I have wanted to go to Hannam Market in Seoul for awhile now since it's the only place I've heard of that you can buy American food. It is located under the Volvo building and you will see this sign marking the entrance before the Volvo building.It is located on Subway Line 6, Stop 631 and Exit 2. As you exit the subway, walk to the corner and take a right. You will see a walkway going over the hi
Many American friends are stumped when I ask them about traditional American fare. Americans have had exposure to global cuisine for a long time thanks to immigrating people from every corner of the world; in fact, many would consider Italian staples such as pasta American. I recently discovered an article on the Best American Food at Conde Nast Traveller by Alan Richman that made me smile. This is how he begins:Before we were able to pay attention to food, Americans had to perfect democracy, settle the West, free the slaves, crush the Nazis, and fight the commies. Meanwhile, we ate whatever was at hand. We stewed squirrels. We turned turtles into soup. Food was secondary. Oh, we had raw materials aplenty: fields of waving grain, herds of juicy protein, oceans of non-farmed fish. We just didn't know what to do with it all. Note: Barbeque picture by LennieZ.Our first uniquely American restaurants appeared in the fifties and sixties. We called them Polynesian, even though none of us kne
Here's another great book to add to your Summer reading list--- American Food Writing: An Anthology With Classic Recipes edited by Molly O'Neill (Library of America / March 2007). This book is a comprehensive collection of essays, anecdotes and recipes that chronicles three centuries of American food writing.READ MORE...
The 1950's was a time of great anxiety. Many folks feared world annihilation. Much of American culture was a reaction to this. While some parts of the post World War II culture, such as music and fashion, contained a "revolutionary" quality, the food that Americans enjoyed during the 50's had an escapist quality to it. A lot of the dishes from this era are often referred to as comfort food. An antidote for the pressures of the Atomic Age? Maybe so.With the advent of suburbs such as Levittown (which is in Long Island, where I live), American families now had larger kitchens in which to prepare meals. Irony rears its ugly head as history seems to indicate that, even though home cooks had better kitchen to work in, people seemed to prefer using manufactured food products, such as cake mixes, and ready-to-eat processed foods. Canned soups and meats along with frozen vegetables were used to assemble casseroles whic
I happened to view a striking food clip called The Future of Food on YouTube yesterday. It explains how a small number of food conglomerates have diminished the agricultural capacities in this country and in many countries across the globe. If you'd like to view the clip, click on this link: THE FUTURE OF FOOD The video clip is from an excellent documentary called The Future of Food (2005/Cinema Libre) and was directed by -gasp!- Jerry Garcia's widow, Deborah Koons Garcia. The DVD is described thusly on Amazon.com:"One of the best-reviewed documentaries of 2005 is now available on DVD in this deluxe two-disc edition. There is a revolution happening in the farm fields and on the dinner tables of America, a revolution that is transforming the very nature of the food we eat. This documentary explores the disturbing truth behind the unlabeled, patented, genetically engineered foods that have quietly filled grocery
As some of you foodies out there may know, in March 2007 the food conglomerate ConAgra had to recall its Peter Pan Peanut Butter products due to salmonella content. This morning, I happened upon a consumer advocate website called SPOCKO'S BRAIN. The site has a post called frightening food facts. What caught my eye about this post was the revelation that the "federal government can issue mandatory recalls for tires and toys but not food...except for baby formula..." Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaa???!!! This is another example of big business dictating how the govenment conducts itself. If you wish to speak out about this idiocy, click on this link: FDA. The food we put in our bodies should demand as much safety as the tires we put on our cars!
With the hungry days of summer right around the corner, it's time to start making your vacation plans. One idea is to visit one of the many unique food festivals held across the United States! Remember: wherever you go, there you are!THE RC & MOON PIE FESTIVAL -- Held on June 16th in Bell Buckle, Tennessee. "A jam packed day of fun for the whole family...clog dancing, moon pie games, the moon pie parade, crafts and the ever popular Syncronized Wading Extravaganza...cutting of the world's largest moon pie rounds out the day."THE BITE OF SEATTLE FESTIVAL -- Held in Seattle, Washington July 20, 21 and 22. "This is the Northwest's Premier Food Festival!" Features food from over 60 local restaurants. Among the popular attractions are the beer and wine gardens.THE BALTIMORE BEER & CRAB FESTIVAL -- Held in Baltimore, Maryland on September 15th. "Adult admission in
