Mandarin - Hungry for Canada Day!

Hungry for Canada Day
Live link at http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2009/06/24/9906946-sun.html

Mandarin says 'Thank you' with free meals
By BRETT CLARKSON, SUN MEDIA
Last Updated: 24th June 2009, 4:06am

James Chiu was hungry for success and for him, Canada has been a buffet of opportunity.
That's why the Mandarin restaurants co-founder has decided to give away free meals at all of the chain's 21 locations across Ontario on Canada Day.
The endeavour means about 30,000 meals will be eaten at no charge, cost the company about $500,000.

"We are very grateful to be here in Canada," said Chiu, 61, who emigrated with his parents from Taiwan to Canada in 1964 after his dad took a research job in Montreal.
"We are very lucky to be here in such a peaceful, free, clean country, to make a living and bring our families up. We just feel grateful. So we're thinking, what can we do on Canada Day besides give people a flag and a discount? Why don't we just say thanks to them and give them a free meal?"

The only catch? Just prove you're a Canadian citizen.
On July 1, no reservations will be accepted and each Mandarin restaurants will open at noon with the last seatings at 8.30 p.m.
"First come, first serve, so if you get in line and you can prove that you're Canadian, you get a free meal," Chiu said.

Chiu, who spoke no English -- only Mandarin -- when he arrived in Canada, said it took him about five years to learn functional English while attending Outremont High School in Montreal.
He became a Canadian citizen in 1969 and in 1979, after moving to Toronto, opened the first Mandarin restaurant in Brampton.

Thirty years later, Mandarin employs 2,000 people, many of them immigrants to Canada.
The 21 Mandarin locations serve about 100,000 people a week. Mandarin isn't authentic Chinese food, Chiu said, but rather, Canadian-Chinese food, with 35 different salads, 40 different desserts and between 60 and 70 main courses.

BRETT.CLARKSON@SUNMEDIA.CA

New Products - Nutribar

March 04, 2009
LINDA RICCIARDI
THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR
(Mar 4, 2009)
Most of us remember enjoying Shredded Wheat as kids. Now Post is giving you the power to turn one box into two.

Starting in March, when you buy specially marked boxes of their Shredded Wheat cereal, Post Foods will donate another box to a local food bank. The goal is to provide 3.6 million bowls of cereal to Canadians nationwide in need of a nutritious breakfast. The donation is valued at more than $1 million.

Suggested retail price is $3.99 for a 425-g box. Post cereals are sold at major grocery stores.

Approximate nutrition per 2 biscuits (47 g) serving, dry: 160 calories, 1 g fat, 5 g protein, 37 g carbohydrates, 6 g fibre

Nutribar has revamped its product and is introducing an enhanced formula for its meal replacement bars. They now have a source of fibre and omega-3 polyunsaturates.

Nutribar says the products are formulated to provide the body with the equivalent of a nutritionally balanced meal with fewer calories.

The bars are available in the pharmacy section of major retailers including Shoppers Drug Mart, Metro, Wal-Mart, Zellers and Pharma Plus.

Suggested retail prices range from $9.99 to $13.99 for a multi-pack, depending on retailer, and between $3.17 and $3.67 for an individual snack bar.

Approximate nutrition per 65-g serving of Milk Chocolate Peanut: 260 calories, 9 g fat, 19 g protein, 28 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre

Comment: "This bar was a creamy smooth bar, satisfying and not too sweet."

Approximate nutrition per 65-g serving of Chocolate Fudge: 260 calories, 8 g fat, 13 g protein, 34 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre

Comment: "Rich and filling, covered in a smooth chocolate coating."

Approximate nutrition per 30-g serving of Chocolate Brownie: 100 calories, 3 g fat, 3 g protein, 19 g carbohydrates, 2 g fibre

Comment: "This is your 100-calorie snack brownie."

WeightWatchers Smart Ones meals has a new gourmet line that offers unique varieties.

The gourmet line includes Thai-style Chicken & Rice Noodles, Honey Mango Barbeque Chicken, Orange Sesame Chicken, Cranberry Turkey Medallions, Sweet & Sour Chicken and Teriyaki Chicken & Vegetables.

Suggested retail prices range from $3.69 to $3.99 for a 255-g box, and the entrees can be found in major retailers.

Approximate nutrition per 255 g serving of Cranberry Turkey Medallions (4 points): 250 calories, 2 g fat, 16 g protein, 43 g carbohydrates, 4 g fibre

Approximate nutrition per 255 g serving of Honey Mango Barbeque Chicken (5 points): 240 calories, 3.5 g fat, 19 g protein, 34 g carbohydrates, 0 g fibre

by Linda Ricciardi, 905-526-3228 or lricciardi@thespec.com