A Morning Menu of LAF-Style Food News and Stories to Begin Your Day

HAPPY NATIONAL MARZIPAN DAY!

U of Cincy Students Pick Skyline, Graeter’s

Ann Arbor’s Blimpy Burger: Love and Pain

The Tucson Tamale Company Story

The Man Behind Bob’s Clam Hut of Kittery, Maine

U of Cincy Students Pick Skyline, Graeter’s

The University of Cincinnati student paper polled students for the 2015 Best of UC competition, and among the winners are Skyline for chili (Cincinnati-style, of course), a local chain with over a hundred outlets, and Graeter’s, another local chain with over 30 stores, for ice cream.

Ann Arbor’s Blimpy Burger: Love and Pain

A single burger from Krazy Jim's Blimpy Burger of Ann Arbor

A single burger from Krazy Jim’s Blimpy Burger of Ann Arbor

Giancarlo Buonomo, food columnist for The Michigan Daily, says of Ann Arbor’s recently relocated Blimpy Burger, “[It’s] a pain in the ass. But that’s why I love it.” The long wait in line, the unique ordering system, the cranky short-order cooks – it all melds into a one-of-a-kind experience that transcends the good, but not amazing, food. Read the column here.

The Tucson Tamale Company Story

The great chile relleno tamale: fresh roasted green chiles stuffed with cheese, wrapped in a roasted red pepper and fresh corn masa.

The great chile relleno tamale: fresh roasted green chiles stuffed with cheese, wrapped in a roasted red pepper and fresh corn masa.

Tucson Weekly sat down with Todd and Sherry Martin, owners of Tucson Tamale Company, to learn what’s behind their success. Todd’s a natural business person who tried to sell gum in the 8th grade until the principal put the kibosh on his plan. Sherry is part Mexican, and it was a holiday tamale-making party with her family that inspired the formation of the business. Read the story here.

The Man Behind Bob’s Clam Hut of Kittery, Maine

Fried clams at Bob's Clam hut - they come in your choice of Bob's recipe or Lillian's recipe.

Fried clams at Bob’s Clam hut – they come in your choice of Bob’s recipe or Lillian’s recipe.

Robert Kraft, Sr. was the Bob of Kittery, ME’s Bob’s Clam Hut. He sold the business in 1986 to Michael Landgarten, who has since expanded the Bob’s empire to include Robert’s Maine Grill and Lil’s Cafe. Michael works hard to deal with local farmers and fishermen, and it’s also important to him to cultivate a customer base of local residents, even though the Hut naturally draws loads of tourists. Read the Maine Eater story about Michael Landgarten and Bob’s here. Part two of the story can be found here.