A study by researchers at the University of Vermont found that wild bees are the secret ingredient in producing better berries, as they are better pollinators than honey bees. The study is the first to successfully reveal that wild bees improve not only blueberry quantities, but also size and other quality factors. It finds that […]
Category: Food & Drink
Irrigation Water is the Source for Romaine E. coli Outbreak
Dirty irrigation water is a prime suspect in the outbreak of the recent bout of illness caused by eating romaine lettuce. Hopefully you’ve been warned by now that romaine lettuce harvested from northern and central California have recently been the focus of food safety concerns, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advising […]
Cabernet for the Holidays
During the holiday season with the winter frost in the air and hearty roast beasts served on the table, a classic Cabernet Sauvignon is the perfect fool-proof choice to give or serve this time of year. First, when it comes to holiday wine gifts, unless you know the recipient’s particular tastes well, it’s best […]
Baijiu, the Best-Selling Drink You’ve Never Heard Of
Baijiu is rare in the states, though it is available at some cocktail joints around town — usually as a kind of one-off novelty that bartenders stock to impress one another. Though it’s scarce here, baijiu’s billion-strong fan base in China means it’s the best-selling liquor in the world. According to baijiuamerica.com (yes, there is […]
Mincing Meat
Thanksgiving is over, so put away thoughts of pumpkin pie and instead go for the English classic Mincemeat this holiday season. Just what the heck is Mincemeat, anyway? Well, it can be traced back to the British Isles in the 13th Century, as sailors brought Middle Eastern recipes back with them from their travels. […]
It’s Hot Toddy Time!
The Hot Toddy is the quintessential cold-weather cocktail: warming, filling, and restorative. The Toddy’s popularity rose in Western Europe during the 18th century at pubs in northern England and Scotland, where barmen would pour hot water into their Scotch and sip the drink to stay warm. Today, there are many different variations of the recipe, but most […]
Mull It Over!
Tis the season for silver bells, twinkly lights… and mulled wine. You know Christmas is on its way when you have your mitts wrapped around a steamy mug of the spiced wine mixture. But while the comforting warmth and slightly stained lips are two happy by-products of supping this glowing ruby tipple, there are pitfalls. Insufficient […]
Zero-Waste: A New Trend in the Food Business
Vegetable trimmings being turned into pickles and ferments, coffee grinds used as soil fertilizer, waste milk made into ricotta cheese, the leftover whey added to vinegar to make a pickling liquor … Sounds like something your super eco-minded friend next door would be up to. But as the Irish Times recently reported, these are just […]
Great Thaal of China
Foodies are open to exploring any number of global cuisines, and if you’re looking to open your palate, you need look no further than India. Ask any Indian native and they will tell you: they have a voracious appetite for global flavors as well as a unique penchant to make those flavors their own. That […]
FDA Update on Romaine Lettuce E. Coli Outbreak
Scott Gottlieb, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, says romaine lettuce with E. coli concerns appears to be from growers in California. Gottlieb stated the growing and harvesting patterns are what led investigators to California. “The goal now is to withdraw the product that’s at risk of being contaminated from the market, and then […]