Leafy Greens Pack a Powerful Punch Leafy Greens Pack a Powerful Punch (Image Credits: Unsplash) Think spinach, kale, Swiss chard, and collard greens are just trendy salad ingredients? Think again. Dark leafy vegetables are a powerful tool for managing blood pressure, packed with nutrients that support heart health and help keep blood pressure in a …
Brian Easton
Strawberries: The Sweet Danger Lurking in Your Grocery Cart Strawberries: The Sweet Danger Lurking in Your Grocery Cart (Image Credits: Unsplash) Let’s be real here. If there’s one item you absolutely need to buy organic, it’s strawberries. Strawberries claimed the top spot on the 2024 Dirty Dozen list at number one, and honestly, it’s not …
Ever wonder why your butcher has that knowing smile when you ask about certain cuts? It’s hard to say for sure, but there’s a good chance they know about hidden treasures that rarely make it to the display case. These cuts were often called “butcher’s cuts,” because the people who broke down the animal would …
1. Quiche Lorraine 1. Quiche Lorraine (Image Credits: Unsplash) In the 1970s, quiches became staples of dinner parties, showcasing the decade’s focus on casual entertaining and communal dining. Not everyone could pronounce it correctly back then, but that didn’t stop families from embracing this French import. Most popular was quiche lorraine, a French recipe filled …
The Return of a Forgotten Name The Return of a Forgotten Name (Image Credits: Wikimedia) After almost 25 years, Coca-Cola announced in late October that it’s bringing back Mr. Pibb, its spicy cherry soda that first launched in 1972. In 2001, Coca-Cola renamed and rebranded the drink to Pibb Xtra, and it’s remained largely untouched …
Dry-Aged Ribeye: The Cut That Speaks for Itself Dry-Aged Ribeye: The Cut That Speaks for Itself (Image Credits: Unsplash) Honestly, when I walk into a great steakhouse, the dry-aged ribeye is usually my first choice, typically aged between 18 to 35 days for optimal flavor development. There’s something magical about how the aging process concentrates …
Generous Legroom That Didn’t Torture Your Knees Generous Legroom That Didn’t Torture Your Knees (Image Credits: Flickr) Remember when you could actually stretch your legs on a plane without your knees slamming into the seat ahead? Seat pitch during the golden age was probably 36 to 40 inches, a far cry from today’s cramped quarters. …
Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes Meatloaf with Mashed Potatoes (Image Credits: Flickr) Let’s be real, meatloaf might have gotten some bad press over the years, but here’s the thing: when done right, it’s still an absolute powerhouse of a dinner. Comfort was the top choice among survey respondents asked to identify qualities that consumers will look …
Years of Dedication Before the First Cut Years of Dedication Before the First Cut (Image Credits: Unsplash) Becoming a fugu chef isn’t something you decide to do on a whim. Most aspiring chefs start their apprenticeships at just 15 years old, and the training alone takes at least two to three years before they can …
Spaghetti and Meatballs Spaghetti and Meatballs (Image Credits: Wikimedia) Let’s be real, if you walk into a restaurant in Rome and ask for spaghetti and meatballs, you’re going to get some puzzled looks. In Italy, you won’t find a dish called spaghetti and meatballs, except probably to satisfy American tourists. Italian meatballs are called polpette, …
Think your suitcase is packed with harmless souvenirs? Think again. That innocent-looking wedge of cheese or jar of homemade delicacy could land you in serious trouble at customs. We’re living in a world where food travels faster than ever, yet certain culinary treasures remain stubbornly off-limits when crossing borders. From living maggots wriggling through Italian …
From Stigma to Celebration: The Remarkable Turnaround From Stigma to Celebration: The Remarkable Turnaround (Image Credits: Flickr) In 2023, eating ramps signals insider foodie status: they are the height of trendy eating for many Americans, Appalachian or not. Here’s something that catches people off guard. In the mid-twentieth century, foraging for the first wild greens …
Florida’s Sunshine in a Slice Florida’s Sunshine in a Slice (Image Credits: Unsplash) Florida statute 15.052, passed in July 2006, designates Key lime pie “the official Florida state pie”. Let’s be real, when you think of Florida, you probably picture sandy beaches and palm trees. The state’s Key lime pie captures that tropical vibe perfectly. …
The Golden Boy and Its Nearly $6,000 Price Tag The Golden Boy and Its Nearly $6,000 Price Tag (Image Credits: Unsplash) The Golden Boy, created by Chef Robbert Jan de Veen at De Daltons Diner in the Netherlands, officially entered the Guinness World Records in 2024 as the most expensive burger in the world, costing …
The Foundation of Flavor: When Hunger Meets Heritage The Foundation of Flavor: When Hunger Meets Heritage (Image Credits: Flickr) Walking through New York City, it’s hard not to notice the smells that drift from tiny storefronts and crowded food carts. There’s something about a five dollar meal that tastes like it came from someone’s grandmother’s …
Queens: The Borough That Feeds the World for Less Queens: The Borough That Feeds the World for Less (Image Credits: Wikimedia) Queens, New York City’s geographically largest borough and the nation’s most ethnically and racially heterogeneous county where over 150 different languages are spoken, has become ground zero for affordable immigrant cuisine. The borough is …
Green Bean Casserole Green Bean Casserole (Image Credits: Unsplash) Green bean casserole was developed in 1955 for Campbell’s Soup, originally emerging as a simple combination of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, and those iconic crispy fried onions. Not only has this old classic made a full comeback on American tables in the post-pandemic era …
Pizza Hut’s Bigfoot Pizza Pizza Hut’s Bigfoot Pizza (Image Credits: Wikimedia) Let’s be real, the Bigfoot Pizza measured a whopping 12 inches by 24 inches, totaling two square feet of cheesy, saucy indulgence and was cut into 21 square slices. It cost just $10.99 at the time, making it a value juggernaut. This rectangular beast …
Picture this. You’re standing in your grandmother’s kitchen back in 1965, watching her prepare dinner without batting an eye at practices that would make any modern health inspector shudder. Kitchen habits in the 1960s reflected a time when food safety research was limited, regulations were minimal, and home cooking relied heavily on tradition, with many …
The Thursday Delivery Schedule That Haunts Monday Diners The Thursday Delivery Schedule That Haunts Monday Diners (Image Credits: Wikimedia) Here’s something you probably didn’t know: chefs order seafood on Thursday night to sell over the weekend, when the restaurant is busiest. That beautiful salmon special advertised on Monday evening? There’s a decent chance it’s been …
The fast food landscape has shifted dramatically, with the United States firmly claiming the title as the world’s most fast food obsessed country in 2024. Individuals in America indulge between one and three times per week, with roughly one third of American adults consuming fast food daily and a staggering four out of five households …
China: From Tea Tradition to Coffee Revolution China: From Tea Tradition to Coffee Revolution (Image Credits: Wikimedia) China’s coffee consumption has surged by nearly 150% over the past decade, transforming the nation from a tea-centric culture to one embracing espresso and cold brews with fervor. China overtook the United States in 2023 as the largest …
Picture yourself standing in a grocery store, cart half full, watching the total climb higher than your monthly gym membership you never use. Now imagine grabbing a full meal at a street stall for less than the cost of that organic bell pepper you just threw in your basket. Sounds impossible, right? Well, the truth …
United States: The Sweet Addiction Capital United States: The Sweet Addiction Capital (Image Credits: Pixabay) Each American consumes an average of 126.4 grams of sugar daily, making the United States the world’s leading sugar consumer per capita. This staggering figure is more than five times what the World Health Organization recommends. Around 60% of the …