicates that oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla., between March 21 and April 6, 2011, are associated with illness.
* Those who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area.


What is the problem?

Raw oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla. between March 21 and April 6, 2011, have been linked to eight confirmed and one possible case of toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75 infection. The ill persons ate raw or lightly cooked oysters harvested from that area. Ill persons reside in Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Indiana; all report consumption of oysters while in Florida. There are several designated harvest areas within Apalachicola Bay, Fla., and each of these has a unique numerical identifier. Area 1642 is a zone that stretches from north to south in Apalachicola Bay just on the east side of the bridge that goes from Eastpoint, Fla., to St. George Island, Fla. The zone is approximately two miles wide from east to west.

What are the symptoms of Vibrio illness?

Illness is typically characterized by nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. The symptoms begin from a few hours up to five days after consumption of raw or undercooked seafood, particularly shellfish, or after ingestion of surface waters.

Who is at risk?

Persons at risk are those who traveled to Florida and consumed oysters that were harvested from Area 1642 of Apalachicola Bay or who purchased oysters in a state to which these oysters or oyster product were distributed and ate them.

What do consumers need to do?

Those who have recently purchased oysters should check with the place of purchase and ask if they were harvested from the affected growing area. If the oysters were definitely or possibly harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Fla., and have not yet been consumed, they should not be eaten. If the oysters were already consumed and no one became ill, no action is needed. If you develop a diarrheal illness within a week after consuming raw or undercooked shellfish, see your healthcare provider and inform the provider about this exposure.

Those with weakened immune systems, including people affected by AIDS, chronic alcohol abuse, liver, stomach, or blood disorders, cancer, diabetes, or kidney disease should avoid eating raw oysters, regardless of where they are harvested.

What product forms are included in the recall?

This advisory, which comes from an outbreak of illness caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75, applies to live in-shell and shucked fresh or frozen oysters from the area.

Where is it distributed?

These oysters or oyster product were initially distributed in Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and North Carolina. However, subsequent distribution to other states may have occurred.

What is being done about the problem?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is advising consumers, restaurant operators, commercial shippers and processors of shellfish not to eat, serve, purchase, sell or ship oysters harvested from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay, Florida because the oysters may be contaminated with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Aquaculture closed Area 1642 on April 29 and has asked commercial oyster harvesters and dealers who obtained oysters from this area to recall them.

The FDA is sampling oysters from Area 1642 in Apalachicola Bay as part of a reopening strategy.

Who should be contacted?

The FDA encourages consumers with questions about seafood safety to call 1-888-SAFEFOOD or to write to consumer@fda.gov .

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Monday, May 9, 2011

Dare to Compare in Arby's® Chicken Salad Taste-Off

/PRNewswire/ -- In years past, Americans have faced off in cola wars and burger battles, but few would have guessed that chicken salad could stir up a similar passion. Summer 2011 is poised to be the season of this sumptuous salad, and Arby's is confident that its Market Fresh® Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap are the best in the business. From May 9-22, Arby's will offer consumers a chance to try its sandwich or wrap free, with the purchase of any 22 oz. beverage.* People can then dare to compare Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap to the Subway® Orchard Chicken Salad sub and cast a vote for their favorite at www.facebook.com/arbys.

To encourage voter participation, for every vote cast, Arby's will donate $1, up to a total of $25,000, to Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign, a national effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

"The Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off is on, and we're so confident in the taste of our Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich and Wrap, that we're giving consumers one to try for themselves," said Chef Brian Kolodziej, vice president, product development, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. "This friendly game of chicken is for a good cause, and we're proud to be able to support Share Our Strength in its fight against childhood hunger."

Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad is freshly prepared daily in-store, and starts with 100% whole chicken breast, marinated and grilled to seal in the juices and add flavor, and hand-diced fresh produce, including crisp red apples, celery, juicy red grapes and crunchy pecans. The chicken salad ingredients are blended with mayonnaise and served on either honey wheat Market Fresh bread or Arby's new, whole-grain flatbread wrap, both of which earned the Whole Grain Council's stamp of approval. Arby's new wrap contains 23 grams of whole grains, or nearly half of the daily minimum of whole grains, while the honey wheat bread offers a significant 18 grams of whole grains. The sandwich and wrap are available nationwide through mid-August.

To participate in Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off:

* "Like" Arby's on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/arbys) and print a coupon for a free Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich or Wrap with the purchase of any 22 oz. beverage
* Compare Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken & Pecan Salad Sandwich or Wrap to the competition, then
* Return to Arby's Facebook page by May 22 and cast a vote for the best tasting Chicken Salad Sandwich


Arby's will announce the outcome of the vote on May 23.

For more information about Arby's Chicken Salad Taste-Off, please visit http://www.facebook.com/arbys.

*Available at participating Arby's locations. The offer is valid only with coupon, one coupon per customer, while supplies last.

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Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Flowers Foods Issues Voluntary Recall on Certain English Muffins and One Bread Item

/PRNewswire/ -- Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO) today announces that, out of an abundance of caution, it is voluntarily recalling the products listed below with the following best by date codes: May 11th 0355 119 and May 12th 0355 120.

Cobblestone Mill 16 oz 100% Whole Wheat Bread UPC 0 72250 04171 3

Natural Grains Honey Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 73105 92029 0

Nature's Own Light Multi Grain English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00377 3

Nature's Own 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00376 6

Nature's Own Honey Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 72250 00876 1

Sweetbay 100% Whole Wheat English Muffins UPC 0 99614 64218 8

These products, in packages with the codes noted, may contain small pieces of metal. No injuries have been reported.

The affected product may involve the following states--Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia -- as well as the following areas: Southern California, southwest Colorado, southern Illinois, southeastern Kansas, south and central Nevada, southern New Jersey, southern Ohio, southern Pennsylvania, and extreme southwestern Utah.

The majority of the product involved was still in Flowers' possession and has been pulled from the company's distribution system. As an extra precaution, Flowers issued the voluntary recall and is proceeding to retrieve all affected product from the market. Grocers are advised to withdraw these products for sale and hold it for pickup by the company.

Consumers are urged to return these products with the best by date/UPC codes noted to the place of purchase for product replacement or refund. Consumers with questions may contact Flowers' Consumer Relations Center at 1-866-245-8921.

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Friday, April 29, 2011

A Legacy With Layers: The Vidalia® Onion Museum Opens Today

/PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, Vidalia onion enthusiasts around the country will be able to explore the history of Georgia's beloved state vegetable and the growing region that has made it so famous. The grand opening of the Vidalia Onion Museum is right in time for thousands of tourists attending the annual Vidalia Onion Festival. Today's Museum grand opening event and ribbon-cutting ceremony have drawn an all-star team of chefs, each of whom is creating a Vidalia onion dish for guests, including:

* James Beard Award-winning chef Jeffrey Buben of Vidalia restaurant in Washington, D.C.
* "Top Chef" Fan Favorite Kevin Gillespie of Woodfire Grill in Atlanta, Ga.
* Award-winning chef Gerry Klaskala of Aria restaurant in Atlanta, Ga.
* "Top Chef" contestant Tracey Bloom of Ray's at Killer Creek in Atlanta, Ga.
* "Southern My Way" cookbook author Gena Knox

Also participating in the museum opening ceremonies are Gary Black, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, and Wendy Brannen, Vidalia® Onion Committee executive director and museum chairperson. "We have worked for five years to unearth each unique layer of the Vidalia onion story and then portray those layers creatively for visitors," says Brannen. "When we first hired a museum consultant, they asked, 'Really, an onion museum?' But they quickly realized we're not just any onion, and this isn't just any story!" Brannen adds.

The Vidalia Onion Museum provides guests with an interactive, historical experience. The museum is filled with educational exhibits that highlight the sweet onion's economic, cultural and culinary significance. The Vidalia Onion Museum is located at 100 Vidalia Sweet Onion Drive and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

In addition to the excitement of the museum's grand opening, the Vidalia Onion Festival takes place this weekend, drawing tens of thousands of people to Vidalia, Ga. Activities include pageants, parades, concerts, car shows, onion-eating contests and arts and crafts. For more information on the festival, visit www.vidaliaonionfestival.com.

The Vidalia® Onion Committee was established in 1989 as Federal Marketing Order No. 955. The order authorizes production research, marketing research and development, and marketing promotion programs. The VOC administers the order locally and consists of eight producer members and their alternates and one public member and an alternate. More information about the Vidalia® Onion industry may be obtained at VidaliaOnion.org.

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

UGA teaches healthy cooking class

May. 4, 2011 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle can reduce the risk of cancer by up to 50 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. To help Georgians learn how to cook cancer-fighting meals, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offers free classes.

More than 40,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Georgia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and nearly 15,000 die.

“Making healthy lifestyle choices can dramatically reduce our risk for developing certain types of cancers,” said Denise Everson, UGA Extension Family and Consumer Sciences agent in Athens and Oconee County. “We teach families how they can eat healthy, but still eat well, while improving their health and reducing their risk for chronic disease.”

Everson will teach a free Cooking for a Healthier Lifetime Cancer Prevention Cooking School on Wednesday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Athens-Clarke County Health Department. Citizens are invited to learn how to reduce their risk for cancer and chronic disease by making healthy food choices.

“The simple steps we take today, improved eating habits and an active lifestyle, can decrease our risk for chronic disease and improve our overall well-being,” Everson said.

Recipes will be shared and free food samples will be available. Space is limited so call 706-583-2756 by April 29 to secure a spot in the class.

UGA Extension, Athens-Clarke County Health Department and the American Cancer Society sponsor the course.

For more information on healthy life choices or similar classes in your area, contact a local UGA Extension office at 1-800-ASK-UGA1.


By April Reese Sorrow
University of Georgia

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Association for Dressings and Sauces Gives Creative Salad Recipe Ideas On Saladaday.org

/PRNewswire/ -- Eating a salad every day with your favorite salad dressing is an easy way to add valuable nutrients to your diet – nutrients that promote good health and may ward off disease. Visit www.saladaday.org to find creative salad recipes and learn the health benefits of eating salads with your favorite dressing. You will find salad recipes with chicken, salad recipes with pasta and vegetable salads, all with great salad dressing recommendations.

Salad eaters tend to have higher intakes of key nutrients, such as Vitamins C and E and folate. The healthy oils found in salad dressings help to promote the absorption of key nutrients, including many important antioxidants that are found in leafy greens and other vegetables and fruits. In addition, the majority of salad dressings are free of trans fat.

What's the key to a healthy salad? According to Sarah Wally, M.S., R.D., "The nutritional value of your salad depends on what ingredients you choose." Selecting a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables for salads ensures you're eating a wide range of beneficial nutrients.

Saladaday.org is a program of The Association for Dressings and Sauces (ADS), the international trade association that represents salad dressing, mayonnaise and condiment sauce manufacturers and suppliers to the industry. Since 1992, ADS has celebrated May as National Salad Month.

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