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The Stew
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Published: May 13, 2008
WE HAVE TECHNOLOGY. WE'RE NOT AFRAID TO USE IT
First there was a food blog called The Stew. People read it and saw that it was good.
Now, there is Twit Stew.
What, pray tell, is that?
Well, there's a relatively new online service called Twitter. I hate throwing around meaningless technical terms, but it's called - hold on to your hat - a microblog.
I'll give you a few seconds to chew on that nebulous morsel.
Done? Good. Now to explain.
Twitter allows anyone with access to a keyboard to post up to 140 characters at a time. That's brief. Very brief. I can't sneeze in less than 285.
Anyway, I've started to use it to post several food-related updates throughout the day that I normally wouldn't want to do as full-blown posts online at The Stew. I think of it as a food headline service of sorts.
What kind of things get posted? Stuff like:
•USA Today has named Ybor City's Columbia Restaurant - home of the 1905 Salad - as among the 10 Great Places to Make a Meal Out of a Salad. Thank goodness that's settled.
•Dunkin' Donuts is offering free iced coffee on Thursday.
•Every Wednesday this summer, starting today, is 99-Cent Smoothie Day at Planet Smoothie.
•National Fiber Council survey says 95 percent of the U.S. population don't get enough daily fiber. The other 5 percent? They were on the potty when NFC pollsters called.
•There's a new wine called Pizza Red on shelves at Whole Foods stores in Florida. It's red. It goes with pizza. End of story.
•Sandra Lee of Food Network's "Semi-Homemade" series is among People's 100 Most Beautiful People in the World this year. I have no further comment at this time.
•Not to overstate this, but the chocolate cake at Wright's Gourmet Cafe in Tampa just might be the key to happiness in the universe.
•The cinnamon butter on the fresh-and-choked-with-butter-rolls at Cody's Roadhouse? Hellafine.
You get the drift.
So that you don't have to go to two sites to read the posts, I've installed a widget on the left-hand side of The Stew that lets you see what I've posted on Twitter. You can either scroll through them in that box or click on the bottom, and it will take you to my TwitStew postings.
You also can just go to Twitter.com/TwitStew. If you have a Twitter account, give me a nudge. I'm @TwitStew.
IMPULSE BUYS OF THE WEEK
In the gift shop on Saturday during the final weekend of the "Vatican Splendors" exhibit at the Florida International Museum in St. Petersburg, I picked up a shot glass with a papal crest on it for the bargain price of $7.95.
The Official Son of The Stew plunked down his $2.95 for some fish-shaped, cinnamon Scripture Mints. Dogma never tasted so delicious.
THE SURVEY SAYS ...
Zagat is taking ratings and "witty reviews" from the public on restaurants in the Orlando, Tampa, Sarasota and Naples areas. Complete the online survey by June 8, and you'll get a free copy of the 2009 America's Top Restaurants guide. To take the survey, go online to www.zagat.com/survey.
TRIED IT, LIKED IT
The Maryland Crab Bites appetizer at Grill 121 at BayWalk in downtown St. Petersburg. The prime rib ciabatta sandwich and the fish tacos were tasty, too.
TRIED IT, LIKED IT, PART DEUX
The osso buco (marinated pork shank) at Miller's Ale House & Raw Bar on State Road 60 in Brandon. (Better known as the Brandon Ale House.) The Official Giant Nephew of The Stew swears by the Pasta Orleans. His friend, Little James, goes for the breaded pork medallions.
TRIED IT, LIKED IT, THE REVENGE
New Mentos Gum in peppermint, spearmint and red fruit and lime. It's not just for putting in Coca-Cola anymore. (And no, the gum won't make soda shoot in the air like regular Mentos. We asked.)
TRIED IT, LIKED IT, WHEN WILL THIS TIRED PREMISE END?
Brothers All-Natural Crisps freeze-dried fruit snacks. We liked the banana and Asian pear flavors the best. Cost: 89 cents to $1.19. Available at Costco, Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores.
ARE YOU A 'SHANIAC'?
The first 100 customers at every Shane's Rib Shack on Saturday will receive a free half-rack of baby back ribs and a large Coca-Cola Zero, as well as an official "Shaniac" T-shirt. Consolation prizes for those who don't make the 100: buy-one-get-one certificates.
DALI DOPPELGANGER
Jose Luis Pawelek, chef and co-owner of Elements Global Cuisine restaurant in Gulfport, won the Salvador Dali look-alike contest Saturday night at the Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. The contest, held in celebration of the eccentric artist's 104th birthday, fielded dozens of entrants.
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