Booze in the News

Beer cocktails, a twist on the usual - GlamDish (photo credit goes to them)

The return of sherry. I never knew it left! - Saveur


In a shaky economy $10 - $20 wines give the best bang for your buck - NY Times


Q tonic, some Hendricks and a squeeze of lime, just may be the best drink ever - National Post


Mission Hill Oculus, a gorgeous wine - Vancouver Sun

It's the politics of food.

Politics and the culinary world are no strangers. In order to live, we must eat and when some get too much or not enough, it causes upset and hopefully, positive political action.

Here are some of the most recent political issues I have come across with regards to food:

1. Most high profile chefs are still men. Surprising? Not to me. We live in a patriarchal society that values the public domain over the private. Once cooking moves from the home into a restaurant kitchen, and earns the title of professional - it becomes a role with power attached to it. Of course this would be something that is dominated by males. See? Feminism and cooking go hand in hand!!!!!!

The Toronto Star took a look at the surface of this issue.

2. Is it better to eat organic or local? I guess the answer would be "both". If you are someone that either has their own garden, or at least some fantastic connections to organic growers in your area, then lucky you. For the rest, we may need to choose.

Though I am not sure that it is the correct answer, I have chosen to stick with local foods as often as possible. This is for a few reasons:

- my carbon footprint will be smaller the more I buy ingredients from my area

- the quality of local ingredients is better, no rubbery tomatoes or half ripe strawberries

- it is important to me to support the local economy

- until recently "organic" foods were not regulated in Canada

Healthzone has written an article to describe some of the labelling in Canada.

Time and CNN have discussed organic vs. local in an amazing article on their website.

3. I try to reflect often on how I have contributed to my family, my friends, my community, the world. People who dedicate themselves to helping others are so inspiring and almost always lead me to think "What the hell am I doing with my life?"

I need to find a way to contribute more; something that will help me make a difference. Using issues that I am passionate about (feminism, food, education), I think will only help me in this endeavour.

Foodshare in Toronto is an amazing organization and is something I am researching. There is no branch in my area, but this may be a catalyst to start something...

Food in the News

Looking for high salt content in your child's food? Go to A&W - CBC

How to dine when you have OCD - New York Times

Chocolate Conspiracy? - CBC

For all the sandwich lovers out there, the best in America! - Esquire

New food products - in stores now! - Toronto Star

Bakeries struggle and farmers rejoice as the price of flour rises - CBC

Food in the News

There is quite a bit to catch up on:

The memory of the smell of Za'atar on flatbread gives me such cravings... - Toronto Star

Exotic salts are becoming quite trendy. Fortunately I already have my Fleur de Sel, Pacific Sea Salt, Smoked Alder Salt, Hawaiian Coral and Brittany Gray Salt - Globe and Mail

Tomatoes are in season - Yay! Here are a few tasty recipes - New York Times, Globe and Mail

More and more frequently I read about how beer & food pairings are more complementary than

those with wine - The Boston Globe

Meals on the Fly

In North America there are many of us that eat out entirely too much. I confess, I was guilty of this at one time. After realising how simple it was to come up with a meal that tasted better than 90% of the take out places I frequented - all was changed.

Mark Bittman can help lead anyone to eating better meals at home with his article " Summer Express: 101 Simple Meals Ready in 10 Minutes or Less " in the New York Times. I plan to put many of them to use.