FOOD TRENDS

where are the culinary arts heading?
Okay, my blog does get bogged down a bit in culinary topics over the holidays… but then, food does touch most of us most strongly this time of year… which is why there is Jenny Craig.

I was in Costco and I found two wonderfully humongous sized cans of diced clams by Sea Watch International (their RECIPES! ) for my weekly seafood Paella! I was wonderfully surprised to see some very nice recipes and a recipe folder attached between the shrink-wrapped cans. Although I might quibble a bit on some of the ingredients ( I would substitute cream where they call for half and half and use the source spices instead of mixes)… the recipes were simple, yet delightfull.

I tend to forget than many companies now-a-days cannot afford their own test kitchen ( my grandmother ran one) but the folks at Sea Watch have a creative idea ( which explains to me why their recipes make sense):

“Sea Watch International and Johnson and Wales University school of Culinary Arts has entered into an agreement to co-sponsor the first annual Creative Clam Challenge.”

By the way, am I missing something or do ‘culinary schools’ seem to be sprouting up everywhere in high schools and the internet, for example? Although I applaud folks learning to cook as so many think pushing a button on the microwave is ‘cooking’… I wonder if it is economically viable in a world of portion controlled rubber chickens? In any event, I want to congratulate the Lucia Mar School District for considering adding a ‘Culinary Academy” to their high school ( Arroyo Grande, California)… sounds like fun!

Lastly, Laura and I have always tried to offer our family fresh fruits and vegetables… but it is expensive and if you look at the trends… it takes money can eat well. It is not hard to see why a small family will pass over a small carton of tomatoes for $3 when they can buy three hamburgers at a fast food place for the same money. Frankly, I think fastfooders are doing a great job providing quality nutritious food for America… it’s just unfortunate that there are not other inexpensive choices.

Roger Freberg

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