A perfect winter moment

Mmmm, Stalin cola

A year ago, I reported on competing Russian vodka makers putting the country's two top leaders on their labels.

Now, a figure from the Russian past will have his ugly head raised on a non-alcoholic beverage label.

The face of the notorious Soviet dictator Josef Stalin will be seen on bottles of a soft drink to go on sale next month in Russia, according to a report this week in the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper.

The bottles probably will become collector's items of a sort, because they are a limited edition that is part of a batch of beverages being released to mark the 67th anniversary of the World War II Soviet victory over Germany in the Battle of Stalingrad.

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Barista season is steaming up

There actually is a county in georgia named Coffee(*). But next month, most of the state's coffee attention will be in Atlanta, where the Southeast Regional Barista Competition will be conducted.

The event is set for February 19-21, hosted once again by Batdorf & Bronson Coffee Roasters and Everything Coffee & Tea Inc.

That will come just after the Mountain Region competition, set for February 11-14 in Fort Collins, CO. It is sponsored by Barista Pro Shop.

Both are part of the Specialty Coffee Association of America's series of barista showdowns. Both websites are short on details right now, but organizers promise that soon will change.

The Atlanta event is scheduled for the Plow Arts Center, 887 West Marietta Street, in Atlanta. It will showcases the high level of expertise and innovation that has become the hallmark of quality coffee and espresso bars.

Competitors will be judged for the excellence of their drinks, the detail of their presentation and their hospitality.

After those events, additional competitions are planned:

• The Western Regional, February 26-28, in Los Angeles.

• The Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast regionals will be held in conjunction with Coffee Fest, March 5-7 at the Meadowlands complex in East Rutherford, NJ.

• The Great Lakes Regional, March 12-14, in Milwaukee.

• The Southwest Regional, March 19-21, in Phoenix, AZ.

The South Central Regional, won by Lorenzo Perkins of Caffe Medici in Austin, TX, was held in January.

Winners from the regionals go on to the national championship.

(*) Coffee County was named for Georgia militia general John Coffee. He was responsible for the building of the Coffee Road which forms the western boundary of the county. He died in 1836.

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Coffee & Tea Festival set for NYC

Wine, beer and spirits have their extravaganzas, but coffee and tea don't have nearly the number of showcases. However, the 5th annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC is a major event.


The international event, open to the public and the trade, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, February 2021, at 7WEST, located at 7 West 34th Street in Manhattan.

The event will offer two days of programming including classes/lectures/demos from industry pros and pioneers. Chocolates and sweet treats will offer a wonderful compliment to the spectacular collection of coffees and teas.

Ticket information and reservations are available online.

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Coalition raps NY gov's latest tax proposal

Governor David Paterson, scrambling in every niche for something to tax, has proposed placing a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages of 12 cents per 12-ounce can. To put that in perspective, such a tax would be 10 times higher than the tax New York currently levies on a 12-pack of alcoholic beverages, such as beer.

Predictably, the idea isn't sitting well with a lot of people, particularly New Yorkers Against Unfair Taxes, a coalition formed in opposition to taxes on food and beverage products.

Nelson Eusebio, coalition chairman, today said in a statement:

"New Yorkers are struggling to make ends meet in this economy and we shouldn't bear the burden of fixing the Governor's budget problems. Another tax will be detrimental to hardworking New York businesses and residents."

The coalition's website is geared up to allow consumers and businesses to sign a petition, and make their opposition known to the Governor and their state representatives.

The coalition's current membership list:

The Business Council of New York State
Coca-Cola Bottling Company of Buffalo Inc.
New York Association of Convenience Stores
New York State Automatic Vending Association
National Restaurant Association
National Supermarket Association
Gristedes
The Food Industry Alliance of New York State
New York State Restaurant Association
Grocery Manufacturers Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
American Council on Science and Health
National Puerto Rican Coalition
League of United Latin American Citizens
Polar Beverage Company
Adirondack Beverages
The Coca-Cola Company
Glaceau
Region V U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Dan’s Supreme Supermarkets Inc.
Corn Refiners Association
National Association of Theatre Owners – New York
U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
One Abingdon Square Enterprises Inc.
H&H Kim Co.
Chan Song Corp.
BRS Food Corp.
Lime Tree Market
Golden Boy Mart
M.H. Fruit Corp.
Gem’s Circle Farm Co.
West Front Andrew Corp.
Blissville Deli & Grocery
300 J&J Fresh Produce
Modern Gourmet
Errand Grocery
Sunny’s Best Food Corp.
Fine Fare
P&E Grocery Corp.
Seoul Shopping Inc.
Star Lite Deli
Maiden Heaven 9-11 Inc.
Paul’s Grocery
Soon Deli Grocery
Lee Kim Market
PJ Jenny Farm
Kay’s Deli
City Limits Diner
Kyung’s Fruit Store Inc.
P.J. Deli
Cuban American National Council
ASPIRA Association Inc.
Livanos Restaurant Group
New York Farm Corp.
Jun & Jeong Farm Inc. Corp.
Smiley’s
Austin Fruit & Vegetable Corp.
Haerahm Inc.
Annie’s Fruit & Vegetable Store
Scaramelia’s, Helen Food Corp.
Key Food
D&R Grocery Inc.
Chocolate Deli & Grocery Inc.
Fancy Fruit Market
Roosevelt Gourmet Deli
National Council of Chain Restaurants
Bodega Association of the United States
Red Apple Group
N&D Deli, Inc.
Penn Plaza Gourmet Deli Inc.
Queens Farmer’s and Health
Belle Harbor Foods Inc.
New Blue Flowers Gourmet Inc.
Chelsea Hyper Market Inc.
DNY Natural Land
Soho Garden
K&P Deli
Cho’s Grocery
Fresh King Market Inc.
Daniel Oh Corp.
Young Corp.
Sheen Brothers Inc.
Lee Supermarket (Village Market)
#81 Farm Deli
J.W. Market Inc.
Ham Maek Corp.
Peter Plus Inc.
Sunnydale Farm Store
Food Mart
Y & Y Farm Co.
Peppermill Fruit & Vegetable Inc.
Smile Deli
U. Farm Land
Tudor Farm Market Inc.
Harvest on Hudson
Half Moon River Club
East By Northeast
Stone Lion Inn
Harvest Partners
Harvest on Ft. Pond
Fort Pond Partners
One High St.
Eagle Equities
Berbro Realty
Fort Pond Bay Co.
Eagle Golf Association
River Road
Pepsi-Cola Bottling Newburgh
Foodtown – PSK Supermarkets
MoMo Grocery Corp.
H&D Deli
FreshProduces
The Original Supermarket Corp.
Associated Supermarket
120 Meat Corp.
492 Corp Supermarket
367 Waverly Meat Market and Produce
Pioneer BC Food Produce
DNJ Food Corp.
J.V.D. Food Corp.
Bravo Supermarket
Soho Food Corp.
C-Town Supermarket
Key Food Supermarket
Rockaway Supermarket Corp.
Olamar Food Corp.
El Verde Meat & Produce Corp.
Green Forest Food Corp.
NSA Supermarket
Around Food Corp.
JJR 66-82 Food Corp.
116-15 GMV Corp.
Newburgh Food Corp.
1239 Food Corp.
Hex Foods
2096 Concourse Food Plaza
Foodtown
560 W. Meat & Produce Corp.
MET Food
Anber Meat & Produce
JD Food & Meat Corp.
Gava Food Corp.
April Food Corp.
J&F Meat & Grocery Corp.
115 RD Food Corp.
Associated Supermarket
AES Meat & Produce Corp.
Associated Juncalito Abeyo
A&G Family Corp.
3690 JAD Food Corp.
DAR Food Corp.
Palero Food Corp.
R&E Corp.
Billy Boy Food Corp.
P.J. 37 Food Corp.
Juncalito Meat & Produce
Palero Meat Corp.

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