Food

Popularity of American Fast Food Leads to Rise of Obesity in Asia

Andrew Lam

Besides the tasty draw of fatty foods and sweet sodas, there’s another reason why such establishments are making inroads in countries that are otherwise known for their excellent culinary traditions. Unlike in the U.S., where fast food is perceived as time saving and cheap and often the preferred meal of the working poor, in Asia places like Burger King and Pizza Hut are the fare of choice for those with dispensable incomes. 

Selling Soda in the Age of Obesity

Khalil Abdullah

In a nation facing unprecedented levels of obesity, efforts by health advocates to make soda Public Enemy Number-One are gaining traction. But marketers of the sugary drink still have to figure out how to sell it. The way the drink is being marketed, even as cities across the country are looking to crack down on soda – from Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s campaign to ban the sale of large sodas in New York City to a proposal to establish a soda tax in Richmond, Calif. -- was the subject of a discussion last week at the first National Soda Summit.

Grilled Cheese, All Grown Up

Beth Kaiserman

It’s 2012, and the grilled cheese has received a facelift in many restaurants, cafes and bars. Not only that, but it’s hit the streets as well. A comfort classic is being revamped with added elements and variations -- not just from your mama’s kitchen. Some of these dolled-up concoctions literally present an entire meal pressed between two slices of bread. For example, a fried chicken grilled cheese at Melt Shop, 601 Lexington Ave. in Midtown Manhattan, has all the fixings for a fine meal: buttermilk fried chicken, jalapeno jack cheese, cabbage slaw and “melt sauce” on top.

Yet Another Dining Fad: Pop-Ups, Supper Clubs Pepper America’s Culinary Map

Beth Kaiserman

Instead of the more formal restaurant experience, pop-ups and supper club meals provide a one-of-a-kind culinary affair, engaging guests in a more relaxed creative space. At a pop-up event on April 16, Chef Joseph Yoon presented a “Dim Sum Fantasy Dinner,” involving eight courses of expertly crafted dim sum delights for about 15 guests. Held at EAT Cafe in Greenpoint, it was Yoon’s first pop-up in a restaurant.

Historic S.F. Restaurant, Home of ‘World’s Rudest Waiter,’ Shuts Down

Vivian Po

Opened shortly after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, for more than 100 years Chinatown’s Sam Wo restaurant dished out cheap and tasty Chinese food to customers as famed as columnist Herb Caen, author Armistead Maupin, and Dr Sun Yat-sen, the “Father of China.” It gained national fame for being home to the “world’s rudest waiter.” As a result of various health violations, the restaurant has now shut its doors.

Rating New York’s ‘Upper Crusts’

Eugene Durante

Pizza and New York City go together like pancakes and syrup; each great enough to exist solely, but taken together, the pairing intensifies. Everyone’s heard why we make the best pizza. However, many are uncertain if the secret lies in the local water, the homemade mozzarella cheese, a well-worn brick oven, or the well-trained hands of the talented and underappreciated Mexican staff in most pizza kitchens. One fact is certain, both our location and our fast food staple rests mightily at the top of the food chain. 

Wild Food Foraging: Culinary Revolution or Passing Trend?

Benjamin Wright

For many Americans, the term “foraging” may conjure up nearly forgotten imagery from history and anthropology courses of ancient civilizations, Native American cultures, and perhaps even of a few lingering hunting and gathering tribes, like the San. Fewer are probably aware of foragers in their own neighborhoods, from rural Wisconsin and the foothills of the Rockies and Appalachians to urban melting pots like San Francisco (foraging hotbed), Los Angeles, and New York City. 

“Top Chef” Star's Talde Joins Growing List of Filipino Restaurants

Momar Visaya

Manhattan has not always been a hotbed for Filipino cuisine, but with the recent spate of Filipino restaurants opening in the city, that may not be the case for long. n recent months, more Filipino restaurants opened in Manhattan, with some foodies heralding it as the renaissance of Filipino cuisine in the city. Dale Talde is one of those restaurateurs.

Filipino Food Poised to Break Gastro Ceiling

Odette Keeley

The Year of the Dragon will be the Year of “Adobo” if some local foodies are predicting it right. Braised chicken or pork in soy sauce, vinegar and garlic, adobo is considered a signature dish in Filipino cooking, which, judging from the buzz at this year’s Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, could be poised to ride the next gourmet food wave. 

“Healing Spices” Author Cooks Global Flavors for Better Health

Viji Sundaram

In his search for safe anti-inflammatory agents, University of Texas research scientist Bharat B. Aggarwal began 20 years ago to research the very spices that had always been a staple of his Indian diet. He found that many of them could be safely moved out of his kitchen cabinet to his medicine cabinet, as he says in his newly released book, Healing Spices.

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