Start a Restaurant

McLean, VA, United States (AHN) – There will soon be fewer M&M’s to pass around and you might not be so eager to share a bite of your Snickers.

Mars Inc., the maker of popular chocolate products such as Twix, Milky Way, M&M’s, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Bounty and Kudos candy bars says it will stop making King Size bars.

By the end 2013, Mars’ chocolate products will not exceed 250 calories, The company says the move is to promote more healthy and conscious snacking.

The company first posted its goal on its website in September, but received renewed attention this week when media organizations reported on it.

In addition, the McLean, VA-headquartered company, which also owns Uncle Ben’s, Seeds of Change and Whiskas pet foods, aims to reduce sodium levels in all its food products by 25 percent by 2015.

Mars has recently stepped up its commitment to health and nutrition. In 2007, the company said it would no longer buy advertising space or time if more than a quarter of the audience was likely to be under under 12 years of age.

The company also noted that it has introduced several new products with a calorie count less than 200.

But candy fans need not worry too much about the changes. A standard Snickers bars now has 280 calories, and a Twix package and a bag of peanut M&M’s each currently weigh in at 250 calories. And, you can always buy two.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

Fort Myers, FL, United States (AHN) – Norman Love Confections knows the secret to sweet success.

The Florida-based chocolatier has been named the best chocolate in the United States, for the sixth time, by Consumer Reports in its February issue–just in time for Valentine’s Day.

Norman Love makes about 30,000 chocolates by hand every day at its Fort Myers facility. In awarding the company top honors, the magazine cited “the combination and the blending of the chocolate with the fillings.”

The chocolate shop is expanding with fresh gelato and bakery selections. The company also plans to take full advantage of its location, which is very close to the Red Sox spring training stadium.

Even better, Love plans to open more retail locations in the future.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

Seattle, WA, United States (AHN) – Get ready to peel off more bucks for your Starbucks lattes, frappuccinos, espressos and standard brews.

The Seattle coffee chain announced Tuesday that it is raising prices an average of 1 percent in the Northeast and Sunbelt regions. Cities that will see higher prices include Boston, New York, Washington, Atlanta, Dallas and Albuquerque. Prices will remain unchanged in California and Florida.

The increase comes as Starbucks faces higher commodity costs. The company will not raise prices for its packaged coffee sold in its cafes and at grocery stores. That increase came last year when Starbucks raised prices of packaged coffee 17 percent at its cafes and 12 percent at grocery stores.

The coffee giant believes the increases will have little effect on its consumer base, which is less sensitive to prices than some of its rivals.

In early afternoon trading Wednesday, shares of Starbucks were trading higher by 2 percent at $46.21 per share.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

West Palm Beach, FL, United States (AHN) – Dieters take note. The color of your plate may affect how much you eat.

New research published in the December issue of the Journal of Consumer Research suggests that its not just size of your plate, but also the color, when it comes to how much you eat.

Experts have known for years that color has an impact when it comes to food consumption. Fast food chains have long been cashing in on this phenomenon. They rely heavily on bold colors such as red, orange and bright yellow in their advertising, packaging and decor. These color cue you to eat more.

The newest study shows another relationship between food and color. Among the findings are that people tend to eat more when there is less contrast between the color of food and the color of the plate it is served on.

For instance, when pasta with a red sauce is served on a red plate a person tends to eat more, as it is difficult to see exactly how much food is on the plate, and how much has already been consumed.

The best plate color choice is blue, experts say (not much blue food around). The second best is white.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

Glendale, CA, United States (AHN) – IHOP is celebrating Halloween a few days early by offering free “Count Spatula” pancakes for kids all day Friday.

As part of its “No Tricks Just Treats” program designed to provide a safe and fun Halloween, children 12 and under can visit IHOP for a free scary face pancake.

The “design your own” Scary Face Pancake includes an oversized buttermilk pancake with a whipped topping mouth and a strawberry nose. It is served with two mini Oreo cookies and candy corn on the side, allowing kids the opportunity to decorate their own Halloween hotcake, according to an IHOP statement.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Blame it on the butter.

Maxim magazine has named 64-year-old Southern chef Paula Deen as its “Hottest Female TV Chef,” saying man cannot resist her rich comfort food.

According to the editors, “Deen’s devotion to the art of down-home, fat-laden cooking filled them with a lust for life.”

Deen, a diminutive, grey-haired Southern champion in the kitchen, beat out several younger chefs including the stunning Giada de Laurentis and Padma Lakshmi.

Deen has a heavy hand with butter when she cooks and frequently says that everything is better with butter. Apparently that is enough to melt men’s heart.

View full post on Gastronomy Stories

Washington, DC, United States (AHN) – According to a national survey, U.S. gasoline prices rose less than 2 cents per gallon over the past two weeks as the price of crude oil remained stable.

The average price of self-serve regular climbed nearly 1.50 cents to just below $3.13 a gallon, according to the Lundberg Survey of about 2,500 filling stations. With demand still weak and an excess of refined fuel on the market, the prices at gas stations are closely following the price of the crude oil that is gasoline’s major component.

In the past 19 weeks, gas prices have gone up approximately 44 cents per gallon, and prices are about 46 cents higher than early February 2010. Cruel oil prices shot up nearly 20 percent over the past year, reports stated.

The highest average gas prices in the country were found in San Francisco ($3.41 per gallon); the lowest were in Memphis, Tennessee ($2.90 per gallon).

View full post on Lifestyle And Leisure Stories

Sidney, Australia (AHN) – According to reports by the Australian Transport Safety Board, a second Qantas passenger jet landed safely in Singapore Friday after turning back shortly after takeoff due to engine problems.

It is the second jet in as many days to be grounded in Singapore because of the mechanical issue.

The Boeing 747-400 was carrying 412 passengers and 19 crew members and was on its way to Sidney, Australia, reports stated.

On Thursday, a Qantas Airbus A380 jet had to return to Singapore for an emergency landing at Changi Airport after one of its engines shut down shortly after takeoff. Part of the engine’s covering fell off as it returned to the airport, according to reports.

Airbus has asked the manufacturers of the engines to inspect all of them as a precaution.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating both incidents.

View full post on Lifestyle And Leisure Stories