cookiesinheaven

on their menu in San Francisco.

Chipotle, concerned about rising meat prices and eager to shore up its popular support among vegetarians, is soon testing tofu as its newest burrito filling in a few San Francisco locations. - HuffPo

Called “Sofritas”, the tofu will be braised with tomatoes, chipotle sauce, and poblano peppers. Ironically, the move to embrace tofu as a meat-free option comes as Chipotle and other fast food restaurants struggle to deal with the rising costs associated with meat production. “Beef and dairy prices have been rising because of the drought, which sent the prices farmers pay for hay and other feed skyrocketing,” writes the AP. - Ecorazzi

Starbucks Corp. completed its acquisition of Atlanta-based Teavana Holdings Inc. this week, “promising to reinvent the way the world enjoys tea,” wrote Jeff Hansberry, Starbucks president of channel development and emerging brands, in a blog posted Monday. 

The $620 million cash transaction was first revealed in November. The move makes the more than 300-unit Teavana retail chain a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seattle-based Starbucks.  

Hansberry wrote that while some of Teavana’s product lineups may change, “most of the Teavana experience will stay the same and several new additions will be offered.” - Restaurant News

Jim McCoy, the former longtime owner of one of Santa Barbara’s best known businesses — McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams — died this week, according to his family. McCoy, 81 passed away peacefully at his home Tuesday. McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams was founded in 1949 by Gordon “Mac” and Ernesteen McConnell. McCoy bought the company in 1962 after Gordon McConnell died, and served as president for nearly 50 years before selling it himself in 2011. - Noozhawk

Within the past year in Santa Barbara County, there were 13 outbreaks with upwards of 300 people affected. Five of the outbreaks were lab confirmed. 
"There can be as many as 250 to 300 additional cases for everyone that gets lab confirmed," said Mickiewicz.  

One of the 13 outbreaks was at Dunn School in Los Olivos in December. In order to prevent the virus from spreading through the campus, students were let out on an early and extended holiday break and will return Monday, January 7. 
Although it can be called the stomach flu, it is not an influenza virus meaning there is no vaccination.
However, the tips for how to stay norovirus free are simple.    "The biggest thing is hand washing but there are a couple other things. One is if you are sick, not to take care of other people or prepare food for other people when you are yourself sick," said Mickiewicz.- KEYTNews