[Found this in draft form and realized that I hadn't posted it. Outdated, but nothing was breaking news too old to post.]
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My first experience with veggie dogs were Yves brand “hot dogs” that my mom bought. They reminded me of saw dust and pencil erasers. It was so long ago that I was still living with them. Grist did a blind taste test. My own conclusions: I’ll skip on the fake hot dogs. I’m not a big fan of fake meat to begin with.
Green beans are in season? Wondering what to do with them? Here are 21 ideas from Cliqueclack Food.
Oh Denny’s, I can feel my arteries clog as I read this. I occasionally eat junk but this is so bad it looks like a parody of junk. Denny’s New Fried Cheese Melt
Mark Bittman found plastic in his soup and was disappointment by the lack of action taken to remedy the situation. It reminds me of the Sesame Street sketch with Waiter Grover when Mr. Johnson finds a fly in his soup (video below). Here’s Bittman’s followup.
David Lebovitz hasbeenbloggingfrom New York this week and I’m following along, noting food place for my next visit. The Doughnut Plant is on my list now. RUB Barbeque reminds me of The Stockyards but bigger, the way New York is bigger than Toronto. Toronto is like New York, but without all the stuff.
Poor New Brunswickians being without ice cream during the summer. There’s a shortage because of the the Farmers Dairy strike in Nova Scotia.
Be careful the next time you’re craving falafel. Falafel pita (from Tov-Li) has more calories, sodium than Big Mac.
It was ballsy, but Serious Eats’ The Nasty Bits column covered yak testicles
Remember my friend David from my blog post two weeks ago? He wrote a guest post for Fiesta Farms about being a first time gardener.
Shooting food: Bullets through food (and other items).
Contesting Vitaminwater’s “benefits” in court. Huffington Post offers good commentary: “…does it mean that it’s okay for a corporation to lie about its products, as long as they can then turn around and claim that no one actually believes their lies?” and “… it’s probably not the best idea to rely on a soft drink company for your vitamins and other essential nutrients. A plant-strong diet with lots of vegetables and fruits will provide you with what you need far more reliably, far more consistently — and far more honestly.” Ya think??
Meanwhile, a Minneapolis-based legal firm is attempting to drum up support for a class action suit against a vitamin-fortified Kraft water called Crystal Light Immunity. I’ve got a radical idea: Instead of drinking crappy “health drinks” how about we drink plain water, from a tap, with a squeeze of citrus or citrus oil for flavour? You can filter it if you’d like. It’s essentially free (you don’t pay per serving) and it’s not full of sugar and other crap. We can’t stop companies from making this crap but we can avoid buying it.
Another link dump. Yes, been hording. Again. It’s a habit.
Six seemingly refreshing drinks to avoid. I’ve avoided potassium benzoate and sodium benzoate for my entire life. I could always detect the taste and didn’t like it. A little disappointed to see Smirnoff Ice on the list but it’s so easy to make vodka lemonade for parties – unless you’re involved in some ritual involving Smirnoff Ice. (That comment is for the benefit of a group of my friends who likely don’t actually read my blog.)
Read Sheryl’s commentary on farmer’s markets in Toronto
The Toronto Star’s Joe Fiorito asks, why food is not an election issue. I was on the ArtsVote steering committee in 2003 and chaired the communications committee, so I understand how topics can be pushed on the political agenda by a passionate interest group.
I’m just going to use the TasteTO words for this one and say “ditto” in response: Okay, eating a healthy diet is important, but I get really angry when I see articles like this one. Please can we stop applying things like Body Mass Index (that isn’t even useful for adults) to the growing and changing bodies of children??? This is just seriously messed up.
The EU nations require foods manufactured with artificial colors to present the warning labels. This gives me a slight sense of relief.
Naming cross-bread fruit. I don’t even like the new names given to cross-bred dogs. No “schnoodle” or “labridoodle” (any “oodle”, really) or “Havachon” or “puggle” (okay, I kind of like “puggle”). It’s a [breed]-[breed] cross! Don’t do it to fruit too.
Kellogg’s recalls millions of boxes of cereal boxes. I like Fooducate’s headline for their story.
Via Fooducate, General Mills Inc was sued by a New York woman for allegedly misleading consumers about the nutritional and health qualities of its Fruit Roll-Ups and other fruit snacks popular with children. Story from Reuters.
Those New Yorkers sure like to sue, don’t they? Brooklyn mom sues Starbucks after she spills hot tea on her baby. In other news: Tea is, by default, hot. (Sorry New Yorkers, I know that you’re not all a “litigious” bunch.)
How are chicken McNuggets like Silly Putty? You know you want to know. And check out the scary photo in this related article. But hey, the additives are harmless!
This headline reminded me of the episode of Better Off Ted in which they attempt to make synthetic meat in a lab. The article mentions “test-tube flesh”.
Beer and Buttertarts is celebrating its one year anniversary. Sheryl says, “If you’ve got a Canadian -based food blog, please head on over to Beer and Butter Tarts and join us. It’s a great way to promote your blog, and for blog readers, it’s a great way to find new and interesting food blogs from right across Canada.”
Imagine yourself on a patio on a hot summer day, sipping a glass of eco wine. I wish more on the list were from Ontario, though. 2 of 9 is not encouraging. Great that the wines are made with ecology in mind but what about the carbon footprint of travel?
Moratorium issued on town of 80,000 in california that is served by 17 drive-thru restaurants.
-Fiesta Farms asked what people think about rhubarb. I didn’t answer. Some of my friends did and got their answers in their new ad, on the back of the next issue of Edible Toronto] Also check out the little movie that they shot in which they asked people for their thoughts on Rhubarb. I spot a few people I knew and recognize the voice behind the camera.
-This isn’t news but it’s always nice when new studies substantiate such claims: Omega-3 eases depression [via CBC]
-Susur Lee’s Toronto ice cream picks. I’ve never been that impressed with Dutch Dreams but I feel like I have to return to see if maybe the masses are right and I’m wrong.
Remember snow cones? Putting the Fresh in Refreshment [New York Times] I walked past People’s Pops in Chelsea Market when I was in New York recently. I was full and didn’t want to get one. I regret not having one anyway. It’s on my list for next time. Maybe this article is why I dreamed about People’s Pops.
Meghan’s new contest: Win a cool glass straw! Also check out the Power Berry Lemonade recipe and give it a try. I’m going to.
I have to link to this one, because I’m in it: The magic of gleaning. Yes, gleaning, another topic for me to blog about. Perhaps tomorrow I’ll set up a bunch of posts to public.
Tossing the power plant out of the salad bowl [Eating Niagara] I found this interesting because I’ve been reading about the Greenbelt and urban farming.
To knead or not to knead: the great bread debate [Globe and Mail]
Health Canada ruling: Food products can claim to be cholesterol busters [Globe and Mail] Um… what? (Or as Sheryl saidat Taste TO, “Seriously – what the fuck?? This is asinine.”
Restaurants thrive without reservations [Toronto Star] I’m told that Guu is worth it.
The 10 Foods Most Likely to Make You Sick [change.org]
Government researchers working on developing a low-allergy peanut (via cross-breeding, not genetic modification). [change.org]
Mead-Johnson withdraws Chocolate toddler formula: Meaningful or just PR? [Food Politics]
New Vegan Chicken Tastes Like the Real Thing—Should We Be Afraid? [change.org]
The first paragraph of this reminds me of the second episode of Better off Ted: Meat in a laboratory, no animal requierd. If you don’t watch the show, you should. The article asks a good question: “Do we want our veggie meat to taste so much like real meat that we can’t tell the difference?” Great point: “It’s also important to note that just because a food product is vegetarian or vegan doesn’t make it healthy or environmentally sustainable. “
Israel plows new ground in exotic crops [LA Times] I don’t know how I feel about this. Uneasy, but curious to learn more.
Developments in clean label ingredients [FoodNavigator]
Haitian farmers reject donation of seeds from Monsanto [Food Safety News] Awesome.
Chocolate Cheerios, Corporate Growth, and Obesity [Fooducate] If you read my News Bites post from June 8 you’d have seen my link to a similar story in Mark Bittman’s blog. I’m waiting for the FDA or FTC to go after them for claims that it “may reduce the risk of heart disease”. And look, it’s “made with real cocoa”! It MUST be healthy!
While on Fooducate’s website I saw this ad for their app. I’d download it if I had a smart phone just to check it out.
[The content in this post is appearing twice (but only when I preview it or click into it from the home page) and I don't know why. Source code looks fine.]
10 Ways to Not Lose Your Mind at a Wine Tasting [Serious Eats]
Wine Decanted: ignore the misconceptions, drink more wine [Tongue & Cheek]
It was a matter of time: Kellogg’s Slapped by FTC, Twice, for Misleading Ads [Fooducate]
Marion Nestle wonders why the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) rather than the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is going over Kellogg. [The Atlantic & Food Politics (crossposted)]
Sometimes there are no words. “This #$!% Has Got to Stop: Posted Without Comment” [Mark Bittman] I’d post the image here, but that would defeat the purpose of you clicking.
I’m not sure I have the words for this either: “While most of the country’s attention focuses on oil in the Gulf, there’s a new oil war going on in Big Ag labs and corporate offices. GMO giants Monsanto and DuPont are working on creating genetically modified soybeans that contain healthier oil.” [change.org]
So this should come as no surprise but it still scares me, nightmare style (“Now kids, gather round while I tell you a story about a company called Monsanto”): Roundup-Resistant Superweeds Spread Throughout the U.S. [change.org]
Grist on the same story of propaganda: King Corn subjects Washington to ad blitz
Canadian standards for farm-animal transport dangerously lax, report says [Globe and Mail]
I talk about CSAs a lot here. Since I’ve encouraged you all to join one, learn how to choose the right CSA for you. [Well Preserved]
Vodka Watermelon! How to Fill a Fruit with Booze [The Kitchn] Been wanting to try this for years. The comments are helpful. I need a watermelon, quality vodka and a kitchen syringe.
Yelp and OpenTable Partner Up for Better Dinner Planning [Fast Company]
It’s like those personalized books for kids: Star in Your Own Cooking Show [Public Radio Kitchen]
I don’t usually post recipes but this made me salivate: Key Lime Scallop Ceviche [Serious Eats]
What are Pullet Eggs? [The Kitchn] I’d never heard of them before. I like learning new things.
Local, Raw Honey Offers a Host of Health Benefits [change.org] The statement “…numerous folks swear that eating a teaspoon of local honey every day alleviates allergy symptoms when allergy season does roll around” is consistent with what I’ve been hearing about this for years.
Had a guacin' good time at @thedrakehotel this evening. Thanks, @Ivyknight. Too many people to mention, too little space. Good to see y'all. 1 week ago
Heading to the Guacamole Smackdown at @thedrakehotel now. I think I've met you all but to those whom I haven't, I'm wearing a red dress. 1 week ago
Heard on the radio that the current season of Top Chef begins airing in Canada today. They're 6 wks ahead in the US. I've been watching. 1 week ago
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