Category Archives: food

Sushi to Slaughter : the Bluefin Tuna

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Sushi to Slaughter

On a recent episode of Vanguard on Current TV, correspondent Adam Yamaguchi goes to Japan, Baja California and Cape Cod to track the powerful — and popular — Bluefin tuna. From Siberia to the Amazon, you can now get your sushi fix in some of the most remotest regions of the world. What was once one nation’s cuisine has, in a matter of 20 years, gone global. But the world’s insatiable appetite for sushi comes at a cost. Vanguard correspondent, Adam Yamaguchi, a ravenous sushi consumer since childhood, travels across the country and then across oceans as he explores the threat to his favorite delicacy. Due to its popularity, and thus overfishing, the creature credited with sourcing more sushi than any other, finds itself on the brink of extinction. Adam visits the famous Tsukiji fish market in his ancestral homeland of Japan, where the world’s best fish is bought and sold to the vendors from around the world. He also visits the nether regions of the country where leading edge research is underway in an effort to stave off impending doom: the disappearance of the Bluefin Tuna. The sought-after Bluefin tuna is among the most popular foods in the world — and the ocean’s supply of this commercially fished favorite is declining rapidly.

Other video to check out are Jinro Dreams of Sushi and The Cove.

Adam Yamaguchi is an adventurous eater. Previously, he indulged himself at a penis restaurant. What won’t this guy eat?

Sushi to Slaughter trailer

From ‘icky raw fish’ to sushi delicacy

Behind the scenes

Fund Raiser by Angry Locals

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Fund Raiser by Angry Locals

Hawaiian rap group Angry Locals released the music video for “Fund Raiser” off their “Aloha From Hawaii” album. Join Osna x Krystilez x MIC 3 x Big Mox as they tell you how they raise funds like Zippy’s Chilli on the island. (If you don’t know, Zippy’s Chilli helps organizations do fundraisers much like Entertainment Book fundraisers.) Hopping on the track is female emcee Yumi Doll. Time to get stupid, get dumb, get silly. Cop the song off the album on Collapse Slow (feat. Krystilez, Kluv, BigMox & Mic3) - Collapse Slow - Single.

Check these other tracks of the album : We Stay and Collapse Slow. You can also download the latest Angry Locals EP Shaka to the Neck for FREE.

Fund Raiser by Angry Locals (contains profanity)

Who Knew? Chinese Food

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Who Knew? Chinese Food

Did you know that there are more Chinese restaurants than McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Pizza Hut, and Domino’s combined in the US? A real all-American dish, Chinese food has been popular since the 1800s, when Asian immigrants first started arriving. But what we call Chinese food looks nothing like what you’ll find in Beijing. It’s a nice little video that ties a little bit of history with food.

(Thanks for the tip Michael F.)

Here’s a few more videos about Chinese food: Chinese Food by Jimmy Wong, Real or Fake Chinese food?, and Dimsum Song by Inglish

Who Knew? Chinese Food

Sonya Thomas : Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Women’s Champion

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Sonya Thomas : Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest Women's Champion
On July 4th, 2011, Korean American competitive eater Sonya Thomas (aka The Black Widow) took the woman’s title at the first Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Women’s Contest with 40 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes! Over the past nine years she participated in the competition, but never won. With the separation of the men’s and women’s divisions, she had her chance to shine with a win. Along with her pink champion belt, she also won $10,000 with her victory. Thomas had an edge on the competition as she is the current women’s record holder for hot dogs with 41 hot dogs and buns in 2009. Not only does she hold the record in hot dogs, but she also holds 29 world titles in competitive eating.

BTW – if you’re wondering about her weight class, she barely hits 100 pounds.

Sonya Thomas : Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest Women’s Champion

See Sonya Thomas chowing down and interview (see 1:04 mark)

The Showdown Mastercard Commercial : Takeru Kobayashi vs Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas

Food Network Star Season 7: Asian American edition

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Food Network Star Season 7 Orchid PaulmeierFood Network Star Season 7 Whitney Chen

Food Network’s number one series, Food Network Star returned in June 2011 for Season 7 with the most intense tests of talent and exciting guest stars steering the 15 finalists towards the ultimate dream job: his or her own Food Network show. With the drive to follow in the footsteps of their culinary idols, the finalists must first prove they have the charisma and culinary prowess to host/judge Bobby Flay, the judges’ newest addition Giada de Laurentiis and the Food Network executives on the star-making selection committee. The finalists include: Mary Beth Albright (Washington, D.C.), Justin Balmes (Marietta, Ga.), Whitney Chen (New York), Katy Clark (Long Beach, Calif.), Penny Davidi (Los Angeles), Justin Davis (Minneapolis), Howie Drummond (Highlands Ranch, Colo.), Jyll Everman (Glendora, Calif.), Susie Jimenez (Carbondale, Colo.), Juba Kali (New Orleans), Jeff Mauro (Elmwood Park, Ill.), Vic “Vegas” Moea (Las Vegas), Chris Nirschel (Hoboken, N.J.), Orchid Paulmeier (Bluffton, S.C.), and Alicia Sanchez (New York).

With a variety of challenges designed to separate a true star from just another cook in the kitchen, this season’s highlights include creating and advertising a unique food truck under the watchful eye of Tyler Florence, adding fireworks to a meal with MGD 64 for an All-American 4 th of July Food Festival hosted by Guy Fieri, throwing an impromptu dinner party for Wolfgang Puck, having their menus “roasted” by some legendary comedic faces, using Kellogg’s cereals, toaster pastries, and snacks to create an impressive appetizer and competing head-to-head Iron Chef America style in Kitchen Stadium. The finalists also visit the set of ABC’s hit series Cougar Town and create custom meals for cast and crew with special guest stars, Courteney Cox and show creator Bill Lawrence. This star-studded season also features the industry’s biggest stars and culinary authority such as: Alton Brown, Anne Burrell, Scott Conant, Melissa D’Arabian, Paula Deen, Ina Garten, Duff Goldman, Robert Irvine, the Neelys, Rachael Ray and Michael Symon.

The season-long trials and triumphs culminate in the finale on Sunday, August 14 th 9pm ET/PT, where the finalist proven to have the ultimate recipe for success is revealed and films a six-episode Food Network series to premiere in August 2011. Keeps your eyes on Orchid Paulmeier and Whitney Chen as the go after the title of Food Network Star Season 7. Last year, we saw Aarti Sequeira win The Next Food Network Star Season 6.

Orchid Paulmeier

Orchid Paulmeier, 38 (Bluffton, S.C.), a first-generation American from a Filipino background, started her culinary career as an ice cream scooper in high school, and only went up from there. She’s worked as a general manager, head trainer and personal chef and now owns One Hot Mama’s restaurant in Hilton Head Island, S.C. This outspoken mother of three prides herself on her Southern barbecue and is well-known locally for her wings and ribs.

Whitney Chen

Whitney Chen, 28 (New York), a former engineering consultant, quit her job and received a culinary certificate from L’Academie de Cuisine in Bethesda, Md., and worked her way up the culinary ladder to the line at a Three Michelin Star restaurant in New York City. A serious home cook turned professional chef, Whitney enjoys using the freshest seasonal ingredients in her cooking and believes that anyone can incorporate advanced techniques into making everyday meals that impress. Her father is Chinese and her mother is Swedish.

Food from Taiwan contaminated with DEHP

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Food from Taiwan contaminated with DEHP

About a month ago, Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that some companies in Taiwan were using toxic chemical DEHP (Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate) to manufacture various consumer food products. (DEHP is a plasticizer frequently used in the production of plastics to make it soft and pliable. If consumed on a regular basis, DEHP can cause cancer and also lead to kidney or testicular damage and fertility problems.) Food contamination occurred when these companies intentionally added DEHP to emulsifiers to lower production costs. The emulsifiers, better known as cloudy agents, are legal food additives generally made of Acacia gum, palm oil, & various food additives and used in juice and beverages to give it a cloudy rich look.

Initially, only two sports drinks (Dongli Sport Drinks and Dongli Lemon Sport Drinks) were found to be contaminated. Now, suspected product categories contaminated with DEHP have expanded to include: sports drinks, fruit juice, tea drinks, fruit jam/fruit nectar or jelly and food in tablet, capsule or powder form. You can see a full list here (English) or here (Chinese).
Food recalls have been issued in Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and more Asian & European countries. (The US has not yet issued any recalls.)

Without clear information from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), you’re favorite frozen yogurt shop and bubble/boba tea spot could still be serving DEHP-contaminated products along with your local Asian supermarket. Some US-based locations have already taken proactive steps to remove these products off the self or get certified to be DEHP-Free . A few years back melamine triggered a China import ban on certain products.

Taiwan raises fine on DEHP-related cases

Taiwan’s food market hit hard by DEHP crisis