News from tourists who have recently visited Bali, Indonesia:
As of late, the costs of liquor and wine have greatly increased in Bali, to such an extent that it might deter diners who enjoy drinking wine with dinner or simply want to imbibe in any alcoholic beverages to change their travel plans and go somewhere else. With these Draconian laws in place, please do yourself and everyone else a favor, and avoid this island altogether. This is the only way these, either greedy or bigoted legislatures, will understand that they cannot get away with these practices. Previously there was a tax on alcoholic beverages of 20 -140%, depending on the beverage and its origin. Recently, the government removed that tax and imposed an excise tax of 150 – 600%. This has had a huge effect. The least expensive wine on certain wine lists, which you might pay $12 for in a location in the West can be listed at $70 on a restaurant menu, and most restaurants authenticate that most of the price of its wines are due to the new tax. No one knows yet, whether this boost in the tax is the result of religious opposition or just lining the coffers. In either case there is no justification for it.
Bali is a beautiful island, but to be fair, there are many other places to go on this planet! I for one, shall not visit the island until these unfair practices change, and I highly advise all others to protest as well.
Culinary Tidbits . . . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says some chicken meat may contain small amounts of arsenic, though the agency is stressing that the amount is too tiny to be dangerous to people who eat it. The FDA said that a new study by the agency shows that an ingredient in chicken feed that contains arsenic, called Roxarsone, may make its way into parts of the bird that are eaten. It will be pulled off the market in the United States, but the company, Pfizer, also sold the ingredient in about another dozen countries. The FDA said it would be banned because it is a carcinogen. Many poultry producers have already stopped feeding their birds the ingredient, which was used to kill parasites and promote growth. The FDA said people do not need to stop eating chicken that may have been treated with the drug. Michael Taylor, FDA’s deputy commissioner for foods, says the study raised “concerns of a very low but completely avoidable exposure to a carcinogen.” Pfizer said in a statement that its subsidiary, Alpharma, is suspending sales next month in response.
photo credit: CBC
Pinkberry, was at the top of its game a couple of years ago although, it leaves me wondering why? It offers a few ordinary flavors, and not even the old standby vanilla, and the usual toppings that you would find in any frozen yogurt shop, and any topping that is a bit special has an extra charge. What the product claims to offer in terms of health benefits is lower fat. Who cares, it has very high sugar content instead! If you want to have a smooth frozen product result you either need to have fat or sugar.
Since 1939 Santa Monica Seafood has operated a retail store in Santa Monica, California to service the needs of residents and restaurants in the West Los Angeles and South Bay areas. They started retailing on the Santa Monica pier more than 70 years ago. About 30 years ago they were asked to relocate off the pier and now are situated in their newest location at the southeast corner of Wilshire Boulevard and 10th Street in Santa Monica. Aside from the cashier’s more pleasant and relaxed attitude, the new store and cafe boasts some outstanding features:
Exterior of New Sammy’s Cowboy Bistro (all images ©2011 restaurantdiningcritiques.com & Sandy Driscoll)
Leading to the patio and entrance door
Complimentary Amuse – Chilled Sorrel Soup with Creme Fraiche and Fresh Sorrel
Mixed Green Salad with Roasted Beets, Broccoli, Walnuts, Blue Cheese & “La Quercia” Prosciutto
Grilled Umpqua Valley Lamb Loin Chops with Spicy, Garlicky Kale, Cannelloni Beans, Purple Potatoes
Tayberry Sherbet and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Almond Meringue Torte with Blackberry Sauce
Restroom Interior with Champagne Bottles!
Letter from Jane MacQuitty (wine writer, author & judge….since the 1980’s has been wine & drink correspondent for The Times of London)
Bar and Lunch room
Lunch Menu
Complimentary homemade hummus with crispy flatbread
Green Salad with Broccoli, Roasted Beets, Potato, a Soft Farm Egg, & Grilled “Rushing Waters” Trout
Grilled Emerald Hills Hamburger with Sauteed Spinach, Fresh Goat Cheese, Applewood-Smoked Bacon, Aioli, Grilled Onions, Ketchup and Pickles
Cooked perfectly medium-rare, as requested!
Dessert Menu
Bittersweet Chocolate Layer Cake with Cherry Chocolate Mousse & Kirsch Ice Cream
Behind New Sammy’s – the herb/vegetable/flower garden
New Sammy’s well-fed cat!
