ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE DiRo-NA'S

Feline Foodies
This spring, PR Staff reached out to DiRo - NA restaurateurs about
a publicity opportunity at the Aspen Food & Wine Festival, where
Purina was promoting a new line of gourmet cat food. With
dozens of entries to choose from, Purina selected another chef
for its Luxury Lounge, but we thought the DiRo - NA stories should
be shared. Here’s what some of our “chefs with pets” had to say.
6 DiR - oNA SUMMER 2006
“Oscar loves to sit at the kitchen
counter, very mannerly, watching me
cook. His eyes follow my movements
and his human expressions show genuine
interest. He is like a good friend
hanging out with me, doing the thing
I love to do most.”
Shelley Cooper, 30° Blue, Panama
City, FL
“I can count on my 8-year-old cat, Otis, to help me relax after a
long day in the kitchen.”
Jared Gross, Capriccio Grill, The Peabody Orlando
“This is our purebred Lilac Siamese, Frank,
who is tall and lean when standing.”
Pat Rabin, Chillingsworth, Cape
Cod, MA
“My Mama always told us, ‘You are what you eat so
what you eat should be the best.’ Growing up, our beloved
feline family member, Angel, was always by our sides during
meals, dining on her favorite cat food.”
Joseph DiSalvo, DiSalvo’s Station, Latrobe, PA
“In my young days as a cat owner, I used
to make all of my own cat food. Today,
my five cats are happy and healthy, with
beautiful coats.”
Suzanne J. Dull, Scattons
Restaurant, Hazleton, PA
“We have two cats and a dog on property
that LOVE our guests and brides.”
Margo Provost, Log Haven, Salt
Lake City, UT
Ask
THE EXPERTS
Q: Why does dessert come at the end of the meal?
— Jamie Carlson, Boston, MA
A: Dessert does not necessarily come at the end of the meal.
In Chinese cuisine, it is customary to alternate
between sweet and savory
courses. The word dessert
comes from the old French
word "desservir" which means
"to clear the table." I think most
people like to have dessert at
the end of the meal, because
desserts can be very satisfying. If
you enjoy a cup of coffee or an
after dinner drink and some sinfully,
sweet chocolate after a big
meal, it can be very nice. Or, you
can always be like the author, Ernestine Ulmer, who was once
quoted saying, "Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!"
Q: Why is cake served on birthdays?
— Stephanie Smith, Madison, WI
Bruce Lafone, Sous Chef of
Horizons in Asheville, NC has
been busy answering consumers’
questions about everyone’s
favorite course - dessert.
A: There are many different beliefs on why cakes are served on
birthdays. Before calendars, people used to measure time by the
moon and seasons. In ancient Greece, the people would bring
cakes during the new moon to the moon goddess, Artemis. They
would bring round cakes signifying a full moon with candles so they
would look like a glowing moon. This signifies a new year and
hence, a birthday.
Q: I am watching my waistline, but love sweets. What is a healthy
dessert that I can enjoy?
— Emily Caspanello, Dallas, TX
A: There are many options for those of you who are watching your
calorie intake. At Horizons we have a sugar-free strawberry tart. We
make a simple pie dough and coat it with sugar-free melted
chocolate. Next, we make a strawberry sauce and layer it over the
chocolate. Finally, we add sliced strawberries and coat the entire
tart with sugar-free apricot glacage. It is a little more tricky to make
health-conscious desserts but they can always be done.