Archive for October, 2009

Bottled Water Dues

IMG00239Everyone’s been talking about it for a long time. Some places have even tried to implement such a program, but now it looks as if New York State has stopped the conversation with a weekend fait accompli: 5 cent tax, starting on the 31st, on each water bottle under a gallon. OK, mini reprieve: Law does not go into effect until November 8.

The question always is the same: Who benefits? Is there any proof that the extra nickel helps people put the bottle into the recycling bin? Or is this just an easy tax that the state collects? All those food vendors lining the city streets are probably ready to hike the water cost to $1.25 rather than go up just a nickel and waste time fishing for change instead of filling food orders.

I’ve always appreciated these guys who do just charge a dollar for water as so many other cities demonstrate the spiral effect: Let’s see how much we can charge for a bottle of water that costs us 14 cents when we buy it by the case at Costco! We see these vendors everywhere with the $2 water signs!

San Francisco has a new law that demonstrates the value of recycling. Their original ordinance gave buildings plenty of time to comply. They have the statistics to demonstrate that building recyclables and compostables are going to the right places. They are collecting an extra 100 tons of product than at the outset!

Yes, everyone knows the effect of all those mountains of plastic bottled water, but grabbing water on the run is still a far better option than most other beverage choices.

The irony is that bottled water sales are down. It may be the economy or the environmental truth. A new Harris Poll finds 36% of respondents switching from bottled water to tap water and refillable bottles!

Wonder what tax is next?

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Farm Market Pizza

What a fun treat: A visit to a farm market and a Margherita pizza hot out of the oven. Yes, I’m talking about the newest approach to the mobile van or the food truck. An actual pizza oven inside a truck enabling transport, portability, and a wood-fired dish.

The folks at Euro Gourmet have figured out how to take their wood-burning pizza oven on the road. They currently burn oak and applewood and plan to add more fruitwoods as they give off such wonderful flavors naturally. To the delight of the Sunday crowds at market, they’ve made a good decision. They offer two pizza sizes and several different toppings (such as funghi) pizzaTrailer-back-l-sidein addition to the wonderful, mozzarella-topped Margherita. Hot, fresh pizza in a matter of minutes!

Fold and eat. Now if they could just bring along the Illy machine, we’d be able to weather the conditions a little longer and savor our espresso and hot pizza: A perfect combination.

What’s not to like!

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A New Twist on Halloween

neccotopwafersIt’s almost comical to think, but with great glee, let me introduce you to the all-natural Necco Wafers.

The fun circles of assorted colors that literally tingle as they melt in your mouth have been elevated to a natural confection. Just in time for the upcoming Candy Holiday, they are ready with a natural treat; that’s right no artificial flavors. You won’t taste the beet juice or the purple cabbage or other natural flavors, and you can feel good about handing these out as they are gluten-free, too.

Just one caveat: If green was your favorite color, you’ll be sad as green did not make the cut. The lime flavor worked, but the color proved inconsistent so it was deep-sixed. Now there are only seven colors in the package.

Going all natural with an all-time, old-world flavored treat spells a smart decision. Now parents can capture their memories without worrying that kids will uncover their special addiction and try something that violates the house rules of all natural products.

No worries, you can all enjoy the same colored circles and melt away or chomp on the sweet, fun treats that comprise the package.

Stay tuned as the company may make a similar move for its Valentine’s Day (Sweethearts Conversation Hearts) selections.

I’ll just take the treats, thanks.

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Seriously, Andre

I think I could have managed nicely reading your book and never learning about the crystal meth and the deception.

I would have been happy believing you were clean and that you demonstrated what hard work and untold hours of practice could accomplish.

I would have survived nicely practicing my game; thinking back on great wins and believing that natural talent could be supplemented naturally.

No. You ruined it. I did not need to know.

Then the final confession that you secretly hated playing tennis.

Seriously, what are you on now?

Let’s see how your name sells now?agassi

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Whole Milk or Skim?

Choosing the milk is only a small part of the breakfast cereal dance. What about choosing the cereal? In a new report from Yale University’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, researchers found that cereals marketed to kids have more sugar, 85% more sugar, less fiber, 65% less fiber, and 60% more sodium than those considered for adult consumption.

What does “marketing to kids” mean? Who is paying the bills? Have we become illogical in our shopping habits? The report specifically points out licensed characters help sell a product or at least elicit a shout out such as, ” I want Dora cereal.” Besides selling significant quantities of a product, isn’t it time we got the cereal manufacturers to focus on the effect of their approach? How can we ever derail the obesity bandwagon if we don’t rally around the devastating weight statistics?

As long as we are focused on healthy choices, we need to support this study with some serious aisle finger-pointing. The researchers discovered that General Mills markets to children more than any other company, and that six of the 10 least healthy cereals advertised to children are made by the company. Look at the cereal facts home page to understand the FACTS, the Food Advertising to Children and Teens Score, developed by health researchers at Yale University. Kellogg Mini-Wheatsminiwheats, on the other hand, received the best nutrition rating, the top FACT score.

Attendees at The Obesity Society’s annual meeting will have plenty of data to crunch.

Let’s encourage the FTC to begin its truth-in-advertising hearings on this important health topic.

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Defining a Smart Choice

fruitsveggiesIt’s official: The Smart Choices Program has gone away quietly. Maybe that’s not completely true. Its response was quiet in comparison to the public outrage from consumers, reporters, and bloggers about its premise. The Connecticut Attorney General came out and questioned the program. A maelstrom was beginning. Done. It will no longer accept new applicants nor will it promote its so-called label program.

A big shout-out, maybe one of the most  positive signs of the new Administration’s commitment to food policy, goes to the FDA. Last week when they announced their efforts toward front of the package labeling, they took that big step out of the box. The inherent, albeit underlying, message was that they would actively ascertain the accuracy of  label information. The Smart Choices Program saw the writing. It was not pretty on the wall or anywhere. Their label idea was good in concept but in reality it struck a serious nerve. They were promoting and supporting foods that should never be thought of as smart choices.

Enough. Over. Hopefully, a footnote to the month.

Score one.

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Keeping Guard: Sanitizer Wipes

It seems that everyday a new story emerges about a bad case of H1N1, one that just hangs around and transfers its germs from person-to-person. The fact that many are describing its symptoms in dire tones means we need to take dire steps. Vigilance remains the critical focus. Being an alarmist is a state of mind that has long left our vocabulary. The problem is here, the country has been put into a state of emergency, and we must know what to do.

So much has been written on the subject (Sani Handscheck out my blog posts), but it never ceases to amaze me how many new products have emerged as a first line of defense. Watching young children at a soccer match try to stay clean and not pass germs with each ball has become a new spectator sport. Watch and listen: The air is filled with germs as the coughers and sneezers are everywhere.

This is a contact sport that seems not to be in any way on the decline. With each young person immunized, three more are reported sick so they cannot be immunized. That is the crux of the problem. H1 arrived on schedule, but we are off schedule.

So today instead of the liquid sanitizer, I am all for the Sani-Hands. It wasn’t the cartoon characters that convinced me that kids would willingly grab a wipe, but the fact that they are non alcohol-based and have a moisturizing Aloe, Vitamin E, and Glycerin component. They kill off the germs and are not messy or sticky.

Enough of the hand-waving dance to get dry. This is a simple process: Open the package and use or buy the pull-up canister version. Either works.

We need all the help we can get.

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Shrinking the Food

choccheeseckThe food police are probably all smiles about the latest food trend: Smaller portion sizes of an app or an entree. More restaurants are moving into the smaller sizes but maintaining the same price point as a way to survive the economic gargoyles.

What this means for the consumer is quite simple: Relief that prices have not climbed up. Good news. Yet, the sense of not feeling as sated after the meal: Troubling. Do the math with me: A mere substitution of a 5 oz chicken breast for what had been a 6 oz portion means the plate gets filled with a lot of greens. Here’s another one making the rounds: two 3-oz filet mignons instead of one 10 oz portion. Cost-wise the restaurant is saving a significant amount, and you as the diner are pleased that the price has not gone up.

This explains the small-plate phenomena. Not just tapas and mezze platters, but smaller choices; even Cheesecake Factory has been promoting this popular strategy (don’t worry they still have plenty of desserts). The new Michelin guide designates top restaurants that offer small plate value. We are not out of the woods yet; this trend helps us indulge.

Desserts are a different story. Prices have risen while at the same time their portion size has not decreased. Desserts, sweets, are always popular during troubling times. We’re not just talking cupcakes! Paying an extra 50 cents or even a dollar for a dessert does not seem as cost prohibitive as paying several extra dollars for an entree. You want the reward at the end of the meal!

So who wins? In many respects, we all do as the overly large portion size just increases our potential obesity stats. The restaurant wins as it  saves a little money and still has loyal customers. The pastry chef, if there is one, becomes a truly busy, sought after commodity.

We can all survive together.

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Big News: Smart Labels Fall on their Sword

Kraft and several other companies pulled their Smart Choice label program. This follows on the heels of the FDA decision to start studying labels and asking for front of package information.

Great news.

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Top Home Chef

With all the efforts at cutting back on expensive restaurant meals and being better grocery shoppers, it is only fitting that everything that has been available to the restaurant chef has slowly worked its way into the home kitchen. With the preponderance of chef supplies, cookbooks, and specialty novelties at kitchen stores, it is no wonder that cooks look at the television chef and fantasize about their own creative talents.

We’ve already purchased the special accouterments such as immersion blenders, poultry thermometers, mandolines, and specialty knives. Restaurant quality pots and pans were a natural addition to complement white dinnerware of all shapes and sizes to showcase the specialty preparations. Appliances have not suffered from lack of attention with Viking Ranges making major inroads into the home kitchen, and barista-style coffee makers comfortably supporting the caffeine habit that lends itself nicely to the creativity high.

Now we can do better planning with the first sous vide appliance designed for the home chef. Let’s backtrack a little. Sous vide has been around for a long time, especially in France, and in the US it has gone under the microscopic lens of fears of health and food safety. The water-bath, vacuum-sealed method of steady,keller book low cooking maintains flavors and textures.

After it received passing marks, many chefs joined its original US superstars such as Thomas Keller (French Laundry, Per Se, Bouchon) who has even written a book on the subject with what are fairly technical recipes.  Now it is our turn to use the water bath method of cooking and lock in flavors naturally and emulate the masters. With the new piece of equipment, many of these recipes are now within reach!

It just gets easier and more fun sousvideto be the creative home chef.

Happy cooking.

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