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Bad peanut butter update

by Dave McNair

Update update 1/28/09: Some breaking news on the bad peanut butter story from the New York Times: The Georgia food plant that federal investigators say knowingly shipped contaminated peanut butter also had mold growing on its ceiling and walls, and it has foot-long gaps in its roof, according to results of a federal inspection.

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If you’re like Dish, you’ve heard of the salmonella outbreak caused by peanut butter but don’t know much more than that. Should we stop eating peanut butter? Where are people getting sick? Who is making the bad stuff? And how bad is it? 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now has an update on their website regarding the Salmonella outbreak. Since September 2008, there have been 491 cases across the country, including 20 in Virginia. Of those, 48 percent have been women, 22 percent have been hospitalized, and seven have died. Georgia-based King Nut brand creamy peanut butter has been identified as the likely source of the outbreak, but investigators say that “180 peanut butter-containing products produced by a variety of companies may have been made with the ingredients recalled by the Peanut Corporation of America.” 

People are being advised not to eat and/or dispose of Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter crackers and King Nut brand peanut butter produced since July 1, 2008. It is also recommended that you not eat other products that contain peanut butter, such as cookies, crackers, cereal, candy, and ice cream. 

For more detailed information, go to the CDCP website.�

Big Read event: Jazz at Fellini’s

by Dave McNair
February 11, 2009 6:30 pm

Join Acme Swing in their musical celebration of the Harlem Renaissance at  Fellini’s . Co-sponsored by the Charlottesville Jazz Society. - 6:30 pm

Restaurant spending will rise in ‘09, report says

by Dave McNair

According to Forbes, one of the 10 things we’re still buying in this crippled economy is food. No, duh! Of course, they mean restaurant spending specifically. The good news? The National Restaurant Association predicts that we’ll spend a whopping $566 billion at restaurants this year, 2.5 percent more than last year. The bad news? It won’t be at nice restaurants. They say that four-star restaurants will see a decline this year, while fast food restaurants and other places to get cheap eats will get the cash.

Post discovers area “beer” trail

by Dave McNair

The Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton.
PHOTO COURTESY BMB

As the Washington Post discovered, Thomas Jefferson was the area’s first brew-master (Is there anything that guy didn’t do!), growing his own hops and grain at Monticello and brewing both beer and cider for his guests. Flash forward a couple hundred years, and its the Starr Hill Brewing Company in Crozet, South Street Brewery downtown, the Blue Mountain Brewery in Afton, and the Devil’s Backbone Brewing Company near Wintergreen carrying on the tradition.

So what was there verdict? Although the Post refrained from passing judgement, they did seem to like the Blue Mountain Brewery’s penchant for risk taking, mentioning the Afton brewery’s Double Barrel-Aged Chocolate Cherry Imperial Bourbon Stout, brewed with cocoa nibs and cherries in bourbon and wine barrels. At Starr Hill they deemed a limited-edition lime and ginger flavored brew called Lucy “delicious.” At Devil’s Backbone they took time out to identify Tom Peloso of the band Modest Mouse in the crowd, and suggested the place lacked atmosphere. And at South Street the copper bar and fireplace get some press.

Overall, though, a nice romp and swill through our budding beer trail, which appears to have left the writers a bit tipsy!

Watch Inauguration at Wild Wing Café

by Dave McNair
January 20, 2009 11:00 am

All the TVs at Wild Wing Café will be tuned in to the Inauguration. 

Watch Inauguration at Boylan Heights

by Dave McNair
January 20, 2009 11:00 am

Boylan Heights will have it up on their big high def screen. 

Mas Inauguration hootenanny

by Dave McNair
January 20, 2009 8:00 pm

Mas, in cooperation with moveon.org and Belmontonians, will be hosting an inauguration party on Tuesday, January 20 beginning at 8pm. All are welcome and with all events at MAS, Charlottesville Chic is the mood. Get your inauguration on with us as we throw a few brats on the grill and bake-off some deep-dish pizzas in honor of one of Chicago’s greatest sons. All you need are some positive vibes and aspirations for the future, we’ll supply the rest. Drinks, at last, are on you. We’d love you to join us and toast in the newest President upon so much is riding. Come support President-elect Obama and your fellow Charlottesvillians that helped to make this an historic election.” — Mas management.

Sí Tapas wine dinner

by Dave McNair
February 11, 2009 8:00 pm

On February 11, Chef Joshua Hutter will be creating seven courses of progressive Spanish tapas to be paired with seven wines. In addition, there will be commentary from wine specialist Carol Colby from Republic National Wine Distributing. Dinner starts around 8pm and it’s $45 per person, which includes food, wine, tax, and gratuity. Contact Sí Tapas for more information and to make reservations. 

Geisha Night at Siips

by Dave McNair
January 29, 2009 7:00 pm

Sushi and saki at Siips. And they say the staff will be dressed for the occation. Starts at 7pm.

Live Music at Siips starting this weekend

by Dave McNair
January 16, 2009 9:00 pm

Siips will began live entertainment at 9:00pm every Friday & Saturday night starting at 9:00 p.m. Depending the Saturday, the entertainment could be a cool jazz band to belly dancing. For your enjoyment on the 17th, Siips will have a professional burlesque dancer!

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