On the road to good eats

Ulf and Silce Menzel of the Olde German Schnitzel Haus in Hickory, recently voted Best German Restaurant in America.

When your job includes driving around in search of good food, you hear this all the time: “Can I be your driver?”

Bob Garner of Burlington certainly gets that one. Now he has figured out a way that a lot of people can ride along, and they don’t even have to drive.

In North Carolina, Garner really is the guy who wrote the book on barbecue. “North Carolina Barbecue: Flavored By Time,” published in 1996, is a classic. He’s also the restaurant reviewer for UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Weekend,” a writer for Our State magazine and communications director for AARP-NC.

Garner and Our State have a new project to put Garner’s food knowledge to work. The Bob Garner Restaurant Road Trip is a rolling food tour, complete with tour bus.

The idea is to set up two-day trips that would include notable food places and a barbecue.

“North Carolina is like the bus-trip capital of the world,” Garner says. Between his TV and AARP jobs, he meets a lot of people who love taking short food trips.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/10/729070/on-the-road-to-good-eats.html#ixzz12pCXgTrg

Food Inc. Producer Robert Kenner To Discuss The Illusion Of Choice At Culinary Tourism World Summit

Food Inc. Producer, Robert Kenner

Food Inc. movie producer Robert Kenner will present his thoughts on “The Illusion of Choice” to delegates of the Culinary Tourism World Summit, which is being held September 19-21, 2010 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Kenner’s film, Food Inc., drives home to consumers the point that cheap food has a much higher cost, namely poor health and decimation of local economies. By demanding ever cheaper food, and in doing so, largely supporting chain restaurants, consumers are unwittingly shooting themselves in the foot. “If we don’t support local, independent restaurants, then in 20 years, we won’t have any choices left in where we eat. There will be one global outlet each for burgers, coffee and pizza,” says Erik Wolf, President of the International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA). “Exactly,” said Kenner. “Consumers are under the illusion that they are getting more choices today than ever, when in reality the opposite effect is occurring.” Kenner will deliver his insightful and provocative food for thought to delegates at the ICTA’s Culinary Tourism World Summit, which is co-presented by Taste of Nova Scotia, and sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

More information about the Summit is available, and registration is open, at http://www.culinarytourismworldsummit.com. Conference registration includes over 20 sessions, 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 networking receptions. Highlights of the World Summit include:

• Keynote by Canadian Food Network Host Chef Michael Smith, “One World, One Table – Using Culinary Tourism for Economic Development”
• Food Inc.’s Robert Kenner discussing “The Illusion of Choice”
• 20 other world-class internationally recognized speakers

About the International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA): The International Culinary Tourism Association (ICTA) is regarded by the tourism industry, as well as media, as the world’s go-to authority for everything to do with culinary travel. The Association provides culinary tourism community, education, product development and marketing assistance. http://www.culinarytourism.org

About Taste of Nova Scotia: Taste of Nova Scotia is a unique, province-wide marketing program, whose members are committed to offering the very best culinary experiences and products that Nova Scotia has to offer. The Taste of Nova Scotia membership base includes more than 120 quality food producers and processors, as well as a collection of the best restaurants in the province. http://www.tasteofnovascotia.com