Image via the Gastronaut
Coffee. It’s what for breakfast (for a lot of us). The Smarter Upstarter recently posted about the importance of the 9 to 5 crowd’s favorite beverage here. No offense Smarter Upstarter, but leave the foodie opinions to the experts (ie me, the Gastronaut).
I’ve decided to start a weekly post about being a self-described “Java Junkie”. Each week a few of my most-trusted colleagues and I will try a new blend of brew. For our inaugural coffee corner post, we have chosen Parrot Coffee’s House Blend. At $7.99 per pound, this bag of Joe is certainly easy on the wallet. The label promises that the coffee is strong, but not bitter. Let’s hope it lives up to its word.
The first sip of Parrot is smooth and light. If you like mild coffee, this is a great brew for you. If you are serving a lot of people coffee (which the Gastronaut always is, my desk is like the office “coffee” hole) this is a great option. Personally, I need something with a little more flavor and a lot stronger.
What’s your favorite coffee? Tell us and we will try it and review it!
Image from Jakarta Post
Khao kaeng is a ubiquitous Thai dish consisting of rice, and either spicy curry, pork omelet or stir fry. The price of khao kaeng is normally between 25 and 35 Thai Baht (between USD $0.79 and $1.13) however in the last few months the price has risen sharply to an average of 55 Thai Bhat.
Food is the basis of urban civilization. When humans figured out how to grow mass crops and transport them, is when we were able to establish permanent cities. The Thai Red Shirts have proven that food is inextricably tied to civic peace this week with an uprising over food costs. They are demanding protection from Prime Minister Yingluck, especially as the overall economy shows signs of growth amidst this price gauging for basic commodities. Imagine basic food prices doubling in the US – would the protests remain peaceful? Would they be larger and more charged than ‘Occupy’?
via Youtube
Making choices for wellness goals can be overwhelming in the sea of consumer food products with their splashy and sometimes unregulated labeling, boasting and conflicting messages. Shopwell is an app that is best for people who are interested in meeting health goals, eating with restrictions or allergies, or who simply don’t know how to make the best choices on their own. As they say, it’s like having the personalized “expertise of Registered Dietitians with you wherever you go”. Shopwell analyses your needs, recommends products and scans barcodes on the go to advise your purchases.
With nearly a five-star customer rating, the criticisms are sparse. My criticism is that this product focuses on rating processed, packaged foods as opposed to fruits and veggies and there is no menu planning or comprehensive recipe help to guide your shopping choices. There is also no attention to budget-–the $6 snacks might be a lot better for you than the $2 snacks, but where is the $4 happy medium? Maybe it will be in iteration 3.0. In any case–-this technology can truly make your life better and maybe even longer, so it’s worth a shot. (And its free!)
Image by Julian Burfords
Good Eggs is trying to promote a local and sustainable business model. As they have researched how technology can help them, they’ve discovered “in cases where local food systems are thriving, food and groceries are treated as services instead of goods”. Think of your local farmers’ market as an example. Those farmers are providing you a service-–they tell you about the product and guide your choices-–instead of merely providing you a good.
According to Food and Tech Connect, this shifting economy shows technology has the power to add value, increase sales, and multiply profit by providing services to customers and not merely goods. Consumers are savvy, smart, and demanding, but it turns out they are willing to pay for it. And, in an industry with narrow profit margins to begin with, service based technology could truly be a game changer.
Photo via Flickr
Eating gluten free is currently one of the biggest trends in the food industry. According to Food Navigator, the global market for gluten-free products since 2004 has had an average annual growth rate of 29%. This rise in popularity is based on a growing awareness of possible gluten intolerance, which is coupled with gluten free diet fads. To profit off of this trend, companies are scrambling to invent a better gluten free bread, which is no small task.
The gluten protein creates flour that is better at retaining moisture than gluten free flour mixes. Therefore, gluten free bread crumbles more and goes stale faster than regular wheat based bread. The addition of sourdough bacteria to gluten free bread holds the potential to solve these problems and even extend the shelf life of these products. Will McDonald’s breakfast sandwiches soon come in a gluten-free offering? As the market grows and the research continues, it seems probable.
Image by Mike Licht
You’ve tried dieting. You’ve tried exercising. You’ve tried calorie counting, juice cleanses, and illegal Canadian weight loss pills, and still nothing works. But what if losing weight is out of your control?
A new study released on April 23 contains evidence that gut bacteria, known as microbiota, are linked with obesity. Researchers from the French Institute for Agricultural Research transplanted microbiota in mice to test weight gain based on different microbiota make-ups. They found that when given ‘obese’ microbiota, otherwise healthy mice changed their eating habits and consumed more calories and gained more weight. In the future, they hope to use these results to help control at-risk populations by manipulating their microbiota to avoid obesity in the first place.
Do you believe that with the same level of exercise and diet some people could be prone to weight gain while others aren’t? Could designer microbiota be the next slim-down craze?
Watch the video
3D printing technology has long been used for prototyping exact digital designs. Much like printing ink in the X and Y direction on a piece of paper, 3D printers print starch, plastic, metals, etc in the X, Y and Z direction.
A little over a year ago professors at Exeter University in London developed the technology to chocolate print anything that can be designed on the computer, in chocolate (not plastic!) to create a never-ending possibility of customized food art. As of April 10 these Choc Creators are now on sale for approximately $4,000.00 USD and made by the company Choc Edge. Calling all confectioners, bakers and chefs, with some extra cash on hand!
Image via WGYuri
Okay folks, I trust you, and I’m jealous of you. With over 500, 5 star reviews on amazon.com, this Breville juicer may just be the answer to … life? I’m getting gadget grabby and I’m geeking out on this $400 juicer. So why’s it so great?
It can make an 8 oz. glass of juice in 5 seconds. It has a 1000-Watt Italian motor. It has a built in sensor to assess the density of the item at hand and outputs the optimal power to ensure that each item is custom juiced. It even has a defrother—and can all be taken apart and dishwashed.
So why juice? If you’re not following the health and juice craze, green juices are purported to be cleansing and healing. And with a juicer as opposed to a blender, you prevent your body from having to deal with pulpy insoluble fiber, which slows down the body’s absorption of the nutrients in green juice, which can hit your blood stream like alcohol and immediately impact how you feel. It might just be the answer to creating a healthier lifestyle!
Image via Ecocradle
The “Ecovative” Ecocradle is a boon to environmentally stressed package designers, companies relying on the shipping industry, and consumers demanding better practices. The renewable and compostable mushroom compound material competes directly with traditional Styrofoam packaging. It’s grown with fungal mycelium fibers and natural agricultural byproducts in a container the shape of what it is meant to become. After about a week it’s full grown and heat treated to last. For the thorough 10 minute explanation watch the CEO’s TED Talk. Get ready to use and demand “the world’s first packaging made from mushrooms”!
Do you have any ideas on how to make shipping more eco-friendly? Tell us below or @WIREDInsider.
Image via wrestlingentropy
In anticipation of spring in full bloom, pretty up your food presentation, expand your ingredient list and impress your guests with edible blossom recipes. You can use flower petals as a regular ingredient in salads, desserts, cocktails and more! For inspiration and knowledge about foraging for flowers and other plants to eat check out Eat The Weeds. For some beginning recipes try a Rose Petal Martini or a Strawberry Begonia Salad. Roses (soft, light, sweet) and Begonias (citrus, tangy) are good flowers to experiment with because while still a novelty, their flavors are familiar to our palates and easy to incorporate. And though flowers are back in high food fashion, beware to select organic flowers and not to eat the un-edible flowers!
