WineDiaper: Pamper Your Booze

It is well-known that in the spring of 2006 I pioneered the use of the vodka diaper for transporting alcoholic beverages in luggage.

Imagine my chagrin at finding that my idea has been adapted by the makers of the WineDiaper, which is said to “cradle your wine in a padded container” and is alleged to contain “absorbent material to quickly soak up any spills.”

My sister just used WineDiapers to transport two bottles of Georgian wine back to the United States, and I admit they arrived quite intact (and delicious).  And they looked considerably less bizarre than my Huggies-swaddled Russky Standart.

But seriously. Shouldn’t a purist use real diapers?

New York Restaurant Week (Plus) Begins

New York’s Restaurant Week kicked off today and lasts until July 25.

I know, that’s two weeks. Well, almost. Saturdays are excluded and some restaurants don’t participate on Sundays, either. And then there’s another restaurant week in the winter, so I guess this is summer Restaurant Week. Or fortnight. Or whatever.

More than 275 restaurants are participating, offering prix-fixe lunches for $24.07 and dinners for $35.  Taxes, tips and beverages are extra.

So if you hanker to dine fancy in New York at a discount, now would be the time to check out the details.

Starbucks Wi-Fi Goes Free

Starbucks made wireless Internet access free at 6,700 company-owned stores as of yesterday.

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Report: Airline Food Unsanitary

Much of the food served on airliners is prepared in unsanitary conditions, USA Today reports. I would find this much more alarming if I could remember the last time I got food on an airliner.

JetBlue To Sell Meals On Long Flights

Apparently concluding that man cannot live on potato chips alone, JetBlue is planning to offer meals for sale on some of its longer flights, according to the Flightglobal.com aviation news Web site.

The airline will start rolling out five meal options – four boxed meals and one cheese and cracker tray – in the next few weeks on all flights scheduled to last more than three hours and 45 minutes. The meals will cost $6 each.

JetBlue is known for providing free unlimited snacks and drinks but has never provided or sold more substantial fare. Hot meals are out of the question. JetBlue aircraft have no galleys.

KLM Experiments With Premium Meals In Coach

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is testing the sale of upgraded meals to passengers in coach who don’t want the standard airline economy-class food. Passengers will be able to choose one of four specialty meals when they check in online and pay for it with a credit card, the airline announced.

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Frugal Traveler Finds Free Entertainment, Cheap Drinks

I was amused last night to see a couple at our hotel who seemed to share my sense of frugality.

They were sitting in the chairs provided in an alcove of the open-air lobby, a floor above the bar where a guitarist was playing Hawaiian music. They had pulled their chairs up to the edge of the alcove, so they could see down into the bar, and were applauding vigorously.

The man had a glass — it looked like one of the water glasses from the guest rooms — with an amber liquid in it. No inflated bar prices for him!

McDonald’s To Offer Free Wi-Fi

I don’t spend a lot of time at McDonald’s, but I’ll be a lot more likely to drop in when the free Wi-Fi kicks in.

McDonald’s offers wireless Internet at 11,000 of its 14,000 U.S. restaurants, and has been charging $2.95 for two hours of access. In mid-January it will drop the fee, according to the Associated Press.

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In Which I Make Spiced Hot Chocolate

spiced hot chocolate

After a trip to the Museum of the American Indian in Washington, I set out on a quest to replicate the spiced hot chocolate served at its cafe. I have told this chocolatey tale on the blog of my very good friend, the rollicking food guru Leeanne Griffin. So if you want to read it and learn my secrets, click on over to Fun With Carbs.

New Blog: Fun With Carbs

Leeanne Griffin

My former colleague and very good friend Leeanne Griffin has started a wonderful new blog called Fun With Carbs.

Leeanne is an accomplished and open-minded cook, an adventurous and knowledgeable eater, and a lively, talented and entertaining writer.

Leeanne also likes to travel. That’s her at left, hiding behind a big glass of white wine on her recent honeymoon on the Greek island of Santorini.

Please check out the blog. And get a plastic cover for your keyboard because her food photos will make you drool.