daily Culinary news food art blog

Get In My Kitchen! The Penguin Water Carbonator

Posted by Kitty on December 23, 2008

Its the size of a coffeemaker, requires no batteries or electricity, and transforms plain water into sparkling in mere seconds. Where do I sign?

The price tag may have me hesitating for now, but this is an item I am going to be keeping an eye out for in 2009.

Available at Soda Club USA for $199.99.

TAGS: Penguin Water Carbonator
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Whopper Scented Love

Posted by Kitty on December 18, 2008

Giving new meaning to that age old question, "Can I get fries with that shake?"

Flame fragrance, new from Burger King, will be sure to have you fighting off carnivorously love-starved vixens this Holiday season. Seems like you really can have it your way.

Available at Ricky's.

TAGS: Flame Burger King Fragrance
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Italy Bails Out the Parmigiano Reggiano Industry

Posted by Kitty on December 16, 2008

Sure, we've heard about the bailouts for the automotive and financial industries, but did you know that the makers of Parmigiano Reggiano were in trouble too?

According to the Wall Street Journal, though demand of the Italian cheese remains strong, producers constantly struggle to make money, putting the future of the cheese at risk. "It's a tragic situation," said Marco Iemmi, who has been making parmigiano for 30 years in Salsomaggiore Terme, a small town in Italy's fertile northern Emilia-Romagna region. "I'll have to close up shop unless things improve."

Last year, Mr. Iemmi sold 15,000 parmigiano wheels -- the cheese is produced in rounds of about 35 kilograms (77 pounds) each -- for a total of €4 million ($5.2 million), or about €7.4 a kilogram. It costs Mr. Iemmi €8 a kilo to produce the cheese, he says, so he is losing money.

At the root of the parmigiano problem is that the industry is made up of about 430 small, family-owned businesses that dot the plains outside the northern city of Parma. Mr. Iemmi admits that "there are too many of us." But he adds: "We have an ancient mind-set. Each one of us wants to take care of his own little business."

The fragmentation means that producers have little leverage in negotiating prices with wholesalers that buy the cheese and resell it to supermarkets and other retailers. Massimo Viviani, director of Federdistribuzione, the association that represents many large Italian retail chains, says that the price at which parmigiano is sold in stores "is the price that consumers are willing to pay."

The Italian government has responded to the problem by buying 100,000 wheels of the cheese, and donating them to charity. "The government's new bailout plan will help somewhat", says Mr. Iemmi, "but long-term it's a drop in the bucket".

TAGS: Parmigiano Reggiano
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World's Largest King Crab?

Posted by Kitty on December 16, 2008

Certainly the largest we have ever seen...

This impressive crustacean is currently holding court at a Welsh market, with a price tag of 75 pounds.

Weighing in at 3kg (that's over 6 pounds to Yanks), the Norwegian Red King Crab measures a staggering 3 feet by 1 foot.

On average, Norwegian red king crabs weigh 4.3kg and are viewed as one of the most outstanding and impressive of the species to serve in restaurants.

TAGS: Worlds Largest King Crab
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Food Network Studios Now Open To The Public

Posted by Kitty on December 16, 2008

Always been dying for your chance to rub elbows with the likes of Paula Deen and Bobby Flay? Well, now's your chance...

General public tours of the Food Network Studios (about 45 minutes for $20) will start this Wednesday, December 17, with eight lined up before Thursday, January 15.

To see Rachael, Guy, and the Iron Chefs in action, call the ticket hotline at 646-336-3736 or visit the Food Network Shop at Chelsea Market Baskets. The studio is located upstairs from Chelsea Market: 75 Ninth Avenue (b/n 15th and 16th Streets, Manhattan).

TAGS: Food Network Studio Tour
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Nate Appleman Appearing at Astor Center

Posted by Kitty on December 11, 2008

Butchering 101, With a Side of Wine: Baby Porchetta and Southern Italian Wines
Friday, December 12th
6:30 - 8:30
Manhattan's Astor Center - 399 Lafayette St. (at East 4th St.) 212-674-7501
Tickets: $95

Join Chef Nate Appleman and Shelley Lindgren of A16 Restaurant in San Francisco for an evening of pork-filled delight. Nate will demonstrate the preparation of a baby porchetta - from butchering and deboning, to roasting, cutting, and serving. Nate will also explore the subject of "good meat vs. bad meat" in terms of sustainability - as well as offer a look into the future of responsibly farmed meat in America. His partner, Shelley, will talk you through a guided tasting of some of the top selections from their stellar Southern Italian-driven wine list, as well as offer some insight into the sustainable movement as applied to wine.

TAGS: A16, Astor Center, Nate Appleman
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TONY's "Top Ten Things We Ate In 2008"

Posted by Kitty on December 11, 2008

Time Out New York has released its rundown of the very best eats and drinks the lucky food editors have sampled in this past year. Which culinary delicacy found its way to the tip top of the list?

Drum roll please.....

Why, its the famed Porchetta Sandwich, at Porchetta. 110 E 7th St between First Ave and Ave A (212-777-2151). $9.

Says Time Out's editors: "In a city where designer pork inspires a fervent following, it takes some serious swine to stand out from the crowd. Porchetta has delivered just such a contender with its rendition of one of central Italy’s most hallowed creations: a whole, deboned pig laced with fennel and spices, then slow-roasted until the skin is a crackling shell and the inner flesh is basted with melted fat. When it’s served as a sandwich, the spongy bread soaks up the juices, making for a quick bite…and a porcine epiphany."

TAGS: Porchetta, Time Out New York
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Clean Your Plate! (Or It'll Cost You...)

Posted by Kitty on December 9, 2008

With food prices at an all-time high, and the economy at its worse point in ages, dining out at an "all you can eat" buffet seems like a wise decision, doesn't it?

Guess again.

As reported by CBS TV, Manhattan's Hayashi Ya Japanese restaurant is fighting back against customers who's eyes are bigger than their stomachs, by charging a 3% surcharge for food left on plates. Surprisingly, not many complaints are heard from diners, who claim that the policy is not only understandable, but helps them to watch their waistline.

"Tens of billions of dollars are wasted each year on food that is purchased and not eaten," said Joel Berg of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. "Most of the food that's wasted ends up in landfills," Berg said. "That's not only bad for the environment; some of it could have gone to feed hungry people."

TAGS: Hayashi Ya, Joel Berg
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Shots Gun Drink Dispenser

Posted by Kitty on December 9, 2008

Just when you thought you had run out of ways to impress the ladies...

Today's "Super Happy Terrific Products" entry at website Pop-O-Matic brings us this Shots Gun Drink Dispenser, a "sure-fire party-hit", or great gift for that wannabe sharp-shooter on your holiday list.

Available at Drinkstuff.

TAGS: Shots Gun Drink Dispenser
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Eating As Though Your Life Depends On It - at the 92nd Street Y

Posted by Kitty on December 4, 2008

Tuesday December, 9 at 6:30pm at the 92nd Street Y, Manhattan
Tickets - $18 per person

Eating As Though Your Life Depends On It
with Michael F. Jacobson, PhD - the co-founder and executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, a nonprofit health advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

"Healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated, but food advertising and marketing often makes it seem so. Learn to read beyond misleading claims and catch-phrases from the executive director of the nation’s leading food-safety and nutrition watchdog group. Discover important tips for making healthier food choices and smarter supermarket selections to help combat rising food costs."

TAGS: Michael Jacobson
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