Feeling groovy
Gartner Studios in Stillwater is, mostly, a stationery printing business. But it has a specialty-products division that reps bake ware and cake decorating gear by Duff Goldman, the Ace of Cakes on the Food Network. This spring, they're touting a new product, Pastel Tie-Dye Premium Cake Mix, for bakers who want to "explore the softer side of groovy," a reference to some of Duff's more psychedelic cake colors. The mix is low-protein and low-gluten for a lighter product. Mixes are $2.99 at www.duff.com, www.gartnerstudios.com, and in select Wal-Mart stores.
Delish at a discount
Delish Foods' twice-yearly warehouse sale runs today through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1157 Valley Park Dr., Shakopee. Known for its soup, cheese ball, dip and beverage mixes, the sale features overruns and package changes at a discount. Delish adds that there are other warehouse sales in the neighborhood, as well, to which they'll direct you. For directions: www.delishfoods warehousesale.com. Cash or check only.
Cooks at Kowalski's
Cooks of Crocus Hill has opened a retail store within Kowalski's Woodbury market — the first time they've partnered even while each company began many years ago within a stroll on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. So now you can buy a fish grilling basket to go with that special on trout.
Eavesdropping on excellence
It's fun to peek behind the curtain, especially to see the backstage story of top-notch work. That's the idea behind the JBF Kitchen Cam, a live-stream, three-angle camera feed that captures the action that takes place more than 200 nights a year at the historic James Beard House in Greenwich Village. Viewers can toggle among the three cameras to see a full view of the kitchen, what's on top of the stove, and the counter where the dishes are prepped and plated. The cameras are on for several hours, when an event is scheduled. On its premiere night, you could watch chef Daniel Boulud prepare slow-baked sea bass with pommes Lyonnaise, leeks royale and syrah sauce. To sign up for kitchen cam alerts, visit www.jamesbeard.org.
Truth in labeling
Maybe you already know this, but April 14 is National Read Your Labels Day. Sponsored by the nonprofit Citizens for Health in New Jersey, the campaign encourages consumers — already pretty good at scanning for calories, sodium and saturated fat — to look for "questionable sweeteners, preservatives, and industrial chemical additives, such as high-fructose corn syrup, aspartame, and monosodium glutamate," according to a release. To learn more, visit http://foodidentitytheft.com.
STAFF REPORTS
