Pasties

Tags

beef, Cornwall, crimp, fold, Food, onion, Pasties, pastry circle, potato, Protected Geographical Indication, swede, UK, uncooked filling

Pasties (UK)

Pasties are baked pastries and most often associated with Cornwall, England. You place an uncooked filling (traditionally meat or vegetables) on half of a flat short crust pastry circle. Fold the pastry in half to wrap the filling in a semicircle and crimp the curved edge to form a seal. Since 2011, the traditional Cornish pasty has a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status in Europe. Typical fillings include beef, sliced or diced potato, swede (yellow turnip or rutabaga) and onion. The pasty is regarded as Cornwall’s national dish and some shops specialize in all sorts of pasties. The pasty is a popular dish worldwide and variations are found in Australia, Argentina, Mexico, Ulster (a northern province in Ireland) and the U.S.

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Balut

Tags

Asia, Balut, beer, boiled alive, delicacy, developing duck embryo, eaten in the shell, Food

Balut

In the southeast of Asia, Balut is a delicacy. Balut is a developing duck embryo that is boiled alive and eaten in the shell. It is often served with beer.

Matsutake Mushrooms

Tags

autumn, expensive, Food, insect, Japan, killing trees, matsutake mushroom, rare

Matsutake Mushrooms (Japan)

This week, let’s take a look at one very expensive mushroom: the matsutake. They sell at $1000/pound!! They are so expensive because they are extremely rare. They used to be synonymous with autumn in Japan. However, the introduction of an insect that kills the trees they grow under, has dramatically reduced the number of matsutake mushrooms produced. A new method of farming the mushrooms is still being developed, but until then the matsutake is left with a huge obstacle of survival and a huge price tag for aficinadoes.

Poutine

Tags

Canadian, cheese curds, Food, fries, gourmet, gravy, Poutine, poutineries, Quebec, standard

Poutine (Canada’s official national dish)

In honour of Canada turning 150 years old, let’s take a look at the country’s official national dish. Canadians are so in love with poutine that “poutineries,” restaurants that exclusively serve poutines are real. There are numerous gourmet versions on the menu with lobster and foie gras atop the standard Canadian dish. Poutines are a simple dish. Take some fries, throw some gravy on top and toss on some cheese curds. If you want it to be an official poutine, use Quebec cheese curds. Voila. Poutines originated in the province of Quebec in the 1950s and it wasn’t long before the dish stormed across to both the West and East Coast to become one of Canada’s most beloved dishes. The word “poutine” is thought to derive from the English word “pudding.”

Jello 1-2-3

Tags

1960s, creamy top, Food, Jello, Jello 1-2-3, Jello bottom, mix, mousse-like middle, three textual layers

Jello 1-2-3 (Jello, 1960s)

Introduced in 1969, Jello 1-2-3 was one mix that separated into three distinct textual layers. A creamy top sat atop a mousse-like middle that sat on top of a plain Jello bottom. Jello 1-2-3 was discontinued in 1996.

Escamoles

Tags

cottage cheese consistency, eggs, escamole, Food, Liometopum ant, maguey and agave plants, Mexico, Taco, venomous

Escamoles

This delicacy is brought to us from Mexico. Escamoles are the eggs from the giant black Liometopum ant. The ant lives in the root systems of maguey and agave plants. Collecting these eggs is an extremely unpleasant task since the ants are highly venomous. The eggs have a consistency like cottage cheese. The most popular way is to eat them is in a taco with guacamole. Escamoles are said to have a surprisingly pleasant taste: buttery and slightly nutty.

Frings

Tags

1970s, fast food, Food, french fries, Frings, Jack in the Box, onions rings

Frings (Jack in the Box, 1970s)

Frings were for the indecisive customer who couldn’t decide whether they wanted fries or onion rings. Frings solved the problem; you got a little of both. Introduced in the 1970s, they were discontinued early in the 1980s.

Raw Food Diet

Tags

118 degrees Fahrenheit, diet, Food, fresh, Raw Food, vegetarian

Raw Food Diet

Advocates say that cooking food breaks down its enzymes and food loses many of its nutritional benefits. In this diet, no food is cooked above 118 degrees Fahrenheit. You are allowed to eat as much as you want as long as your food is raw and vegetarian. While you will definitely focusing on eating fresh produce and vegetables and avoiding processed foods, this diet is lacking in nutrients and will be difficult to sustain over time.

Hula Burger

Tags

Catholics, Filet-O-Fish, Food, Hula Burger, McDonald's, meat, pineapple

Hula Burger (McDonald’s, 1960s)

Meant for Catholics that don’t eat meat on Fridays, the Hula Burger replaced their meat patty with a grilled pineapple slice. However, since the Filet-o-Fish was more popular, the Hula Burger was quickly discontinued.

Melody Pops

Tags

Amazon, British, bulk, candy, Candy FunHouse, Chupa Chups, eBay, Food, lollipops, Melody Pops, slide, stick, strawberry, whistle

Melody Pops (Chupa Chups, 1990s)

This British candy actually plays real music. What?! Melody Pops are strawberry flavored lollipops shaped into a whistle. Yes, you could hear a whistling sound from them. The stick acts as a slide. Though Melody Pops may not be readily available in candy aisles anymore, I have found Melody Pops for sale via Amazon, eBay and Candy FunHouse. You do have to buy in bulk.