Archive for the ‘Health’ Category
The Top Ten Culinary Trends of 2009
December 16, 2009
With the many culinary breakthroughs that bubbled to the surface of the national restaurant scene in recent months, 2009 is fated to be remembered as a year of culinary renaissance. Perhaps the recession was the muse that sparked everyone’s renewed thinking about food, serving portions, costs, and restaurant business models. It’s the year that gourmet kitchens turned mobile, restaurants discovered the benefits of local meats and produce, and Americans explored “the fifth taste.” Above all, it was the year in which America’s renewed interest in well-crafted, high quality meals reached its defining moment. There’s never been a better time to eat in America. Below are ten reasons why.
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Returning to Our Culinary Roots
December 11, 2009
It used to be that modern eating was all about speed–the faster the process of preparation and consumption, the better it was. The ideal–as often portrayed in pop culture’s depiction of the future à-la-Jetsons–was a meal in pill form–conveniently small, requiring a single swallow for complete consumption. A pill is also a man-made artifact, presumably formulated in a laboratory, with the help of advanced pharmaceutical technology and far-removed from nature.
We were on track to make eating and food preparation super-efficient. The fast-food chains and processed food manufacturers that emerged mid-century championed this goal and grew exponentially in the decades that followed. Cooking was fast. Eating was fast. Restaurants became drive-ins and drive-throughs. Baking became a two-step process (Just add water!). And speed overshadowed nutrition as the priority in our eating habits as we grew ever more excited, delighted, and amazed with our seemingly advanced technology and lifestyles.
Fast forward a half century later, and we find the trend toward fast, compact meals has not only lost steam, it’s reaching a turning point. And this observation is certainly a paradox when all the touchpoints in our lives are becoming more compact and real-time: communications technology, communication habits, computer processing speed, information retrieval, analysis, and decision-making.
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Posted in Culinary Trends, Eating Trends, Health, Lifestyle, Restaurants, Slow Food | No Comments »
The Obamas’ Healthy Living Revolution
December 9, 2009
Nowhere do U.S. food and dining trends seem more apparent under one roof than they do in America’s most iconic house: the White House. The general public had already viewed the Obamas as ushers of a new era even before they gained the status of first family. From a culinary perspective, they have certainly already began to fulfill these expectations.
The central symbol that best epitomizes their food philosophy would be First Lady Michelle Obama’s kitchen garden. This pesticide-free garden garnered the attention of the media months back, as it was an early addition to the White House – one of the first Obama touches. Considering the White House offers 24-hour room service, the garden is a deliberate statement: the Obamas believe in fresh produce, farm-to-home practices, and want to be in control of the ingredients that are served in their home. They are self-proclaimed health enthusiasts, and the country has taken notice. As a matter of fact, soon after the kitchen garden was planted, publishers noticed a spike in book sales related to vegetable gardening.
The Obamas have also proven themselves to be the first truly tech chic family in the White House. In many ways, they are shaping society’s definition of what it means to be tech chic – informed, discerning, and savvy. Remember the hurdles it took for the President to gain access to an uber-secure BlackBerry?
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Posted in Culinary Trends, Health, Lifestyle, Tech Chic | 2 Comments »
Paving the Way to Guilt-Free Dining: An Interview with Clean Plates Author Jared Koch
November 4, 2009
New York City can a tough place in many ways, but not in terms of finding healthy food.
In an attempt to prove that delicious taste and varied flavors can be synonymous with good nutrition, Clean Plates puts reviews of Manhattan’s best healthy dining options, plus advice on improving your diet, all in one handy guide. With a nutritionist perspective and a democratic acceptance of diverse preferences and philosophies – yes, the guide does save room for meat, as long as it’s sustainably raised – the 125 restaurants in the compilation have all tastes covered.
Jared Koch, the nutritionist mastermind behind the guide, is a proponent of bioindividuality: a food-forward approach to healthy eating that disperses the single-mindedness of one-size-fits-all diets. Now, like technology, eating is all about customization, and we find that perfectly tech chic. To find out more about New York’s healthy dining scene, we invited Jared to sit down for an interview. Read below to learn his take on personalized diets, how vegan isn’t always healthy, and the healthiest way to incorporate indulgences into your eating choices.
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Posted in Culinary Trends, Dining Reviews, Eating Trends, Health, Ingredients, New York, Restaurants | No Comments »
