Category Archives: We Recommend

September 5, 2008 – 1:30 pm

Q: What’s To Eat, Baltimore? A: Let’s Dish!

We were delighted to see that What’s to Eat, Baltimore, a super-popular blog on topics close to our heart, features a review of Let’s Dish! in today’s post.

W.T.E.B. demonstrates superb taste with their astute review of our Garlic Herb Salmon:
“It was heavenly, the flavored butter just marinated itself all over the salmon, and came out perfect. Rich, flavorful, and flaky, just how good salmon should be.”

Here’s what they had to say about Let’s Dish! overall:
“I would think, that this would be a great place for a family that doesn’t have a lot of time to go grocery shopping and create a home cooked meal. Or for someone who wants to learn how to cook. This also seems like a great place to take the kids, and get them involved. I think the earlier they learn to cook, the better they get with practice and years. Just think, start teaching your children (boys & girls) to cook when their younger, and when they hit those teenage years, they can make you dinner. Now how nice would that be?”

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves!

About Emily

RECOMMENDED LINKS
> 1 Dish? 6 Dishes? 11 Dishes? We’re Flexible.
> Bring your kids with you to dish this summer!

Click to continue reading “Q: What’s To Eat, Baltimore? A: Let’s Dish!”

By Emily Blakely | Tagged , , , | Comments (0)
May 20, 2008 – 4:00 am

Finding the Best Way to Cook All Those Vegetables

As summer approaches, you find more and more fantastic produce in the grocery store, including vegetables that will pair perfectly with meals on the Let’s Dish! menu. But, what’s the best way to prepare vegetables to get the best flavor and retain all the important vitamins and nutrients?

We recommend this New York Times Health article by Tara Parker-Pope that answers that very question:

link-post-icon.gifFinding The Best Way to Cook All Those Vegetables
By Tara Parker-Pope (New York Times, published May 20, 2008)

Enjoy!

Alexa’s Signature

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RELATED POSTS:
> We Recommend: Fruits and Veggies
> Superfoods: What are they?
> Pop Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of Nutrients

By Alexa Corcoran | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
May 8, 2008 – 11:45 am

DishDelivery to the summer vacation rescue!

Let’s Dish! was featured on Beltway Gourmet this morning as WBAL’s Doug Roberts talked with us about preparing meals for vacation. Roberts asks the question: “While the rest of your gang is having lots of summer vacation fun, how much time are you going to spend planning and shopping and preparing all those meals?”

DishDeliveryOur answer: DishDelivery!

Roberts lets folks know that all they have to do is head to Let’s Dish! for meals and “you’re good to go!” In his interview, he features our Baltimore store, but don’t dismay - DishDelivery is offered at all our Let’s Dish! stores in the mid-Atlantic, so you can order and *finally* get that relaxing summer vacation!*

Co-owner Rick Corcoran explains how it all works and why this has become one of the most convenient ways to “dish” and benefit from healthy, delicious and already-prepared meals at home or on vacation. Order online and have your meals delivered to the beach - it couldn’t be easier! And, Julie Linz was in Timonium to dish on a crumptious salmon recipe on May’s menu.

The real proof of the convenience of DishDelivery is shared by Let’s Dish! customers, Tracy Pohlhaus and Kay Carney. Traci is having her meals delivered to the beach house - and going green with her saved space by downsizing the car they use to get there. Kay echoes her sentiment: “Now I don’t even have to go and pack the things in my car…they’ll bring them right to me! How much easier could it be?”

So, take a listen and find out more about our NEW delivery option. It’s DishDelivery to the summer vacation rescue!

We RecommendBeltway Gourmet on WBAL AM 1090
(Dave Durian and the Morning Team, Interview by Doug Roberts)

Alexa’s Signature
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RELATED LINKS:
> DishDelivery for Mother’s Day: Make your Mom’s day even brighter
> Learn all about DishDelivery
> Sign up for a DishDelivery now
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*Let’s Dish! locations referred to in Food for Thought post are: Baltimore, Bel Air, Columbia, Gaithersburg, and Rockville, MD and Alexandria, Ashburn, Fairfax and Leesburg, VA. Let’s Dish! is currently offering corporate programs, including delivery, in the mid-Atlantic region. For more information, please email Food for Thought.

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Bright Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (5)
April 29, 2008 – 12:10 pm

We Recommend: Cutting Down on Catalogs

For a fresh idea on spring cleaning, here’s a great article from the The Wall Street Journal on how to cut down on the catalogs you receive in the mail. It’s not only going to save you time and clutter, but your sanity as well - who needs all that sorting! Plus, you can “do right” by those trees - it’s the green thing to do.

We at Let’s Dish! are also committed to saving your sanity as well by making sure all the information you need to “dish” is online at www.letsdish.com. Did you know you can find:

  • Monthly menus for up to two months
  • Nutrition facts, cooking instructions, ingredients and dietary modification options for each dish
  • Special offers and events for your local Let’s Dish! store
  • A chance to earn unlimited discounts when you Refer-A-Disher to Let’s Dish!
  • The opportunity to opt in to receive promotions and news via email

So, while you may occasionally receive a coupon in the mail (and we’ve heard you don’t mind these little postcards), we’ve put in all on letsdish.com for you. It’s information at your fingertips - at the office, at a friend’s house, or even at home in your jammies!

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By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Bright Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
April 18, 2008 – 9:00 am

Tip of the Day: How To Keep Food Fresh

Consumer Reports is a valuable resource for so many savvy shoppers out there. But did you know they give advice on more than cars and electronics?!

Follow the link to read their “Tip of the Day” on how to keep food fresh, posted on the Consumer Reports Home and Garden blog. And, don’t forget, to keep your Let’s Dish! meals fresh, always follow the label instructions and be sure your packaging stays sealed in your freezer and fridge when thawing. As you can read, all foods - including meat, poultry and fish - can maintain its flavor and freshness if you use the proper storage.

Click to continue reading “Tip of the Day: How To Keep Food Fresh”

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Bright Ideas | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
April 12, 2008 – 5:00 am

We Recommend: Fruits and Veggies

Here’s a different take on “Fresh Ideas” - a great article on that issue of which type of fruits and veggies you should choose. We’ve discussed this before on Food for Thought but it never hurts to get a fresh reminder (sorry - couldn’t help the pun)!

link-post-icon.gifFruits and Veggies: Fresh, Canned, or Frozen?
By Christine McKinney, M.S., R.D., C.D.E

Lisa’s Signature

RELATED POSTS:
> Fruit juice vs. whole fruit: which should I choose?
> Pop Quiz: Test your knowledge of nutrients?

By Lisa Hardiman | Also posted in Healthy Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
March 21, 2008 – 6:00 am

Family Book Club: A Literary & Culinary Adventure

Ever thought of creating a Family Book Club? It’s a great activity for the whole family - and you would be amazed at how you can bring food into it!

As I embarked on this culinary adventure with Let’s Dish!, I had no idea where it would take me. I have spent many hours thinking about food in all different ways, not just in new and exciting flavors but also in how food touches us in our lives and how we can make it a lifetime adventure for ourselves and our children.

One thing you should know about me is that I love to read.

Click to continue reading “Family Book Club: A Literary & Culinary Adventure”

By Lisa Hardiman | Also posted in Culinary Inspiration, Family Matters, Most Popular Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)
February 23, 2008 – 6:00 am

Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack?

If you don’t - or aren’t sure - you are not alone.  Just 1 in 4 Americans know the early physical warnings of a heart attack - and what to do next, according to a new goverment report. 

For your own benefit and to change this “alarmingly low” statistic as described by the CDC, let’s all take a minute to read this article: “Only 1 in 4 knows heart attack warning signs“.  The AP article, released to the the news on February 21st, details the findings of this study and the symptoms we should know: 

link-post-icon.gifOnly 1 in 4 knows heart attack warning signs
Associated Press; February 21, 2008 on MSNBC

We also recommend you see details on Heart Attack, Stroke and Cardiac Arrest Warning Signs from the American Heart Association.

Click to continue reading “Do you know the warning signs of a heart attack?”

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Heart Health | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments (0)
February 22, 2008 – 6:00 am

We Recommend: RealAge

I heard about RealAge from Newt Gingrich. Seriously, I did! Back in 2006, we won a US Chamber of Commerce Award for our Let’s Dish! stores in the mid-Atlantic and were named one of the top small businesses in the country. (We won again in 2007- how’s that for patting ourselves on the back!). Anyway, in 2006, Newt Gingrich was one of two keynote speakers for the event; Hillary Clinton was the other. They were both quite good, and indeed, despite their obviously different politics, they had recently worked together on Access 2006 at the US Chamber of Commercesome interesting health care initiatives and there seemed to be some degree of genuine fondness between them. But I digress…

Click to continue reading “We Recommend: RealAge”

By Rick Corcoran | Also posted in Healthy Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (1)
February 12, 2008 – 7:15 pm

We Recommend: Let’s Dish! on FOX 45 Morning News

Lisa and I dropped by the FOX 45 Morning News (WBFF-TV, Baltimore MD) on Monday, February 11th, to continue our mission during American Heart Month.

During the Morning Recipes segment, we gave a demonstration of a heart healthy dish on the Let’s Dish! menu in February, Roasted Pork Tenderloins with Red Currant Sauce. We added some of our healthy Ready Made side dishes and dessert options - and voila! - a romantic and healthy Valentine’s Day dinner!

Here’s the video - there’s still time to dish this very meal for Valentine’s Day, so sign up for a session or drop by the store to pick one up today!

Click to continue reading “We Recommend: Let’s Dish! on FOX 45 Morning News”

By Alexa Corcoran | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
February 9, 2008 – 6:00 am

We Recommend: Hands-On Health Exhibits for Kids

Looking for something to do this weekend? We recommend you head to to the Maryland Science Center for some hands-on fun with your kids as they absorb important information about their body and how to keep it healthy!

Several fantastic new exhibits on the human body have just opened for a limited time in the mid-Atlantic. Visit these along with the Science Center’s permanent exhibits on body and health, and your kids (and even you) will be learning without even realizing it! Be sure to visit the Maryland Science Center’s website to choose an exhibit that is age appropriate for your family.

Visit BODY WORLDS2 at the Maryland Science CenterBODY WORLDS 2
Limited engagement and first Mid-Atlantic appearance!
Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS 2: The Original Anatomical Exhibition of Real Human Bodies-is a first-of-its kind exhibition in which you have the unique opportunity to learn about the wonders of the human body by viewing real human bodies preserved through a process called plastination.

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By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Healthy Living | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
February 7, 2008 – 6:00 am

We Recommend: Let’s Dish! on WBAL Sunday Brunch

Lisa and I put on our Let’s Dish! aprons this past weekend to prepare a heart healthy dish from February’s menu for the Sunday Brunch segment on WBAL-TV (Baltimore, MD).  During our three minutes, we tried to share as many tips as we could on how to identify heart healthy ingredients and integrate these nutritious foods into your diet.

Here’s the video in case you missed it!

TV/Video IconLet’s Dish! on WBAL-TV (Baltimore)
February 3, 2008

[youtube MPYMJPTr-Ws nolink]

If you cannot see the embedded video above, you can also view it on the Food for Thought blog page by clicking here or on You Tube.

Click to continue reading “We Recommend: Let’s Dish! on WBAL Sunday Brunch”

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Healthy Living, Most Popular Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (2)
January 29, 2008 – 4:00 pm

We Recommend: Jane E. Brody on Nutrition

One more expert to recommend today: This week,  Jane Brody - the New York Times award-winning Personal Health columnist - is taking questions online about diet and nutrition. Brody, reporter for The Times and author of several books on medicine and science, is a great resource to answer any questions you may have about healthy eating. 

Link IconA New You: Jane E. Brody on Nutrition:
A discussion with readers on about nutrition and healthy eating

She’s already answered some important questions, so even just following the posts might be helpful.  And, just a reminder - the feature is this week only.

Alexa’s Signature

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Healthy Living | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)
January 17, 2008 – 11:00 pm

We Recommend: How Parenting Style Affects Weight in Children

Every parent thinks about it (or tries not to):  Will what I say and do as a parent help my children become healthy and happy adults?  

We caught this Today Show ”Parenting & Family” segment (January 16, 2008) on how parenting style may affect weight in children and think it is worth sharing: 

TV/Video IconParents: Are you making your kids fat?
Dr. Gail Saltz (Today Contributor) and
Lisa Drayer (Health Magazine)

The video/article posits that that “permissive” parenting (”My child/parent is my best friend” mentality) is correlated with childhood obesity.  And, Saltz suggests that you are more likely to raise healthy children if you set limits at the same time you affirm your love and encourage them to learn to make good choices.   

Easier said than done, I’m sure, especially when you are juggling home, family and work responsibilities all in a single on-the-spot-moment of parenting.  I tend to agree with Saltz though I wish they would invent a magical “groan blocking” adult implant to make it all a little easier. 

One thing that comes to mind as this relates to Let’s Dish! and dinnertime is the modern phenomenon of feeding your children a different dinner than you prepare for yourself (and your partner).  In my mind, this does lower expectations for your children.  We all know the “one bite” rule.  Some parents (including me) take it even farther to say “This is your dinner.

Click to continue reading “We Recommend: How Parenting Style Affects Weight in Children”

By Alexa Corcoran | Also posted in Most Popular Posts | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (3)
January 14, 2008 – 6:00 pm

We Recommend: Testing Calorie Claims of “Light” Menus

Since one of the top resolutions is to be healthy, we want to introduce another Food for Thought blog category - “We Recommend” - with an article that is on topic and quite insightful. Our “We Recommend” category will appear whenever we read, view, hear or taste(!) something we think is worth sharing with all of you.

Recently published as a “Cranky Consumer” column in the Personal Journal section of The Wall Street Journal, this article tests the calorie claims of “light” menu items in several popular restaurant chains:

Link IconLow-Cal Meals in a Supersized World
by Suzanne Barlyn (WSJ: Jan 10, 2008; Page D2)

Now, we know that the reality is that even if you bring home a regular supply of Let’s Dish!

Click to continue reading “We Recommend: Testing Calorie Claims of “Light” Menus”

By Alexa Corcoran | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments (0)