“For those who remain unenthusiastic about the idea of consuming insects, consider this: every year it is estimated that the average person unintentionally consumes just over five hundred grams of insects! One of the major entry points for insects into our food is flour which we use to make a wide assortment of foods, from bread and pasta to desserts and cereals. During the flour milling process, one of the purposes of the so-called “Entolator” is to smash insect parts into such small pieces that they cannot easily be seen with the naked eye. Still not convinced? Planning now to avoid products made from flour?

The government legally permits certain levels of non-hazardous insect parts in various foods. Chocolate, for example, can contain up to sixty insect fragments per one hundred grams, peanut butter up to thirty, and tomato sauce up to thirty fly eggs per one hundred grams. Both the Canadian and U.S. governments permit up to twenty maggots per one hundred grams of mushrooms, approximately three hundred and twenty insect parts per fifty grams of ground pepper, and less than fifty insect parts per fifty grams of flour. The list goes on and on! Ever wondered about the “cochineal extracts” on the ingredients list of certain foods and beverages?  These extracts come from the cochineal insect, and give red colour to foods, beverages, and even some brands of lipstick.  So let me ask: Have you ever rubbed an insect all over your lips? Have you ever kissed one? Should I continue?” [Excerpt from “In Bad Taste”.]

These are the words of Dr. Massimo Marcone, an excerpt from his book, “In Bad Taste”.   Marcone is a food scientist and author who teaches at the University of Guelph.  He has been dubbed the “Indiana Jones” of the food world” by his followers and has traveled the globe searching for the rare, the disgusting and the bizarre.  Then he eats it.

For more information on his adventures, check out this National Post article http://www.nationalpost.com/related/topics/trail+fanciful+foods/2716340/story.html

It’s not just an epidermal ode to cheap sweets, this is bigger than that.  Food tattoos are not just for chefs anymore—food fetishism in popular culture has taken off.   Inked edibles have become more than just a trendy fashion statement.  For some, food tattoos can acknowledge the social and political dimensions of ones’ eating.  For others, it’s a way to market their business.

Take Casa Sanchez, a taco restaurant in California, for instance.  They had the idea in the 1990s to give away free lunch for life to anyone who got a tattoo of their logo, Jimmy the Corn Man.  Almost twenty years later—two or three people a week still stop in sporting their ink for a burrito.   Well, what do you know about that?

Food tattoos can be good enough to eat, gaudy and ridiculous, or just plain funny.   Food can hold powerful associations for a lot of people and can commemorate certain times in an individual’s life.  It can also be one of the best ways to express reminders of certain people, actions or events.

I’m not sure I want to know what a cupcake on the can commemorates for the individual that is sporting it.  But, to each his own—proving art is very subjective.

To look at 53 of the best food tattoos, according to eatingcleavland.com, follow this link.

Courtesy of veganbackpacker @ Flickr

Some of you may be familiar with these little treats but they were new to me so I thought I would take some time today to introduce one of my new fav’s the Patty Pan! The first time I tried these delicious little treats was at the Inniskillin Winery during our Balderson Cheese / Inniskillin dinner last year (see pic below). They were provided as a side accompanying our main. They were roasted and buttered and they immediately sparked my interest. Not just because I had never seen them before but also because they tasted sooo good. Typically I’m not a huge fan of the squash. Its texture and lack of substance steers me away and frankly its a bit to much like baby food… but I do love the flavour. So to find little mini’s with soft and tasty exteriors… well it was one of those great food epiphanies. They are a bit tricky to find but if you have a good farmers marketing (or access to the St.Lawrence Market) you should be able to track some down.

De-Bones Cornish Hen with Artichoke puree and Patty Pans!

Personally I just fry them up with some butter but below you will find the PattyWiki with some expanded explanation and some common cooking techniques.

The Pattypan squash also recognized as the Sunburst Squash, Cibleme in Cajun French or White squash is a summer squash (species Cucurbita pepo) notable for its small size, round and shallow shape, and scalloped edges, somewhat resembling a small toy top, or flying saucer. They come in yellow, green, and white varieties. The squash is most tender when relatively immature; it is generally served when it is no more than two to three inches in diameter. In fine cuisine, its tender flesh is sometimes scooped out and mixed with flavorings such as garlic prior to reinsertion; the scooped-out husk of a pattypan also is sometimes used as a decorative container for other foods. Pattypan is a good source of magnesium, niacin, and vitamins A and C. One cup contains approximately 20 to 30 calories and no fat. It is often sliced, coated and fried until golden brown. In Polish cuisine they are pickled in sweet vinegar.

Many of you are familiar with this recipe as a pork based recipe. Typically a pork shoulder or another cut of fatty meat is slow roasted over several hours and slathered with BBQ sauce. Now whenever I order a pulled pork sandwich (Black Camel, Smokin Bones, Phils BBQ, etc) always find the pork a bit tough, over-cooked, stringy, generally unpleasant. But I love the idea of an all meat and sauce sandwich. So here is the remedy I discovered. Smoked chicken is immensly more tender and buttery. Take yourself down to the St.Lawrence Market (if your locality enables you) and find White House Meats. Its on the top floor right about the middle of everything. Try to buy a whole smoked chicken (about $20.00). I realize this is a bit pricey but its really just double what you would pay for a whole chicken at Sobeys AND its already been smoked which is well worth the extra 10 bucks. Now all you have to do is pull the meat from the chicken (You should be able to make 4 – 6 sandwiches depending on size OR a whole load of sliders) select your favourite BBQ sauce and mix them all together. Find your top bakery and make sure you have VERY soft buns. Slather the mix on top and there you have it. A pulled chicken sandwich that is sure to sway the heart of any pork loyalist.

So, Sunday night, my girlfriend and I decided to check out the Mambo Lounge, a relatively new addition to the Danforth strip (close to Broadview).   Our first impression on entering the Lounge was a collective ‘ahhhhh’.   The atmosphere was incredibly relaxing and the staff was extremely courteous and attentive–they were able to memorize our 8 dish Tapas order without  need for paper and pen–and the intriguing menu welcomed us.   We both chose the 21 dollar Tapas option, which provides a generous 4 Tapas dishes.

We placed our order and waited in suspense for our dishes to arrive.   The waiter returned with our preliminary drinks,  an ice tea for me and some water for my girlfriend.  At this point,  something unexpected happened.  The waiter slipped forward and literally threw–not dropped, not placed on the table and tipped it over–but THREW this cool and refreshing ice tea meant for me into the waiting face of my girlfriend.   A collective gasp rippled through the patio crowd and an immediate ‘Oh myyy GOD’ escaped the lips of a concerned patron sitting directly behind me.  The the patio went silent.  The waiters’ face burned with embarrassment and he hung his head in dismay–for what seemed like 10 full minutes.   Breaking the silence, a neighbouring patron whispered to her dinner partner “she’s going to need a Valium after that one.”   Luckily, my better half took it in stride.  She gave a wide smile and consoled the waiter with a “don’t worry, I needed to cool off anyway.”

ensalada de langosta

Now, for me, this posed an interesting dilemma–as well as a great opportunity for the restaurant to prove itself as a truly triumphant establishment all around.  Everyone makes mistakes, that’s understandable.  It’s how you remedy those mistakes that is truly important.  To us, it really was no big deal, but one can understand that they felt an obligation to do right by us.

Our food began to arrive and our relaxation resumed.   First, the Calamari and Chorizo both which were on-point.   Each time a new dish came out, the waiter would apologize profusely all over again.   A couple of Mojitos arrived, delivered on-the-house, which were excellent.

ropa vieja

I must say, all the food was delicious and interesting.  I really enjoyed the combination of sweet, savory and spicy.  If you enjoy flavorful food, you will find the Mambo Lounge hits the mark.  With regard to the whole ice tea debacle, they made good by bringing out 2 extra Tapas plates, as well as the 2 Mojitos.  I thought that cleared it all up, coupled with the fact that everything else throughout the night was perfect.

I would highly recommend this place.  Reasonable prices,  great food and staff that understands how to band-aid the worst of situations.

aji rellenos

My grandfather ate a banana every day that I ever knew him.   It was like a ritual every afternoon–around tea time (he was British.)  He would break out his banana, peel it and devour it along with his Earl Grey.  He always had a pleasant disposition and I’m quite certain that I’ve never seen him even so much as raise his voice.  Well, it seems that there may have been some chemistry behind my grampa’s beaming smile.  As it turns out, bananas contain some chemical elements that cause the creation of serotonin.  A professor at CCNY for a physiological psychology, has revealed an incredible list of uses for bananas–outside of the hunger realm.   Have a read for yourself:

“Bananas contain three natural sugars – sucrose, fructose and glucose combined with fiber. A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.  Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a strenuous 90-minute workout.  No wonder the banana is the number one fruit with the world’s leading athletes.

But energy isn’t the only way a banana can help us keep fit.  It can also help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana. This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood and generally make you feel happier.

PMS: Forget the pills – eat a banana.  The vitamin B6 it contains regulates blood glucose levels, which can affect your mood.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure.  So much so, the Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry to make official claims for the fruit’s ability to reduce the risk of blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and lunch in a bid to boost their brain power.  Research has shown that the potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and, with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system.

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Morning Sickness: Snacking on bananas between meals helps to keep blood sugar levels up and avoid morning sickness.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work? Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at 5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases. It also
neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a “cooling” fruit that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant mothers.  In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Bananas can help SAD sufferers because they contain the natural mood enhancer tryptophan.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance. When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana snack.

Strokes: According to research in “The New England Journal of Medicine, “eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of the best value foods around”
So maybe its time to change that well-known phrase so that we say, “A banana a day keeps the doctor away!”