Food apps taking dining to a whole new level

On Jen Straw's very cluttered iPhone, you'll find a buffet of food applications. It's what you'd expect for someone who calls herself a "social media diva."

There's AllRecipes, which she recently used to make a killer batch of sangria. She tracks her favorite food programs on the Food Network app, which also gives her recipes from the shows.

Every now and then, she'll spin the tumbler on Urbanspoon to find a new restaurant to try.

Once she gets to the eatery, she'll check in through Yelp to read reviews of the food, or Foursquare to earn badges for visiting. She was the Foursquare "mayor" of Datz Deli in Tampa until someone dethroned her.

And to guide her menu choices, she'll tap the Lose It weight-loss app and track her calories. (She's dropped 22 pounds since August using the calorie counter.)

"I pride myself on being in the know when it comes to the latest and greatest the web and the iPhone have to offer," says Straw, community manager for Ballywho Interactive in Tampa.

There are more than 30,000 applications available for the iPhone (many which are also available for BlackBerry and other phones). Of those, there are hundreds dedicated to food and beverage activities, which run the gamut from useful and practical baking and cooking apps to frivolous entertainment such as the ingloriously named "Bacon Farts."

One of the fastest growing segments is in the review category, where users share how a restaurant or bar or grocery store has met their expectations – or failed to.

Nina Zagat, co-founder with her husband Tim of the Zagat restaurant surveys, started in the late 1970s by publishing friends' opinions of San Francisco restaurants. The Zagats became tycoons by providing guides to everything from restaurants and bars to golf courses and cruise ships.

Their surveys have moved from pocket-sized books to the mobile world with their Zagat to Go app for iPhone, Android, BlackBerry, Windows Mobile and Palm smartphones.

"You want your customers to be able to find the content in the way they want to use it," Nina Zagat says.

"It's the same philosophy that's gone behind our business all along. We're never telling people you've got to try this place or that place. What we're trying to do is give people the power to make decisions for themselves, to give them the information they need to make a smart decision."

****Stock your iPhone and iTouch pantry with a few of these suggestions, most of which are free to download off iTunes. Some of these programs are available for BlackBerry, Palm and Android phones as well.

AROUND TOWN

Foursquare – Check in by iPhone or iTouch at restaurants, bars, groceries (and other businesses) to earn badges, offer tips and generally show your friends you have a life outside the office. (Free)Yelp – Rate restaurants, write reviews, search for eateries, coffee shops and other places. See where your friends have checked in to find the places they like to visit. (Free)

Gowalla – Another check-in app that lets you brag about where you're hanging out. "Stamp your passport" by visiting new places. Earn rewards for checking in and leave items for friends to find. (Free)

Urbanspoon – Using a slot-machine-like interface, you can find restaurants by neighborhood, type of food and price range. Once the randomizer stops, you can read reviews and, if needed, shake it again for another suggestion. (Free)

GroceryZen – This app gets high marks for its ease of use while shopping and for helping figure out ingredients for recipes in its database. ($1.99)

CAN I STILL EAT THIS?

Dirty Produce -The Environmental Working Group's shopping guide to pesticides and chemicals in food. Short story: Stay away from the peaches. Stick to the onions. (Free)

Still Tasty – How long are eggs good for in the refrigerator? Can you still eat the slice of leftover pizza from the weekend? The "ultimate shelf-life guide" will tell you. ($1.99)

Is That Gluten Free? –A to 15,500 manufacturer-certified gluten-free products, it's the No. 1 app in its category. ($5.99)

Seafood Watch – Just because it came from the ocean doesn't mean it's safe to eat. Or that the species hasn't been fished to death. This app guides you through a seafood meal with good conscience. (Free)

MAKE STUFF

Ratio – Author Michael Ruhlman's app from his book "Ratio: The Simple codes Behind The Craft of Everyday Cooking" lets you calculate ingredient ratios for all the fundamental culinary preparations. ($4.99)

Epicurious – Recipes from Epicurious.com (culled from Bon Appetit, the now-defunct Gourmet and other publications) are tapped for dinners, desserts, cocktails, lunches, party snacks and dinner ideas. There's also a shopping list to help you at the grocery store. (Free)

Betty Crocker Mobile Cookbook – Search this pocket recipe archive by ingredients, by type of meal or let Betty surprise you. For iTouch users, this app does not require a wireless connection. (Free)

Crock-Pot Slow Cooker Recipe Finder – Browse the recipe archive by type, make a shopping list and e-mail friends about the dishes you like. There's also a function that lets you post to Twitter. (Free)

McCormick Recipe Finder – Access 1,000 recipes that have been tested in the spice-maker's kitchens. One chit: Wireless access is required. (Free)

Weber's On The Grill – Grillmeisters rejoice! Get recipes, a grocery check list and even a grill timer that dings and vibrates when the food is ready. ($4.99)

iFoods Assistant – Powered by Kraft Foods, use iFoods to search for recipes. It offers ideas for any occasion, creates shopping lists and finds the nearest grocery store. (99 cents)

Strawberries – Recipes, nutritional information and photos of the succulent berries are showcased. (Free)

THIS GOES WITH THAT

Cheese Cupid – Pairs wine, beer and liquor with appropriate Wisconsin cheese. (Free)NatDecants – More than 380,000 food and drink pairings by award-winning drink writer Natalie MacLean. (Free)

Wine DJ – Discover music to match mood and spirits. Developed by Liberty School wines with music by Grooveshark. Make playlists and use the GPS to find Liberty School wines. (Free)

LET'S ALL DRINK

Mixology – Close to 8,000 drink recipes are at your fingertips. Or catalog your own creation and e-mail it to friends. (Free)

Shakesmoothie – Tired of your smoothie routine? Shake the device to find recipes for new concoctions. (Free)

Girl Drinks – Whether it's a Cosmo, Green Apple Martini or a Fuzzy Navel, this is the kind of app the girls on "Sex and the City" could have used. (Free)

My Starbucks – Find a store (like that's a challenge), build a drink and then e-mail the drink to friends. (Free)

Teavana Perfect Tea Touch – If you don't know your oolong from your roobios, the tea retailer lists information about their tea blends and features a musical tea timer so you can make a perfect cup. (Free)

Last Call – Had too much? This app helps you figure out your blood-alcohol level, call a taxi or, if necessary, find a DUI lawyer. (Free)

OF ABSOLUTELY NO VALUE

Bacon Farts – The audio flatulence is customizable by the type, such as Trichinosis, raw, and Angry Bacon. Turn up the volume and let it rip. (Free)

More Toast – Make all the virtual toast you want with seemingly limitless toppings and images imprinted on every slice. (99 cents)