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Food

Dish briefs

Briefs and news of note.

By CHRIS SHERMAN and Times wires
Published June 7, 2006

GOINGS AND COMINGS

* Homesick Hawaiians had to say goodbye to Spam sushi and island blue plates from Ly-Ly's Hawaiian Barbecue, which has closed its Clearwater location. . . . Also gone dark is Tampa's Cafe Alma, a social hot spot with Italian food on West Shore Boulevard started by David Caruso of the Palm.

* Groupers, Renee Holt's teeny seafood counter on St. Pete Beach, has expanded into much bigger quarters at the Thunderbird (10700 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island; (727) 367-9000), complete with poolside tables, mixed drinks, tiki bar and room service. Menu adds pancakes, pulled pork and filet mignon; fish remains "nothing but black grouper'' thanks to strong fishing contacts.

* Jasmine Thai, a pioneer Tampa Bay Thai restaurant more than 25 years ago, has grown up to be a chainlet and opened a third location. In addition to Carrollwood and Brandon locations, Jasmine Thai now blooms in South Tampa (3218 Kennedy Blvd., Tampa; (813) 350-9592).

- Chris Sherman

CHOCOLATE INTENSE

Ghirardelli has launched a new line of "Intense Dark Gourmet Chocolate Bars": Twilight Delight, made of unalloyed dark (72 percent cacao) chocolate; Citrus Sunset, a blend of chocolate, orange bits and caramel crunch; Espresso Escape, chocolate punctuated with ground espresso beans; and Toffee Interlude, a sweet-salty confection with crunchy toffee and caramelized almonds. The 3.5-ounce bars cost about $3 at most Targets.

- Newsday

SALUTE TO STEAK

If you want to grill an irresistible steak, it sounds as if you should ask a Marine for some advice. Command of the Grill: A Salute to Steak ($10, plus tax and shipping), a new cookbook from Weber-Stephen Products Co., features winning recipes for grilled steak from active, reserve and famous retired U.S. Marines.

One hundred percent of sales from the 80-page cookbook will benefit the families of Marines wounded or killed in the line of duty.

Many recipes were selected from semifinal competitions held last year at Marine bases across the country. The book can be purchased at www.commandofthegrill.com or by calling the Weber Grill Line toll-free at 1-800-GRILL-OUT (1-800-474-5568).

- Orange County Register

FOOD ON TV

If you've missed seeing Nigella Lawson on the small screen, mark your calendar for her new series, which will air on Food Network this fall.

Same network, same season for a new Ina Garten series, too.

- Washington Post

FOOD SAFETY

Tuck these tips in a safe place for when a storm knocks out the electricity at your home.

* Keep refrigerator and freezer doors shut to minimize loss of cold air and maximize the time food stays refrigerated or frozen.

* If the refrigerator is unopened, food in most refrigerators should be safe for at least four hours. Most full freezers keep food frozen for two days if the doors stay closed. If the freezer is half-full, group food together because it may only stay frozen for a day.

* As a preventive measure, don't leave the freezer low on food. If it tends to be near-empty, fill jugs with water and keep them in the freezer.

* Put trays underneath food in case items thaw and start to leak.

* If you are doubtful or worried about the quality of food, throw it away.

- Associated Press

[Last modified June 6, 2006, 11:00:00]