FoodWords Between Deadlines
Wednesday, October 17
Bread for the World
Better not be too hungry when you read this article. The main story talks about Lionel Poilane, a leading French baker. It's interesting from a business-news point of view, also well-written. Your downfall will come if you click on the link to Poilane's bakery. Yes, you can buy his breads on the Internet. You can practice your French if you click on the French-language version of the Web site. They're not cheap, however: A loaf of bread and a box of punishments ("punitions," or
butter cookies) would cost the U.S. equivalent of $84 at today's franc-to-dollar rate of exchange. However, the recipes are free, including one for Grandma's omelette, which the site notes is "amusing to prepare."
posted by Unknown2:53 PM
Bomb Them with Pop-Tarts!
Bombs aren't the only things Americans are dropping on Afghanistan. Leaflets and humanitarian meals also are raining down from the big planes overhead. Surprisingly, you can tell which is which, according to this story in the Washington Post, in which an enterprising reporter sampled some of the culinary delights we're sending overseas. They include peanut butter, lentil stew, Pop-Tart-like and Fig-Newtonish desserts, a spoon and a moist towelette. Vegans/vegetarians take note: Despite Americans' reputation for culinary imperialism, no animal products were used in preparing these meals.
posted by Unknown
Thursday, October 11
Blame It on the Terrorists: Less Fish in NY, More Beef Elsewhere
The terrorist attacks last month affected American foodservice in more ways than just demolishing Windows on the World, the restaurant that once sat high atop one of the Twin Towers (see item below). The Fulton Street Fish Market was located near Ground Zero of the New York attacks and had to be relocated to a not-so-nice neighborhood in The Bronx. Quite the change of address. Also, the National Cattlemen's Association says that the decline in air travel and hospitality has led to a temporary surplus and a depressed beef price.
posted by Unknown
Wednesday, October 10
October 11: Another Reason to Go Out for Dinner
Here's a great reason to go out to eat tomorrow night and run up a big bill: Restaurants around the U.S. plan to donate 10 percent of their proceeds to the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund to benefit the survivors of Windows on the World workers who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center last month. You also can donate at the site.
posted by Unknown
Monday, October 8
Julia Child Returns to Smith
Okay, it's a press release, I'm sorry. But it talks about Julia Child returning to her alma mater, Smith College and all the fun stuff and hijinx to follow. It also gives me a chance to plug her biography, Appetite for Life (Noel Riley Fitch, Doubleday, 1997). You might not think it of her now, but Julia was quite the racy dame in her salad days. See what dear old Smith has up its very correct sleeve here
posted by Unknown
Quote for the Day
If you wish to make an apple pie truly from scratch, you must first invent
the universe. -Carl Sagan, astronomer and writer (1934-1996)
You'll find that in the next issue of FoodWords, which goes to press sometime this week. Don't have a subscription? That's easy enough to fix.
Just click here
posted by Unknown
Monday, October 1
Are You a Kitchen Slut?
Jeez, I hope not. According to iVillageUK's Food site, I'm more Queen of Cool. However, this slut-or-not quiz also discovered a dark side to my personality hiding behind the canister of dishwasher-soap tablets under the sink.
"You scored 60% Queen of Cool
You’re in control (no one’s likely to be poisoned in your kitchen) yet, somehow, it seems to happen effortlessly. So what’s your secret? Natural efficiency – coupled with a sense that there are other, more pleasurable things to do with your time. So you
tackle what needs to be done, with the minimum of fuss. And then you do something more interesting."
"You scored 40% Wannabe Slut" (I'm 44; what do you expect?)
"If only you were more organised. You always assumed that, one day, you’d suddenly become a proper grown-up – with dried goods stored in labelled jars and a sparkling, well-stocked fridge. That day has yet to arrive. In the meantime, you try to maintain a façade of togetherness – fighting a growing sense of inadequacy as you boot dropped toast crusts under the cooker. It’s time for a switch in attitude. Accept your chaotic surroundings – or call the dust-busters."
Well, it's not that bad. No toast crusts under the stove. Maybe a dust bunny or two. Take the quiz and see whether you're a slut, a Queen of Cool, a SuperSlut, or the worst of all possibilities: a Jiffy-Cloth Supremo, (we're guessing that's bad, although we don't know what a Jiffy-Cloth is and probably wouldn't use it if we did) with a shiny kitchen and no friends.
Late-breaking update!
Our good friend Mark Brownlow, an expatriate Brit living in Vienna, of all places, tells us that a Jiffy-Cloth is a well-known brand of dishcloth, red and white, perhaps? and something that brings back bad memories for him, so we shan't push for details. Ta!
posted by Unknown
