Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop

A college friend and fellow TKE, Steve Chanos, Master Developer/Owner at Chanos Bros, LLC, just opened Wisconsin's first Capriotti's Sandwich Shop in Milwaukee in the Chase Tower (111 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 130).

I attended the family and friend's opening this past Saturday and was amazed at the quality of food being served -- as well as the friendly service.

I tried the "The Bobbie®", which as been nationally acclaimed as a best-seller, made with homemade Turkey, cranberry Sauce, stuffing, and mayo; and I tried the "Capastrami" with hot Pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian Dressing, and cole slaw! Outstanding!

Capriotti's also offers a number of hot items, signature sandwiches, vegetarian subs, meaty subs and other types of sandwiches.

I definitely recommend visiting a shop if one is in your area. Visit their web site at www.capriottis.com for locations, menu and other information.

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Chicago Tribune Good Eating Review Rerun

Today's Chicago Tribune's Sunday Good Eating section reran Foodie Public Relations client's favorable product review: The Scrumptious Pantry's Cantuccione (Tuscan Fig Cookie). They're so good! Order one from Piazza Italian Market @ http://www.piazzaitalianmarket.com or at a quality food store. Vist http://scrumptiouspantry.com to find a store near you.


Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Chicago Tribune Good Eating Review


Today's Chicago Tribune's Good Eating section (p. 8, city edition) published a review of one of my clients food items: The Scrumptious Pantry's CANTUCCIONE FIG & SPELT COOKIE. The company's phone has not stopped ring with new orders! http://scrumptiouspantry.com.

Foodie PR was able to get The Scrumptious Pantry reviewed positively in the Chicago Tribune's Good Eating section within 28 days of introducing the company to the editors. See what working with a good PR company can get you!

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Fancy Food & Culinary Products

One of Foodie Public Relations clients, The Scrumptious Pantry, is featured as Fancy Food & Culinary Products' pick of the week. Read more @ http://fancyfoodmagazine.blogspot.com!

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Friday, October 30, 2009

Media Blitz


The Scrumptious Pantry is being introduced to the Chicago media this week -- Chicago Sun-Times, Inside Publications and Fancy Food magazine.

So far all food editors are impressed with the company's product and its commitment to only source from small artisan producers, whenever possible right at the source of the primary ingredient – the family farmer. The artisans of The Scrumptious Pantry are dedicated to natural foodmaking. In most cases, the products are organically grown and prepared. Each artisan does not believe in artificial flavors, conserving agents or other artificial ingredients interfering with their work. All products are 100% natural.

If you want to learn more about The Scrumptious Pantry or its founder, Lee Greene, e-mail me at robbenes@comcast.net.

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Scrumptious Pantry - Press Release

Real Food From Real People
The Scrumptious Pantry offers handcrafted food from the heartlands of Italy


THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY is dedicated to improving the quality of food put on consumers’ plates! It represents 21 very special food items from Tuscany, Piemonte and Emilia-Romagna, Italy that are sourced from family farms and artisan producers that cannot be found in the United States.

Items include Durum Wheat Pasta, Risotto Rice, Cornmeal, Tomato Jam with Grappa, Green Tomato Jam, Tuscan Red Onion Chutney, Sun-Dried Tomato Spread, Eggplant Spread, All-Purpose Herbed Salt (Roasting & Grilling Salt), Balsamic Dressing Sauce, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cantucci Tuscan Almond Cookies, Brutti Ma Buoni Italian Hazelnut Cookies and more.

All 21 items are carefully made in small-batches without the use of artificial flavors, conserving agents or other artificial ingredients. They are lovingly produced by farmers in the field and artisans in the kitchen, respecting local traditions and tastes, harvesting only the best crops and using the finest ingredients to create food that touches your soul. So what is made is real food from real people!

It’s Roberta and Guilio who tend to their eggplants and tomatoes and captures Tuscany’s sunny fields in their vegetable spreads and herbs. It’s Carlo who grows durum wheat that goes into his conchiglie, farfalle and rigatoni pastas. It’s Barbara and Fabio who transforms their tomato and onion crops into tantalizing spreads, chutneys and jellies.

Founded by Lee Greene in 2008, THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY is an umbrella brand that guides consumers in identifying artisan food products. Each product is uniquely packaged proudly picturing the actual producer on the label.

“Consumers have been embracing the concept of ‘From Farm To Table’. They want to know where their food is grown and what is in it,” Greene says. “THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY raises this concept to the next level of packaged goods because so far it has been limited to fresh produce – farmers’ markets and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Plus, having been a farmer myself, I know that it’s so much more fulfilling for the producer if the fruit of their labor is appreciated as being real food.”

THE SCRUMPITOUS PANTRY and the artisans it works with invites you to join them in their commitment to the return of good taste and safe food, believing that success comes from a willingness to provide the best-tasting and freshest products that can be grown and found.

About The Scrumptious Pantry
THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY, founded by Lee Greene in 2008, represents a line of 21 food items from the heartlands of Italy. Focused on direct collaboration with independent specialty food stores and delicatessens, THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY is available throughout the United States. For a complete listing of where to buy items, visit www.scrumptiouspantry.com. THE SCRUMPTIOUS PANTRY is the artisan specialty food line of Rye, N.Y.-based Faithful to Foods, Inc. Greene also is the General Manager of Tenuta di Poggio, a boutique vineyard located in Tuscany.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

The Scrumptious Pantry

Foodie Public Relations is the agent of record for The Scrumptious Pantry's (TSP) media relations. The Scrumptious Pantry presents foods from the culinary heartlands of Italy.


Direct all media inquiries to Foodie Public Relations at 630.913.6289 or robbenes@comcast.net.

Visit www.scrumptiouspantry.com to learn more about The Scrumptious Pantry.

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Lemonade and Chocolate Cookies

Who could resist homemade lemonade from freshly squeezed lemons and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies from these two cute girls?

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Monday, September 14, 2009

Offal is so Good!

I went to a pig roast on Saturday hosted by The Pathetic Suburban Males' Grilling Club. The pig was great, which was stuffed with two roasting chickens. Here's a few pictures of the pig and me enjoying freshly cooked pig brains.

The brains tasted and had a mouthfeel of sea urchin. Don't knock it until you try it ... I highly recommend it.

Homemade poppers also were offered made from homegrown peppers and stuffed with cream cheese and bacon; as well as homemade corn bread with Mexican four-cheese and roasted jalapeno.








Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Charlie Trotter's 22nd Anniversary Celebration

I attended Charlie Trotter's 22nd anniversary celebration - somewhat as a VIP guest. I was a backstage pass to kitchen before, during and after the dinner, and I have tell you this is not the first time Charlie has allowed me this opportunity.

For this dinner, Chef Juan Mari Arzak of Restaurante Arzak of San Sabastian (Spain), Chef Michael Carlson of Schwa (Chicago), Chef Daniel Humm of Eleven Madison Park (New York), Chef Paul Liebrandt of Corton (New York), Farmer/Chef Lee Jones of The Chef's Garden (Ohio) joined Charlie in preparing a nine course dinner. Furthermore, there were four master sommeliers in the restaurant that evening: Larry Stone, Serafin Alvarado, Robert Houde, Conrad Reddick.

All of the proceeds from the evening (there were about 110 guest who paid $450/plate) went toward Charlie Trotter's Educational Foundation.

Here are a few of the the goings-on in Charlie Trotter's kitchen. It was a great evening.

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie



















Saturday, August 29, 2009

Boeuf Bourguignon

Here's a photo recap of my attempt at making boeuf bourguignon, following Julia Child's recipe from Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I have to admit the final dish came out pretty darn good. The intensive flavor that developed was incredible. This is one dish that anyone can make ... guaranteed! Now, since those of you who read this blog are foodies, I'm hopefully confident that you know what each picture depicts. If not, get Child's book to find out or e-mail me at robbenes@comcast.net. Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie!











Thursday, August 13, 2009

Foodie Public Relations Gets Recognized

Foodie Public Relations worked with the Glen Ellyn library this past summer by having local restaurants and chefs put on food demonstations for tweens and their parents.

To help promote the program, Foodie PR not only had the food programs mentioned in the library’s print and electronic newsletter, but free publicity was secured in the Village of Glen Ellyn’s newsletter (circulation: 26,999), Glen Ellyn News (circulation: 15,500) and Wheaton Sun (circulation: 20,502). Coverage of the food program (featuring Honey’s pastry chef) also appeared in the Glen Ellyn News.

One restaurant that joined the program was Honey. Here's what Elizabeth Janus, Owner of Honey, had to say about Foodie's work:

"Thank you so much for your effort in coordinating the library demos. It’s great to have opportunities for publicity that are unique, not expensive and well thought out. You're great with communication and organization. We at Honey recommend your services to any restaurant looking for opportunities to grow, with ideas that are outside the box of traditional marketing."

To learn more about how Foodie Public Relations can help with your marketing needs, call 630-913-6289 or e-mail robbenes@comcast.net.

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Foodie PR Gets Another Endorsement

Foodie Public Relations worked with chocolate confectioner Nahualli Trading Co. (www.nahuallitrading.com), which makes Chocolate Seeds: whole shelled cocoa beans covered in dark chocolate.

Foodie partnered with Nahualli's founder and owner, Paul Mosca, to develop an integrated communications program that included a media kit. The kit, which was sent to 10 food editors and writers throughout the country, included product samples, photography on a flash drive and complimentary tea bags to pair with the Chocolate Seeds.

The campaign resulted in placement in four national publications: Fancy Food & Culinary Products, National Culinary Review, Candy Industry, Tea and Coffee. Placement included positive product reviews and a company profile. In addition to being in the print version of each magazine, Nahualli Trading Co. appeared electronically on each magazine’s web site.

More than $15,000 in free publicity was secured when the all print and electronic placements are totaled.

Here's what Mosca had to say about Foodie PR's work:
"Rob's [Foodie Public Relation's president] perspective, intuition, and creative insight produced several magazine product placements for Chocolate Seeds. In addition, having a sounding board with intimate knowledge of the food industry allowed me to reshape our website and mission statement for The Nahualli Trading Co. Good bloke all around. And he knows his food.”

Happy Eating! Mr. Foodie

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Beach Front BBQing

I'm on a family holiday in Northern Door County (WI) with my wife, Cathy, and my two daugthers, Ava and Ellen. One of our favorite beaches is North Bay Beach at Rowley's Bay. When we spend the day at this beach we often grill out ... using the beach supplied barbecue grills. Have you used this type of grill? They are challenging, depending on the direction of the wind and the unexpected gusts that blow off the water. We had garlic and onion burgers for dinner.
Oh, yeah, here's a picture of a wayward Door County Seagull that would not leave us alone. He (or she) wanted to constantly sneak up to our table to grab a dropped morsel. The bird was very persistent to say the very least.


Happy Eating (and barbecuing at on your favorite open fire grill)! Mr. Foodie