Food in the News - It's all about the alcohol

My tendencies toward being a bit of a lush have been stopped in their tracks by this pregnancy. How I miss a cold glass of beer on a sunny day or a nice glass of wine with dinner, gin and tonic by the pool, a litre of sangria just because - you catch my drift.

Here is a round up of recipes and articles for all of you still able to imbibe:

Fancy Tequila cocktails - Globe and Mail

Italian reds under $10, just in time to kick off your summer - Toronto Life

How to have fun, when you are "too poor for drinks" - Chow

Brilynn's recipe for Sangria Bites - Jumbo Empanadas

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

The Omnivore's Hundred

LISTS! Love them! Seriously, a good list where I can cross things off and see my progress is ever so satisfying. I am a list geek and proud of it.

Very Good Taste has come up with a list to determine just how many of 100 items bloggers have consumed. It is an omnivore's challenge, so veg people may feel a bit jilted - doesn't mean you can't come up with your own though.

Here are the instructions:
1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.
4) Optional extra: Post a comment here at http://www.verygoodtaste.co.uk/ linking to your results.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:



1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos Rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba Ganoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB & J Sandwich
14. Aloo Gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses - yum! this is on my future list though
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom Tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie Gras
24. Rice and Beans
25. head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper - just not worth the pain
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna Cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Saurkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O - more often than I'd care to admit
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects - I wouldn't say never, but probably not
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu - not sure I'm interested in taking the chance
47. Chicken Tikka Masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Pickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. poutine - of course!
60. carob chips
61. S'mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. kaolin - um, no.
64. currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill - yuck!
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang Souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom Yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three- Michelin-star restaurant - WooHoo! Worth every penny
85. Kobe Beef
86. Hare - if it means rabbit then, yes
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft Shell Crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee
100. Snake

In conclusion, there are 9 items I would never eat, 24 items I have not eaten yet, and 67 I have already consumed! Not bad at all...I'll be working on those 24.

Food in the News

Salt, I have so many varieties but not a clue as how to use them all properly. Chowhound explains - CHOW

If you are one to buy most of your fresh food as organic, here are 12 in which that may not be necessary - Food Network Canada

Foolproof ways to let your guests know when it is time to go! - CHOW

Restos in Toronto are starting to grow their own produce, that's as local as it gets - Toronto Life

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

Walkerville Brewery

Walkerville Brewery makes beer that should be a source of pride for Windsor, Ontario. For more details on its history, please read my article on the Food Network website.

Food in the News

Why do so few women run kitchens in prominent restaurants? - New York Magazine

How to order wine - Seattle Times

New Windsor bakery - Cakes By Renee! - Windsor Eats

How do you feel about loud noise in restaurants? - Blogelicious (Windsor Star)

Comparing frozen french fries...- Boston Globe

Restaurant Review - Marathon, Windsor ON.

Windsor has a diverse community and it is represented in its restaurants. Though our community is a bit big box and pub food happy, the level of restaurants owned by local residents is usually first-rate.

One of my favourite restaurants in Windsor is Marathon Ethiopian restaurant which is located in the downtown core. Unfortunately when I mention this to people I often get a few inappropriate comments or jokes. Too bad for them that they choose not to experience the robust spices and warm atmosphere that are incorporated into the experience when dining at Marathon.

Right now I am stuck on their Vegetarian Platter with Injera. My favourites are the Aziffa (lentils with onion, chilies, olive oil and lemon) or the At Ket Wat (carrot and potatoes roasted with turmeric).

Windsor Eats recently posted a great review that further details all the hard work that goes into preparing these dishes and running the restaurant.

Food in the News

Cupcake Submissions are in! Take a look at the fondue one... - Cupcake Blog

Is there a time when bacon vodka is not appropriate? - Jumbo Empanadas

How to set a fabulous table - Toronto Star

What is/was your Halloween candy style? - Washington Post

A good bottle under $12? The experts chime in - Boston Globe

Food in the News

Oyster popularity is on the rise - Globe and Mail

Nougat? An in-depth look - Chowhound

Dealing with high-strung hosts - Chowhound

World's Most Expensive Tasting Menus - Forbes

Molecular Gastronomy

I have been fascinated with this subject ever since I saw a documentary of Anthony Bourdain's visit to El Bulli in Spain on the Food Network. Lucky for me, a friend of mine bought me a cooking course about this very subject for my birthday.

To find out more information about the course, take a look at my Food Network article

- which talks further about things like Mango "Caviar" (pictured above).

Bite-Worthy Blog!

Check out the blog Cupcake Bakeshop. The recipes are tremendous and obviously well-tested. The cupcake combinations are out of this world! How could I not endorse a blog that has a recipe for Donuts and Coffee Cupcakes or Sweetcorn, Maple and Bacon Cupcakes.

One lump or two?

Now you can make sure that your partner gets it right.

My Cuppa Mugs

Food in the News

The Toronto International Film Fest is starting to wind down. Read about all the amazing food that was consumed - Globe and Mail

Calories will not need to be reported on NYC menus - CBC News

Sears catalogue now carries Nova Scotia lobster? - CBC News

Meat prices may go the way of gas prices - CBC News

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

Ontari-ari-ari-ooooo

One of the greatest hurdles for people who attempt to buy local is convenience. Driving 45 minutes out of your way to buy local blueberries is not always great time management - it is, however, always worth it for the flavour and quality.

Homegrown Ontario has now made it that much more convenient to identify local Ontario meat. This organization " is an alliance of Ontario Pork, the Ontario Veal Association and the Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency". Research from Ipsos Reid clearly indicates that "Ontario consumers want to support their local farmers while purchasing fresh, quality meat" and this allows them to easily do this.

The website includes recipes, ways to identify cuts of meat and where to find vendors.

The Toronto Star provides more information as well.

Square Watermelon?

The Society of Food Science and Technology has published a list of the Top 10 New Ingredients for 2007. Find out more about tommango and purple tomatoes...