Daily News Clips
The content of and any views expressed in the following articles are those of the reporters/news sources and are not necessarily those of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Industry News
Tallahassee Democrat
Our Opinion: FDA's move against oysters is too much
It's long been a maxim that you don't eat raw oysters in a month without an "R" in it.
The reason probably had to do with when oysters spawn and how plump they would be, but it's also wise advice because of the Vibrio vulnificus bacteria, which is more prevalent in oysters in warm weather.
Now the Food and Drug Administration intends to make that adage mandatory, banning the sale of raw oysters from the Gulf of Mexico during warm months unless they have been processed in a way that kills the bacteria.
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Restaurants and Institutions
9 More Ways Restaurants Can Use Social Media
Americans have nearly tripled the amount of time they spend at social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, according recent research from The Nielsen Company. In August 2009, 17% of all time spent online was spent at social-networking sites, up from 6% in August 2008. Yet even as social media’s profile continues to rise, plenty of foodservice operators still aren’t quite sure how this trend can work to their advantage. R&I offers these nine industry-specific ideas:
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Palm Beach Post
New Delray Beach luxe hotel hopeful in hard times
The Seagate Hotel & Spa in Delray Beach threw open its doors this weekend, ushering in a new era of luxury for this increasingly chic seaside town.
In addition to 162 elaborate, expansive rooms, the Seagate boasts an 8,000-square-foot spa, the Atlantic Grille restaurant and access to the nearby Seagate Beach Club on the ocean. And if you like aquariums, you'll love the Seagate: The hotel has several tanks, including an aquarium in the bar filled with jellyfish.
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The Florida Times-Union
First Coast restaurants try to recapture customers with special offers
Outback Steakhouse, a restaurant used to customers waiting to get in, has started offering buy-one, get-one-free coupons to bring the lines back to Tuesday night. On Lane Avenue, Sharon Moran has had to add more specials to the menu of Salty's Steak and Seafood and she's seeing people sharing those.
And when Bluefish Restaurant and Oyster Bar opens next month in Avondale where Sterling's once was, Richard and Evalee Grenamyer will offer a wide range of prices.
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Orlando Sentinel
SeaWorld joins Disney and Universal by raising ticket prices
Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said some annual pass prices are rising. All annual pass prices are either being lowered or left unchanged.
SeaWorld Orlando said Friday that it will raise base ticket prices to nearly $80, joining rivals Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando.
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Government Relations
St. Petersburg Times
http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/poll-shows-voters-favor-gulf-oil-drilling/1048158
Poll shows voters favor gulf oil drilling
Florida voters want offshore oil drilling, oppose a so-called "public option'' for health insurance and overwhelmingly support a gambling agreement with the Seminole Tribe, according to a new St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald/Bay News 9 poll.
The common link among the three issues: the economy.
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Tallahassee Democrat
David Cartes: FSU acts as 'broker' for drilling symposium
The energy needs of the United States and the financial condition of the state of Florida have prompted a renewed consideration of oil and gas activity off the Florida coast.
As the Legislature deliberates this issue, Florida State University and its Institute for Energy Systems, Economics and Sustainability (IESES) will bring together experts from around the globe to share their informed views on coastal drilling at the Florida Symposium on Offshore Energy, Part I: Oil and Gas to look at the challenges of technology and ecology, economics and policy. This will occur Monday at 2:30 p.m. on the FSU campus.
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Tallahassee Democrat
Caucus wants to lure film industry to Florida
Florida's Film, Entertainment and Television Caucus will make its debut Tuesday in Tallahassee as an advocate for the movie and TV business, aided by actor Jeffrey Donovan of the hit USA Network show "Burn Notice," which is filmed in Miami.
Initiated by state Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, D-Tallahassee, the caucus is a bipartisan coalition of state legislators formed to raise awareness about the film and entertainment industry's positive impact in Florida and to help return it to a competitive level.
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St. Petersburg Times
Biggest threat to Charlie Crist's run for Senate: Jeb Bush
The single biggest threat to Charlie Crist's political future probably isn't his U.S. Senate primary rival, Marco Rubio.
It's former Gov. Jeb Bush, who could give Rubio an enormous boost if he chose to.
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Palm Beach Post
Wexler exit might leave seat empty until May
Under one scenario laid out by Florida’s Division of Elections, a special election to replace U.S. Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Boca Raton, wouldn’t be until May 5. There are also scenarios that envision March 9 or April 6 elections to replace Wexler, who’s resigning Jan. 3 to head the nonprofit Center for Middle East Peace and Economic Cooperation.
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Nation’s Restaurant News
Menu labeling part of Pelosi's health care reform bill
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Thursday introduced a sweeping, $894 billion health care bill that also includes provisions for menu labeling.
The 1,990-page bill outlines general nutrient-labeling requirements for restaurants and retail establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more outlets.
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