Surprise! Yet another food advisory ( alfalfa sprouts)

This is the reason why I have a permanent tag for salmonella :

According to U.S. News and World Report, the government has issued an advisory for alfalfa sprouts.  The culprit: Salmonella. The government is warning cionssumers to refrain from eating any alfalfa sprouts, or products containing alfalfa sprouts. Go to fda.gov  to read the associated press release.

Win a $25 gift card from Shop-Rite

Culinary Chick and the kind folks from Shop-Rite grocery stores are giving away $25  Shop-Rite gift cards to two lucky readers of this blog. All you have to do is post an answer to this question:

In these lean times, how do you maintain a gourmet touch in the meals you prepare for yourself, or your family?

A gourmet touch could be anything from using a simple garnish like a parsley sprig,  to breaking out that extra virgin olive oil, to splurging on seafood or a special cut of meat. I will choose the  best five entries; and you, the readers will choose the best two.  The two winners will receive the $25 gift card, courtesy of Shop-Rite.

Contest entries must be in by midnight, May 10.  Voting will end on midnight, May 17. The winner will be announced on May 19, 2009.

Contest Rules:

1) No substitutions will be given in lieu of gift cards.

2) Shop-Rite gift cards can only be used at Shop-Rite stores.

3) Contest entries must be in by midnight, May 10.  Voting will end on midnight, May 17. The winner will be announced on May 19, 2009.

4) All posts must be limited to 50 words or less.

5) All entries must have a valid e-mail address

6) Only one entry per valid e-mail address

7) Please refrain from using racist, sexist or pornographic comments. Entries which contain theses elements will be disqualified.

Have Fun!

In the case of Domino’s Pizza: A commentary

It’s that time of year again, folks.

I find that I have to have “the talk” with my friends every time this happens. In case you were out of the country, two “employees” of Domino’s Pizza committed the crime of food tampering, and posted a video on YouTube.

I won’t post the video because it is too disgusting.

Suffice it  to say, executives at Domino’s  acted swiftly to quash the problem. They fired both employees and pressed charges against them. The president of the company,  Patrick Doyle  released a video on YouTube offering his apologies, and asked for the public’s understanding. The company also opened up a Twitter account so the public can follow any updates concerning this case.

As a public relations student,  I believe the company is on the right track. But, they have a long road ahead of them.  The two individuals involved in this case not only did damage to the individual store and its owner, but did damage to the entire franchise at a time when the public’s view of corporations are shaky at best.

These two people violated a social contract– we patronize your company, and in turn, you provide us with a good or a service that is free from defects.  It is an understood trust that is vital for any business to succeed.  Without it,  business cannot be conducted, and the retailer-customer relationship breaks down.

I believe that more can be done to get Domino’s through this. One is to keep open the lines of communications with the public. Another is to reiterate the company’s sanitation policies. Lastly, raise the rates of hourly employees and hire older workers. Theses steps may work, but they won’t work if the people they hire lack  pride in a job well done, and a sense of responsibility to the public.

Unfortunately, that is something we seem to see less and less of these days. These people were both over the age of 25, so you would think they would know better.  These two showed such a contempt for their customers, that it shocked even an old pro like me.  I’ve never seen anything like it. Apathy and lack of respect is something no corporation can fix. It has to come from within.

I don’t know why this behavior is pervasive in fast-food establishments. The public has a right to be wary; after all, if you continue to hear and see reports of how individuals bathe in sinks designed for cleaning pots, or people farting on sandwiches, you’d be suspect of any carry-out. I think that this is a sign of a growing lack of respect and common decency for that we now have for one another.  The act of tampering with someone’s food is glorified in the movies and in the practical-joke shows that is considered entertainment these days. The yahoos that perpetrated this crime seemed oblivious to the ramifications of their youthful hi-jinks.  We’ve also lost a sense of empathy, how else can you explain the actions of those persons in the spotlight for committing these actions. It’s almost like they forgot how they would feel if the same crime had been committed against them.

This is something that Domino’s cannot fix. This is a societal ill that can only be cured by example. Unfortunately, the owner of that particular Domino’s may learn this by the loss of his business. It’ s a shame, too.  Will I still eat Domino’s pizza? Yes. Did I eat Wendy’s chili after the whole finger incident? Yes.  Why? Call it sympathy. I know there are thousands of people who make an honest living at these places. People who support their families by making pizza and wings for us.

So if you are on the fence about eating at Domino’s, don’t be. Go back when you are ready, but go back. You’ll save someone’s job.  If you have friends that think this kind of crap is funny,  correct them. It’s not funny. In this economy, we all need to work.  Don’t penalize the pizza guy because some bumpkins thought it would be funny to play with someone’s food.  Give the smackdown on those who perpetrate these acts.

**Note: I’ve never worked for Domino’s Pizza. As a matter of fact, when I applied for a job there, they wouldn’t hire me ( wrong kind of experience).

I promise to blog tomorrow!

The CC started a job last week, and it physically wore an old girl out! I promise to post entries tomorrow.

Today, I’m going to sleep! (more sleep)

Gastronomic Monstrosity #10: Marshmallow Peeps

Some people swear by them; of course, I don’t. But; I love creativity and strange food, so in the spirit of the season, I present to you the following blog entries  and photos from around the blogosphere:

Smeeps: S’mores made with peeps by the Curious Domestic,

Deep-fried Peeps from Serious Eats,

P. B.  & Peep sandwich, Peep Mojitos, and Toasted Peeps from Geeks Are Sexy; and my favorite,

2009 Peep Diorama entries from the Washington Post.

Enjoy,

The CC

What is Steakfish, exactly?

I was on the phone with my 82-year-old aunt, and she asked me a question:

What is steakfish?

I had to think about it, and I don’t know what steakfish is. I’m supposed to be my family’s culinary expert, and I had to think about it. I remembered eating steakfish  fried on Fridays as a child, and loving it. I’ve noticed the delicacy is scarce, because everytime I go to the market, they are sold out of steakfish.

Now; I know some of you are scratching your head, and may be asking the same question. It is easier to  explain what steakfish is not.

It is not:

1) Any fish that is cut into steaks (tuna, salmon, halibut, swordfish, barracuda); or,

2) Hake ( which older people in the African-American community vehemently agree, that what is being sold now is not the steakfish they remember. What is generally passing for steakfish these days is more sinewy and tougher in texture than what we all remember).

Now, let me describe what steakfish is. Steakfish is:

1) A dish that seems to be unique to Baltimore’s African-American community;and,

2) A name given to some species of fish that has a delicate flavor, a texture similar to catfish, and is cut into steaks, and either fried or baked  (although I suppose it can be poached as well)

See how non-descript this is? This is the generic description given to almost all white-fleshed fish served in restaurants. How many times have you heard this description when dining out:

Server: Tonight’s fish special is  Braised tilapia with  fennel, tomato and garlic.

Customer: What does tilapia taste like?

Server: It is a mild-flavored flaky white fish.

Customer: Ohhh….

Well that’s clear; isn’t it? Well, I have a theory. I think it is some type of hake, just a different species. For example, most crab meat or soft crabs  sold now in Northeast markets and served in restaurants is  NOT Blue Crab as we know it. It is blue swimming crab, native to the Phillipines, Mexico, Venuzeula, and other locales around the world. It is similar in flavor just enough to fool people who don’t know any better. True blue crab comes from coastal states on the eastern seaboard and southern states in the United states. It is known for its distinctive sweet flavor and texture. I think the same thing happened to steakfish. It may be profitable to use another form of hake and call it steakfish.

So I’ma throwing it out to you: What is Steakfish, exactly? Please enlighten us all.

Pistaschio Recall Update: Setton recalls an addtional million pounds

Setton Foods recalled an additional million pounds of pistachios Thursday, according to Foxnews.com. The cause of the infestation seems to revolve around alleged reports of vermin infestation at the Setton processing plant. The public is warned to refrain from eating pistachio and products containing the nut or derivatives.

To date, no reports of illness from consuming pistachios have been reported.
More to come.

The CC

Gastronomic Monstrosity #9: Cadbury Eggs

You know, I am a tolerant and open-minded kind of gal. When I think of Easter candy, I remember my Aunt Gloria. She worked at a Baltimore institution, Naron Candy Factory on South Monroe here in Baltimore. We lived in a duplex, she in the lower half with us upstairs.  My fondest memories of her are her arriving home in her chocolate-stained blue uniform with the white collar, and bringing my sister and I home freshly-made peanut butter eggs.  That was a golden time in my life; one I won’t soon forget.

Fast forward a few years later. I remember sitting in my kitchen as a teenager and seeing this horror on television. Someone had the absolute temerity to invent a candy that looked like a coddled egg inside a chocolate shell.

I almost threw up at the thought. Ugh!

What??

I sat there and imagined the pitch to the R&D department at Cadbury that day. I’ll call the pitchman Ed for conversation’s sake. I am operating on the theory that Ed, like me,  was likely stoned out of his gourd and just may be one of the stupidest guys in history that had a freaky-deaky stroke of luck, or an idiot savant.

Ed at pitch meeting:  Dudes! I was home smoking a bowl and I came up with a crazy idea. I love candy and I love eggs; do you think  we could combine the two?

R&D guys: Ed, you have got to stop coming to work high; that has  to be the most ridiculous idea you have pitched in years.

Ed: Well…what about Candy corn, Boston baked bean candy,  Cotton candy and Marshmallow Peeps???  Explain that!

R&D guys: You’ve got a point there

Ed: All those candies are now classics, so why can’t we come up with something like that?

R&D guys: Hmmmm…..

So, in my marijuana haze, curiosity got the best of me and so I marched around to the Rite-Aid and bought one. After all, it couldn’t look like a soft egg. Right?

I got home and opened up the wrapper. Inside the wrapper emerged a thing of beauty. The  chocolate brown shell was perfect in its dimensions, just like a real egg.  I looked at it for a minute, then decided to cut it open. I grabbed a plate from the drainboard, and reached for a knife.  Placing the egg on the plate, I took the tip of the knife and pierced the shell of the egg. I was not mentally prepared what happened next.

The tip of the knife slid  into the shell, and the egg broke in half. Pieces of chocolate fell in the contents of the egg as the yellow and white mass slowly oozed out from its confines. It sent shivers down my spine as my mind comprehended the horror before me. I couldn’t imagine  who on God’s green earth would eat this, I thought to myself. It skeeved me out so badly that I threw the whole thing out, plate and all.

I still get the heeby-jeebies just thinking about it. You all can have this one;  I can’t do it.

Baltimore-area Target and Attman’s closed due to infestation

A Baltimore-area Target, along with Attman’s were both closed due to vermin infestation.  The Pikesville Target will be closed until further notice, according to WBAL-TV.com.  Baltimore County health inspectors found evidence of rat infestation, including evidence of feeding activity in the pet food and dry goods department. It is reported that management is actively working to remedy the problem, and will re-open as soon as possible.

Attman’s of Lombard street was forced to shut down operations due to vermin infestation, Owners of the establishment said the 90-year old landmark has fought with the city of Baltimore for the past eight years over an abandoned property next door.  Reports said absentee owners of the abandoned building cost Attman’s thousands of dollars in additional upkeep, and are the source of the infestation.  Management of the establishment say they are working diligently on the problem and should be open today.

Sidenote:  I have a link to the Baltimore City Health Department on the sidebar, which has current listings of all food and health-related closures within the city limits.

CC

Pistachio recall: An Update

The Associated Press is reporting that  Setton International Foods located in Commack, N.Y. stopped shipping pistachios as a response to public health and safety concerns. The New York  plant is the east coast locale of Setton Pistachio of Terra Bella, based on California.

Government officials are asking the public to refrain from consuming any pistachios or products containing pistachios until the source of the contamination is located. To date, no reports of sickness linked to eating pistachios has been reported.

Please visit the links on the sidebar for food safety to see if any particular brands of nuts have been recalled.

CC