Not just coffee

Archive for category lifestyle

Keepin’ the Coffee Hot

Aug 4

Posted by admin in Environment, lifestyle

Now I recognize that I’ve shared my love for seasonal iced coffee, but every once in a while, I go for the hot cup. Like this morning: 4 shots of espresso, a splash of water, and my definition of a true Americano! The problem is hot coffee should be hot, not the in-between temperature scale, but brewed to the right temperature. Keeping the cup’s contents hot proves to be the challenge.

I may have found the perfect solution: the new HydroFlask. Yes, a product with such a perfect name should have multiple uses. Today, we concentrate on the coffee test. Let me cut to the chase: Passed with flying colors (that may also describe the product’s choice of bright colors)! Coffee stayed hot; lost none of its prized tastes, and pleased the sipper: Moi.

Most significantly you do not have to panic about the plastic. We’re talking about the all-important BPA-free qualities. A double-wall insulated product such as this needs to pass the BPA-free zone or it won’t last in our environmentally conscious lifestyle. Coffee tasted so good and refreshing even hours later that I tested it on cold water, right from the refrigerated Brita. No metal taste but the same, cool refreshing beverage. Just for the record, I purchased the product and this endorsement is of my own choosing, even though it sounds like a public service everesthydrobuleannouncement! BTW, we’re not talking about carrying around something cumbersome or heavy. Just the opposite: lightweight and functional!

The maxim applies: What’s hot stays hot, and what’s cold keeps the chill. Just the way we want it, regardless of the activity or usage. Another impressive feature is the company’s commitment to the give-back principle as they donate 5% of the gross revenue to a charity of your choosing! A definite win-win.

However you define hydration, this product proves to be the summer winner! Check it out.

Tags: , ,

No Comments

Economy Goes Down; Drinks Buzz Skyward

Aug 3

Posted by admin in alcohol, lifestyle

beertown_splash

As often as we try to find bright news about economic improvements, we are deluged with negative numbers. Restaurants clearly feel the pinch or in some cases, the knock out. Even on days when the Market spirals up, there’s a strong sense of uncertainty about the next day. Consumers need to spend, but that is a confidence-based response. Consequently, we are in a financial wait-and-see environment. Let’s hope many of our favorite spots, which are often financed by individuals rather than corporations, can continue to create and serve.

One facet of the business has demonstrated its prowess. That would be the beverage side. Restaurants have been working on drawing in the crowds with happy hour specials, and a recent Gallup Poll attests to our unquenchable thirst. As a matter of fact, we have not seen these impressive glass numbers since 1985. If you like your drink straight from the bottle, the beer bottle or from its can, you have plenty of company. Beer ranked number one as the beverage of choice with wine and spirits following on its heels. Beer, even with decreasing percentages, has been the field leader since 1992. Wine did get an edge in 2005. Speculation there is that wine grabbed the medical news headlines that year as a drink of choice for a heart-healthy lifestyle!

Those who like graphs have plenty of analysis and marketing strategies to consider from the report. Lots of demographic details beneficial for fine-tuning campaigns for restaurant owners and managers to study!

In the meantime, expect more restaurants to offer beverage specials to helps sell food. How ’bout some nachos with that beer? Chicken topping?

Tags: , ,

No Comments

The Burger: It’s The Economy, Stupid

Jul 12

Posted by admin in food universe, lifestyle

With the nationwide proliferation of burger restaurants, are we merely responding to the peculiarities of the economy? Do diners still gravitate to a burger spot when they have more money in their wallets? With so many chefs wanting a piece of the burger action, are we not conducting a symptomatic analysis of the mood of the country? One fact is certain: the basic burger has plenty of relatives as the concept is only limited by one’s imagination. Pile it on high and grill the onions.

It was not that long ago that the slogan, “It’s the Economy, Stupid,” carried an election. Maybe the current restaurant malaise and burger elevation should help bring back that mantra. When you see the growth of a local DC area hamburger chain into one of the largest franchised companies in the country, you know what’s talking. Money and burgers are the winning order at Five Guys–you don’t need that much  money to get a decent, never frozen burger, Maybe the fact that they sell over 250,000 a day should convince you of that ratio! If you’re looking for the old-fashioned burger spot where you can cool your heels with a scoop of peanuts, you’re part of the restaurant’s growing popularity. Who would have figured their slow nationwide roll out would have such a positive, long-term effect? Maybe not me. They did!

High-end burger spots are just as common and dot many a commercial corridor. Bobby Flay, of Food Network fame and Laurent Tourondel, better known for his earlier BLT steakhouses have happily joined the burger brigade. The irony is that the basic fast food burger is still there, but when you study their lines, you hear customers selecting a wide variety of foods.  Plenty of homegrown chefs and restaurant owners have keyed in on the possibilities and find the translation does nicely in the cash register. The basic burger can easily be upscaled for a lot less money.laburger

It’s the Burger, Silly that tells us the economy is still the pivotal point of dining out.

Tags: ,

No Comments

Celebrating July: Food Holidays

Jul 5

Posted by admin in healthy eating, lifestyle, news

Now that we’re in the midst of the Triple H’s–hazy, hot, and humid, it’s time to thank the various associations that have figured out ways for us to celebrate their existence. What would summer be like without ice cream, blueberries, and hot dogs? Here are a few month-long excuses:

–National Ice Cream Month. You have President Reagan to thank for this luxury of edible delights. In 1984 he decided the country needed a sweet focus. Don’t worry if you can’t celebrate the whole month, there’s even a special day, the third Sunday of the month, is National Ice Cream Day or what true aficionados would call a double scoop: A Month and a Day! Can’t go wrong with this sundae! OK, this year July 17th is the day. Here’s a few factoids: Vanilla is the most popular flavor, and chocolate syrup is the favorite topping.icecreammaker

–National Hot Dog Month. With all the effort we are making to keep the kitchen cool, the grill is in overtime mode. So many dog choices and different city traditions (Chicago, Coney Island), it’s no wonder that the hot dog is the summer cause cé·lè·bre. Now you can find turkey dogs, tofu dogs, and just about any other kind if you are trying to talk about a healthier food. Just think what would baseball stadiums do without the hot dog stand! Here’s your dog factoids: LA residents eat more hot dogs than any other city, but Chicago’s O’Hare Airport wins the airport battle. Big time win with 6 times more hot dogs consumed there than LA and La Guardia combined! They know their red hots!

–National Blueberry Month. If you’re missing the grocery or farm market cues about the blueberry, it just means you haven’t been out of the house! Those little blues have met their big city cousins as the local crop has finally arrived and has plenty to demonstrate. Sure Maine takes credit for the wild, little pearls, but North Carolina and New Jersey do a mid-coast dance demonstrating their size and juiciness. They’re here. No better time to consider freezing a few as fresh frozen from your stash tastes fabulous on cereals during those less fortunate winter months. Factoids: The blueberry muffin is the most popular choice (also the official muffin of Minnesota) and the blueberry is the state fruit of New Jersey, easy one to guess! If you follow the fruit/pesticide list, blueberries rank near the top (or at the bottom, depending on how you list a list), and should convince you to consider the organic path!

That’s probably enough to digest after a rollicking Independence Day celebration that continues for many into today. Know I’ve whet your whistle!

Tags:

No Comments

Gazpacho: The Essence of Summer

Jul 3

Posted by admin in food universe, lifestyle

Oh, sure, you can make gazpacho at any time of the year, but why would you? Why use less than perfect tomatoes? Wait until they have the perfect glow of ripeness. If you give in too early, you’re a glutton for punishment or you can’t control your waiting time. Rest easy. The East Coast farm markets and stands are brimming with tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers that are ripe and ready for the dance.

As there are an almost endless list of tomato varieties, there are no shortage of gazpacho recipes. You can make the dish as complicated or simple as you prefer. For some, it is merely a combination of the 3 veggies, a little garlic, some olive oil and red wine vinegar, and tomato juice or V-8. Nothing complex; lots of variations. A hot day+ a cold soup= perfection: A melody of soothing tastes.

Here’s an obvious suggestion: Now is the time. Grab your bag and go for the freshest vegetables. Be creative. It’s hard to go wrong when you are working with just-picked produce. Chop, mix, and chill. Some like chunky; others prefer more of a liquid base. Again, not a problem. The season has just begun to offer its bounty. Plenty of time to experiment.250px-Tomato_gazpacho

Here are a few simple recipes to tease you into action. Top the gazpacho with some fresh garlic croutons and you’re well on your way to celebrating summer.

Can you guess what we’ll be having tonight?

Tags: , ,

No Comments

Fun, New Product

Jun 28

Posted by admin in chocolate, lifestyle, news

Every so often something fun and almost unimaginable comes along. Sure you can ask, why? Why do we need it? How is it life-changing? OK, maybe none of these questions fit, but here’s something to enjoy.

How about a one-calorie chocolate you inhale. Yes, merely inhale: Make that Le Whif, a small tube that lets you literally breathe chocolate into your mouth. You even have a choice of flavors: pure chocolate, raspberry, and mint. OK, now the really big news. Yes, chocolate is of special interest, but what about coffee: Le Whif Coffee, a breathable coffee powder with the equivalent caffeine as from an espresso or closer to a double may solve those times when you want a spot of coffee but don’t have time to make one!whifcafe53

Is either product as tasty as having a piece of chocolate or holding a cup of espresso? No, of course not. It’s more like a party trick. Something fun to savor without worrying about a messy cup clean-up or chocolate bar stickiness.

These lipstick-like inhalers do the trick and demonstrate what happens when you combine the talents of David Edwards, a professor of biomedical engineering at Harvard, with design engineers:  You get a good-looking product that uses particle engineering. This product is part of his artscience labs where creativity has taken on an exciting definition. Pick a flavor, choose a tube, and enjoy.

Take a breather has a wonderful new meaning!

Tags: ,

No Comments

Seasonal Love

May 30

Posted by admin in food universe, gluten-free, lifestyle

One of the tragedies of being a farm market junkie is watching a product breathe its last visit into the stands. Such is the case with local radishes. Today they were the slimmer incarnations of their earlier, thicker, and redder selves. I was a woman on a mission and visited two markets only to hear the same lament: This is probably the last weekend for these sweet, little snacks. Yes, I call this veggie a snack or a salad topper as it has taken on a new role in my kitchen. I barely had any attachment to them prior to this season.

OK, I confess I love the appetizer radishes at New York’s Prune Restaurant where chef Gabrielle Hamilton serves them with a side of butter and Kosher salt as a dip. Simple and good. Pick your special cocktail or beer and you have a great treat.

This year I took them to a whole new level with Melissa Clark’s New York Times recipe for roasting them with anchovies. Read no further if anchovies are not to your liking. I tried them once and then became a farm market radish lover. I admit I needed to tweak the recipe and cut down on its olive oil and butter but that little tweak did not affect the overall taste: Delectable. I never served them on bread but on corn thins, a light, puffy crisp of a cracker (and G-F). I think of all the times I scoffed at trying the simple, humble radish! What a shame; what a taste waste!

Maybe my composter will be the saddest of us all as the green tops have played an important role in adding depth to my soil and fulfilling my soul!IMG00011

Oh, seasons. You come and go, and now my energy is focused on local strawberries. Talk about sweet, mouth-poppers!

Yes, a few more weeks of these beauties.

Time passes quickly in the fields.

Tags: ,

No Comments

A New Healthy Twist

May 18

Posted by admin in Wii, health, lifestyle

How about this combination: The American Heart Association and Nintendo! Frustrated by the alarming obesity numbers and the lack of exercise among our population (AHA research found 70% of respondents say they never exercise and 40% say they find it boring), the Association and the game company formed a strategic relationship to help get people moving. Active-play video games are the focus as the emphasis is to create a multi-tiered approach to a more active lifestyle.

Nintendo has the very popular WiiFit Plus and the Wii Sports Resort games which will form the basis for this program to get people active. The benefits of moving and exercising are well-known, but accessibility often proves a deterrent. The new campaign is nintendoheartcalled “Get Informed,” “Get Empowered”and “Get Active.”

Research indicates the average person spends more than 8 hours daily just sitting down. That is about to change if this partnership has its way. Later this year they will jointly host a summit of leaders from a variety of fields to find ways to create synergies and benefits of active-play video games and physically active lifestyles. Beginning this summer they will host an information website with a component (www.activeplaynow.com) to help people conduct personal assessments of their lifestyle. Speculation abounds that a new Wii Sensor will be available to measure pulse rates.

Any approach we take to help us get off the couch and on our feet has to be given serious attention. Combine the acitivty with a heart-healthy diet, and you’ve got a winner.

I’m a gamer–Check out the tennis ball machine!

Tags: ,

No Comments

Weekend Cooks

May 16

Posted by admin in lifestyle, news

It’s appropriate this month to think about the grill and new recipes during National Barbecue Month. Few people will argue with the outdoor plan after a particularly odd winter weather pattern that seemed to extend into spring. Maybe this weekend, the month’s midpoint, will cooperate for home chefs to fire up the grill. Here are some interesting grill factoids from a poll conducted by the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association:

–65% like “to dress it up” when it comes to grilling. Translation: sauce, marinade, or seasoning while 21 % “strip it down”, grilled food au naturel!

–More men than women prefer to add a spicy sauce.

–As for toppings, more grillers use ketchup on burgers or other grilled meats; mustard comes in a very close 2nd.

–Cheese is a frequent topping (over 60%), and over 70% of respondents say they want a bun for their sandwich, a traditional bun.

As for grilling’s popularity, the largest number of respondents said they like the way grilled food tastes.

No matter how you vote or what you like to grill, it is obvious that the outdoor cooking method makes kitchen clean-up an effortless process.fancygrill

If you’re stuck without a clue how to get that perfect flavor or what to do with veggies on the grill, for instance, check out the Association’s website. BTW, if you don’t have a grill, but are thinking about buying one, they have advice and guidelines to streamline the process and help you decide whether to get charcoal, gas, or electric: All good options.

So many choices. So easy and delicious.

Tags: ,

No Comments

Taste Profiles: A Gluten Problem

May 15

Posted by admin in gluten-free, lifestyle

With all the hype from Starbucks (including my tweet) about their new Frappuccino Drinks, you would think that there is a typo somewhere. Yes, it’s lovely that they let you now customize the drink. Yes, it’s been fun to have a half-priced beverage for this 10-day introductory period (Happy Hour promo ends on the 16th). Then there is the BUT.

Did they really have to change their formula on the light syrup and add gluten? Nowhere on their website do they address this issue. There have been casual references that if you are gluten intolerant, you should pay attention anyway since so many drinks are made on the same equipment. These are poor excuses to addressing the issue. In this day and age when we recognize how gluten allergies are often misdiagnosed and celebrate the new range of gluten-free choices and the impressive marketing roll-outs, it is surprising that this formulation needed to occur. Why did Starbucks need to make a U-Turn? It is a meager explanation to say it’s only on those with light syrup. Why at all?ecocup

Better yet, why not make a formal announcement so there is no confusion? We are left with more rumor and inquiries of individual baristas. Read their blog and you’ll see how people really feel.

C’mon, Starbucks, you have a responsibility.

Tags:

No Comments