The Gem lives, Dining Week begins, Weezy beats Oreos and Coke’s recipe leaks

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• It’s a big week for Syracuse food (more on that in a second) but no news was bigger in our eyes than this: new ownership for Doc’s Little Gem Diner intend to reopen the place still primarily as a diner. Good to know things will get livelier there soon.

• The more pressing news is the start of Syracuse Downtown Dining Week.  Here’s a quick list of some potential best-of’s to try throughout the two weeks (and don’t forget to take pictures and submit for the official contest).  If for some reason you can’t make it out, there’s always WinterFest at the end of the month.

• This week Oreos set a world-record for Facebook “Likes” (only to be outdone by Lil’ Wayne the same day).

• Finally, this week’s This American Life episode provided the greatest potential Recipe Review ever: the original Coca-Cola recipe.

Food trucks, breakfast pizza, Finger Lakes cheese and a Dead Diners preview

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• We had a food truck appear near the SU campus this weekend. Coincidentlly, Good Magazine is in the middle of a contest asking what your ideal food truck would look like.

• A potentially less appetizing mobile food option: Domino’s has unveiled a new breakfast pizza.

• The Finger Lakes region is known for its wine, but worth noting their Cheese Trail is gaining steam (and had an event this past weekend).

• Finally, SyracuseDiners.com noted it’s been six months since Doc’s Little Gem went out of business. They celebrated the event with an exclusive Doc’s oriented preview of our upcoming “Dead Diners” project (click below):

 

SyracuseDiners.com praise, Best of ‘Cuse 2010, Saranac Fall Offerings and National Coffee Day

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• One more round of praise to share for SyracuseDiners.com: Syracuse.com was a big fan, Syracuse University too. Today we received the biggest bit of journalist praise as the Online News Association nominated the site for a 2010 Online Journalism Award.

• The Syracuse New Times announced the winners of their “Best of Syracuse 2010” poll (their most participated poll ever). In the “best diner” category… Stella’s? Didn’t see that coming (and I don’t necessarily agree).

• Yesterday was “National Drink A Beer” day.  In honor, here are the tasting videos Saranac produced so you’re familiar with their seasonal offerings.

• Finally, today is National Coffee Day. Many places are having specials and online coffee banter is high (for instance, five pros and cons to the drink). In Syracuse and looking to celebrate? I’ll still take a People’s Place Austin Powers for my money.

Food stories, ballpark food, “localvores” and juiceboxes’ milestone.

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

It’s been a big few weeks of CNY food news (naturally during my professional training time of year). Another famous chef announced a NY State Fair demonstration, the Syracuse Diners project I worked on has gotten some future press from the local paper and the NY Wine and Culinary Center announced the third year of a cool local competition (that I may be invited to participate as voting media in).

To celebrate, some more food links:

• Poynter’s morning story ideas newsletter provides the following gems: How to open wine without a corkscrew and why you need to wash your reusable grocery bags.

• As much as I love me some cheap Saranac and a hotdog at a Syracuse Chiefs game, this ESPN report on ballpark food is definitely a bit disheartening.

• We’ve linked to @mmccormickcny‘s blog before, but her recent endeavour to eat as a “localvore” has been of the highest quality.

• Finally, Bourdain recently announced his contest to submit a chapter to his upcoming book. If that’s not quite your style, now juiceboxes are having their own epic battle (to celebrate their 30th anniversary).

SyracuseDiners.com, Eggs in Heat, Bourdain needs a contributor and Tasty (Travel) Tweets

Food Links | Compiled by Nathan Mattise

• If you haven’t checked it out yet, SyracuseDiners.com officially launched this past week. We wrote positively about it here long before it was even finished, but now unbiased praise is flowing. too.  See what a former newspaper food editor, one of SPJ’s Top 20 Industry Thinkers and a leading multimedia blogger had to say about the project.

• Not that the heatwave in CNY seems to have passed, can we all agree this was awesome.

• Anthony Bourdain has a new book coming out. The exciting news is that someone will be a featured contributor to it (Note: I apologize in advance. If I pen a piece I’m proud of, it will be self-promoted like crazy for votes).

• Finally, I’ve had some great travel recently between San Diego, Georgia and NYC. Despite a girlfriend who insisted on a no-camera clause during our meals, I managed to squeeze out a few Tasty Tweets that can cover these places:

Few quick notes on The Lady and Sons: this place has a buzz about it. I was so excited I had multiple misspellings in my tweet even (Deen*, restaurant*). You need to go as soon as the place opens to guarantee a seat, you get free Deen-esque starters like cheesy biscuits and something that equates to a fried butter pancake. I was also told by a well-traveled professional it was the best steak he’s ever eaten.

I think it’s hard to find a good, appetizing rendition of hash. Malibu hit the spot however, especially on the night after a 21st celebration. Interior reminds you of a cheesy local place really trying to hard for fancy, prices are on par for NYC.

This was a gem in Astoria. Tasty’s prices were lower than most, the menu was diverse (even has a healthy options section), the interior is legitimately pleasing (brick, clean) and any place that offers hamsteak for breakfast is worth a return trip. Wish I had more time to try and sample all the various nationality breakfast options they were advertising.