Here's something for all of you who love all things large and beer. As fans of So Good and Fast Food Critic already know, the world's largest six pack of beer can be found in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.
The statistics on this six pack are amazing: 688,200 gallons of beer, enough for 7,340,796 cans, "would provide one person a six pack per day for 3,351 years." The six pack was created by the City Brewing Company in LaCrosse.
My only question is did they drink all that beer before it went bad?
I'm posting images of sausage counters the world over each weeknight (and occasionally weekend) witching hour (until I run out), so please use the comments section to post links to your Flickr or personal site faves, and perhaps you'll see 'em posted here late some evening.
Denver is the home of Coors Brewing Company, and this summer the city will also host the Democratic National Convention. Beyond that locational proximity, what could the two possibly have in common? Beer! Well, waste beer to be more precise.
According to RealBeer.com, the Dems will be shuttled about in flex fuel cars using waste beer as the bio-diesel. Coors will be donating all the waste beer-ethanol needed by the fleet of GM flex fuel cars.
Not only is beer good fresh, but perhaps waste beer would be a good alternative to corn based ethanol (ignoring the hops shortage for the moment). I'm not saying that beer can solve all the world's problems, but it might not be a bad place to start.
The feature story this week is on the "greening" of Chicago, with farmers' markets returning to new locations with sustainable produce. The Tribune shares some tips for shopping at the farmers' market, as well as recipes from cookbooks that focus on market fresh produce: Scallops with three peas and prosciutto from Blue Eggs and Yellow Tomatoes, Savory mashed potatoes with garden herbs from Rosalind Creasy's Recipes from the Garden, Butter Lettuce Salad from Fresh, and Watercress, snow pea and shiitake mushroom stir-fry from The Farm to Table Cookbook: The Art of Eating Locally.
After many years of reading fortune cookie messages that are not so much predictions as truisms, such as "Ideas are like children; there are none so wonderful as your own," many dismiss them entirely. To counteract this boredom with fortune cookies edgy, depressing messages have begun cropping up.
But there are still fortune cookie romantics who save their favorite little scrolls. I count myself among them. When I stand in front of the fridge at 2 a.m. eating roast beef with my bare hands I close the door and take comfort in reading, "Believe in your abilities, confidence will lead you on."
And then there's Bob Bjarke. Not content to post his favorite fortune cookie message on his fridge or elsewhere, he created The Best Fortune Cookie Ever. What could motivate someone to throw up a one-page tribute to a fortune cookie? Perhaps Bjarke is a frustrated would-be astronaut with plans on living into the 2100's and takes solace in the fact that there's a chance he might still be able to snag that Earth-view villa. The only thing I know for certain is that he found his favorite fortune at Chicago's Papajin. I'd love to know what the Jennifer 8.Lee, author of The Fortune Cookie Chronicles makes of this. [via SFoodie]
Maybe you remember the post a few weeks ago about the Wynkoop beer drinker if the year. Well, just in case, here's a little reminder. A big brew pub in Denver holds a contest every year to find the "Beer Drinker of the Year". That person has to be knowledgeable about every aspect of beer and have the personality to evangelize the beverage.
Now they've finally chosen a winner. Drum roll please! And the winner is Matt Venske from Yorktown, Virginia, the second Virginian in as many years. Matt beat out two other competitors for the coveted title, not to mention the free beer for life at Wynkoop and a $250 tab at his local pub.
A lot of states here in the U.S. have laws banning alcohol sales on Sunday's. I've never really understood why. People are still going to drink if they really want to, so there's no big moral reason. That's even less of a reason if the state allows restaurants that sell adult beverages to operate on Sunday. It would be more moral to let people buy alcohol and drink at home than to make them go out for it and drive home drunk. I suppose there's always the argument that you should plan ahead. I don't know how many times I've been shopping on Sunday, when I have time, and not been able to purchase wine for meal later in the week.
And that's part of the reason why the Colorado State Senate has taken up a bill that would allow Sunday sales of alcohol. On Friday it approved the bill, but it still has to pass another vote in the Senate and also be passed in the state's House of Representatives.
So it's not out of the woods yet, but the effort to have all week access to alcohol is looking better. Attitudes are changing. When the laws were originally passed, most stores were already closed on Sunday. Now, a lot of people do their grocery shopping on Sunday, and businesses are losing out on sales on Sunday, at least.
The government should work on teaching people how to be responsible, and maybe work on strategies to prevent the downsides of drinking. It should not, however, tell me when I can purchase alcohol. That's just un-American.
It's not what you think. When I first heard about this, my first question was how much do you have to drink to be awarded this honor? It turns out the title doesn't have much to do with how many beers you can drink in one sitting.
A brew pub in Denver, called Wynkoop, asked for entries in this contest last fall and have narrowed the list down to three finalists. I gather that the winner must be a great ambassador for beer. Here is what Wynkoop asked from entrants. "Resumes must include each entrant's beerdrinking philosophy and details highlighting their passion for beer. Resumes should discuss the entrant's understanding of beer, its history, and its importance to civilization. And what efforts the entrant undertakes to hip others to the joys of great beer and its culture."
So the brewpub is looking for someone with an extensive knowledge and passion for beer who also has the personality to be a great spokesperson for good beer. It doesn't hurt that the winner gets free beer for life at the Wynkoop Brewpub and a $250 tab at their home pub of choice. They also get a t-shirt, but I'd be happy with the beer.
The USDA is investigating the Hallmark slaughterhouse in California, the subject in videos released by The Humane Society of the United States after a six-week undercover investigation. In the video, workers at the meat processing plant repeatedly kicked cows and rammed them with the blades of a forklift. The cows were also said to be sick, which is a major health concern. Sicks cows could be carrying Mad Cow disease or e Coli.
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I am a football fan.
However, I have to admit that at least one third of my interest in football is not about the game. Sure, I can follow the game, thanks to four years on the high school cheerleading squad (please, spare me all the comments about cheerleaders -- I already hate myself enough about it). I most certainly appreciate the athletics of the sport, and love giving all my love and adoration to Peyton Manning a team, but I think one of the reasons why I love football so much is the lifestyle around football. I'm not talking Friday Night Lights lifestyle (well, maybe I am a little). Like Paula Deen, I love the food and parties and the Super Bowl, for me, is like, Thanksgiving.
Now I know that buckeyes have everything to do with Ohio and pretty much nothing to do with New England, New York, or even Phoenix, where the Super Bowl is taking place, but for me, they are a peanut buttery, chocolate-y representation of football. I didn't post about it much here at the beginning of January, but I went to New Orleans to watch the Ohio State Buckeyes and the LSU Tigers play in the Championship Game for college football. So for now, let's just say that tiny peanut butter balls dipped in chocolate are a great sweet snack to serve your guests during a football party.
This is what makes the web great: a seemingly small part of a business is suddenly given importance. In this case, it's the signs that the St. Cloud Bakery in Minnesota put out in front of their store. When seen in a Flickr set, they come across as little works of art, almost like food poetry.
I also like the big banner in back of the sign that reads CAUTION: FRESH CHEWY COOKIES. I want that for my apartment.
I don't know how I didn't catch this one yesterday.
Grant Achatz, chef at Chicago's Alinea, and one of the most notable young chef talents out there, reported yesterday that he has cancer. He told NY Times Dining Editor Pete Wells that he has an advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma in his mouth, and says the following about it via his publicist:
"I wanted to personally report that I have been very recently diagnosed with an advanced stage of squamous cell carcinoma of the mouth. I have consulted several prominent physicians and will likely begin aggressive treatment within the next few weeks. I remain, and will remain, actively and optimistically engaged in operations at Alinea to the largest extent possible. Alinea will continue to perform at the level people have come to expect from us - I insist on that. I have received amazing support from friends, family, and everyone who has thus far been told of the disease, and I look forward to a full, cancer-free, recovery."
Slashfood will be thinking of you as you go through treatment and are looking forward to your full recovery, Chef Achatz!
Ok, I really need to know - does the idea of pizza-flavored beer really appeal to anyone out there? Honestly?
One man in the Chicago area certainly seems to think so, and has been brewing up batches ever since. Apparently Tom Seefurth came up with the idea last year when he and his wife found themselves with an excess of garden tomatoes. As a brewing hobbyist, he decided to add the pizza flavors directly to his home-brew. His recipe includes not only a tomato garlic puree with garden fresh oregano, but he actually adds in real pieces of baked pizza during the brewing process.
Now I love pizza and I love beer, but seriously - the two together? I'll pass, thanks. What about you - would you try it?
Denver is the home of Coors Brewing Company, and this summer the city will also host the Democratic National Convention. Beyond that locational proximity, what could the two possibly have in common? Beer! Well, waste beer to be more precise. 
The feature story this week is on the "
After many years of reading fortune cookie messages that are not so much predictions as truisms, such as "Ideas are like children; there are none so wonderful as your own," many dismiss them entirely. To counteract this boredom with fortune cookies edgy, 
Maybe you remember the post a few weeks ago about the Wynkoop beer drinker if the year. Well, just in case, here's a little reminder. A big brew pub in Denver holds a contest every year to find the "Beer Drinker of the Year". That person has to be knowledgeable about every aspect of beer and have the personality to evangelize the beverage.
A lot of states here in the U.S. have laws banning alcohol sales on Sunday's. I've never really understood why. People are still going to drink if they really want to, so there's no big moral reason. That's even less of a reason if the state allows restaurants that sell adult beverages to operate on 
It's not what you think. When I first heard about this, my first question was how much do you have to drink to be awarded this honor? It turns out the title doesn't have much to do with how many beers you can drink in one sitting. 
In two different articles, two sets of schools -- one set of 
I don't know how I didn't catch this one yesterday.
Ok, I really need to know - does the idea of pizza-flavored beer really appeal to anyone out there? Honestly? 
Chocolate-stuffed bananas on the grill
Tyler Florence welcomes new daughter
Beware kids' menus!
