For quite some time, Starbuck's classic white coffee cup with brown cardboard heat guard has been carried around as a fashion statement by executives and young professionals around the world.  Now, it might have just officially become a status symbol.  I saw these white, reuseable ceramic cups at Walgreen's yesterday, complete with faux press-on lid and faux brown cardboard heat guard (with the mandatory green circle in the middle).  All very reminiscent of a certain coffee company in Seattle.  Imitation is the best form of flattery, but when durable goods start to imitate disposable ones, we're not only talking flattery, but worship.  One more example of the power of a strong brand.

While doing research before buying a pair of running shoes, I ran across this shoe collection called The College Pack, by up-and-coming sneaker brand Saucony.   Aimed at college students, the sneakers are made in different color combinations, associated with the most popular schools in college sports.  The product and the campaign are so well executed that Saucony doesn't even need to mention the name of the schools, which also means that they don't have to pay them royalties.  I couldn't resist mentioning it here as an example of clever, cost effective product development and marketing.

For the last 20 years, I've been looking for a rotisserie chicken place in the US that can deliver the same flavor as rotisserie (pollo a la brasa) restaurants in Peru.  Finally, my search is over.  Mami Nora's  could hold its ground even among the best pollo a la brasa restaurants in Peru. If you like pollo a la brasa and you are in Raleigh, you ought to try this place.

See my full review at Yelp.

Pour the contents of two cans of tuna in a bowl and mash with a fork.  Add two eggs, well scrambled, and half a cup of low fat milk.  Season with salt, onion powder, garlic powder and, if desired, some dried chives.  Mix well.  Finally, add enough bread crumbs so that the mix is still soft but not watery.  Mix well again and then mold into four large patties.  Fry in olive oil under medium heat for three or four minutes on each side, until golden.  These tuna cakes go great with a sauce made by mixing a tablespoon of mayo with a tablespoon of dijon mustard.