Batavia-based ALDI, Trader Joe's, and Whole Foods have pledged not to sell so-called Frankenfish in response to a campaign by 30 consumer and environmental groups, including Friends of the Earth.
Remember when I said Frankenfish is the new pink slime?
As a reminder, "AquAdvantage® Salmon (AAS) [unfortunately acronymed IMHO] include a gene from the Chinook salmon, which provides the fish with the potential to grow to market size in half the time of conventional salmon." The FDA says it's safe, but critcs fear a Jurassic Park-esque scenario if the genetically engineered farmed salmon ever escape into the wild.
Friday, March 15
Can you handle this? The Good Food Festival and Conference presents Localicious at UIC Forum. Creative chef-driven restaurants paired with small family farms celebrate the local food event of the season. Plus a Sandor Katz pre-party has just been added! Meet and greet with the fermentation revivalist himself over exclusive cocktails and canapés. And remember The Kimchi Challenge on Saturday where I'll be one of the judges. Admission $75 for Localicious, $85 including the Sandor Katz pre-party, $10 Saturday Festival including the Kimchi Challenge.
Roadtrip!
Kimchi is the new pickle! Fermentation is the new canning! So the food trend forecasters say. But in Chicago, we've been putting up and down for years.
At this very moment in Indiana, the one and only Tim Burton, maker of Burton's maple syrup, considered the best by Chicago's top chefs, is bottling what might become the next coconut water: maple sap. And it's not just a new food fad. In South Korea, rural villagers have been drinking what they call gorosoe for thousands of years during ritual spring festivals.
I stole a taste of fresh maple sap as it dripped from a tree last Saturday at the National Maple Syrup Festival, a benefit for the Heads Up!!! Foundation, on Burton's Maplewood Farm in Medora.
Saturday, March 9
The Chicago Cultural Alliance presents Heritage Matters: Food, Fire & Family at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center. Germany meets Japan in this cultural demonstration event. DANK Haus makes Feuerzangenbowle (flaming mulled holiday wine) and the Chicago Japanese American Historical Society makes o-zōni (savory samurai mochi New Year soup), with interactive demos, tastings, and a conversation about family meals. This event will be recorded for WBEZ’s Chicago Amplified.
"Newstalgic" and "Hillbilly country" were among the hot trends at the 2013 International Home + Housewares Show, which wrapped Tuesday in Chicago. With billions of dollars at stake, over 2,100 exhibitors from 34 countries took over McCormick Place for four days to showcase their products to 20,000 buyers from over 100 countries — which they all hope we'll buy for our homes soon.
Aladdin's newstalgic insulated Mason tumbler was the most coveted swag this year.
Two years ago this month, my esteemed predecessor, Steve Dolinksy, listed his then top 5 Italian restaurants in Chicago:
1. Piccolo Sogno (WARNING AUTOPLAY MUSIC)
2. Spiaggia
3. Terragusto
