Speak Foodish

A New Kind of “Big Gulp” at 7-Eleven

speakfoodish — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 05:18:55 +0000

What pairs well with beef jerky and greesy taquitos? …I’d have to say a full bodied cabernet would really work nicely. But in all seriousness, you can try that exact combo out at your neighborhood 7-Eleven in the near future. Our favorite upscale bodega will really be selling chardonnays and cabernets for about $3.99 a bottle. They have hired The Wine Group in California to produce it and 7-Eleven will sell it under the Yosemite Road label.

You’d be surprised how many wines follow the same business plan, your favorite moderately priced wine might not be made at its own vineyard at all but rather made from a huge manufacturer who pastes a client’s label on the front. Read more about how wine making far less romantic and way more…well, like 7-Eleven, than we ever imagined at the Daily Beast.

Real Life Musicals

speakfoodish — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 04:09:26 +0000

When you were little, do you remember watching musicals like Grease or Sound of Music and thinking, “Dude, I wish people acted like this in real life?” Do you remember thinking it would be so cool if everyone simultaneously broke out into synchronized song and dance routines? Though, in reality that would probably just be really awkward.

Well, people did “spontaneously” break into song in dance in the middle of public areas, and you can tell it was pretty damn awkward. This group is called Improv Everywhere and they take their acts into the streets staging fake wedding ceremonies outside City Hall, taking yearbook pictures on the subway, and performing musicals in crowded areas. Real life musicals might be awkward and leave people dumbstruck but they somehow still seem to bring smiles to people’s faces. Watch for yourselves, it’s pretty funny.

Grocery Store Musical

Food Court Musical

…..and yes, I am just as shocked as you are about the Janitor.

Bloggers Beware

speakfoodish — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 02:37:57 +0000

Photographs: Pizzablogger, D.C. Pizza Blog

There is someone sending threatening messages to pizza bloggers’ homes in the DC Metro area. Please read all the details here at Serious Eats. As humorous/creative as the anonymous packages left on doorsteps were, they were still pretty creepy. Pizzablogger, one package recipient, has purposely remained under the radar; he never uses his actual name and he admits that fellow bloggers have no idea where he lives…so how did this stalker-psycho find out.?! Pizzablogger received a box containing a tomato stabbed with a steak knife and a note reading, “Settle the score or else..” in red, blood-like ink. It’s amusing, and quite disturbing, that people even have the time to do something like this. Well…it does make a good story.

A World of Opportunity…

speakfoodish — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:45:59 +0000

I was reading this interview with Gail Simmons (Top Chef judge/ marketing and brand spokesperson for Food and Wine) on the James Beard site. It was interesting to hear Gail talk about what she does for a living; I didn’t know it entailed as much as it does. Let’s be honest, I want her job ASAP. Who doesn’t? She is proof that jobs in the food industry are not strictly limited to chef or writer; there are so many positions in between that are creative and fun; we just have to look for them. In a corny sense I guess I was inspired, not because the interview was particularly that interesting, but more so because I was reminded of the range of opportunity that’s out there. Inspired or not, just check out the interview… You’ll definitely feel a bit of jealousy.

R.I.P. Gourmet… Thanks for Everything

speakfoodish — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:40:47 +0000

Click the picture to read about the tragedy.

Man-Made Meat

speakfoodish — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:58:23 +0000

This is the creepiest contraption I’ve ever seen. The Cocoon Cooker makes meat. You know those cute mini herb gardens you grow in your kitchen? Yeah, OK, minus the herbs and add beef…or fish? You use food packets consisting of animal muscle cells, oxygen and nutrients in this device to create pure meat. They claim we can get quality meat without killing animals or risking contamination. I say, that’s some disgusting shit.

Who Knew Michelle Obama Could be so…Sweet?

speakfoodish — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:03:03 +0000

For the G-20 summit in Pittsburg last week Michelle Obama presented a thoughtful and well… sweet, gift to foreign dignitaries’ spouses. The first lady gifted a one-of-a-kind honey vase and porcelain tea set; both designed especially for the occasion. The honey was harvested right in the White House Kitchen Garden! That’s impressive. Caleb Siemon of California designed the lead-free crystal honey vase, which was made from minerals specific to the United States. The tea set, made by Pickard China in Antioch, Illinois, was symbolically designed to mimic Mrs. Lincoln White House China from 1861, while incorporating platinum touches to represent Pittsburgh’s steel industry and the state flowers of Illinois (Obama and Lincoln’s home state), Pennsylvania and the US national flower. Now that’s a great gift… it would be so much fun to be the First Lady.

Thanks to Obama FoodoRama for the 411 and pictures, I like your work. Also you can find another full article at the Chicago Sun Times Online

One Reason Why We Shouldn’t Resent Cupcakes

speakfoodish — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 17:03:04 +0000

The cupcake craze has driven some of us a little cuckcoo. I love them as much as the next girl, but the cupcake trend has obviously grown out of control. However, I have found one reason why we don’t have to resent the hand held treat just yet.

Cupcakes for a Cause is a program that will benefit CancerCare for Kids.

CancerCare for Kids is a very distinct program that focuses on a child coping with a cancer diagnosis, either a close loved one or their own. We know from our clinical experience and research that help for children coping with cancer makes a big difference. CancerCare’s professionally trained social workers offer counseling, other social services and recreational programs to children and their parents to help them manage this difficult situation and to feel less alone.

This week (Sept 21-27^th) bakeries and florists around the country will be selling cupcakes and cupcake shaped flower arrangements. A portion of these proceeds will be donated to CancerCare for Kids. You can find participating stores near you here. If you feel like being a little more proactive you can host your own bake sale and donate your earnings. Cupcakes for a Cause even provides a “toolkit” on their website that includes bake sale tips, recipes, and even a sign to advertise your event.

It’s hard to be cynical about cupcakes in this context. In fact, this makes me fall in love with cupcakes all over again, even if it is just for this week.

Delicious and Nutritious Liquor?

speakfoodish — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 18:28:36 +0000

An ad for “Veev Acai Spirit” in a sidebar caught my eye. I’m not a huge liquor fan. I think drinking too much wine has made me a bit of a baby when it comes to the hard stuff. This company claims Veev is “a better way to drink” since it’s a spirit made with the superfruit Acai berry that is full of antioxidants and anthocyanins (whatever those are), prickly pear, and vitamin C packed acerola cherry. I so badly want to like drinking liquor, maybe here’s my chance? I think in their natural form all of these nutritious fruits might be really good for you, but in liquor? –I think it’s just a gimmick. In any case, maybe the exotic fruits make the flavor something noteworthy. I’ll let you know when I find some.

Oh, they also donate money to ensure the Acai berry is harvested sustainably in the Brazilian Rain Forest. Thats pretty cool.

Pressure Cooker

speakfoodish — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:29:13 +0000

This weekend while lounging on the couch, flipping through channels, I turned to “Pressure Cooker,” a documentary. It sounded decently entertaining. Students at an inner city Philadelphia public school, with various family or personal struggles, study Culinary Arts under a tough, and quite blunt, female instructor. This instructor believes in the kids and prepares her students to compete for substantial scholarships at top culinary schools that can help transform their lives. Sounds typical? Well it kind of is, its like Dangerous Minds, Freedom Writers, or Music of the Heart or any other movie with poor kids and a teacher who can save the world. To be honest, the movie wasn’t amazing or standout, the sound quality was mediocre, and the story could have been more developed, but it was still heart warming. I loved the teacher and I found myself cheering the kids on. No matter how many times we see it or how corny it is, we like the idea that one person can make a difference–and the idea that cooking can be a tool in this pursuit? Well, that makes me really happy. Check out the trailer and see for yourself.