Ban Trans Fats

New York is considering a ban on artifical trans fats found in some shortenings, margarine and frying oils. Trans fats are unhealthy in nearly any amount but it is a legal ingredient.
Click on the link above for the full story.

Feeling Unwelcomed

Being welcomed by a hostess at a Restaurant should be akin to a host welcoming you in their home. Your host’s intention is to make you feel comfortable and relaxed in order to enjoy the time with friends &/or family and partake in the meal they spent a lot of time preparing. In the case of a restaurant, you are paying for the meal and service, so forgive me for being ticked off when a hostess approaches without a welcoming smile, a pleasing tone in their voice or as if you are there to eat their portion of the meal!
And you know what? I’m sick of dining companions who try to appease you by saying: “Maybe she’s having a bad day.” Well, maybe she should not be there at the front of the house – afterall, she is the face of the restaurant and her manner often tells you what kind of service to expect.

Protecting the Protected Protectors

History records a number of earth shattering battles: King Kong versus Godzilla, Alien versus Predator, Paper versus Plastic. These are mere 2-way tangles, but here in Barbados we seem poised for a Battle Royale: Coke versus Chefette versus Subway. Much of the debate so far has pitched it as a fight between the local and the global – which company is local enough to deserve our loyalty and protection. But surely, there are other combatants waiting to be tagged into the ring. For example, health versus business pressures.
13, soon 14, Chefette fast food restaurants on a 14 x 21 mile island seem like too much of a good thing; and though Subway touts itself as a healthy alternative to burgers, fries and fried chicken, we would be a little naive to expect that this franchise is anything but the vanguard in the upcoming battle for Bajan tastebuds.
More and more fast food franchises are going to eye the Barbadian market. In other words, as the folks up North are trying to find ways to combat childhood obesity and limit their citizens access to fast food, places like Barbados seem poised to increase our citizens’ access to fast food. Are we always destined to walk the paths that America & Britian have already proven are short cuts to bad health?

Bacteria & Contamination

The recent recall of spinach in the U.S. got me to thinking about how often, everyday, we encounter bacteria and cross contamination. The hot-spots for bacteria in our homes are:

• Fridge & freezer handles
• Tap handles
• Telephones & pens
• Work surfaces
• Chopping Boards
• Bin lids
• Can openers

When shopping at the supermarkets and your purchases are being bagged, keep an eye on the person doing the bagging to ensure that they are not putting other produce into the same bag that they are putting your meat, poultry or seafood. Also, while they want to put all the cold things together, dairy products should not go in the same bag with meat either. This can cause cross contamination.

We need to be personally responsible also: let’s not simply wipe our hands after cutting the meat in order to answer the phone; or wipe the knife we just cut the chicken with to slice the cucmbers etc.

Food Events

I would like to create a list of Food/Culinary Festivals, Shows, Events that take place in the Caribbean. For example, Bahamas has an annual Culinary Classic Wine & Food Festival in which their local dishes are showcased, there are demonstrations, competitions etc.
Please send me names and dates of any food-focused activities where you live, especially annual ones.

Label Definitions

If you’re confused about some of the food labels found in the supermarket these days, like the difference between fat free, low fat etc. Please click on the link above.

World Cup Food

Part of the tradition of going to cricket games in the Caribbean was taking our baskets of food and coolers with our beverages of choice; or you can get your favourite snack or meal from the vendors plying their trade just outside the grounds, but it seems that that is not going to happen with our hosting the Cricket World Cup in 2007. As we continue to grow and take on world events and activities, we also have to adapt to changes. A number of rules, regulations and restrictions are being put in place for us and the vendors that prohibits such activity. There’ve been talks about catering companies etc being contracted to deal with the huge crowds expected.
Any thoughts on what you think will offered?

Losing Ourselves

In the Caribbean, more and more people have stopped cooking at home and are turning to fast food establishments and the frozen sections of supermarkets for their meals. They want something that they can just pop in the microwave or oven and they’re good to go. In lots of cases, this has become necessary because of the hectic lives we have and lead. And let’s face it, cooking takes time – depending on what you are making, how many people you are cooking for and the method of preparation. But I think that in all this, we are losing ourselves. We are failing to pass on traditions, failing to pass on some of our culture through food and more importantly, failing to provide the avenue to create memories. Not just food memories but memories of connection and identity.
Even Sundays, the one day that could be counted on for a home-cooked meal, and catching-up time, has lost out to Sunday-lunch outings to restaurants.
Can we make a commitment to cook at least 1 meal a week and connect?

Welcome

Welcome to my blog, In Good Taste.

This blog is geared towards empowering and building the confidence of novice cooks and exchanging ideas with experienced cooks. I want diners to share their thoughts and comments about their dining experiences. I need fellow Foodies, Foodists, Enthusiasts, Chowhounders and whatever else you may call yourself to comment on all things food related. I welcome readers who just love to read about culinary things. Everyone’s invited to share thoughts, recipes and traditions about food in your country or wherever you are on the globe.