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Dish briefs

By JANET K. KEELER
Published January 4, 2006

ROCCO WHO?

"Can a chef find happiness in New York City without a restaurant?"

That's the question the PR folks pose in the press release for Rocco DiSpirito's new cookbook, Rocco's Five Minute Flavor (Scribner, $26.95).

We don't know the answer, but DiSpirito's free fall from prominence after the failure of his reality show The Restaurant and then his restaurant, Rocco's, is fascinating. Where did he go wrong? He certainly has the looks and the culinary chops.

Last year, he was forced out as chef of Union Pacific and the restaurant closed. Five Minute Flavor is billed as his homage to home cooking, which he apparently is doing a lot of right now. He abruptly quit his radio show on New York's WOR two weeks ago.

KUMQUAT RECIPES

Entry forms are available at www.kumquatfestival.com or from the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, 352 567-3769. Cooks accepted into the contest must bring their finished dishes to Clayton Hall, 36702 State Road 52, Dade City, between noon and 1 p.m. Jan. 23. The festival is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 28.

THIS WEB SITE COOKS

www.greenfriends.com

Tree huggers, unite.

This site claims to be the largest in the world for progressive single vegetarians to meet and share their interests in environmental protection, peace and animal rights, good things, all. Membership is free, but you must register. You'll find chatting, blogs, a green forum and an almost infinite circle of friends of your kind of feather.

DESKTOP DINING

If you're one of the millions of American workers who regularly eat at their desks, keep in mind that your keyboard and desktop should be cleaned regularly to avoid food-borne illnesses.

The American Dietetic Association recommends cleaning your keyboard and desktop daily with antibacterial wipes. Add that to your regular workload. (Maybe the lunch break away from the desk sounds more enticing.)

Also, have you looked inside the office microwave lately? If you have -and shrieked in horror - you'll understand the need to keep foods covered when you use the appliance. Wipe down spills as soon as they happen to prevent illnesses that could be caused by spilled foods that spoil.

Also, keep these items at your desk if you insist on dining there: hand sanitizer, paper towels and spray disinfectant or disinfectant wipes. And as dorky as you might feel doing this, it wouldn't hurt to use a thermometer to check the temperature of your office fridge.

Be the parent: Set the temp at 40 degrees or lower to keep food safe.

STORING COFFEE

Ground coffee should not be stored in the freezer or refrigerator, according to Millstone Coffee. Doing so will cause the coffee to absorb food odors, and condensation inside the container will make it go stale. Once open, store the bag in an airtight container.

DINERS TURNED CRITICS

Here's your chance to let folks know what you think about dining in their restaurants.

A new Web site, www.SavvyDining.com allows diners to rate restaurants around the nation and world. The ratings look at food, service, atmosphere, hospitality and value, with grades of A through F.

-- Compiled by JANET K. KEELER from staff reports and the Los Angeles Times-Washington Post News Service and Knight Ridder Newspapers. She can be reached at 727 893-8586 or krieta@sptimes.com Her blog, Stir Crazy, is www.sptimes.com/blogs/food

[Last modified January 3, 2006, 15:43:56]