Stationwagons has made an interesting video about historic diners and the American Diner Museum.

You can see it below (or here). Enjoy!

You can see other recent Weekend Video Spotlight Videos here.

You can also see HuggingtheCoast.com’s growing collection of food, cooking, and travel videos here.

Please join us tomorrow to see this week’s Hugging the Coast.Com Week in Review, an overview of last week’s special food features (as well as selected previews from the week to come).

If you liked this video on HuggingtheCoast.Com, you might also enjoy:

• Macaroni and Cheese Breakfast Pie Recipe
• Is Okra the Bernie Madoff of the Vegetable Kingdom?
• Weekend Video Spotlight: Please Pass the Salt Potatoes - Dougs Fish Fry Skaneateles, NY

Here’s a delicious and easy recipe for a Salmon Tower Sandwich from the folks at Mango & Tomato.

Ingredients:

2 slices of whole wheat bread
cream cheese
dill, chopped
sliced cherry tomatoes (or you can use the regular ones)
smoked salmon

How to Make a Salmon Tower Sandwich

See More of Hugging the Coast’s Fish For Friday Recipes which will help you make the most of your favorite seafood during the rest of the year.

You can also see our list of delicious seafood recipes, organized by type of fish to make it easier for you to find culinary inspiration and ideas.

Please join us tomorrow to enjoy this week’s Weekend Video Spotlight: American Diners in History .

If you liked this article on HuggingtheCoast.Com, you might also enjoy:

• Chimichurri Shrimp Cups with Roasted Garlic Marscapone Recipe
• Read a Cookbook for Free: Quiches and Savory Tarts
• The Most Important Ingredient
• Memorable Mardi Gras Recipes: Celebrating Fat Tuesday in Style

(Photo Credit: All Fish For Friday Recipe of the Week photos are courtesy of the featured blog.)

The current White House Executive Chef, Cristeta Comerford has some new company in the kitchen. The Obama’s personal chef, Sam Kass has signed on as Assistant Chef for the White House Kitchen.

In addition to his past work for the Obama family, Chef Sam Kass has served as the Executive Chef for Jane Addams Hull House, with a mission to reinvent the soup kitchen by serving quality, nourishing food instead of meals with empty calories which often found in other soup kitchens. Founded in 1889, Hull House remains one of Chicago’s largest not-for-profit social welfare organizations.

(You can find out more about the work and history of Jane Addams Hull House here.)

Kass is also the founder of Inevitable Table, a Chicago based personal chef service of which the Obamas were clients.

The Chicagoist has some interesting facts about his culinary background here.

For an insight into Kass’ guiding philosophy about food and how that might inform his White House service, the Inevitable Table website provides this clue:

“We aim to promote a healthy lifestyle that focuses on the quality and flavor of food to encourage good eating habits. This philosophy provides consistency and balance to ensure you thoroughly enjoy your food experience. We believe that people have a stake in each other’s health. This link is what binds us together as families, communities and a nation. Nowhere are we more powerfully bound together than in the daily cultivation and preparation of food.”

(Photo Credit: Kitchen Symphony by Puck90.)

Please join us tomorrow to read the newest Fish For Friday Recipe of the Week.

If you liked this article on HuggingtheCoast.Com, you might also enjoy reading:

• President’s Day White House Recipes and Food Trivia
• Read a Cookbook for Free: The White House Cook Book (1889)
• Stars and Stripes Chicken

With the average American eating as much as 16 pounds of seafood a year, it’s no wonder that whatever one’s religious preference or faith (Catholic or not), many use the Lenten season as an excuse to add more fish and shellfish to their daily diet.

Now that Fat Tuesday and Mardi Gras are behind us, here’s 18 recipes from our popular Fish on Friday Recipe of the Week Series to help you do just that whether you love shrimp, crab, salmon, tilapia, halibut, oysters, mussels, lobster, or clams!

• Baja Fish Tacos

• Steamed Seafood Dumplings

• Cornmeal Crab Puffs

• Creamy Seafood Pot Pie

• Salmon With Figs, Saba and Watercress

• Stuffies (Stuffed Clams)

• Panko Crusted Shrimp Lollipops

• Shrimp Saganaki

• Curried Crab Pizza Recipe

• Crab and Coconut Risotto with Mango

• Ginger and Cilantro Baked Tilapia

• Drago’s Style Charbroiled Oysters Recipe

• Steamed Mussels With Almonds

• Southern She-Crab Soup

• Lobster Savannah

• Miso-Marinated Sea Bass

• Seafood Lasagna

• Grilled Halibut Fajitas

Please join us tomorrow to read our new article about the White House Kitchen, Sam Kass, Barack Obama’s Personal Chef Joins White House Staff.

If you liked this article on HuggingtheCoast.Com, you might also enjoy reading:

• The Jumbo Shrimp Death March: A Culinary Catastrophe With a Side of Remoulade
• Foodbuzz 24, 24, 24: The “Hand-To-Mouth Meals” Series: Shrimp
• A Soft-Shell Saga: Tarantula Sandwiches To Go
• To Die For: Travelling to Japan to Eat Fugu

The James Beard Foundation has announced the semifinalists for the 2009 James Beard Awards which honor some of America’s most respected restaurants, chefs, food authors and restaurants.

Described as “the Oscars of the food world,” by Time Magazine, the James Beard Awards have been held annually since 1990.

This year’s nominees were selected from a pool of over 15,000 entries.

Past chef honorees include Anthony Bourdain, Bobbie Flay, Grant Achatz, David Chang, and Robert Stehling.

Noted food writers such as Barbara Kingsolver, Frances Moore Lappe, James Peterson, and Paula Wolfert, have also been given the award.

Below are selections from the list of semifinalists for the upcoming James Beard Awards. (The finalists will be announced on March 23rd, 2009.)

The James Beard Awards Winners’ Ceremony will be held on May 3rd and 4th at Alice Tully Hall in New York City.

We’ve organized the semifinalist list by state to make it easier for you to discover both emerging and established gourmet restaurants and professionals in your area and the places you visit on your foodie vacations.

Alabama:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Frank Stitt, Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Highlands Bar & Grill, Birmingham, AL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Christopher Hastings, Hot and Hot Fish Club, Birmingham, AL

Arizona:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Vincent Guerithault, Vincent on Camelback, Phoenix, AZ
• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Janos Wilder, Janos, Tucson, AZ
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Noca, Phoenix, AZ
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Kevin Binkley, Binkley’s Restaurant, Cave Creek, AZ
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Marc Ehrler, The Ventana Room at Loews Ventana Canyon Resort, Tucson, AZ
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Beau MacMillan, Elements at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa, Paradise Valley, AZ

Arkansas:

• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Lee Richardson, Ashley’s, Capital Hotel, Little Rock, AR

California:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Michael Mina, Michael Mina, San Francisco, CA
• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Charles Phan, The Slanted Door, San Francisco, CA
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Boulevard, San Francisco, CA
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Delfina, San Francisco, CA
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Greens, San Francisco, CA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Animal, Los Angeles, CA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: The Bazaar by José Andrés at SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, CA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Bottega, Yountville, CA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Camino, Oakland, CA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Palate Food & Wine, Glendale, CA
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Nate Appleman, A16, San Francisco, CA
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Evan Funke, Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen, Santa Monica, CA
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Travis Lett, Gjelina, Venice, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Gino Angelini, Angelini Osteria, Los Angeles, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: James Boyce, Studio at Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Michael Cimarusti, Providence, Los Angeles, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Josiah Citrin, Mélisse, Santa Monica, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Chris Cosentino, Incanto, San Francisco, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Jeremy Fox, Ubuntu, Napa, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Quinn Hatfield, Hatfield’s, Los Angeles, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Douglas Keane, Cyrus, Healdsburg, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Loretta Keller, Coco500, San Francisco, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: David Kinch, Manresa, Los Gatos, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Chris Kobayashi, Artisan, Paso Robles, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Christopher Kostow, The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: David Myers, Sona, Los Angeles, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Daniel Patterson, Coi, San Francisco, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Gayle Pirie and John Clark, Foreign Cinema, San Francisco, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Craig Strong, The Dining Room at the Langham, Pasadena, CA
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Jason Travi, Fraîche, Culver City, CA

Colorado:

• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Mark Fischer, Restaurant Six89, Carbondale, CO
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Ryan Hardy, Montagna at the Little Nell, Aspen, CO
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Kelly Liken, Kelly Liken, Vail, CO
• Best Chef/ Southwest Semifinalist: Alex Seidel, Fruition Restaurant, Denver, CO

Delaware:

• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Jay Caputo, Espuma, Rehoboth Beach, DE
• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Michael DiBianca, Moro, Wilmington, DE

District of Columbia:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Jose Andres, Minibar, Washington, DC
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Vidalia, Washington, DC
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Kinkead’s, Washington, DC
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Cork, Washington, DC
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Johnny Monis, Komi, Washington, DC
• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Haidar Karoum, Proof, Washington, DC
• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Peter Pastan, Obelisk, Washington, DC
• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Tom Power, Corduroy, Washington, DC
• Best Chef/ Mid-Atlantic Semifinalist: Vikram Sunderam, Rasika, Washington, DC

Florida:

• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Bern’s Steak House, Tampa, FL
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Sra. Martinez, Miami, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Derek Barnes, Derek’s Culinary Casual, Sarasota, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Zach Bell, Café Boulud at the Brazilian Court, Palm Beach, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Tom Gray, Bistro Aix, Jacksonville, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Zack Gross, Z Grille, St. Petersburg, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Scott Hunnel, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Orlando, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Philip Krajeck, Fish Out of Water at WaterColor Inn & Resort, Santa Rosa Beach, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Edgar Leal, Cacao Restaurant, Coral Gables, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Dean James Max, 3030 Ocean, Fort Lauderdale, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Douglas Rodriguez, Ola, Miami Beach, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Jeanie Roland, The Perfect Caper, Punta Gorda, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Philippe Ruiz, Palme d’Or at Biltmore, Coral Gables, FL
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Michael Schwartz, Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink, Miami, FL

Georgia:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Anne Quatrano, Bacchanalia, Atlanta, GA
• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Scott Peacock, Watershed, Decatur, GA
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Bacchanalia, Atlanta, GA
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Holeman and Finch Public House, Atlanta, GA
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Kevin Gillespie, Woodfire Grill, Atlanta, GA
• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Hugh Acheson, Five and Ten, Athens, GA
• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Arnaud Berthelier, The Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, Atlanta, GA
• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Linton Hopkins, Restaurant Eugene, Atlanta, GA
• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Hector Santiago, Pura Vida, Atlanta, GA

Hawaii:

• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Alan Wong’s Restaurant, Honolulu, HI
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Merriman’s Kapalua, Maui, Lahaina, HI
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Hiroshi Fukui, Hiroshi Eurasion Tapas, Honolulu, HI
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Bev Gannon, Joe’s, Wailea, HI
• Best Chef/ Pacific Semifinalist: Peter Merriman, Merriman’s, Waimea, HI

Idaho:

• Best Chef/ Northwest Semifinalist: Dustan Bristol, Brick 29 Bistro, Nampa, ID

Illinois:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Paul Kahan, Blackbird, Chicago, IL
• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Jean Joho, Everest, Chicago, IL
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Blackbird, Chicago, IL
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Everest, Chicago, IL
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: L2O, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Suzy Crofton, Crofton on Wells, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Christophe David, Nomi at Park Hyatt Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Curtis Duffy, Avenues at the Peninsula Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Kendal Duque, Sepia, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Koren Grieveson, Avec, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Michael Maddox, Le Titi De Paris, Arlington Heights, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Martial Noguier, Café des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Arun Sampanthavivat, Arun’s, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Bruce Sherman, North Pond, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Giuseppe Tentori, Boka, Chicago, IL
• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: Paul Virant, Vie, Western Springs, IL

Indiana:

• Best Chef/ Great Lakes Semifinalist: David Tallent, Restaurant Tallent, Bloomington, IN

Iowa:

• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Django, Des Moines, IA
• Best Chef/ Midwest Semifinalist: George Formaro, Centro, Des Moines, IA
• Best Chef/ Midwest Semifinalist: Enosh Kelly, Bistro Montage, Des Moines, IA
• Best Chef/ Midwest Semifinalist: Steve Logsdon, Basil Prosperi’s Lucca, Des Moines, IA

Kentucky:

• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Edward Lee, 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY
• Best Chef/ Southeast Semifinalist: Ouita Michel, Holly Hill Inn, Midway, KY

Louisiana:

• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Brigtsen’s, New Orleans, LA
• Rising Star Chef of the Year Semifinalist: Sue Zemanick, Gautreau’s, New Orleans, LA
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Scott Boswell, Stella!, New Orleans, LA
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: Aaron Burgau, Patois, New Orleans, LA
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: John Harris, Lilette, New Orleans, LA
• Best Chef/ South Semifinalist: David Solazzo and Torre Solazzo, Ristorante Del Porto, Covington, LA

Maine:

• Outstanding Chef Semifinalist: Sam Hayward, Fore Street, Portland, ME
• Outstanding Restaurant Semifinalist: Fore Street, Portland, ME
• Best New Restaurant Semifinalist: Emilitsa, Portland, ME
• Best Chef/ Northeast Semifinalist: Penelle Chase, Phoebe Chase, Megan Chase, and Ted Lafage, Chase’s Daily, Belfast, ME
• Best Chef/ Northeast Semifinalist: Rob Evans, Hugo’s, Portland, ME
• Best Chef/ Northeast Semifinalist: Clark Frasier and Mark Gaier, Arrows Restaurant, Ogunquit, ME
• Best Chef/ Northeast Semifinalist: Rich Hanson, Cleonice, Ellsworth, ME Best Chef/ Northeast Semifinalist: Brian Hill, Francine Bistro, Camden, ME

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