cookiesinheaven

Anyway, remember that TV show, "The Restaurant," on which Rocco DiSpirito got into a nasty, all-out fight with the restaurant's owner, Jeffrey Chodorow? And the restaurant in question, Rocco's, closed following horrific reviews? Well, today, in my mailbox, appeared DiSpirito's apology to Chodorow et al. He wrote, "In retrospect I regret some of my statements and actions, which may have exacerbated the dispute between us. The whole experience… was 'interesting' to say the least—one that both Jeffrey and I are glad to have behind us."

A state legislator is seeking to impose civil penalties on retailers that fail to disclose information on slotting fee arrangements.

State Sen. Liz Figueroa, D-Fremont, recently introduced Senate Bill 582 which would require any retailer charging slotting fees to disclose details of the arrangement up front to product suppliers.

Slotting fees represent a $9 billion revenue stream for supermarkets, costing suppliers between $3,000 to $40,000 in annual charges. Some cannot afford the heft payments, which Figueroa claims restrict choice."(Slotting fees) are prevalent throughout the grocery industry and, in some cases, cause harm to food suppliers and consumers," Figueroa said in an interview with the East Bay Business Times (Pleasanton, Calif.)

Figueroa has the support of some farmers and grocery worker unions, but the California Grocers Association adamantly opposes her bill.

The bill will have a hearing sometime this spring. If the bill clears the Senate and the Assembly, it would next be considered by the state Assembly and eventually Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. - gourmet news

The decades-old practice of suppliers paying major grocery chains for shelf space is a less-than-fresh controversy. For years, small businesses have argued that the fees push them off the shelves. Meanwhile, grocers say space is limited, and introducing new products is risky. Slotting fees offset those risks, they say.

Charging slotting fees generates substantial money -- about $9 billion annually for the placement of new products alone, according to the Federal Trade Commission -- and has caught the attention of at least one state legislator. - Monterey Herald

The FTC study found that slotting fees "are all over the map," Schultheiss said. Within just the hot-dog category, one of five product groups the commission studied, the agency found one retailer that charged $5,000 and another that charged more than $20,000.

"It's hard to say whether or not there's a direct correlation between how much is charged and how much it costs," she said, because there are no records to check. The report noted, "Many retailers simply do not maintain ... historical, product-specific electronic data on slotting allowances." - sfgate.com

A large round fruit, native to Southeast Asia, that grows on trees and is distinctive in appearance with its spiked outer shell. Durians grow in round and oblong shapes in excess of 8 to 10 pounds, but generally the fruit is available in sizes ranging from 3 to 10 pounds. The semi-hard shell of this fruit has short, protruding, sharp spikes that cover the inner cavities that contain the edible pulp or meat. Divided into sections, similar to individual pockets, the 5 chambers that grow within the shell each contain a creamy, thick pulp, which is custard-like in texture. The meat provides flavors that may be nutty and bitter to sweet and fruity, somewhat similar to a flavor of strawberries mixed with bananas. This meaty pulp also provides an aroma that is strong and can be nauseating to some. Within the flesh
there are large brown seeds that are edible if cooked prior to eating. They can be roasted or sliced and fried in a seasoned oil.

There are different varieties of durians, each with a somewhat different flavor and texture. Durians with yellow meat generally have a sweeter flavor while white meat varieties may have a nuttier taste. The inner flesh can be smooth or wrinkled. If wrinkled, the meat is creamier with a bittersweet, somewhat nutty flavor. Smoother skinned durians have a fruitier flavor and a slightly less creamy texture. To prepare, the fruit can be sliced in half between the stem and the bottom or the concave sections can be cut in an elliptical shape and pulled back away from the shell of the fruit. Either method will allow access to the pockets that contain the creamy textured flesh so it can be scooped out with a large spoon for serving. Make sure no juice drips onto any item which can be stained, such as clothing, as it will permanently mark areas where it spills.

Durians should be eaten fresh and not stored at room temperature for more than 3 to 5 days. It is best to select well formed fruits without blemishes. By inserting a knife into a durian it is possible to check for freshness, which is indicated if the residue remaining on the knife is sticky.

The durian fruit can be used in baking sweets, in making jams, for use in custards, or as a flavoring for milk shakes and ice-cream treats.