Sweet and Savory

Preparations blending sweet flavors with savory ingredients go beyond novelty: Such contrasting flavors add interest while fighting palate fatigue. Link.

I love salted caramels. The photo is of Blondies with Salted Caramel Sauce rom Cooking in a Southern Kitchen. Link.

Pita Purse

Katja Gruijters is an out-of-the-box thinker and she thinks about food.

Menu Trends for 2008

If Americans were to draw up a list of dining resolutions for the year ahead, it likely would read something like this:

• Stay local, go global. Look for more locally produced products, but at the same time, explore up-and-coming ethnic cuisines from Greece, Vietnam, Korea, South America and the Eastern Mediterranean.
  
• Find feel-good foods. Seek out more products, such as cage-free eggs, fair-trade coffee and sustainable seafood, that are grown, raised and produced in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
  
• Embrace easy nutrition. Find simple ways to eat more healthful meals, and add beneficial foods rather than avoiding ingredients demonized by fad diets.
  
• Enjoy casual luxury. Do all of the above while enjoying away-from-home meals that are relaxed and welcoming but that still offer experiences to savor. The operators who best deliver on these ideals will find themselves a step ahead of the competition as 2008 unfolds.

From CaterSource: Link

Practically Edible

The Practically Edible blog claims to be the Web's Biggest Food Encyclopedia. It certainly looks thorough. It looks great, but I still like the Epicurous Food and Wine Dictionary a lot.

Miracle Fruit

This Magic Berry makes anything you eat or drink sweet - even lemons. It is a cranberry-sized berry from South Africa that that numbs your sour and bitter tastebuds for a couple of hours after eating it. Foods and beverages that normally taste sour taste sweet. Beer tastes like a chocolate milkshake, grapefruit tastes like pixie sticks, cheese tastes like frosting, and tequila tastes like lemonade. Link. Wikipedia Link.

Umami - The fifth taste

If you have never heard of umami, here are some articles that explain it. Link. There is a video. Link

Charlie Rose - CHEF PANEL/BAYER-SAGER

Chef Panel moderated by Charlie Rose: Ann Rosenzweig, Chef, The Lobster Club//Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Chef, Jean Georges//Daniel Boulud, Chef, Daniel//Gray Kunz, Chef, 2 Stills of Books///Carole Bayer Sager, Songwriter. One Hour.