The History Press will be honoring the 400th anniversary of the Hudson Valley with its upcoming book “Food, Drink and Celebrations of the Hudson Valley Dutch” by Peter Rose, available March 9th. Celebrations will be held throughout 2009. In anticipation of Rose’s new book, I will be reviewing two of the History Press’ most popular titles from the past, each dedicated to the exploration of American history with food as their medium.

The History Press published “Carolina Gold Rice” in 2005, and its celebration of American agricultural history is presented alongside a modern story of success. It is a pocket-sized guide to the cultivation of one of America’s most temperamental crops, with some wonderful illustrations by wildlife artist Floyd Robbins. Richard and Trish Schulze devoted years of their lives to rice farming, an industry rooted in American history and colonial culture.

European Union salt regulations have Germans in a tizzy about the future of their beloved salted pretzels. The EU mandate is an attempt to help consumers “make an informed choice” regarding the foods they consume specifically to “ensure that there are no claims to health benefits [of a particular food item] if salt content is high." I.e. packaging labels such as “high in fiber” or “part of a healthy diet” would be removed if the salt content was deemed excessive; aside from that there would be no alteration.

The Association of German Bakers ridiculed the order, (similar to the calorie-disclosure law recently enacted in New York City). They fear the EU may try to forcibly alter foods deemed high in sodium by either omitting the salt or perhaps using “some sort of chemical to replace the salt.” Furthermore they maintain that packaged breads would be at a disadvantage compared to non-packaged breads.

The EU has rushed to quell the hubbub saying, “The commission is not prohibiting any bread and has no intention to regulate the salt level…neither in Germany nor elsewhere,” but the ado persists fueled by Germans adamant about preserving their sacred salty knots.

Via The Financial Times and Bloomberg
Picture from Wikimedia 

-Elisabeth Norton

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Dine daily on a full serving of fresh news every morning.  Why?  Because it’s cheaper than your morning latte and more informative than your average nutritional label.

Foozball Friday

• Oh, Japan!  You and your delightfully quirky snack food industry.  Now introducing: Sea Otter Boogers.  It's got all the bounce and texture of your standard otter snot, but rolled up into tiny, black, bite-sized balls of sweet, sweet goodness.  

• Dammit, 1776!  You know, if we just shut our yaps on that taxation without representation (cuz we've come so incredibly far), we'd probably be participating in the most important election of 2009: Onion Bhaji or Cajun Squirrel?  Duck & Hoison or Chilli & Chocolate? Careful, Japan.  Britain may soon one-up you in the potato chip industry.   

• "Sudo, make me a sandwich."  That's robot speech for "Sudo, make me a sandwich."

• Mmmm... Big Bamboo's Jamaican Irish Moss Peanut Drink.  (With Carageenan.)  "Sudo, get me a can of Big Bamboo's Jamaican Irish Moss Peanut Drink.  And a review."  Hm.  I wonder if it tastes butyraceous...

• Washington Post asks, "Is food the new sex?"  I ask -- "Dude, what's so new about it?"

• Oreo cupcake with Oreo frosting, mini homemade versions of Oreo and a shot o milk in the middle.  Seems like a tasty concept, but when it comes to eating - can we say "awkward"? 

• Slavery among Florida tomato pickers.  Dig a little deeper, and I think you'll find slavery rampant among a good chunk of agribusiness.

Photo courtesy of Pink Tentacle

-Alice Shin

Who's up for some leftovers???

Dine daily on a full serving of fresh news every morning.  Why?  Because it’s cheaper than your morning latte and more informative than your average nutritional label.

Through With Thursdays?

• Forget HFCS popsicles, or the fact that it's still technically winter.  Well, if I ever mosey on up to Canada in the summer, I know where I'd like to go.

• Food blogging gets totally pwned. 
  

• Pizza Hut makes lasagna.  Italians ask, "Who pissed in the lasagna?"  Or so we presume.
  

• Top 13 booze ads.  So sit back in that cubicle, relax-but-pretend-you're-working and give your liver something to salivate over.

• Rolling your eyes at Pepsi's faux optimism?  So is South Park.

• Flying into LA?  Lucky for you, it's prime time for high-end eating with this guide to recession-friendly deals.

• I understand that girls might have a thing for cute, fluffy little bunnies, but to choose Playboy-themed the cake compels me to raise an eyebrow.  Yes, girls, I raise my eyebrow at thee!

Photo courtesy of Chow Times.

-Alice Shin

Japanese peanut butter and tuna ribs.  I'd eat it.  Would YOU?

Dine daily on a full serving of fresh news every morning.  Why?  Because it’s cheaper than your morning latte and more informative than your average nutritional label.

When Wednesdays Roll In...

• How do Japan's many versions of American peanut butter compare to Skippy?  A click here will provide you with a fascinating look with the taste and textural differences between a handful of interesting specimens.  

• When it comes to baking, is real or fake vanilla extract your best bet?  Cook's Illustrated comes up with a surprising run down and assessment.  Click for the taste test. 
  

• Dude, when I'm feeling particularly carnivorous, I could really go for a fat plate of tuna ribs to gnaw at.  Same goes for Umami Mart.
  

• For those people who haven't had enough king cake or beads from last night's Fat Tuesday, here's the difference between Cajun and Creole cooking.
  

• Stephen Colbert asks the American people for a bail out on Sbarro.  After all, mediocre pizza in every mall  across the country is what America's all about. 

• Glow-in-the-dark pigs are produced in Taiwan in the interests of stem cell research.  They expect for mating with regular pigs to commence.  Let's just hope these piggles don't enter our food chain.  

 Photo courtesy of yours truly <-- that would be ME!

-Alice Shin

Squirrels eating squirrels!