Is there such a thing as candy gentrification?

After five years of research and development, Tacoma's own Brown & Haley recently unveiled its Roca Buttercrunch Thins, as Dan Voelpel writes today.

The latest evolution of the candy seems even classier than its foil-wrapped predecessor. It has a thinner, sleeker look (5 millimeters thick vs. the traditional 12 millimeters, as Voelpel points out). The buttery flavor is smoother and has less of a crystallized crunch. It's definitely easier on teeth fillings.

While the original Roca seems like something you'd see in a grandmother's candy dish at her immaculate North End home, the new Roca is something a trendy aunt might slip out to enjoy with an espresso at her new Stadium District condo.

It's the latest polish for Tacoma's gritty, almond-coated edges.

Roca goodness by Brown & Haley, photo by Janet Jensen

Well this is a sad way to start the day: Stadium Bistro just sent out an e-mail to everyone on its mailing list announcing that it's closing after today. Here's the e-mail:

Our Last Day is Today...
Come on down to the Bistro one last time!

Today, Saturday, April 5, is our last day … what a wonderful time we have had meeting, and cooking, for so many fabulous friends.
This was a difficult decision because we have many, many friends who believe in what we're doing, and so enjoy Chef Peter's scratch cooking. Many of our customers and friends want to invest in Stadium Bistro, however, with the economy slowing, and so many restaurants struggling, as we have, as folks curtail their spending, we've decided to close rather than put our friends' money at an unreasonable risk.

If you get this e-mail and have a chance, please stop by, we would love to see you all one last time!


Thanks for a great ride!
Pete, Cathryn and Chef Peter

Check our food and restaurant blog Ed's Diner for any updates and details.

If you like Terry's Berries (and I do) then you'll be happy to read this.

It's finally here: A comprehensive guide to Tacoma's restaurants. And the best part: You get to add your thoughts to it.

I was planning to highlight some of the site's features, but that would be boring. So instead, just go check it out for yourself and play around with it.

It still needs a few additions (Herban Cafe, Stadium Bistro) and subtractions (Gary's Steak Out – R.I.P.), but in time I think this will become one of the most useful online resources for Tacoma.

Speaking of doughnuts, a study released today gives us the science behind the drool.

The London Daily Mail headline reads "Why our brains are programmed to eat doughnuts."

OK, I'll bite.

An excerpt:

Apparently our brains are programmed to leap into action when presented with the sugary treats.

A study found that when hungry volunteers were shown a picture of a Krispy Kreme doughnut or a screwdriver, the sugary snack sent the brain into overdrive.

The same response did not occur after participants had stuffed themselves with up to eight of them.

I can't comment on the methodology of this study, but I can say that I'd be happy to participate in any follow-up research. Like, call me.

So I post these photos in the name of science. You be the judge, Tacoma. Doughnut or screwdriver?

In case you missed it, Soundlifers Ed, Bill and EJ compiled a handy round-up of local sports bars that are good bets for watching the Super Bowl.

They tackle (mwah ha ha) the subject from a food and entertainment perspective so you don't end up watching fantastic TVs while tolerating mediocre grub.

Go Giants! Yeah, I said it.

Thanks for stopping by our virtual GritCity Thanksgiving dinner.

Here's what we have on hand:

Wild Turkey bourbon
Yellow Jello
Fireworks

What are you bringing?

OK, I am.

It's a humble vice, though: Coffee.

Caffeine is a cheap thrill in and of itself, but there's something about coffee that inspires good talks. Fidgety types can indulge their fidgets: stirring a spoon or chewing a stir stick. Obsessive-compulsive types can obsessively arrange their empty sugar packets just so on their saucers. Shy types can talk while staring into their latte foam. Loud types can regale the poor suckers sitting next to them.

With a cup before you, it's a level playing field is what I'm saying.

And Tacoma's got a new venue for good talks: the independently owned Satellite Coffee. It's in the old Temple of the Bean spot above Supernova salon and tattoo on Division and North I streets. It's a cozy building, with a cool crow's-nest perch overlooking Wright Park. I stopped there last Thursday, the day after their soft opening, and got a silky-toasty americano. Satellite pulls shots from Stumptown beans, and as far as I know, it's the only spot in our neck of the woods to serve the revered Portland roaster's stuff.

Read more about Satellite here.
Ogle Stumptown's admirably specific bean varietals here.

Go forth. Gaze at navels.

Don't give these out:

Unwrapped caramel apples
Pencils
A warm, sweaty handful of raisins
Popcorn balls
A 10-inch length of dental floss
Gospel tracts
Dried fruit
Pennies
Toast
Soy sauce packets
Razor blades

Any others?

So, we kicked Kelly out of the country this week and sent her to Paris to be our temporary European correspondent just to keep things interesting. Then we told her she had to pay for the whole excursion. MWAH HA HA HA HA! Joke's on us though, because she seems to be enjoying it.

She arrived Tuesday and has already seen many Frenchy sites:

And dined on Frenchy delicacies:

However, her first dinner in Paris was a peanut butter sandwich she made while still in Tacoma. Way to be thrifty, Davenport.

She's even experienced her first Tacoma-related incident while in La Cité d'Amour:

I sat next to some folks from Vancouver, B.C., at dinner and they knew someone from Tacoma getting married in Paris this week. They had no disparaging remarks about our fair city, either. Vive la Tacoma!

We'll keep you updated on her whereabouts and experiences as GritCity's French Ambassador.

Reno Rosi dishes out spaghetti at Bimbo's in this 1976 TNT file photo.

That's a direct quote from the story. Apparently, the City of Tacoma owns the secret recipes to the old pasta sauces conceived by Bimbo's. When the city bought the building on Pac Ave., it also acquired the magic formulas.

This gem from business reporter C.R. Roberts:

It was said that the seasoned sauce pots themselves provided character to the taste of the sauce, as if the DNA of the Harding administration somehow lingered within its essence.

If you have an idea on what to do with the sauces, e-mail c.r.roberts@thenewstribune.com with “sauce” in the subject line.

I hate the word fete. I'm not sure why I used it.

Basically, what I'm trying to say: There's a lot of stuff going on this weekend. But only one event has hired Fake Elvis to entertain and delight. I won't tell you which one – you'll have to figure that out on your own.

Friday-Sunday

TACOMA’S GREEK FESTIVAL music, traditional food and more, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 5-6, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Oct. 7, St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1523 S. Yakima Ave., Tacoma; free admission; 253-272-0466.

OKTOBERFEST NORTHWEST “Festhalle Biergarten,” traditional bratwurst, handmade German pretzels, live entertainment on two stages, 11 a.m.-midnight Oct. 5-6, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Oct. 7, Puyallup Fair & Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup; $8; 425-283-5050.

Saturday

FIFE HARVEST FESTIVAL featuring pancake breakfast, parade, vendor booths, car displays, family and children’s activities, fireworks, and FAKE ELVIS; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 6, Dacca Park, 2820 54th Ave. E., Fife; 253-896-8688.

HARVESTFEST CELEBRATION FARM TOUR see how real farms work, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 6; Multiple locations throughout Pierce County; Free.

FALL HO’OLAULE’A featuring live entertainment, food, island-style shopping and more, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 6, Chief Leschi School, 5625 52nd St. E., Puyallup.

=> Read more!