Food, Food, and More Food Thread

bmwracer wrote:
Survival of the fattest.

Hehe. Infanticide is of no matter in the world of meat eaters.

European Commission Offers $4.3 Million Prize To Encourage People To Eat Insects

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This was the summer of insects in the food world. Dana Goodyear wrote a piece on entomophagy -- insect eating -- in the New Yorker, Daniella Martin wrote one here on HuffPost Food and Angelina Jolie said her children eat crickets "like Doritos." So far, the activity has been mostly rhetorical -- people have been giving lip service to the ecological benefits of eating insects, but not that many people have actually been converted.

But now, the European Commission is putting money where all these foodie mouths are. It is offering a massive ’2.65 million ($4.32 million) prize to the group that comes up with the best idea for developing insects as a popular food. The Commission is counting on cattle and other large animals being an increasingly untenable source of protein in decades to come, and hopes that some research group will be able to devise ways to convince people to eat insects despite the inherent "yuck" value.

The EC is also helping support a project by the UK Food Standards agency to investigate the nutritional value of insects. Insect meat is much lower in fat, and higher in calcium, than beef or pork. But the UK study is looking especially hard at any risks presented by eating insects.

If you want to taste insects yourself before they become the default meat for recipes of the future, you have a many options. You can go to Oaxaca, Mexico where crickets and grasshoppers have long been a staple on taco menus. You can visit a state fare, where maggot sandwiches are an up-and-coming delicacy. Or you can stop buy the grocery store and pick up a package of Nathan's frankfurters -- a recent lawsuit alleges that insects are an increasingly standard ingredient in hot dogs.

Five Guys, Subway Top In-N-Out, Taco Bell In Zagat's Fast Food Survey

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Zagat recently polled 6,064 people for its annual Fast Food Survey, in categories ranging from best coffee (Starbucks) to best salad (Panera). Among chains with up to 5,000 locations, Five Guys was deemed the most popular (which perhaps comes as no surprise), followed by Panera, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and in fifth place, In-N-Out. Last year, Five Guys also took top prize, though In-N-Out was the victor in 2009. Five Guys was not only the most popular chain; it also dominated the best burger category, putting In-N-Out in second place and McDonald's in fifth. McDonald's did, however, rank highest in value, child-friendliness and drive-thru experience.

Among chains with over 5,000 locations, Subway took the top popularity spot, followed by McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell bringing up the rear.

The survey also covered full-service chains. Cheesecake Factory won in best salads, appetizers, desserts and value, but fell to fifth place for its pasta offerings. Although Maggiano's Little Italy dominated the pasta category, its value, steak and seafood were not as well-liked. Other notable winners included Red Robin for its burger, IHOP for its coffee and Cracker Barrel for its breakfast.

The survey participants averaged 6.3 meals per month at a fast food chain (the national average is about 10 fast food meals monthly) and 4.4 visits to a full-service chain.

Here are some of the key results of Zagat's fast food survey:

Fast Food - Large Chains
1. Five Guys
2. Panera Bread
3. Chipotle Mexican Grill
4. Chick-fil-A
5. In-N-Out Burger

Fast Food - Mega Chains
1. Subway
2. McDonald's
3. Wendy's
4. Burger King
5. Taco Bell

Best Burger
1. Five Guys
2. In-N-Out Burger
3. Wendy's
4. Burger King
5. McDonald's

Best French Fries
1. McDonald's
2. Five Guys
3. Wendy's
4. In-N-Out Burger
5. Chick-fil-A

bmwracer wrote:Five Guys, Subway Top In-N-Out, Taco Bell In Zagat's Fast Food Survey

[image]

Zagat recently polled 6,064 people for its annual Fast Food Survey, in categories ranging from best coffee (Starbucks) to best salad (Panera). Among chains with up to 5,000 locations, Five Guys was deemed the most popular (which perhaps comes as no surprise), followed by Panera, Chipotle, Chick-fil-A and in fifth place, In-N-Out. Last year, Five Guys also took top prize, though In-N-Out was the victor in 2009. Five Guys was not only the most popular chain; it also dominated the best burger category, putting In-N-Out in second place and McDonald's in fifth. McDonald's did, however, rank highest in value, child-friendliness and drive-thru experience.

Among chains with over 5,000 locations, Subway took the top popularity spot, followed by McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King and Taco Bell bringing up the rear.

The survey also covered full-service chains. Cheesecake Factory won in best salads, appetizers, desserts and value, but fell to fifth place for its pasta offerings. Although Maggiano's Little Italy dominated the pasta category, its value, steak and seafood were not as well-liked. Other notable winners included Red Robin for its burger, IHOP for its coffee and Cracker Barrel for its breakfast.

The survey participants averaged 6.3 meals per month at a fast food chain (the national average is about 10 fast food meals monthly) and 4.4 visits to a full-service chain.

Here are some of the key results of Zagat's fast food survey:

Fast Food - Large Chains
1. Five Guys
2. Panera Bread
3. Chipotle Mexican Grill
4. Chick-fil-A
5. In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out below Panera and Chipotle? Sacrilege.

Tu_triky wrote:In-N-Out below Panera and Chipotle? Sacrilege.

Do those places even sell burgers?

It's comparing apples and oranges.

bmwracer wrote:
Do those places even sell burgers?

It's comparing apples and oranges.

Good point. I don't think they do.

bmwracer wrote:European Commission Offers $4.3 Million Prize To Encourage People To Eat Insects

I was ready to hop into the next subway to go personally to the EC, which is just three stops away. Beg them to give me a bucket of bugs, eat them and go home with the dough! :woot:

Then I realised, this being the EU, I probably have to come up with some 900 pages long feasible business plan. :puppydog: :shamefulcry:

EstherM wrote:I was ready to hop into the next subway to go personally to the EC, which is just three stops away. Beg them to give me a bucket of bugs, eat them and go home with the dough! :woot:

Then I realised, this being the EU, I probably have to come up with some 900 pages long feasible business plan. :puppydog: :shamefulcry:

If you do decide to do it, I should get a commission for giving you the heads up. :beaten:

EstherM wrote:

I was ready to hop into the next subway to go personally to the EC, which is just three stops away. Beg them to give me a bucket of bugs, eat them and go home with the dough! :woot:

Then I realised, this being the EU, I probably have to come up with some 900 pages long feasible business plan. :puppydog: :shamefulcry:

The bureaucracy of the bugs

Cup Noodles Museum Opens In Yokohama For Instant Ramen's 40th Birthday

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In 1971, Apollo 14 and 15 both landed on the moon, the Ed Sullivan Show aired its last episode and Amtrak started running trains between American cities. Walt Disney World opened in Orlando and construction began on the Superdome in New Orleans. Bangladesh was founded.

Two of these events (Bangladesh and Amtrak) have museums dedicated to them. But one momentous event in 1971 led to the construction of not one, but two, museums: the invention of Cup Noodles (known as Cup O' Noodles in the US until 1993) by Taiwanese-Japanese businessman Momofuku Ando.

The first, the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, opened in 1999, in Ikeda in northern Osaka, Japan. It was popular enough to warrant an expansion in 2004. Popular exhibits include a recreation of the laboratory/hut in which Ando crafted his now-famous chicken ramen and an "Instant Noodles Tunnel" chronicling the history of the Cup Noodles. The Osakan museum looks humble and bunkerlike. Admission is free. The exhibits seem to be elaborate antechambers to the main attraction, a make-your-own Cup Noodle assembly line with an attached cafeteria.

The second, which will be called the Cup Noodle Museum, opens next Saturday in Yokohama, just outside Tokyo, and is far more grand. It features both an attraction called "the History Cube" and a "Momofuku Theater" for showings of CG movies about Ando's life -- in addition to a make-your-own Cup Noodle bar like the one in Osaka. The museum's art director, Kashiwa Sato, is also in charge of graphic design for Japanese retail behemoth Uniqlo.

Article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/cup-noodle-museum_n_952903.html

Food History: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/albert-jack/culinary-words-_b_951082.html?ir=Food


Hmm, French Fries are actually a Belgian invention:

Belgian historians have found evidence that inhabitants of the Meuse Valley near Liège have been cutting potatoes into strips and frying them as long ago as 1680. The French love their "pommes frites" but even they admit the recipe is Belgian in origin.

bmwracer wrote:Cup Noodles Museum Opens In Yokohama For Instant Ramen's 40th Birthday

[image]

In 1971, Apollo 14 and 15 both landed on the moon, the Ed Sullivan Show aired its last episode and Amtrak started running trains between American cities. Walt Disney World opened in Orlando and construction began on the Superdome in New Orleans. Bangladesh was founded.

Two of these events (Bangladesh and Amtrak) have museums dedicated to them. But one momentous event in 1971 led to the construction of not one, but two, museums: the invention of Cup Noodles (known as Cup O' Noodles in the US until 1993) by Taiwanese-Japanese businessman Momofuku Ando.

The first, the Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, opened in 1999, in Ikeda in northern Osaka, Japan. It was popular enough to warrant an expansion in 2004. Popular exhibits include a recreation of the laboratory/hut in which Ando crafted his now-famous chicken ramen and an "Instant Noodles Tunnel" chronicling the history of the Cup Noodles. The Osakan museum looks humble and bunkerlike. Admission is free. The exhibits seem to be elaborate antechambers to the main attraction, a make-your-own Cup Noodle assembly line with an attached cafeteria.

The second, which will be called the Cup Noodle Museum, opens next Saturday in Yokohama, just outside Tokyo, and is far more grand. It features both an attraction called "the History Cube" and a "Momofuku Theater" for showings of CG movies about Ando's life -- in addition to a make-your-own Cup Noodle bar like the one in Osaka. The museum's art director, Kashiwa Sato, is also in charge of graphic design for Japanese retail behemoth Uniqlo.

Article here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/07/cup-noodle-museum_n_952903.html

I went to the Ramen Musuem off the Shin Yokohama station which is dedicated to the "real" stuff! I'm guessing this new venue dedicated specifically to instant cup ramen will be a big hit/tourist attraction though. :) Too bad I didn't get a chance to go to the cup ramen museum in Osaka...that would have been a fun.

The invention of the cup ramen really created a revolution. I bet they sell that stuff all over the world. I know it's extremely popular among Latinos and Nissin has even marketed cup ramen here in L.A. with Latin flavors such as Chili with Lime, Chipotle, Picante, and such.

Tu_triky wrote:I know it's extremely popular among Latinos and Nissin has even marketed cup ramen here in L.A. with Latin flavors such as Chili with Lime, Chipotle, Picante, and such.

Wow.

Salsa ramen, anyone? :mrgreen:

bmwracer wrote:
Wow.

Salsa ramen, anyone? :mrgreen:

Haha. Certain markets and Costco Warehouses that have lots of Latino customers will carry Nissin's Top Ramen brand with some of the aforementioned flavors.

I just saw a commercial for this Gold Fish Sandwich bread.

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^ That's a Fail. :bleh:

bmwracer wrote:^ That's a Fail. :bleh:

At least whoever made those sandwiches got the fish gut innards right...cuz that ish looks nasty.

Tu_triky wrote:At least whoever made those sandwiches got the fish gut innards right...cuz that ish looks nasty.

Chum.

bmwracer wrote:
Chum.

:hehe:

That sandwich makes chum look like negi toro handroll.

Tu_triky wrote::hehe:

That sandwich makes chum look like negi toro handroll.

LOL. :rofl: