Sunday, February 28, 2010
"Undercover Boss: Watch Episodes and Video and Join the Ultimate Fan Community" - CBS.com
A number of the episodes are "bosses" at food companies.
"A Historian’s Take on Food and Food Politics - Rachel Laudan"
The Splendid Table says that she is writing a world history of food during this show.
"Baker's Edge - Edge Brownie Pan and Simple Lasagna Pan"
There was a piece on this today on CBS Sunday Morning.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
"Shortcuts - The Paralyzing Problem of Too Many Choices" - NYTimes.com
This is a really fascinating article that sure makes sense to me.
I wonder if there is not a need for a How to Buy Your Food for Dummies? That is not at all to suggest that people are not smart enough to make the decisions that are so important to their lives. Rather, it is to agree with the core thesis of this article which is that studies are showing we don't do real well when confronted with many choices.
How to simplify and improve the process?
In France, I shop a good deal of the time in a store that is a subsidiary of a large supermarket chain. They only sell - or pretty much "only" - products that carry their own brand name. There are still many choices, but I have enough confidence - wrongly or rightly - in their choices to feel very comfortable buying what they offer. I feel somewhat the same way when I see store brand merchandies here in NC too, again, whether I am choosing well or not.
Imagine being able to go into a supermarket with a shopping list of things you want to buy, indicating in advance the priority order of the best options in terms of what French call "qualite-prix" or a combinaiton of quality and price.
I rarely - if ever - see anyone helping me decide at a Harris-Teeter or Food Lion - which is the best bag of carrots to buy today if you think that organics are too expensive and yet you'd prefer to have them if you can. On some days, using your criteria, organic carrots might be a better deal when combining tests of quality and price. On other days, given that one may not be organic-at-any-price, the regular carrots might be better. There are other options, too, often, including frozen, that need to be factored into the choice.
But imagine in real time that a guide that you programmed was taking on board both product information (up to date) and price and giving you today's priority order of purchases assuming the items you want are in the store when you get there?
I wonder if there is not a need for a How to Buy Your Food for Dummies? That is not at all to suggest that people are not smart enough to make the decisions that are so important to their lives. Rather, it is to agree with the core thesis of this article which is that studies are showing we don't do real well when confronted with many choices.
How to simplify and improve the process?
In France, I shop a good deal of the time in a store that is a subsidiary of a large supermarket chain. They only sell - or pretty much "only" - products that carry their own brand name. There are still many choices, but I have enough confidence - wrongly or rightly - in their choices to feel very comfortable buying what they offer. I feel somewhat the same way when I see store brand merchandies here in NC too, again, whether I am choosing well or not.
Imagine being able to go into a supermarket with a shopping list of things you want to buy, indicating in advance the priority order of the best options in terms of what French call "qualite-prix" or a combinaiton of quality and price.
I rarely - if ever - see anyone helping me decide at a Harris-Teeter or Food Lion - which is the best bag of carrots to buy today if you think that organics are too expensive and yet you'd prefer to have them if you can. On some days, using your criteria, organic carrots might be a better deal when combining tests of quality and price. On other days, given that one may not be organic-at-any-price, the regular carrots might be better. There are other options, too, often, including frozen, that need to be factored into the choice.
But imagine in real time that a guide that you programmed was taking on board both product information (up to date) and price and giving you today's priority order of purchases assuming the items you want are in the store when you get there?
Friday, February 26, 2010
"L'absence de Sarkozy à l'inauguration du salon de l'agriculture passe mal"
The French President not showing up at the big annual agricultural fair in Paris is not going down well, so this reports. Imagine the biggest agricultural fair in NC - I guess it is the State Fair? - without the NC Governor?
Sourcing our food.....
It occurred to me that we focus a lot on the sources of fresh foods, whether they be organic or not. Somehow, we seem to want to know a little bit more about something that is fresh, or nearly so.
Why is it that we don't ask as many questions about the same kinds of food, frozen, or canned or packaged in some other way?
Hmmmmm.
Why is it that we don't ask as many questions about the same kinds of food, frozen, or canned or packaged in some other way?
Hmmmmm.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Clementines and Mandarines
I sure would like to know a lot more about these fruit that come from so many different places to here in NC. Where, exactly, did they originate? How were they grown? When were they picked? How are they coated with a wax? How were they transported? How should they be conserved? What to look for in choosing among them?
Cuties
I bought mandarins at Harris-Teeter today, origin California, the bag says. Earlier, I bought clementines at Harris-Teeter or Lowes' Foods that came from Florida.
"AMC Direct Inc" - Google Maps
I bought very good clementines at COSTCO that are labeled as coming from Israel and provide an e-mail address @ amcna.com, but there appears to be website to go with the e-mail address.
As a customer, I'd like to know more.
As a customer, I'd like to know more.
"LGS Sales"
I bought a box of Darling Clementines at Kroger this week. There is no contact information on the box for the supplier, but the box says that the fruit comes from Morocco.
As a customer, I'd like to know more.
As a customer, I'd like to know more.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
"Nice Premium - La Chambre de Commerce Italienne participe à la journée européenne des produits d'appellation d'origine protégée"
We don't do a very good job of labeling and protecting the origins of foods sold in NC.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
"FreshQC Trace Back and Quality Improvement System"
This is very impressive. They could do more in providing more information about the product and how it is grown, but the basic idea is excellent!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
"Ocean Mist Farms – Grower of Fresh Artichokes and other Vegetables"
I purchased these artichokes at COSTCO. They were very good, but what really impressed me was how much information is provided on the packaging - quite unusually informative. There was a plastic recipe card inside the package, plus simple and helpful idea on preparation, cooking, etc. on the package itself ... not to mention a "BEST BY" date and the required nurtrition disclosures.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Lowes Foods
I am struck by how confusing food shopping is becoming as food stores compete on so many different levels. At Lowes, one finds on the their weekly flyer, six separate angles on this:
+"Better Valu"
+"Price Drop"
+"Online Offers"
+"New Low Price"
+"Our Brand"
+"Double Coupons Everyday"
It makes the food shopping list as much that as a checklist of buttons to push and benefits to find.
+"Better Valu"
+"Price Drop"
+"Online Offers"
+"New Low Price"
+"Our Brand"
+"Double Coupons Everyday"
It makes the food shopping list as much that as a checklist of buttons to push and benefits to find.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
"Opening a Restaurant? What You Should Know" - Craven County
As far as I know, there is no "bulletin board" for new restaurant openings in NC. A lot of people are interested in what's new, what's coming, what's arrived and is open.
Take this restaurant, for example, supposed to be opening a new restaurant in Chapel may scant mention on that site.
Take this restaurant, for example, supposed to be opening a new restaurant in Chapel may scant mention on that site.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Friday, February 12, 2010
Thursday, February 11, 2010
"Patagonia Women's Nano Puff Pullover"
The information provided here is pretty impressive! Note the footprint and the origin tabs.
I picked this one just at random.
From reports I've heard recently, Walmart is even starting to do some of this, and I think there is a sourcing website of some sort at MIT as well, but I have not found it yet.
I'd really like to see this done for the food we eat!
I picked this one just at random.
From reports I've heard recently, Walmart is even starting to do some of this, and I think there is a sourcing website of some sort at MIT as well, but I have not found it yet.
I'd really like to see this done for the food we eat!
Healthy Durham
"Overweight and obesity are associated with multiple long-term, costly, and serious conditions including heart
disease, cancer and diabetes. From 2001-2006 in Durham County, the percentage of overweight or obese
adults remained relatively stable—ranging from 57- 59%. In 2008, however, the percentage of Durham County adults who are overweight or obese increased to 71%. Populations most at risk for overweight or obesity are males, minorities, people older than 45 years old, and those with less than a high school education.6 The percentage of Durham County children served by the WIC nutritional program who are overweight (14.7%) and obese (19.6%) is much higher than the statewide rates, but has been steadily decreasing the last three years."
disease, cancer and diabetes. From 2001-2006 in Durham County, the percentage of overweight or obese
adults remained relatively stable—ranging from 57- 59%. In 2008, however, the percentage of Durham County adults who are overweight or obese increased to 71%. Populations most at risk for overweight or obesity are males, minorities, people older than 45 years old, and those with less than a high school education.6 The percentage of Durham County children served by the WIC nutritional program who are overweight (14.7%) and obese (19.6%) is much higher than the statewide rates, but has been steadily decreasing the last three years."
"The Safety Net - Once Stigmatized, Food Stamps Find New Acceptance" - Series - NYTimes.com
Do we know enough about how this works and what the trends are in NC?
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
"Gregg Rapp - Menu Engineer - Menu Consulting"
This fellow was on NBC's Today Show talking about menus.....
Identifying items as heart healthy does not work; patrons don't think it will taste very good.
The upper right of any menu - either one you hold or one you see on the wall - is the most important space that will sell the most.
Never put dollar signs next to menu prices. It makes them seem more expensive.
Descriptions of food are really important.
Consult websites in advance, learn who the chef is, ask the waitstaff. What are they good at doing.
Search for recipes to use at home by combining the word recipes with any famous name of your choosing, especially pop stars like Miley CYRUS, the example he used.
Identifying items as heart healthy does not work; patrons don't think it will taste very good.
The upper right of any menu - either one you hold or one you see on the wall - is the most important space that will sell the most.
Never put dollar signs next to menu prices. It makes them seem more expensive.
Descriptions of food are really important.
Consult websites in advance, learn who the chef is, ask the waitstaff. What are they good at doing.
Search for recipes to use at home by combining the word recipes with any famous name of your choosing, especially pop stars like Miley CYRUS, the example he used.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
"Food Environment Atlas"
This sure looks like a great tool. Alas, I think it is suffering today from overuse. I look forward to learning a lot more about food in NC here, and I hope lots of other people will join me!
"Overseas Sales Give McDonald’s a Lift in January" - NYTimes.com
How did they do in NC? Do they release that information?
Monday, February 8, 2010
"Campbell's Chunky - Soup That Eats Like A Meal."
How do we make this more meaningful for people who eat in NC?
"Bulgur - An Easy Way to Get Your Grains" - NYTimes.com
How does a simple recipe like this one get shared with the kitchens of NC?
"Health Magazine Reuses Recipes From Real Simple" - NYTimes.com
One might think, as I do, that there are better ways to connect these resources with readers. Imagine all of the subjects that could have been treated constructively had this printed space been used for something new.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
"About New York - Old London Foods, Maker of Melba Toast, Moving From the Bronx" - NYTimes.com
Note the move to North Carolina.
"Chef to close 'world's best' eatery in search for inspiration" - CNN.com
Anyone in NC taking this sort of approach? Who is this creative in NC?
"Slainte using downtown construction to raise funds for charity" - StarNewsOnline.com
Combining social causes with food is a winner all over NC.
"What's at Market" - Carrboro Farmers' Market
This list of what's usually available in the Market this time of year always strikes me as intimidating. I honestly don't know what to do with many of these items and would not even be able to pick them out of a food "lineup"!
Why not present this list more creatively with a link for each item to one or more REALLY SIMPLE ways to use the food, and more information about the food. Imagine what could be done with a link to such a short page for kale and hotdogs!
Why not present this list more creatively with a link for each item to one or more REALLY SIMPLE ways to use the food, and more information about the food. Imagine what could be done with a link to such a short page for kale and hotdogs!
"F.D.A. Weighs Update to Standard Serving Sizes" - NYTimes.com
Do people eating in NC eat the same portions as people in the rest of the country? And do all people in NC eat the same size portions? I doubt it, but anything that gets people thinking more about what and how much they are eating is a very good thing!
Note the comment from Barry POPKIN at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Note the comment from Barry POPKIN at UNC-Chapel Hill.
"Do We Need to Know What’s in Junk Food?" - Room for Debate Blog - NYTimes.com
There surely are better ways in NC to connect people with information about the food they are buying and eating. We just need to get more creative about how we do that. Smart marketers, it seems to me, really ought to be able to come up with really successful ways in which to combine that information and effective marketing of good things to eat.
Friday, February 5, 2010
"Saint-Rémy : le premier fast-food provençal est né !" - La Provence
More about the venture. Anything like this in NC?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
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